The golden youko did not wait for the following day to meet his friend. Leaving Gandara he headed straight to Hikaru's place. He intended to spend the afternoon  with his friend, and then follow back home before the sunset.

Shura had thought of such a perfect plan! Kinno could not wait another day to put it into practice!

Hikaru's house was finished. Every little detail, incuding interior decoration, the floor tiles, and even the strange but beautiful stone garden around the place was perfectly finished. But yet, the grey fox had not decided to start his tavern business. Kinno did not know why... Anyway, as a matter of fact, that tavern was so off road, he would hardly have any customers.

Kinno could not help thinking that most times Hikaru seemed to be hiding from something or someone.

Poor Hikaru. But soon he would have no need to hide. He would have a very powerful and gorgeous youkai like Shura's papa to protect him and make him company. He would be happy with papa-Yomi, just like Kinno was with Shura. It would be great if they could all be so happy!

He sat down at a table, affectionatly observing his striped friend.. He was so formal and tightlipped. But it made him charming in his own special way; only an idiot would not agree with that. Kinno was sure papa Yomi would feel attracted by Hikaru. He was educated, discreet, gorgeous, polite, respectable... He was really fit for a King!

The golden fox calmly drank the fruit juice Hikaru had served him. His striped friend never alowed him to drink any liquor in his presence, though he could not keep himself sober.

Hikaru was sitting very straight and tense at the table, keeping his cup of sake close.

He had seldom seen his friend smile. Laugh? Very rarely... Kinno had always wondered what was wrong with him, but Hikaru had never confessed him the reason for his sorrowfulness.

Some lost love from his past, maybe...

But he must help him cheer up. After all, life goes on, and Shura's father was a very attractive youkai - A real show stopper!

"Hikaru..." Kinno called, very sweetly.

"Yes?" The grey youko looked up at his friend, apparently too distracted with his own thoughts.

"Don't you feel alone sometimes?"

Hikaru gave Kinno a sideways glance; he could not hide his mild annoyance at that constant chant. For years Kinno had tried the same... But he just could not let go of his past...

"No. Not anymore since you and the kids come over to my place. I  feel very happy when you are here."

Kinno shook his head.

"No, no, Hikaru... I mean a different kind of company... You are a youko, and you don't have a lover; neither a steady, nor a one night stand."

Hikaru was on the defensive. He would gladly try to change the subject, but when Kinno stuck something in his head, it was difficult to move him.

"It is not a problem for me. Don't worry."

"But you're a youko! Don't you ever feel horny?  What do you do when you get hot?"

The grey fox looked down into his cup. Then he spoke very softly, almost as if he were thinking aloud...

"My right hand makes me company."

The younger youko asked Hikaru to repeat it. His friend's voice was so soft he had not heard anything. But of course Hikaru tried to skip the subject. He reached for his cup eagerly, and drank the sake in one quick draw.

"I have other things to do than getting laid, Kinno. Please... Try to understand it..."

The golden youko nodded. But he kept his eyes still fixed on Hikaru. Big, friendly, inquisitive eyes... Kinno was dying to ask more, and to know more...

"You never told me why you insist in not having a date. Why? You don't trust me? I tell you everything..."

Hikaru sighed in heavily.

"I had a lover in the past and I can't forget him; that's it.  Now, will you please let me drink?"

"Was it a male youko?"

Hikaru acquiesced. He finished his sake and immediately poured himself another dose, with annoyed impatience. His whole movement was followed by Kinno's worried eyes. The blond youko could not help but asking further about it.

"He was not a good lover. If he were he would never leave you alone, sulking like this. The best thing you do is to forget him, Hikaru and I..."

Kinno stopped when he noticed, struck by surprise, that the beautiful eyes of his friend became teary at once. He could not even believe when he accompanied a slow, clear tear roll all the way down Hikaru's face, till it dripped on the table...

He had never, never, seen his friend cry...

