The youko evaded Yomi's embracing arms. He sat up straight, and gazed at the ceiling, lost in his own thoughts for a long while. Only the clear sound of more sake being poured was heard.

Gandara's King interrupted Hikaru's musings to serve him sake. They drank together, in silence, in slow, calm sips.

"I recovered the treasure I had stolen and cached when I first left the city. Then I crossed the Desert. Every day I renewed my vow to dedicate myself to vengeance... In a couple of days I noticed my fur and hair had changed - It was then this black stripe appeared, marking me, like a scar; a mark of shame. I don't know why - trauma, a side effect of the disease that almost killed me, stress, nervousness... Who cared? All I wanted was to kill the monsters that had destroyed my whole life..."

They finished their sake together, and Yomi collected both cups, placing them on the floor.

"What are your plans for the future?" He asked Hikaru.

The grey youko did not hesitate in the slightest to utter his answer.

"I must leave Gandara in the morning."

Yomi protested. He shook his head vehemently, and frowned.

"You ought to return to your homeland! You must fight to regain what your brother stole from you!"

"Not yet. I am not strong enough to challenge Seiji on my own."

Yomi showed perplexity. He reached out and touched Hikaru's shoulder.

"Why should you do it on your own?"

"What do you mean?"

"Conflicts and wars are not the only way to achieve power. You should try politics - alliances, agreements, treaties... I can help if you want..."

Hikaru refused the favor with a peremptory stare.

"No; Never. I cannot return now; I failed in my promise - I could not wipe out all of those villains; Kurama still lives."

"You should reconsider your vows. In a way, the youko whom we called Kurama, was killed by a Spiritual Hunter years ago. The silver youko who had disgraced our lives and Kurama as we know him in the present are not the same demon any longer..."

"This is an excuse I do not intend to accept - I merely failed. There is no way I can return to my homeland. I have no family, no friends, no future, no fate...  I am an exile; just leave me be, Yomi..."

The horned youkai insisted. He directed his closed eyes at Hikaru, showing a very sweet expression.

"Stay here. Be my counsellor."

"No."

"I wish to help you. Your story touched me."

"I need not your help."

"Please..."

"No! I have told you I am leaving in the morning!" The youko exclaimed, exasperated.

Hikaru left Yomi's arms. He stood up and turned his back to the King. This way he could not see the soft, admiring smile Yomi gave him.

"On a second thought perhaps I should leave Gandara as well... It feels good to find adventure. I am not Gandara's King anymore; it is Shura's throne. I should start a new life..."

Hikaru looked at Yomi over one shoulder. He was starting to feel seriously harrassed.

"I cannot offer advice."

Yomi got on his feet. He walked to Hikaru, and placed one hand on his shoulder.

"Couldn't you at least offer me hope?"

The youko dodged Yomi's touch. They faced each other then. Yomi still smiled, and Hikaru furrowed his brow with annoyance. He sighed out.

"How could I offer you something I do not possess?"

Yomi held Hikaru's hands, squeezing them tenderly.

"Yes... We have no hope, no love, nowhere to go... Why shouldn't we rely on each other? We can start anew, together..."

Hikaru snorted. His lips showed a slight curve of derision.

"Yomi; you're delirious..."

Yomi laughed.

"Hikaru. I know you feel my love. I know you are attracted by me. The way you responded to my kiss gave me loving expectations. You cannot deny it..."

"I am sorry. It was a mistake."

Yomi chuckled.

"I am sure Hayashi never intended that you remained faithful to his memory for the rest of your life. You need love! You need company!"

"How dare you?"

"I want you..."

Hikaru was shocked. He could not understand why Yomi kept insisting on it...

"No..."

Yomi realized then Hikaru was very embarrassed; he seemed eager to leave. But the Demon King had no intention of missing the chance to seduce that gorgeous blue-eyed youko. He grasped Hikaru's arm and drew him to an ardent embrace. He circled the grey youko with undeniable lust, cuddling to him passionately. In a daring attitude, Yomi clutched Hikaru's robe and pulled it down, undressing his shoulders and chest.

The fox demon squirmed and tried to utter a protest. But his rising complaints were silenced by another deep kiss.

