Not a single seed had escaped the Fire... Yomi had spent the 3 previous days tortured by the immediate, complete withdrawal from his Dreams. It must have been hard for him...

Shura tried sincerely to understand Yomi's reaction, but when the third day came, he sneaked out of his quarters before dawn. He fooled the surveillance cameras, and sensors. With Akso's help, he inserted an overrule command in the Main Computers. It was what caused the electronic vigilance around him to cease, giving him time enough to run away. To avoid the Elite Guards Yomi had ordered to cross weapons at his door, Shura sneaked out jumping over of the balcony, risking a 252 floor fall, to reach the immediate lower floor, from where he left the Tower by a service exit.

He left the city still during dawn, and headed straight back to the place Kinno said he'd be waiting. The pond where they had made love for the first time. A paradise pictured in Shura's dreams for the past three days, filled with the impressions and sensations that beautiful retreat would always bring him.

And the dreams he had, the missing feeling he experienced for those mere three days had been intense enough to force him to a decision.

He was bound to the desires of his demon heart. He must abide to his innermost feelings, and be happy, together, with his loving one.

He had spent those moments till the rendezvous day had come torn painfully between his opposing alternatives. His respect for his father, or his love for Kinno? In a sense, it was always good that he had been confined to his quarters. Alone, with no distractions, stressed by no obligations and duties, he had the chance to think and re-think on all the turmoil which had seized his mind and his soul.

He had his responsibility. He was very aware of all his father expected out of him. But he was also certain that Kinno was a good youko, and that the mutual feelings they cherished were real. He knew that youko would never betray him, let him down, or leave him behind. If he desisted from their love, he knew he would have not peace enough to continue his learning, his training... Without Kinno, he would fail to meet his father's expectations. So, Kinno was not a problem; in fact he was the solution.

He could be prince and in the future a King and still have Kinno by his side. His love was not like any other youko. He was loyal, pure, naive and loving...

As he sat by the pond's margin, quietly waiting for Kinno to arrive, his decision was perfectly drawn in his heart. He had decided for love.

He respected his father intensely. Yomi would always be his model, his hero, but he could not mirror in himself  his father's harmful past experiences. He could aspire for a higher life, he could aspire for happiness...

He wanted to honor his father. He yearned to become strong, to help his ftaher become the King of the whole Makai. He wanted to be valorous enough to fit his father's prospects. But how could he do it betraying his own heart? How could he remain faithful to his father always carrying the unspoken grudge his progenitor had been the cause for his shunning Kinno away?

Shura knew he needed to abandon the nest, the dome Yomi had built around him. And, even if with time he was wrong in all his assumptions and if Kinno really came to betray him or make him unhappy, it had been his choosing.

He would better blame himself for having tried and failed, than blame his father for not allowing him to take a chance and enjoy his happiness...

Yes. His life, his own decision.
 
When Kinno reached him, his heart was calm, and the presence of his golden youko appeased his every doubt and fear. They said nothing. They merely walked one to the other, their arms open, their hearts pounding with emotion, and their faces showing the brightest of smiles.

They kissed. They kissed till they were out of breath. They kissed till they started to perceive their bodies and their mouths as a single one, intertwined in a wet caress which they delayed to part...

Kinno abandoned himself in his boyfriend's arms, letting him envelop him with his stronger arms.
 
"I missed you, my lollypop..."

Shura held Kinno's face with his hands, so as to enjoy better the radiant beauty of his smile, and the glinting happiness in his eyes.

"I missed you equally, blondie. I missed you so much I though I was going insane..."

Kinno chuckled gracefully, thrilled by his love's words. Kinno was always so gentle, so gallant...

They tightened their embrace, till there were no spaces between them. Kinno nuzzled Shura's ear, and inhaled his sweetheart's delicious and virile scent... Then he licked his ear, all along, making the boy squirm and giggle, truly delighted with the youko's love play.

"I could not wait to have you in my arms, Kinno. You are all I need to be happy... You are all that matters to me..." Shura whispered against Kinno's lips, caressing his mouth with the warm air of  his words, like a butterfly kiss.

The prince noticed Kinno shiver, impassioned, in his arms.

"Sugar..."

"I am your lover, Kinno. I want to be with you, for now and for ever. I cannot deny the feeling which binds us. No one, nothing, not even my father, has the right to stand between us. I need to be happy, and I need only you to be so."

Kinno's eyes became filled with tears; tears of sheer happiness. He rubbed his face against his lover's silky black hair, letting his face be caressed by its softness.

"Does this mean we are still dating, sugar? You are not going to dump me?"

"Dump you? How could I dump a treasure such as you are, my baby? You are my only love... I can't breathe, I can't think, I can't live without you..."

Kinno smiled. He nibbled the tip of Shura's ear with his smiling lips, and stroked his back, moving his hands over his coat, brushing and massaging his body.

"Prince... My prince..."

"I cannot be a prince without a treasure, Kinno.. You are my most precious jewel... You are the dearest boon in my life..."