"Oh Hikaru... You can't cry so much because of a youko that dumped you like this... Try to forget him..."

"He is dead..."

"If you could find someone else to brighten your day and make you happy and make love to you, it would...

"Kinno. He is dead..."

The blonde youko only came to his senses about it when he heard Hikaru speak it to him for the second time. His friend's voice was naturally soft and hoarse, and the melancholy had turned it into an almost inaudible blow of air.

Hikaru elegantly covered his face with one hand, avoiding to allow Kinno to see his teary eyes.

"I cry because he is dead, but I can't forget him."

For a moment Kinno had the impression Hikaru would be unable to hold it back and thus would burst in the an uncontrollable weeping. His lips quivered, and he lowered his eyes. He heaved such a deep sigh, but instead of letting go and allowing himself to cry, Hikaru cut the impulse by drinking more sake. He drew in a cup, then another, and he was about fill another when Kinno gently interrupted him, holdning his arm.

Kinno smiled gently. He patted his friend's arm.

"Hikaru. You need a new love to let go of this old passion..."

The blue-eyed youko sighed. He faced Kinno in a blend of  annoyance and friendly patience, but his words were definitive.

"I would prefer not to, Kinno. Now, if your are going to insist on this line of argument you would better go home. I do not want to talk about it at all."

"But Hikaru... I only want to help..."

Hikaru smiled bitterly. He was visibly filled with longing, and also with resentment and a painful non-spoken anger. Kinno reached out to pat his friend's pale hand, offering him the most brilliant and friendly smile he could.

Hikaru refused the kind offering with a slight movement of his head. The stripped youko knew he needed to overcome the torture of his memories, and yet he just could not do it. Those memories caused him a lot of pain, but in a way, it was the only thing that gave meaning and sense to his life. How could he let go of it? Even if it hurt him deeply?

"You are a very good youko, Kinno. Thanks you for your concern. I am very happy to know how much you care about me. But I prefer to be alone; I don't want any lovers."

"He must have been very important for you..."

Hikaru failed in supressing a moaning sound, struck by a missing feeling.

"He was... I abandoned all I was then, all I had, just for him."

Kinno smiled as he heard it. Since he was young, locked in his master's castles or dungeons, he had always enjoyed much being told love tales and romantic stories. It helped him overcome the loathsomeness of his own life, and it made him forget how badly abused he was every single day of his life. It gave him dreams to cherish.

And those stories had become reality now that he was so happy, with his family, and his prince. He hoped Hikaru one day could be as happy as he was now.

"It must have been such a touching love story... Don't you want to tell me about it?"

The grey youko became so sorrowful he could not even look at Kinno in the eye.

"No. I'm afraid not." It was all Hikaru whispered in response.

Kinno agreed very sweetly. But he would not give up his intent of joining Hikaru and Papa Yomi. Now, more than never, he was convinced those lonely-hearts needed to come together.

"I think you need something to do, Hikaru. Something to keep you busy, so you won't have time to be depressed and think about this lost love of your past."

The grey youko gazed at his friend and tapped the top of the table, with impatient fidgeting fingers. He knew Kinno was pulling another  on him; that golden fox was a lovely and dedicated friend, but truth is he was also a troublemaker.

Nevertheless, instead of protesting, Hikaru breathed deeply, pondering on the situation.

Kinno was right. He could not spend his days drinking and mourning. There was no trail, no preys to hunt down and he still kept his tavern closed. He must find something to occupy himself with, or he would end losing all his marbles.

"I agree. I have been locked inside here for a long time. Do you have any suggestions?"

"Would you like a job in Gandara?"

Hikaru gave a very stern stare at his friend. His fingers tapped the tabletop harder, in a dry, angry manner now.

"I do not intend to sell cucumbers or anything of the kind..."

The golden youko interrupted his friend, happy to offer him something he knew Hikaru would apreciate.

