The best time of any of the high councils in Gandara was the end, after all the Counsellors, Ministers and Generals had been dismissed. It was then Shura remained with his father alone to arrange some final top secret decisions and plans. He ruled Gandara with his father, and although Yomi kept the final word in every matter, he often followed Shura's advice with pride and admiration, mainly regarding the frontiers.

However that evening Shura's mind was trailing off from the usual politics. He remained quiet and acquiescent as his father spoke to him about his conclusions and future decisions, and Shura did not make any remarks or comments.

Shura was very busy thinking on a perfect angle to match his father and Kinno's youko friend...
 
The young youkai smiled while staring sweetly at his father. No; he was not a mere father - Yomi was everything - his King, his father, his creator, and also an older, more mature, more powerful twin brother.

Yomi was indeed handsome. Shura propped his chin on his clenched fist while looking at Yomi. He wanted his father to be very happy not only in love, but in everything.

"Papa... Can I make you a question?"

Yomi stopped his long comment on the new territories he was about to gather under his rule, to turn his senses towards his son.

"Sure, my son. Any doubt regarding the meeting?"

"No, no... I just wanted to talk about love..."
 
Yomi furrowed his brow.

"Love?"

Shura's face flushed lightly. He felt embarrassed about starting such an intimate talk with his father, but he needed to know as much details as he could in order for his and Kinno's plans to work out fine.

"Papa, do you still love youko Kurama?"

Yomi lowered his horned head for a moment. However his answer came quickly.

"No. Not like before. I am much more resigned to my fate now. I know there is no use in dreaming of him anymore."
 
Shura could not help smiling when he heard that. It was not a decisive answer, but at least it showed Yomi had got real, and was struggling for his definitive freedom.

"Papa, I'm happy to hear that. And how do you feel?"

Yomi sighed in lengthily.

"I miss the emotion. I lack motivation. Everything I built, everything I fought for, everything I wanted involved the youko - I did it all to prove to Kurama I could do it. Now my demon heart is empty. It is like living in a void." Yomi was visibly stricken by grief then. His voice sounded hopeless and he showed a bitter little smile. "However you and your sweet fiance are filling my barren life with your emotion and happiness. You make me very content, my son."

Shura could feel the pain hidden beneath his father's soft smile. He felt sorry for his father's sorrow. He must do something!

"Is it enough for you, papa?"

"What do you mean?"

"You could find company. You dedicate yourself to Gandara too much. You need a love-partner."

Yomi gently shook his head. He chuckled, but he placed his hand before his lips not to let it show.

"Are you trying to find me a partner? Don't come with blind dates, my son..."

Shura smirked. He looked at his own hands, rubbing one on the other nervously - Blind dates... Oh... It was exactly what he was trying to do...

"Don't make a joke out of it, papa. You need someone. I would be much happier if you had someone. It could even be a youko..."

Yomi seemed surprised.

"What do you say?"

"Yes! There must be a good youko someplace in the Makai."

"A good youko?"

"Yes, papa! A kind youko; one who might really love you!"

Yomi laughed.

"Maybe I like them bad..."

Shura could not deny he became slightly shocked. He would prefer that his father kept such details to himself. Kinno might understand, but he could not...

"You would do better dealing with Gandara's affairs only. Leave your papa the way he is, alright?" 

Shura lowered his eyes.

"I imagined you could help Kinno and I..."

Yomi acquiesced. His expression became focused and sweet at the same time.

"What do you need from me? Whatever it is you can count on me. I would not deny you or my future son-in-law anything," Yomi spoke, very earnestly.

Shura feigned reluctancy. He remained perfectly still for a moment, till Yomi insisted, standing up and walking around the large table up to his son.

"Do not be shy. A future King of the Makai cannot be shy under any circumstance." Yomi cupped Shura's shoulder with one hand, and squeezed it warmly. "Is it something related to Kurama?"

The King drew one of the chairs next to Shura. He sat down then, still firmly and affectionately grasping his son's shoulder, as if to give him support.

Shura shook his head negatively. He sighed out, before continuing.

"There's a demon who dreams of making company to you, papa. He dreams of you day and night, and is impotent to come closer to you."

Yomi's amazed silence showed the prince he was welcome to continue.

"I wonder if you remember Hikaru..."

"Who?"

Shura felt a little awkward fooling his father like that. Poor Yomi... He did not even remember Hikaru's name... But Shura was convinced it was a little white lie, and in the end would do good to either Hikaru or his papa. They needed company, and they fit each other perfectly.

"Hikaru is Kinno's best friend. They are like brothers one to the other."

Yomi nodded his head, following Shura's words with keen interest. He bent himself forward and smiled.

"I remember no demon in particular, I am sorry."

"He is a youko. Kinno told me you almost started a fight with him because of us..."

Yomi's brow furrowed, and his back and shoulders tensed. To recall that arrogant youko who dared to stand on his way annoyed him terribly. He aimed his shut eyes straight at Shura, and the smiling curve on his lips turned into a downwards line of displeasure.

"That conceited youko? Ha! I would be much happier if you kept distance from him. You learn nothing good being friends with him! To me he is just a filthy character!"

Shura was shocked with his father's intense bigotry towards Hikaru.

"Papa... He is a kind and reasonable youko. It seems your prejudices are preventing you of perceiving the truth."

"Truth? What truth?"

Shura needed to take a deep breath in. His father was indeed nervous. Hikaru had caused a strong impression on Gandara's King; a shame it was a negative impression. It meant he and his blondie must work harder to match them.