Shura smiled also. His usually tense face relaxed and his pink eyes shone with joy.

"You are my sweetheart, Kinno. I love you enough to fight my whole Kingdom, and even my own father if necessary! It is my final and irreversible decision!"

"Really, honeybun? Is it true then, sugar? You are not going to fight my daddy? You're not going to follow your papa's will and be away from me? We are gonna be together?"

"Yes. If we make it a secret, and manage to keep our fathers one far from the other, then it will be fine..."

"I'll have to lie to daddy Kurama again..." The blond demon complained, in a painful murmur. He would suffer because of that. He had promised, he had vowed dearly to his father, to his Ji-chan Hiei, even to himself he would never lie again.

But he loved Shura... And it was a small white lie; only one... A lie for good, a lie which would guarantee both him and Shura their happiness...

"It is for us, Kinno..."

"Oh, sugar... I think I have to do it; I won't stand being away from you..."

"I will be hiding the truth from my papa also. But it is necessary. It is our happiness which is at stake! We must fight with every means we have to be together!"

Kinno rested his head on Shura's shoulder. He kissed his pale neck, right above the coat's collar, then slipped one wide mischievous lick up to his chin. Shura quivered with the lustful sensation, but he said nothing. He merely snuggled the youko tighter, with energy and sweetness.

The lovers  kept silence for a while, merely enjoying each other's presence, till Kinno murmured about something he was starting to fear.

"We can't stay here, sugar. It is not safe, and it's not comfortable. You are a prince, you are used to living in luxury..."

"I don't mind it if I'm with you."

"But my daddy is suspicious; and my uncle Hiei has got a Jagan. We have to go away from their sights."

Shura sighed out. It was hard to have a father who was almost omniscient about Gandara...

"We cannot go to the city either, blondie. My father has a very powerful second sight."

It was then Kinno smiled. He pulled himself a little away from Shura, to allow the boy to behold his beaming face.

"But I thought about it, sugar!"

"You did?"

"Yes! I planned everything! I am so happy I could think of a solution for us!"

"Yes, foxie... Tell me about it..."

"I have a friend who is going to help us!"

"Really?"

"He doesn't live far, but it's safe enough. We will be away from our both daddys..."
 
 

 
Kinno imagined sometimes Hikaru exaggerated a bit. Even the sliding front door was made of a sheet of dark slate, which coasted softly aside as he pushed it open. The blonde youko looked inside, a little cautiously, before inviting Shura in. His friend had said he would find a way to keep his brothers too busy to bother. Whatever scheme Hikaru might have used, it seemed it worked out well. Neither Ikki nor Hyoko were in. The house was too quiet for them to be near.

He guided Shura inside with a tender caressing hand.

"Wait here, Shura. I'm gonna call my friend."

Yomi's son detained Kinnno, holding his arm for a moment.

"I preferred no one knew about our relationship. What kind of youkai is he, blondie? Are you sure we can trust him?"

Kinno smiled. He pecked Shura's lips with one smiling kiss before answering.

"He's a grey youko, and he's my best friend. I would not be here if he hadn't helped me escape from my master. Hikaru took care of me for years. I love him like a brother."

"Well... Is he a good youko then?"

Kinno did not have time to answer because Hikaru had just entered the room. The striped fox looked at Shura attentively, studying the demon boy's every detail...

"We are all servants of Inari. The divinity bears many aspects, and so do we youko." He started, as his clear eyes slowly roamed over Shura, in a stern, deep observance. "There are the good and wicked foxes; the chaste and the promiscuous, the ones who heal and others who kill. But you need not fear me; I am a friend of any of Kinno's friends." He bowed his head then, very lightly, yet in deep reverence. "I am Hikaru; it is a pleasure to meet you."

Shura returned the compliment. His eyes looked at the grey youko very intently also.

"I feel honored to be welcomed in your house. My name is Shura," he announced, with simplicity.

The grey youko's eyes were lit by a sudden startlement. His eyes darted from the black-haired boy to Kinno, and then back. It was incredible, but he had heard descriptions of Gandara's ruler and his son; and the descriptions fit that boy so well...

Hikaru observed his horns, the military style coat he wore, and his perfect,  polite manners. That boy seemed young but he showed himself to be extremely mature on his inside. His self-assuredness were very visible in the permanent tension reflected in his pink eyes.

Handsome, polite, responsible... And powerful... One instant of focus with closed eyes and a deep breath with his own barriers down for a moment and Hikaru was flooded with the intense you-ki coming from that boy. That young demon must be a high class A, no less. His power was massive, but bound by a very disciplined control.

Could it be? That demon fit Hikaru's assumptions too well. It was almost unbelievable, but...

Kinno tried to interrupt his friend's musings and say something, but Hikaru waved one finger in the air, very delicately, requesting him silence.

He turned his attention back to Shura then.

"Would you be so kind as to tell me your Father's name? It is not Yomi, I suppose..."