"I found you a job in the palace, Hikaru! I know you're gonna love it there! You are so educated, so noble... You even seem to be a prince, just like my sweet Shura. I know you're gonna get along fine!" Kinno's smile grew wider, and he happily patted his friend's hand. "You seem fit for a palace! I am going to marry a prince, then maybe we can find a King for you!"

The grey youko showed a grimace. He was not enjoying the course of that conversation at all. But Kinno did not seem to perceive his friend's annoyance. The golden fox was not very good with subtleties of that kind.

"Shura told me he wants to hire you as tutor. He wants to know about Youko, and you are going to teach him history, legends, myths of our kind. He wants to know everything about us..."

Hikaru arched one eyebrow, but he said nothing in response. He looked up at the thatch ceiling, apparently very dispirited with his own life. He sighed in, and then out, tired, depressed...

"Please, Hikaru. You need to go out. You need to talk to people, and see people. If you remain holed up it will just make things worse. You need to forget this lover you had. He died; let his soul rest."

It seemed to be too much for Hikaru to bear. He lowered his eyes, and placed one hand over his eyes to conceal his quiet weeping. It was a quiet, painful cry. Hikaru did not sob, he did not groan, he did not sniffle. But the tears kept on falling from his eyes, one after the other...

"Go home, Kinno. Please, leave me alone." He murmured, in a very soft tone.

The blond youko bent over the table and reached out to touch and caress his friend's hair.

Hikaru shuddered, and reacted abruptely, shoving Kinno's hand off him.

"Go home." He spoke again, in a dry, brusque manner.

Kinno He did not leave though. He smiled to himself then, convinced he knew what it was best for his friend. He was sure Papa Yomi would heal him from this old passion. He could see Hikaru was vulnerable and that was the right moment to start the clever scheme his lollypop had envisioned.

"I'm not going, Hikaru. I still have something important to tell you."

The grey fox knew there was no way he could insist without being rude to Kinno; something he would never do. He assented, and remained quiet, trying to ease stop crying.

"I'm sorry. Love seems to exist only to make us suffer sometimes..."

Kinno smiled. Yes! He could try to touch Hikaru's sensitive heart... He knew his friend would not deny solace to another love-sick youkai.

"I know of another youkai who is also suffering much for love..."

Hikaru sniffled his cry very politely. He took a deep breath in, and tried to forget his pain, paying attention to whatever gossip Kinno would tell him.

"I know you have nothing to do with it, Hikaru, but seeing you crying and brooding over someone reminded me of what is happening to Shura's papa."

Hikaru's ears prickled. He narrowed his eyes for a moment, observing and studying Kinno's attitude.

"That conceited youkai! He offended me gravely when we met!"

Kinno tried not to care about Hikaru's complaint. It was obvious his friend had been living alone for so long he did not know what was good for him.

"It was because he was worried about Shura. But now papa Yomi's has changed much towards you."

Hikaru became more suspicious yet. His shoulders tensed, and sat very erect, visibly uncomfortable.

"I hope never to have the chance to meet him again in my life! He insulted me. He is a very arrogant youkai."

Kinno smiled gently. His hand moved on to hold Hikaru's in a warm grasp.

"Don't say so, please! Papa Yomi is so broken-hearted... Shura is very worried about him. In fact, this is the reason why he wants you to spend some time in Gandara. He hopes it might relieve his father's anguish."

The suspicion turned into confusion.

"Ahn? What do you mean? I have nothing to do with King Yomi!"

Kinno tightened his fingers around Hikaru's slender but strong hand.

"Papa Yomi is suffering so much, Hikaru... He can't sleep, he can't eat... He is very deppressed, and no one can cheer him up. Shura is going insane over it!" Kinno sighed in then. "I told Shura you are a good youko, and that you would not deny him help. I know you are going to help bringing Papa Yomi back to normal, aren't you, Hikaru?"

The grey fox was at a loss for words. He stared at Kino with wide, shocked eyes, and did not dare to say anything.

