Hikaru did not appreciate staying for very long that imposing tower. The whole construction was made of metal. The fact he was confined within an element which he could not control strained him. He felt... vulnerable...
 
He had worn a plain dark grey tunic over black trousers, and a long black coat, which gave him a very straight, austere look. He had even tied his hair in a loose ponytail, with a black strap. He imagined such a look to be appropriate for a prince's tutor.

Several guards have guided him to the entrance of a large room, where the classes were supposed to be held. He was told to wait at the door, and so he did. Hikaru waited  patiently, carrying three huge volumes on Makai's History under one arm, always wondering if it had been a good idea to take that occupation.

Somehow he felt even more awkward when the metal doors at the end of that long corridor slid open, and Shura stepped in, followed by the King.

The youko became very tense, and his long eyebrows met in a furrow of annoyance. He remained impassive though, as both demons, who were so alike, walked in his direction.

Shura gave him a very warm smile. Hikaru bowed his head a little when Gandara's Prince and King stood before him.

"Hikaru-san! I am glad that you accepted our invitation to come to Gandara!"

Hikaru responded Shura an almost imperceptible, perfectly polite smile.

"It is an honor to serve your Majesties."

As he bowed his head again, his blue eyes skipped a little towards the tall, imposing figure of the King.

Yomi seemed severe and unreachable. And those shut eyes gave him airs; as if he thought so high of himself that had even closed his eyes to all the rest of the world around him.

He must be a self-centered bastard. Power and authority changed a youkai completely.

"My father has requested to be present at your first class, Hikaru-san. I hope you do not mind."

A shadow of suspicion altered Hikaru's peaceful gaze. He looked up at Shura, and then at Yomi. He felt nervous about it. He knew he would be observed and his character and behavior would be judged. He knew he would be ogled and maybe given all kinds of flirting indirects at, and the situation made him extremely tight.

The things Kinno made him do... If it were not his friendship and affection for that jovial golden fox, Hikaru would never have found himself in such trouble...

Thanks Inari he had worn the most austere and loose set of clothes he had. That youkai would be given nothing to arouse his imagination. Hikaru did not want to encourage King Yomi's feelings and desire in the slightest.

"My pleasure." He responded, courtly.

The King's shut eyelids fluttered. He felt Hikaru's scent invade him as he breathed in.

It was an intense, undeniable fox scent...

Hikaru-san could be an urbane, tamed, debonair youko, but he still smelled like any of his wilder peers.

Yomi almost regretted having agreed that his son brought a fox into the palace. Mainly that particular fox. However, The king tried to camouflage his dislike with politeness. After all, he was a guest in the Main Tower. He must be treated accordingly.

"I welcome you in my domains, Hikaru-san. Even though we had clashed in the last time we met, I hope everything to be forgotten now. I assure you this time I will treat you with all affection and courtesy. "

The King smiled then, and Hikaru took a moment to change those heavy books from under one arm to the other.

"You should use the computers and our database, instead of these old, dusty books." Yomi commented then.

The youko stared directly at the King.

"I am a traditionalist. I do not appreciate modern apparatuses."

"I foresee you shall have a very hard time in Gandara then. I am sorry to inform you that our technology is state-of-the-art."

"Beauty is in the simple things. I disaproove all that Gandara stands for. It is changing the traditions and customs in this part of the Makai very drastically."

Yomi's face showed a tense frown.

"Perhaps this reluctancy of yours is just fear for starting a new life. I imagine that..."

Yomi was cut by a not-so-discreet tugging at his coat. It was Shura, interfering in between their growing discussion. If they were to behave like that, like open enemies, always arguing, it would be harder than he could imagine to bring them together.

"Please, Hikaru-san. Let's start our class, right?"

Hikaru managed to avoid starting an argument. He just looked at Yomi down his nose, while his lips showed a very rigid line of displeasure. He was going to try his best to help Kinno and his fiancé but that King was so arrogant, so conceited, so cocksure of himself... Hikaru did not know how long he could take his presence...

How could that demon all of a sudden be interested on him? Hikaru had asked himself such question and found no plausible answer. It must be some odd kind of sexual fetish - it was the only possible expanation.

But he just agreed with Shura, and elegantly gave passage to the King and his son, disclosing the door before them.

"Please. Find your seats."