Kinno's contentment faded into one disappointed scowl. He grabbed his friend's arm firmly, to try to make him stop.

"Hikaru! You spoiled our silent pact! This is not fair! It is a secret! He can't tell you!"

Hikaru's blue eyes sparkled with amazement. Kinno's protest was more than enough to give him the certainty of that incredible fact. His long eyebrows arched in surprise, and his normally narrow eyes widened in shock. His mouth gaped for some instants...

He stared dumbfounded at Kinno, then his eyes locked again on that polite, extremely noble young demon.

How in the Three worlds Kinno had managed to have an affair with Gandara's heir? It was infeasible! Unthinkable! Unachievable! It was a total insanity!

"Oh... Then he really is King Yomi's son? Why did you hide it from me, Kinno?"

Kinno quietly avoided to make his eyes meet his friend's. He should have told Hikaru about it since the beginning... He was so embarrassed...

"Oh, Hikaru, I'm sorry I haven't told you before, but..."

"I begged Kinno to keep it a secret, Hikaru-san. Please, I ask you not to be  hard on him." Shura took some steps forward, facing Hikaru, showing resoluteness in his eyes. "I am Shura, heir to the throne of Gandara. But I must ask your discretion, Hikaru- san. My father must not know of the liaison between me and Kinno. He would not be very tolerant about it, I am afraid..."

The grey youko stepped back. The news was too shocking... His eyes were locked on the pair of lovers standing before him.

"Oh Almighty Inari... Kinno! This time you surpassed yourself! How could you get into so much trouble?"

The golden youko was very ashamed. His tail wriggled nervously, bumping the sides of his thighs, and he twisted his hands on his chest and tried not to face his friend. He knew he had not been fair hiding such important details till the last minute, but...

Hikaru walked to Kinno, gently holding him by one hand, and bringing him along to a corner.

"Excuse me, Shura-san... There are some details we yet need to talk over..."

Shura inclined his head softly, acquiescing.

Hikaru dragged Kinno with  him, till the opposite corner of the bar room. He could notice Kinno was repentant of his lie, and apprehensive, but Hikaru needed to know exactly what he had been pushed into that time... He had a series of questions he must have answered before allowing that encounter under his roof.
 
Kinno still avoided his friend's stare. But Hikaru held him by his wrists, and forced him to look up at him. His voice was but a murmur, but it was a very pissed-off murmur...

"Are you crazy? Bringing the son of the Makai King here?"

"My sugar doesn't care... The house is not finished, but he doesn't mind it and..."

Hikaru yanked at his friend, demanding attention.

"Kinno! You lied to me! You should have told me he was such an important figure! Gods!"

"Ah, Hikaru, but I didn't lie to you! I told you my sweetheart is a prince!"

"I thought it was just a metaphor!"

The youko's mouth gaped.

"Meta-what?"

"Metaphor! A figure of speech!" Hikaru, exclaimed in return, very  exasperated.

Kinno seemed to understand even less after the explanation. But he did not care, because Hikaru spoke beautifully and was educated just like his pretty Shura. They must get along very well...

"How did you meet this demon?"

"At the market, Hikaru. I was selling cucumbers, and he came to talk to me. We fell in love at the first sight!"

The striped youko breathed deeply then, trying to calm down. He knew Kinno must attract attention then because of his arresting looks, but that was uncanny! Hikaru felt as if he had been suddenly dropped into a hysterical, senseless fairy tale...

He shut his eyes for one moment, breathing deeper, sensing the nervousness and the startlement be drained from him, very slowly. Yes... Love at first sight; he did not need to be taught or told about that.

Hikaru tried to compose himself and shun away his own annoyance. If there was someone appropriate to understand Kinno, it ought to be him.

"I cannot admonish you for not telling me about your boyfriend, Kinno. We are friends, and yet I hide too much about my own past from you." Hikaru smiled then, while he reached out for is friend, closing a sweet embrace around him. "I am sorry, my friend... I only hope this Prince Charming you have found won't leave you into any trouble..."

Kinno smiled softly. He touched his friend's face with a heart-warming caress.

"No, Hikaru. We really love each other. We are going be together forever..."

"Does he know about your past?"

The golden youko's blinked his eyes. He nodded his head then, in a silent yet firm affirmation.

"And he has nothing against your previous occupation?"

Kinno shook his head. No, no, no....

"He loves me. He understands I was forced and he doesn't blame me at all for anything..."

The striped youko assented. He allowed Kinno to leave his side and meet his boyfriend. Their arms immediately closed one around the other.

Hikaru could not help but to smile. A bitter missing feeling tensed him up, and for one instant, one very small one, his eyes blurred, and a burning urge to cry started in his throat...

He managed to fight back the emotion and remain firm and unperturbed before the two lovers.

"You say your father does not approve of your relationship. Are you certain this will not be a dangerous situation to either Kinno or me? "

Shura looked at Kinno and their eyes glinted with lust and passion. They offered one another a soft, loving smile. 