The taller youkai leaned on Hikaru, using his weight, his vigour, to subjugate the fox to his caresses. There was no resistance on Hikaru's part. He yielded, abandoning himself to that affectionate embrace. He just relaxed and allowed his mouth to be overwhelmed by that hungry gesture of love. He shivered when he sensed the king's hands stroke his torso. Firmly but also gently, Yomi vanquished Hikaru's reluctancy, and made him respond to his kiss with even more ardour than before. Their tongues touched again, their mouths merged in a wet caress, and they moaned one into the other's lips...

When they finally parted the kiss, Hikaru seemed dazed and confused. He panted and lowered his face, not to let his flushing cheeks be noticed.

Yomi could not avoid a pleased smile. Pleasure tingled all through his body, like a cloud of sparkling stars running along his veins...

"Stay here; Come live with me..." He invited, in a sultry murmur.

Hikaru refused it again. Nevertheless he made no effort to leave Yomi's arms.

"I cannot stay in Gandara."

The youkai insisted. He bent over the youko to kiss his neck. Hikaru shivered and moaned aloud. Delight rushed up his spine.

"Be mine... Be my youko..." Yomi murmured against Hikaru's soft hair, kissing his face, and moving his lips along his cheek to start another passionate french kiss.

Hikaru struggled faintly against the strong arms that circled him.

"No..."

"The more you deny it, the more you make me want you..."

Yomi squeezed Hikaru tighter yet. The youko groaned and squirmed.

"Let me go! Please!"

"Be my lover, Hikaru..."

"I don't feel anything for you!"

"Then why do you accept my kisses? Why do you yield to my caresses?"

The fox seemed devastated by Yomi's comment. His faces became red like on fire.

"It was just animal instinct... But I do not want you!"

Yomi's face assumed a determined expression. His fingers clutched tighter, possessively, to the fox's warm body.

"You shall be my youko!" He stated, with what seemed to be the most absolute and unbreakable conviction.

Hikaru shook his head in nervous denial. The youkai used his muscle not to let the youko leave his embracing arms. Then he just smiled quietly; he would not be moved away from his aim so easily...

It was Yomi's turn to snort. His face showed defiance, love and amusement mingled.

"Oh, Gods... I think I must take the initiative..."

Hikaru panicked.

"What do you mean?"

Yomi gave Hikaru a mischievous half-smile. With nimble precision, he caught the youko in an arm lock. Then, with a sudden twist, he tossed him to the ground.

The bumping sound as Hikaru hit the floor was loud and clear. Yomi did not waste time. Before his youko friend could react, he straddled his thighs, and bent over, holding the other demon's wrists down, pinning him to the floor.

Hikaru opened flabbergasted eyes. Gandara's King was too strong, and his weight pushed the youko flat on the floor, locking his movements.

"Stop it! What are you doing? Let me go!"

Yomi chuckled; He knew Hikaru had no means to set himself free.

"You are stubborn but I am far more than you! I want you!"

"Never! Let me go!"

Yomi laughed. His response was to tighten the grip around Hikaru's wrists. Then he leaned down and kissed Hikaru's mouth again, muffling his cries of protest. The youko squirmed, twisted, kicked, but Yomi kept on riding his thighs, fixing him to the floor with passionate energy.

He wriggled his body on Hikaru's.

"You are excited... You can't hide it... I can feel your heat!"

"Let me go or I'll turn you into stone!"

The youkai laughed louder.

"You have no power here."

The youko struggled more. He roared, and tried to sat up and bite. Yomi held him down with all his might.

"Let me go! Are you mad?"

Yomi cut Hikaru's complaint with a sarcastic comment.

"You are away from your element of power - It is a wooden floor."

Hikaru gasped. His shock was visible in his pale face and his wide-eyed stare.

"I won our match, Hikaru. You were caught." Yomi stated. His confidence and pleasure were evident.

"No..." The youko protested, feebly. He shut his eyes tight when he realized Yomi was bending over for another kiss. .

"Yes, Hikaru! I won! Now, I demand my prize..."

The youko protested. He shook his head vehemently, bucking and twisting on the floor to try to get rid of his unwanted rider.

Yomi still smiled. His face showed sweetness and love.

"We have been alone for so long... Let's be alone together..." Gandara's King proposed, in a husky, sultry tone of voice.

Before Hikaru could protest further, Yomi lay on the youko, holding him down with his arms and his squeezing thighs. Then, they kissed again.
 
 

To be Continued...