"He is a very respectable and kind youko. He was harsh towards you because he was defending Kinno and I. He needed to protect Hyoko and Ikki also. He is a stouthearted fox, papa. And he is very educated as well. Hikaru san is the youko I hired as tutor."

Yomi became paler yet with the shock.

"Hikaru san accepted the position. He will be here for our first class tomorrow. I hope you to treat him kindly."

Yomi felt an initial impulse to forbid Shura of hiring such a despicable demon as a tutor, but instead of protesting, he just breathed deeper and consented. His son seemed to have an imnate afinity for fox demons. He could not blame him; it was in their blood after all...

At least he had found himself the good-hearted Kinno Youko. It lessened whatever consequences the presence of Hikaru might bring.

"I hope not to meet him at all!" Yomi stated, in a conclusive tone.

"He is a clever and very educated youko. You would be impressed if you took a moment to try to know Hikaru san a little better, papa."

Yomi showed an ironical little grin.

"My standarts are much higher that that, son."

Shura felt he was almost out of arguments. He had not imagined it would be so hard! He would better appeal to his father's feelings. He knew his papa would never deny Kinno anything. He loved his blond lover so much it even made him jealous.

Shura felt ashamed to think in such a fashion, but his papa's affection for Kinno menaced his peace of spirit. It was a strong reason the King must find a lover all for himself as soon as possible.

"Papa. You like Kinno, don't you?"

"I like him very much. Kinno is a rare jewel."

"Kinno is very worried about his friend. Hikaru-san is much depressed these days... Would you welcome him with affection and kindness? Just to help and please my blondie?"

Yomi seemed puzzled.

"Why?"

Shura lowered his eyes as he spoke, showing a very dejected expression.

"Hikaru-san is deply in love with you, papa."

There was silence between father and son for a very long moment. Yomi remained impassive, rigid, till he suddenly burst in a loud laughter, relaxing his body back against the chair, apparently amused with that improbable statement.

Shura was backed off by his father's reaction, but he did not give up. He waited till his father's irreverent laughter ceased before saying anything else.

"You should not laugh, papa. Hikaru-san is suffering much because of you."

Yomi's grin became a slight sideways smile.

"That youko is a pitiful demon. He must be derranged. I did not even interact with him enough. He does not know me enough to have developed such deep feelings."

Shura used his clever mind, and his recent knowledge of his father's past - To sum up, he did not play fair when he answered him back.

He looked up at Yomi with a very stern and determined expresion, and reached out to hold his hands. He caressed his father's long and sensitive fingers as he spoke.

"Papa. Passion is not a rational thing. You have told me the love you felt for Kurama youko was irrational and senseless, and yet it took you centuries to overcome it. You told me you fell for Kurama at first sight. Then, why couldn't Hikaru Youko be attracted in the same fashion towards you?" Shura smiled then. "You are a handsome demon, papa. You have many qualities that might have aroused Hikaru's interest."

Yomi agreed. What else could he do? His son had spoken true and undeniable facts. There was no way he could deny passion was a sudden and innescapable experience.

Nevertheless the smile did not fade away from his lips.  Somehow he reminded his youth... In his old times many youkai have fallen deeply in love for him. Many loved him but the one he truly covetted - The proud silver youko.

"Hikaru san is suffering too much. Kinno would be grateful if you could help us deal with this situation..."

Yomi nodded his head calmly.

"The point is he did not seem to be interested on me when we met."

Shura felt much more confident than before. He could see in Yomi's focused mien that he had finally stirred his attention. He patted his father's hand and for a moment he realized he still had much to grow up. His papa's hands were tender but big, strong, and his own ones still seemed much like a child's in comparisom.

However, those hands were cold. It must be the lonely life the king persisted on. But soon his father would feel his demon heart warm, and full of passion; and his hands would feel much warmer too...

"Things changed. Kinno told me his friend is always asking about you, papa. Hikaru san told Kinno he misses you, and that he wishes deeply to meet you again, just to talk, to share your company..."

"Hmmmm... I am not sure it is the correct course to take..."

"Kinno is very worried about Hikaru. It was Kinno who asked me to find his friend a job in the palace. You know by your own experience how much love hurts, don't you, papa? He thinks that the mere chance of seeing you again would rescue Hikaru-san from the deppression he is in. He is feeling so miserable Kinno is afraid he might even try against his own life. And you can help, papa!  That youko is just yearning for a chance to be close to you..."

Yomi remained very still. He seemed not to have reached a conclusion.

"I wanted to cheer Kinno. It is why I invited Hikaru-san to come work at the palace. But you must promise you will treat him kindly, papa; with a little affection, if possible..."

The King lowered his horned head for an instant. He slid his hands off Shura's affectionate clasp, and got on his feet.

"I am not bound to start a relationship with any demon; mainly a youko. But  I will allow Hikaru's presence in Gandara, and I will treat him accordingly, as a personal favor to your fiancé." Yomi smiled softly then. "Kinno is too sweet to be bothered by worries of any kind. I will do it for him, yes?"

Gandara's prince smiled. His pinkish eyes glinted and he acquiesced with vigorous shake of his head.

"I will do my best to be kind to Hikaru-san," Yomi declared, firmly.

The King left the room then. Shura jumped up, and punched the air with a victorious gesture.

Yes! Success! Now on with the second part of their plan!
 

 
To Be Continued...