"My father is hard, but he is not totally merciless. If necessary I shall make a stand before him to protect you." The young youkai bowed his head again, in deep gratitude. "I thank you for helping me and Kinno. It is indeed much more safer and comfortable that we can meet here, under your roof, than in the wilderness outside. If you ever need any boon or privilege, just look for me in Gandara, and I shall do all I can to repay you such favor."

"Ah... I see... Thank you. But there's something I should know. Are you really seriously intended towards Kinno? This youko has already suffered much in his life. I hope you do not plan to let him down in any way..."

"Never! I intend to keep him as my life-partner!"

Kinno smiled. He leaned his face on Shura's perfumed hair, and gazed lovingly at him, close, observing his beautiful lips move uttering such sweet words; words Kinno had never imagined he would hear from anyone ever in his life.

"We love each other. During these last days I have thought much, and have made up my mind about our relationship. We must be together. Our feelings are too intense, and I can't deny the love I feel for him."

Kinno interrupted Shura, kissing his ear, and the boy smiled and shuddered at the same time, struck by the titillating feel which rushed up his spine. The blond youko cuddled to Shura with such energy the shorter demon huffed and moaned out a real pain. The youko's arms crushed around his ribs, and he kissed the horned boy's face with a loving furor.

Hikaru could not avoid a little smile. He could see that boy had will power and energy enough even to face anyone who intended to split he and Kinno apart...

"I don't care about my father! I don't mind about Kinno's father either! It's them who are enemies, not us. We want to be together and share our love, and I won't allow anyone to stay between us!"

A loud crack was heard from the unfinished ceiling. Shura looked up still in time to drag Kinno one step backwards with him, enough to avoid the two figures which tumbled and rolled from in a confusing mass of sticks  and reeds and stalks. Ceramic tiles shattered on the floor.

Hikaru hurried to check the damage, bending one knee before the baby youko and the youkai who had almost fallen over their heads.

Kinno glared at his little brothers. But it was Hikaru who questioned the embarrassed and blushing pair.

"Did not you say you were fishing in the river?"

The children looked at the two youko and the strange three horned youkai, and they dared not speak a word. They seemed baffled for being discovered.

"What are you two doing here?" Kinno asked them, very annoyed. How could his sweet Shura believe he was safe there if poky kids fell on their heads like that? "You were peeking on me?"

Hyoko's red eyes were fixed on Shura. He did not like the black look that youkai was giving him and his brother. He stuck his tongue out, and then cried out his opinion.

"Yuck!"

Shura frowned, but instead of responding to the provocation, he murmured something in Kinno's ear.

"They are my brothers, Sugar. Ikki, and Hyoko..." Kinno introduced them. But no one smiled. Shura was angry, Kinno surprised, and Hikaru quiet and curious to see what would happen next.

"I am sorry, we were... we were just..." It was Ikki, who was still stammering as he tried to think of a convincing excuse to be interrupting the grown-up's talk like that. "We were preparing a surprise to Hikaru oji-san! We were going to help finishing the roof, but Hyoko stumbled, and we fell down!"

"You're lying!" Kinno burst out, very annoyed now. They managed to escape Papa Yomi and Daddy Kurama, and they got entangled with his little brothers? That was not fair! "I'm not going to prepare any more cake or pudding or marmalade for you! You're very naughty kids!"

"I suppose you have heard everything, have you not?" Shura questioned the two youkai kids, with a very severe, almost intimidating tone of voice.

Kinno's brothers shook heir heads in a nervous, simultaneous negative. Ikki stood up, and then he gave his brother a hand, pulling him up. The taller kid circled the shoulders of his little youko brother, leaning him against his side.

"Are you Kinno's boyfriend?" Hyoko asked.

Hikaru smiled. He knew now that secret Kinno and his sweetheart were trying to keep would not last much...

The blond youko and Shura exchanged a hesitant glance. They talked one to the other, in very soft murmurs, and Kinno even put his hand covering their  mouths as he whispered into Shura's ear, to make sure their brothers would not read his lips, or hear a thing.

Then, at last, after a while, Kinno answered.

"Yes, little brothers. Prince Shura is my boyfriend." Kinno bent over to face his shorter brothers eye to eye then. "But you must promise me you won't tell daddy Kurama or ji-chan Hiei about him!"

Hyoko's eyes widened. He looked up at Ikki, puzzled. Then he questioned Kinno again, guided by his restless childish curiosity.

"Why?"

The lovers again exchanged a startled glance, not knowing what to answer. And before they could even try a reply, Hyoko asked again.

"Do you stick your tongues one in the mouth of the other? Ugh! It's disgusting!"

Hikaru patted Hyoko's head, very gently. Children... Give them some more years and he'd be crazy to stick more than just a tongue into another youko... The little youko nudged his brother. He gave Ikki a very significant sideways glance. He murmured something, but no one but Ikki could hear it.

Then Hyoko attacked, bluntly.