Yomi entered first, sitting at the head of the large rectangular table. Shura sat down at his right, and he already leaned forward to speak to him, in a very low murmur, while Hikaru headed to the board and desk at the other side of the room.

Fortunately there was distance enough for Hikaru not to hear what father and son were whispering one to the other. And even though the youko could focus his hearing and grasp what they were chattering, he preferred not to know. Ignorance was bliss sometimes...

"He's a handsome youko, don't you think?"

Yomi snorted, letting his senses reach the youko, observing, hearing and sensing him as he placed his books and pulled some notes from the pockets of his long coat.

"Those blue eyes are his only noticeable feature. To me he looks like a foppish goody-goody. He has given away his wild side and became a dandyish civilized demon. He is not my kind at all."

Even though Yomi seemed so conclusive in his comment, Shura did not give up his intent.

"At least he's got a good body..." Shura commented, trying to arouse a response from Yomi.

"Too short; too thin. He should work out."

"Papa! Kinno is shorter and slimmer than he is and you find him great. You are too intolerant towards Hikaru-san!"

Yomi gave his son a small twisted smile.

"The truth is that your fiancé is voluptuous in all the right places..."

Shura became a little shocked. It meant his father had actually been staring at Kinno enough to notice it? He must definitively forbid his blondie of wearing all those short and tight-fitting clothes he had...

Yomi breathed deeper then. He extended his inner senses over the youko.

"Are you sure he said he loves me? I feel no change in his aura. He must hide his feelings pretty well."

Shura was fast in his reply.

"You always say youko are masters of pretense, papa. Hikaru is so shy he is doing his best to hide his real feelings for you."

Yomi shook his head, hopelessly.

"A shy youko? I never heard it could be possible..."

It was then Hikaru looked up at the two. He had arranged the books and all his notes in order, and found his class plan.

"Silence, please! I have been hired for a purpose, and I do intend to fullfill it!"
 
The King and the prince attended readily. Yomi could not avoid a smile on his lips while he studied that that fox. That grey youko was so different from the one he knew, the proud, self-centered silver one, that to observe and compare the two was an amusing activity.

"I will touch some general matters, before entering the Historical aspects." Hikaru announced. Then, as the two Gandaran youkai nodded in accordance, he continued.

Hikaru was feeling a little nervous, because he knew The King was observing him. To be aware that youkai might have loving feelings for him was a cause of major embarrassment. However Hikaru tried his best not to show his discomfiture, presenting himself in a very formal attitude.

"Youko are kami with many different abilities. The Temple of Inari became first associated with youko when a couple sought shelter in the temple. The couple and their five kits were given sanctuary and protection by Inari, in exchange for their servitude. Each swore ten oaths to Inari, and were given positions in the temple. Since then, their descendants have served the Divinity faithfully. These oaths allowed them to gain power and became the youko demons you know. In turn, our demon race protects those who work and live near the shrine, and aid those who come to them for help. The youko loyal to the Temple are called Myobu. When a fox who doesn't serve Inari, a Nogitsune, starts harassasing the servants or the dwellers near an Inari shrine, the youko faithful to Inari track down the offending fox, and deal with it. "

Yomi did not seem to be paying attention to Hikaru's words. He was distant and quiet, but Shura became very interested.

"Deal with it? In which way?"

Hikaru did not show any change of emotion.

"Whether the Nogitsune repents himself and starts serving the temple, or he is executed." He blinked his very clear eyes then, distracted by his own thoughts for a moment. "But such tradition is not followed anymore. Most youko prefer to live in peace and respect one another. In the past there were many conflicts between the youko loyal to Inari and the infidels, but most enmity is over nowadays. Unlike the Nogitsune, the Myobu were not the tricksters and mischievous spirits of most legends. Instead, they were considered good omens, and guardians. Hence the term 'guardian youko'." Hikaru made a pause them. "Neither Kurama youko nor Kinno are guardian youko. They are Nogitsune."

The Prince interrupted Hikaru with a polite gesture.

"And you, Hikaru-san?"

He faced Shura with a very stern expression, and the prince was able to notice his tension in the way he clenched his fists at his sides.

"I am just a recluse." It was all he answered back, swiftly going back to topic. "Youko are divided in these two races -  The Celestial and Wild, associated with the fox-demons who follow Inari, and those who don't." The grey-furred demon smiled thoughtfully, and looked at Shura. "Youko are emotional and very vengeful. We lose our temper at the slightest provocation. Once someone has earned a youko's enmity, this youko will begin enacting revenge that can become quite extreme. On the other hand, those who have earned a fox's trust and loyalty will see a friendship that can last through many trials. I know it will be the case with you and Kinno, Prince Shura."