Kinno took the chance to continue. He showed Hikaru a tender gaze, and drew himself closer to him, leaning over the tabletop.

"Papa Yomi is in love with you, Hikaru."
 
All color faded away from Hikaru's naturally pale face. He pulled himself from Kinno, and closed his eyes for a moment, while he breathed in very deeply. He sighed out, and only then, he looked at his friend again.

"I cannot help."

The peremptory tone did not make Kinno give up. The golden youko got on his feet and walked closer to Hikaru, to sit on the floor at his feet. He leaned his chin on his friend's knees, and looked up at him with big puppy eyes.

"Hikaru, please... Shura's anguish is making me suffer too... "

The grey youko shook his head.

"I cannot do anything that might help. I have no intention of establishing a romantic or sexual liaison with any youkai. Let alone that arrogant King!"

Kinno stroked Hikaru's thigh, still staring at him with sweet, begging eyes.

"He changed. Now he can only think of you."

Hikaru said nothing. He showed a very annoyed expresion, and crossed his arms at his chest, turning his face to the other side. He did not even want to consider the possibility..

"We only met once!"

"It was Love at First Sight, Hikaru."

"What do you mean, first sight? He is blind!"

Kinno took a moment to think on something to say.

"It was love at first impression. Shura's papa is very sensitive; he can see perfectly using his sixth sense. And he loved your voice, your long hair and your blue eyes. If you could at least be friends with him... I am sure papa Yomi would not suffer so much, and then maybe with time he could even forgot this passion he feels for you. Don't be cruel, Hikaru... You were suffering because of lover a little ago - you know how much it hurts..."

"I am a fox-demon; not a saint. If he is in trouble he should get professional help."

Kinno lowered his face, pretending to be very sad, to try to touch his friend's heart. He was a master in that kind of pretense... He used to do it a lot in order to convince his customers to give him gifts, or be nice to him. All he needed was to blink his pair of big, alluring eyes, show a smile and wriggle his tail...

True is wriggling his tail would never work with Hikaru - His friend was such a celibate!

"I never knew you could be so heartless, Hikaru. Papa Yomi cries everyday because of his love for you. Loneliness is making him suffer too much. He told Shura he would give up his whole Kingdom just to be with you."

Hikaru sighed in, and looked up at the ceiling.

"Inari... Give me patience..."

"You could do so much good with so little, my friend... All you have to do is stay  near to Papa Yomi, be kind to him and smile at him once in a while."

"Why should I give him false hopes? Isn't it going to make matters worse?"

Kinno did not know what to say. He gazed at his friend in bewilderment for a moment. In the lack of rational arguments, he tried emotional arguments.

"I thought you wanted to help... If you saw the king you would be touched. He's a wretch...  The love he feels for you is so intense that it is almost killing him."

Hikaru poured himself more sake. He drew it all in one single gulp, and knocked the cup back on the table. He kept looking down, observing his fingers as he drummed them on the wooden surface. He tried not to look at Kinno, even aware the golden youko was rubbing his chin on his thigh, silently demanding an answer.

The grey fox pondered on the matter for a moment.

"I'll see what I can do Kinno..."

Kinno got on his knees, and reached out to envelop his friend with a warm, avid clinch. He squeezed Hikaru in his arms and kissed his cheek.

"Thank you, Hikaru! Shura is gonna be so happy! And I'm sure papa Yomi will feel much better with your company!"

"Friends! I am merely making friends with him! I have no interest in starting an affair!"

Kinno agreed, nodding his head vigorously.

"Yeah, Hikaru! Just friends! But be sincere; don't you think papa Yomi is a hunk?"

The blue-eyed fox gazed angrily at his younger friend, reproaching his senseless enthusiasm.

"Kinno! I mean it! Friends, only!"

The golden youko just smiled back, full of contentment.

Now, Shura must do his part, and they just needed sit back and wait for nature to follow its course...

 
To Be Continued...