"We don't like you!"

Ikki asked also, pointing at Shura's coat.

"Are you in the army?"

"Why do you have three horns and not two?"

"We are not going to give you permission to see Kinno!"

"We're gonna tell daddy!"

Hikaru and Kinno did not even have the chance to interfere to stop that childish blackmailing. Shura himself took a step forward, crouching down for a moment to meet the little demon's eyes at a perfect straight level.

The prince's eyebrows showed a very displeased furrow.

"Go away, you spoiled brats! I shall be threatened by no one!" His pink eyes, so sweet and beautiful, shone with indignation. He stood up then, keeping a menacing closed fist before him, pounded right at the kid's direction. "I don't like kids, so you better get your diapered butts outta here!"

Ikki dragged Hyoko backwards, away from Shura's rage. They stayed right by Hikaru's side, but the albino baby insisted in challenging his older brother's boyfriend.

"I don't like you!"

Ikki nodded vigorously, supporting his adopted brother. But Shura did not care. He embraced Kinno's waist again, shooing them away with one contemptuous gesture.

"Get outta here!"

Kinno agreed, waving his brothers, gesturing them to leave, and Hikaru stepped up kindly between the two diverging factions.

"I'll leave you on your own for a while. Shura san, please, be at ease in my humble abode. I'll be outside, with these children, in case you need anything." He bowed again, acknowledging his parting. "I wish you and Kinno all the happiness. I see you have very dear feelings and the best intentions one for the other." He gathered Ikki and Hyoko then, bringing them along. "Come with me, kids. We need to leave Kinno and Shura alone."

"Why?" The albino fox asked.

"Because they want to talk."

"Why?

"Because they can't talk with children around.

"Why?"

It was Ikki's turn to answer his own brother.

"They are going to kiss and hug do all those things adults do, brother!"

Kinno's faces became red. He allowed Shura to hold him in his arms, but he felt very tense, uneasy, ashamed of all those silly questions, and the interruption his brothers had made. He had planned it so well with Hikaru, and it would all be so perfect, but those brats had to appear! Shame on them!

He sighed out, relieved , when he saw Hikaru taking  the kids out of there.
 
The sound of the door being slid shut relaxed him again. His delicate hands held Shura's smaller but stronger ones with loving resoluteness.

"Alone at last!"

"I thought all your brothers were youko..."

"They're adopted. Daddy Kurama and Ji-chan Hiei found them and brought them to live along with us."

It was then the golden youko's smile widened into one all-encompassing gesture of happiness. He walked towards the other part of the house, pulling Shura with him by his hand.

"Come, sugar... Hikaru let us use the bed..."

Hikaru's ears twitched. Once in a while he could hear a louder than normal giggling, or a little, muffled cry of pleasure. He did not like the feeling of being an involuntary witness of their intimate moments. He only hoped the sweethearts did not intend to spent all day and evening there, forcing him to an involuntary exile till the next morning.

At least those children were not the wild type. The black-haired one was even reasonable. Hikaru found himself talking to him, and sometimes forgetting he was conversing with a child. The boy seemed pretty responsible and articulate.

The pretty albino fox could be distracted easily. He had already a pile of stones he cajoled Hikaru into creating by his side. He kept all those crystals dearly, like a treasure. He had been sitting on the ground and playing for a long while. Hyoko had sand and earth all over his hair and clothes. Kinno would have to give that whelp a bath before taking him home...
 
"Oji-san? What is Kinno doing with his boyfriend now? Can we go in and see?"

"They are making that thing...!" Ikki interfered, stressing the last word with a naughty glint in his red eyes. "They're gonna be very angry with us if we interrupt them!" He showed a smile then. "Remember when daddy Hiei and Kurama are locked in their den? It is the same; we cannot break in!"

"I don't like Kinno with that ugly youkai! He is my brother! I want him to stay here with us!"

Hikaru decided to be the most rational party in their discussion.

"Kinno is very busy now, Hyoko. You must wait outside."

"Why does he like to do that? Can Kinno's boyfriend have babies?"

Hikaru smiled, very abashed. No... There was no way he was going to explain to Kinno's baby brother about the flower and the bees or why some males preferred a boyfriend rather than a girlfriend... No, no, no, absolutely...

"They are just talking. And you should be here with me because it is not polite to go there and leave me here alone." Hikaru smiled to himself - Yes, it had been a very good way out...

"Let's go, the three of us then!"

Hikaru disagreed, shaking his head softly.

"No. It is not polite to break into their conversation without being invited."

"But they are already there all morning! I want to play with Kinno nii-chan!"

Hikaru was about to suggest to the kids a walk around. Maybe he could distract them, showing some caves that stayed not far from there... But he felt himself cut through a sudden tremor. Hikaru's whole body was shaken as if by a sharp convulsion, like a rapid shock. There was someone coming...

The grey youko hunched and touched the gravelled ground, to sense the vibrations coming from the earth. Yes... There was no doubt... They were about to receive a visitor; a very powerful visitor indeed...