Shura agreed, and responded to Hikaru's words bowing his head slightly to him.

"But you need to trust him and never oppress him in any way. Kinno is so weak because he has always lived in captivity. Freedom is very important to our race. Youko do not accept being forced into something they do not wish, and do not like being bound or trapped. Doing so weakens their powers. Moreover, Youko require a connection to their element to gain more power. The youko's connection to the element fuels him, giving them powers associated with that element. There are legends of youko transformation that include trees, stones, an entire forest, and other such phenomenon. But only a very old, very powerful youko is able to do so. Different forms of manifestation include the true foxform, the human form, or a combination of the two. In all cases, the fox-demon is supernaturally attractive..."

"Tell us about sex, Hikaru-san!" Shura prompted, with a wide smile, while giving his father a conspiratorial sideways glance. "I am going to marry a very lustful fox. I must know how to please him best!"

Hikaru flushed at once. His cheeks acquired a red tone, and his ears prickled up, and he nervously twisted the paper with his notes in his hands.

"I am afraid I am not the appropriate teacher in such field..."

The grey youko walked closer to the table, and faced the two youkai. Shura had previously told him King Yomi would attend his class because he craved meeting him again too much, and he agreed. But to ask such questions was not part of the agreement.

"Hikaru-san, I have no one to tell me about these things... Propriety prevents me from asking it directly to Kinno. I need help..."

Hikaru breathed in deeply, relaxing from the initial shock. And he must agree Gandara's prince was right...

"Is it true youko are sexually insatiable? Is it true they can spend hours, days even, making sex non-stop?"

The youko was very aware his cheeks burned with shame. He promised to himself it was be the first and the last question on that subject that he would clarify.

"Yes. It is true. A youko can engage in sex for days in a row, providing he is given appropriate motivation."

Shura's eyes widened. It was a shame he was only allowed to meet Kinno on Saturdays...

"Which appropriate motivation?"

"It depends on the youko. To some it is just the prospective of an orgy. Others will engage in such activities only if there is love between the ones involved."

It was then Yomi snorted, loudly. He bent forwards, and his shut eyes stared at Shura first, then fell ironically on Hikaru.

"Every youko is a master of seduction and sexual allurement, and very rarely care about feelings. You need not pretend to be so coy and righteous, Hikaru-san. There is no use in lying either to me or to my son. I know very well what a youko is like when it comes to sex."

The line of Hikaru's shoulders tensed up. An almost imperceptible furrow altered his brow.

"I am not lying, Yomi-sama. Please, do not flaunt your knowledge, because it is based on rumors, not on true facts. In fact there are those youko who will engage in sex only when there is true love between the partners."

Yomi kept on his irony.

"I doubt it! The whole Makai knows youko are wanton and dissolute."

Hikaru became angry at the King's insistence.

"There are Celestial and Wild youko, Yomi sama! Probably you have only met the promiscuous kind in your life. And you cannot pass judgement upon a whole race based on just one, or two rotten examples." The grey fox took an instant to breathe and to try to keep himself collected. Nothing infuriated him the most than being mistaken for one of the wild, infidel youko. "It is the wild youko, the Nogitsune, who are promiscuous. The guardian youko are loyal, and they are guided by a higher spirit, not mere instinct and lust!"

He felt the King shudder. His shut eyelids fluttered mildly, and he pulled himself backwards a little. He visibly detested being contradicted in the presence of his own son, but Hikaru could not help. He must stand for the truth, and for the honor of his species.

He stared at Yomi, and wondered what must be going in that perverted youkai's mind... He felt weird, almost as if on exhibition, knowing the King was attentive and closely observant of his gestures and attitude.

Hikaru faced the King proudly.

"You offend me with your presumptuous statements! You have no idea of what youko are like!"

Yomi got on his feet. Shura looked at one demon and the other, not sure if he should interfere or not.

"I do not need eyes to perceive some things, dear Hikaru-san... I know you are trying to impress me, but I assure you, it is not necessary."

Hikaru's blue eyes widened with shock and indignation.

"I do not need to impress anyone! Who do you think you are? Some type of youko specialist just because you've had sex with one or two? You know nothing about us!"