The two boys noticed his apprehension, mainly Ikki. He seemed to be powerful and sensitive to energy levels; much more that his youth let show.

"Hikaru oji-san? Are you OK?"

Hikaru patted the little youko's head as he stood up. His long, oblique eyes already fixed on the long and tortuous pebbled path below, which led to that gorge's entrance. He was so much focused he could not answer Hyoko's worried question. The youko sniffed the air and narrowed his eyes to try to distinguish better the tall, broad-shouldered figure which had just stepped into his territory.

He breathed deeper, surprised by the sudden wave of energy which seemed to pack all that reserved, rocky area. The intruder appeared to be a pure, intense source of the strongest you-ki Hikaru could have ever imagined...

The youko felt his body shiver in response to that intense energy level. He stood before the kids, to use his own body as a shield, afraid they might be affected.

Ikki got on his feet too, facing the stranger openly. Hyoko hurried to collect his stone collection from the ground, treasuring his precious crystals in an embrace.

"Who is it, Hikaru oji-san?"

"Don't you know him?"

The two kids swung their heads in a firm denial. The stranger started to follow up the rocky steep, very decidedly, with fast, energetic steps, and a face which showed extreme annoyance.

A strong perception struck Hikaru; he felt a sudden enlightenment when he noticed the stranger's black hair, the long horns pointing out of his brow and the long, heavy military-style coat...

It was more than trouble... It was a walking death warrant!

He hurried to warn the kids about the peril, gathering them, and pushing them towards the door.

"Ikki! Hyoko! Get inside! Tell Shura his father is here! They have to run away! I will try to detain the King as long as I can..."

They still tried to protest being dismissed that way, but Hikaru urged them away, pulling the door open and pushing them in.

The grey youko was nervous... Now that he was nearer, Hikaru had become sure he knew him. He had watched him fight during the Makai Tournament. There was no one in the Makai who did not know that tall, potent youkai who possessed six ears and seven horns...

"Inari, please do protect me on this hour!" Hikaru murmured to himself, affected by a frisson of terror. His tail bristled, and goosebumps covered his pale skin, as he called forth his energy, starting to focus into his defense mode. "I have always been a good servant, and I am yet too young to die..."

The youko swallowed hard, and walked a little down the path, to meet the other demon. There was no doubt. It was King Yomi...

Even yet separated by a good distance, their eyes locked, as one silently, quietly analyzed the other. Hikaru knew he was no match at all to the power of that demon - that was the reason he could not stop trembling.

He vowed to himself it was the very last time Kinno managed to get him into trouble! If he escaped that one alive...

The King stayed back, still for one long moment, as if observing Hikaru.  His face was emotionless, but his determination was much visible in the firm manner he held his fists clenched by his sides.

Yomi soon decided to follow a straight line up, stepping on whatever he found on his way. Hikaru felt a tremor of anger shake him when he saw the King invade the rectangular limits of the small but carefully planned zen garden he kept at his front yard, between the house and the gorge's entrance. Those heavy boots were destroying all the harmony of the circles drawn into the clear gravel...

The youko advanced further down towards Yomi. He trembled, and yet he managed to keep a cold, controlled composure.

"Are you blind? You are treading on my garden!"

Yomi's shut eyes roamed around the arid, rocky corner. The area was paved with gravel, displaying five stones of varied sizes placed here and there, in no apparent reasonable order.

"Is your garden made of stones? This is rather inappropriate for a youko."

Hikaru advanced another step, very carefully. He could feel that demon's you-ki growing in power as he got closer to him.

Yomi remained in the same place, waiting for the youko to advance, mindful that demon might become an unknown, powerful adversary from one instant to the other.

"This is my territory. I create the garden of my own choosing. What is your affair here, stranger?"

Yomi's voice softened for a moment. He asked Hikaru then:

"Youko; would you by chance have any seeds of the Makai Dream Flower?"

Hikaru stared back at that demon, a little puzzled by such a strange request.

"I am sorry, but I am not a plant weaver. You should look for another youko to have your wish granted."

Yomi's face was altered by a quick passing sadness. Quick, and yet Hikaru manage to perceive it. He could not grasp why such a powerful demon was after Dream Flowers... Anyway, the grey youko bravely made a stand, keeping firm, very erect, right on the way between Yomi and the house's entrance.

"I know my son is here. Stand out of the way, or I shall force you to obey."

Hikaru could do nothing. Yomi stepped forward, leaving his footsteps imprinted on the gravel. He came closer, and Hikaru just looked at that tall, imposing demon, trying to find a way to detain him which would not pile too much risk to his own life.

He could use force... Yes... He could dig a hole deep enough to emtomb the invader into a pool of lava, but would it be enough? Moreover, what would be the King's reaction? Hikaru was absolutely certain he could not hold King Yomi back by means of force...

He'd better be a real fox and use some cunning...

"Who is your son?" Hikaru tried, timidly. He hoped Yomi was polite enough not to leave a question without an answer. It would give the secret lovers a little more time...

"You do not recognize me, do you?"

Hikaru lied. He shook his head, pulling himself backwards one step. Yomi was much too close. He could not deny he was afraid.

"You are a newcomer to my domains then. Youko, I am King Yomi, and I know my son is in there."
 
The King advanced another step. Hikaru could feel his incredible energy filling the space between them. And yet he remained there, his ears pricked up, his body tense, his hands clasped in the air, showing sharp nails...

"I have a complaint King Yomi Sama!"

Yomi stopped, again.

"All taxes are astronomically high in Gandara! I am an honest entrepreneur, and I intended to open an Entertainment house, but I have been hindered by the extreme injustice of your taxes!"

Yomi's face showed anger.

"Honest? There is no honest youko that I know about!"

"You do offend me, King Yomi sama!"

"What kind of place is this? Who allowed you to build this House of Civil Reception in my Domains? Why is my son here? Is he with Kurama? Are you Kinno?" Yomi asked, building questions one after the other in an infuriated succession.

The youko's shoulders tensed. He felt very offended, and yet he could not protest  that deplorable insult.

"My name is Hikaru, not Kinno. This is my dwelling place; It is a rather respectable house, sir!"
 
"This must be a sinful place! You and your perverted race have corrupted my son!"

Hikaru was forced to take another step back. Oh, he did not know how much longer he could safely yet detain the King...

Shura's legs slid very slowly from the tight circle they had formed around Kinno's waist. He heaved a deep, entranced sigh and his hands drew dancing caresses along the youko's slender back.

He opened his eyes and at the same time let out a groan of sheer pleasure, when his lover pulled himself out from him, leaving an enrapturing wet, hollow sensation inside his body.

Filled; sated, complete... He felt as if he had been kissed inside... The warmth spread over his pierced body, filling him with lazy, sensuous waves of pleasure...

Kinno had given him such bliss... He could never imagine he would appreciate being possessed that way so much...

Now it was complete. The ties binding them together were mutual. He had loved, and been loved, equally. He had given and he had received... They belonged one to the other now, and nothing else, no one, would ever change their links of affection and complete dedication...

Shura made the tip of his index finger run down the youko's nose, till he stroked his smiling lips.

"Blondie... I love you..."

Kinno smiled. Then he kissed Shura's nose. When the youkai started to laugh with the tickling, teasing kiss, Kinno sucked the tip of his pretty nose, and finished nibbling it, very mischievously.

"Ah! Kinno! It tickles!"

The youko cuddled tighter to his sweetheart, wriggling his tail against his thigh... The boy squirmed, teased with that fluffy play.

"You're sweet, so sweet, my sugar! I want more of you!" Kinno exclaimed, nuzzling his partner's neck, sniffing and biting along the muscle cord, making Shura giggle madly, struggling to break free.

Kinno stopped only when he bent further down, searching Shura's lips for another kiss. They were about to kiss, their mouths already touching, their tongues probing one for the other, when they heard urgent cries outside.

"No... Don't go..." Shura suggested, holding Kinno against his body.

The youko acquiesced, quietly, placing a playful bite on his sweetheart's chin. His arms moved up to circle Shura's muscled shoulders, and the lovers stirred slowly one onto the other...

When they closed their eyes, ready to dive into another breath taking kiss, they heard the pleading cries outside, louder and more desperate yet.

"Kinno! Kinno! You have to run away! Shura's father is here!"

Shura sat up, pushing Kinno aside in one fast, startled movement.  His eyes grew wide in total panic.

"Papa? Damn! I'm fucked!"

The boy jumped out of the bed, almost hysterical. He jumped and ran all around, collecting his clothes, hurrying to dress them, the fastest he could. Kinno was dead pale. His hands started to shiver, and he could not even speak... It took him a while till he could overcome his fearful trembling and get out of the bed. He wrapped himself in one of the bedcovers and hurried to open the door...

The two boys burst in, very excitedly.

"Shura's father is outside! Hikaru is trying to delay him!"

Hyoko put two pricked fingers by the sides of his brow, imitating horns. He jumped and ran around Shura and Kinno, very excited.

"It is a big bad youkai with horns! I am afraid! I wanna go home! I want daddy Kurama and daddy Hiei!"

Kinno felt like he could almost faint. There was he, putting his friend in danger again... It was not a surprise he did not have other many other friends - No one wanted to risk it!

"The big bad youkai is going to hurt Hikaru oji-san!" Hyoko yelled, hiding himself behind Kinno, who was trying to see where he had hurled his trousers at...

Shura was ghostly pale. He fitted his trousers and his shirt, and looked around to see if he had forgotten anything. He picked up his coat, which was forgotten on the floor. Done! No evidence left...

He looked at Kinno, who had just gotten into his tight fitting satin pants, and reached out for him.

"We gotta get outta here, or papa is going to nail us both!"