Shura jumped up, and stood between the two demons.

"Please, do not fight. Papa, allow Hikaru to continue..." Shura asked, gently making his father sit down again, as he gazed at Hikaru. "Please, Hikaru-san. Do not consider my father's comments. Go on with your explanation..."

Hikaru shook his head in silence. He gave his back to the youkai, and walked back to the desk, to catch his books and stuff all his notes into his pockets again. Only then he turned on his heels to face Gandara's leaders.

"If your father knows so much about youko I see I am not needed at all."

Yomi stood up again at once. He retorted immediately.

"It is precisely what I have told my son, but he insisted in this folly!" Yomi's smile widened as he thought Hikaru certainly was acting the good and prude youko just to to call his attention. "You are wasting your time with this deceive. I only like the wild type of youko."

Hikaru felt so offended that the color left his face, and his hands and knees trembled.

"Then I must inform you I am not a youko of your liking! Fare well!"

Hikaru rushed fast out of the room. The youko did not look back, not even when Shura, startled with the incident between them, called him back.

The King was still smiling. He must have found it very amusing... The prince faced his father sadly. It was too bad his plans had gone ashtray so soon...

"Papa! How could you? You were all the time playing with Hikaru's feelings! He had planned this first class so much! He just wanted to show you his culture and refinement, and you drag him into this ugly argument!"

Yomi was surprised with his son's reaction. He did not think that matter was so important to him.

"I am sorry, son, but I could not stand his airs! What does he think he is? The Almight Prince of the Righteous Youko?"

Shura lowered his head, disheartened.

"Don't you realize he was over-reacting like that because he was too nervous? Haven't you noticed he was shaking, papa?"

"Well..."

Shura headed to the door. He must go after Hikaru and convince him to reconsider his quitting.

"That youko loves you so much, and you treat him like this! You treated him the same way Youko Kurama treats you! With irony and conceitedness! That poor youko must be crying his heart out by now!"

Yomi lowered his head... Yes, he must admit he had not been amiable to Hikaru-san as he had promised he would. To know that youko was there in Gandara because of the love he felt affected the king somehow. It must have something to do with the smell too - That different fox scent Hikaru carried was driving him insane...

Yomi felt awkward... He felt unease and embarrassed when he imagined what that fox must be thinking whenever he looked at him... The possibility of that affection disturbed Yomi. the King felt like he had forgotten how to flirt, how to accept a court, how to allow himself be wanted and loved...

He explained himself to Shura, showing a very touched tone of voice.

"It has been more than 1000 years since I last experienced an affair. Please, my son, forgive me for my intolerance. I will try to be more polite next time. I realize now that if that youko is really fond of me, he must be very disillusioned with my response to his attempt to come closer to me."

Shura looked at his father firmly. He placed his hands on his hips.

"You have promised to be kind to him, papa! Now Hikaru-san must be in total despair! You will have to apologize to him! You do not need to fall in his arms, but you could at least be friendly!"

Yomi acquiesced.

"I will try... I will apologize to him..."

Shura smiled to his father then, confident that the King would behave properly next time. Then he excused himself, and hurried out, to go after Hikaru.

The hard part would be to convince that youko not to consider his father's foolish comments... That apparently mild fox showed such a short temper! Shura would never have suspected it!
 
The Prince hurried out and along the corridors, worried and trying to think of something to make Hikaru reconsider Yomi's behavior. Shura had promised to Kinno he would help his friend, and he had promised to himself he would do all he could to make his father happier and less lonely. He could not let his plans backfire so miserably and so soon! It was a matter of personal pride!

He met Hikaru when the youko had already reached the elevator lobby.

The fox seemed very angry. Shura could see the rigid and stressed line of his neck and shoulders, and one hand clenched strongly against his thigh. His tail was tense, and he kept his head down as he looked to the floor.

Shura diminished his pace and approached the youko with caution and kindness, touching his shoulder in order to call his attention.

"Hikaru-san. please allow me to explain it..."

The grey-haired demon turned a very averse glimpse at Shura. Then he lifted up his chin, and faced Gandara's heir directly.

"Your father has offended me again! He keeps on mistaking me for a low-life, promiscuous type of youko! I shall not tolerate such insult!"

Shura swallowed hard when he met that youko's sudden wrath. And he knew it was all his fault... For a moment he felt like giving up those those silly matching plans... He did not even want to cogitate on Hikaru's and Yomi's reaction in case they found that whole story was just a bait to bring them together...

But he needed to go on. Now that they had already dragged the two lonely-hearts into that situation it would be even worse to try to deny the whole story.

It seemed he and Kinno had already stuck themselves in deep shit with that derranged scheme - now they needed to be brave and keep up with the pretense not to make things worse...

Shura bowed his head before Hikaru, very respectfully.

"I apologize for the King. My father regrets having offended you, Hikaru-san. Papa can be very stubborn and rude sometimes. But I assure you similar incidents shall never happen again."

"Naturally they won't! I intend never to meet King Yomi again!"

Shura panicked. He lowered his head further down.

"If you do so my father will lose all hope! He will suffer from the love he feels for you eternally! Please, Hikaru-san! Reconsider your position! I beseech you to be kind to my father!"

The youko seemed to quieten his indignation a little. He lowered his eyes and pondered. At least Gandara's prince was kind and polite, very differently from his arrogant and disdainful father. The prince had bent his head before him, and humbly asked for his forgiveness. It would be rude not to grant it.

Hikaru smiled sligthly to Gandara's prince, and agreed with a soft movement of his head.

"You are well-mannered and reasonable, Prince Shura. Kinno is a fortunate youko to have you as his partner. I do accept your apologies."

Shura directed his pinkish stare at the youko, confident that next time Hikaru and his father could engage in a more sensible interchange.

"Hikaru-san, my father is so desirous towards you that his feelings are disturbing his reasoning. It was my father who asked me to start such a debate. Papa needed to be sure of your position and your feelings about love-relationships. After being betrayed by Kurama Youko, he would not stand being cheated or abused by another lover. Papa just wanted to test your virtuousness."

Hikaru faced Shura cautiously, trying to sense if he was indeed speaking the truth or not. He was starting to become suspicious of that whole tale, but Shura's face was so confident, so frank, that Hikaru easened his worries.

"I see..."

"Papa needs a corteous and righteous youko at his side; either as a friend or lover. He needs a good-hearted fox, not an arrogant, randy and immoral youko! Please, Hikaru-san, do not abandon my father to his lonely fate so soon... Please, give him some hope to cherish..."

Hikaru felt very touched and embarrassed. Shura was effective in the art of eloquence and rethoric. He would undoubtedly become a great leader very soon...

And Gandara's prince still insisted, continuing his emotive appeal, taking the opportunity as Hikaru still pondered.

"Have you not noticed how excited my papa was? He becomes so aroused when he is close to you that it affects him and he loses all his sense..."

Hikaru's cheeks became red again. He pressed the books tight against his lap and fidgeted in place, disturbed by embarrassment.

"I prefer you to overlook these details, Shura-san..."

Shura agreed.

"If you could spend more time with my father and you could talk further. I know you will get along perfectly.  You just need to find what you have in common, instead of arguing over the differences..."

The youko blinked his very clear blue eyes and stared at Shura inquisitively.

"Are you sure the King is really infatuated for me? His attitude is rather contradictory."

Shura nodded his head vigorously.

"Yes, Hikaru-san! I am dead sure about my father's feelings!"

Hikaru bowed his head then, resignated with it. He would try to be friends with Yomi again. A love-lost hurt too much; it was a pain he wished only to his worse enemies...

"I will reconsider my position." He murmured, meekly. But then his mood changed, and he faced Shura with fierce determination, and sparkles of indignation seemed to appear from his slant eyes. "But you must warn your father I will not stand any malicious suggestions, neither prejudice nor perversion of any kind!"

Shura agreed.

"And if he ever attends my classes again he would better keep his slanderous comments to himself!"

Shura nodded his head in full acquiescence again. Then he added:

"Papa has invited you to have dinner with him next Saturday. Kinno will be in Gandara too; it is going to be fun!"

Hikaru's pointed ears twitched, and he felt a little tense about that proposition.

"I will not accept any invitation for a dinner; it is too intimate. But I could share tea in your father's company..."

"Tea, then! I will tell my papa you accepted it, and he will be very happy!"

"But tell him to behave like a King, not an outlaw ruffian!"

Shura smiled, agreeing to everything. At least he had got to those two stubborn lonely-hearts another chance! What a pair of hardheads! It was so easy just to relax and let go!
 
 

 To Be Continued...