Kinno could not deny he was afraid. He looked at Hyoko and Ikki.

"We don't like you, but we're doing it for Kinno and Hikaru oji-san. Take my brother away!" Ikki ordered Shura, surprisingly serious and calm, while Hyoko remained in a corner, sucking one finger, with big, scared eyes...

Shura did not even care about Kinno's brother's comment. The only thing that mattered was that they needed to run away immediately. He turned to Kinno, showing his despair in his shocked eyes. "We have to jump through the window! My papa must be blocking the door!"

Kinno agreed, but before heading to the makeshift exit, he still looked at his brothers. He even smiled to them.

"Thanks, kids! Stay here with Hikaru, he's going to protect you!" Kinno told his brothers, as he held hands with Shura.

Both demon kids agreed, slowly nodding their heads.

It was when Kinno and Shura were about to leave, that Ikki quickly reached out, seizing Shura's hand.

The two youkai looked one at the other. Ikki could see Kinno's boyfriend was scared out of his wits.

"I need your coat!"

"What?"

"Your coat!"

Shura did not know what to do. Hyoko stepped closer, and yanked at his sleeve.

Hyoko smiled then. His eyes brightened up.

"You're a dimwit! We don't like you but we're gonna help! Ikki is going to make a trick! It's a good trick!"

Kinno acquiesced slowly, assuring Shura it was alright. The boy handed his coat to Ikki then, still a little suspicious.

"I can try to give you more time to run away!" Ikki explained, getting dressed with the coat, which was immensely large on him.

Kinno and Shura exchanged a puzzled glance when they watched an eerie sparkling glow of you-ki shine around the boy.  Then, Ikki took one step back, and closed his eyes.

"Hey, what's going on here?" Shura managed yet to ask, when he noticed the boy's you-ki increase.

Kinno's golden eyes widened, and he just stayed there, paralyzed, openmouthed and he watched his little brother changing shape, changing height and... Changing facial features?

Hyoko jumped and clapped, laughing happily. He punched the air and jumped high, once, twice, cheering his brother.

"Yes! Go Ikki! Go!"

Kinno became terrorized with the changes. He stepped back, supporting himself onto Shura's shoulder, growing paler yet.

"Ahhhh! What's going on? Help! It's a monster!

Ikki's real form flashed for a moment before he started to change again, into a black-haired, horned, young figure...

Shura pulled himself back, bringing Kinno with him away from that other youkai, embracing him for protection... His pink eyes grew wider and wider as he saw that kid assume a total different appearance. In fact, when the haze of you-ki settled down, the young lovers held tight one to the other, equally astonished.

That kid named Ikki had become exactly like Shura;  he turned into a perfect copy...

"Hey little brother, I didn't know you could do this!" The golden youko exclaimed, very confused...

Shura grabbed Kinno by one arm. His father was too close! He could feel his energy, in fact... Oh.. He could even hear his voice! He was arguing with that grey youko, outside...

"We have to sneak out now!" Shura hauled Kinno, pulling him with his left arm, while he gave a powerful punch with his right fist at the closed window. The thin sheet of dark grey slate shattered into dust, gravel and splinters, which crashed to the ground noisily.

Kinno did not even have time to think. Shura lifted him in his arms and pushed him through the window in one single boost.

They heard a groan and a thump, when Kinno hit the floor on the other side. Then, immediately after, Shura jumped through the narrow window, in one nimble, cat-like movement.

Hyoko looked at Ikki, who was just like Kinno's boyfriend. He kept a smile on his lips. He thought that was too funny!

"Youko brother, I'm going through the window too! I have to try to fool that guy's father!"

Hyoko agreed, waving his brother goodbye, while he turned on his heels, straight back to the front door, eager to meet Hikaru oji-san and help him fight the big bad youkai with horns.

The little albino youko was ecstatic! Heh! He was having a lot of fun!
 
 

"Stand aside, youko!"

Hikaru huffed when a sudden gust of energy hit him, in a blow heavy like rock. He was thrown backwards, landing splat on the hard ground.

Yomi passed by him, and Hikaru merely followed him with his eyes, daring not any other reaction.  His fingers caressed the soil. He imagined he could turn the ground Shura's father was standing on into quicksand, make it swallow his enemy in and then turn everything into one solid block of stone in no more than a second, but it would not work. A Youkai powerful like King Yomi would never be detained merely by that...

Damn! He could not risk his neck for Kinno, not again, not in that circumstance...

Hikaru kneeled up and got on his feet, watching Yomi reach out to push the door open. He hoped his friend had had time to escape...

He went after Yomi, observing him, not daring to try to stop Gandara's King. But he almost changed his mind when he saw the cute albino baby open the door and stand, tiny and delicate before the imposing King.

Yomi inclined his head towards the small youko.

"Don't you dare to touch the kid!" Hikaru shouted, hurrying up and reaching out to try to detain the youkai.

His hand touched Yomi's shoulder, holding firm, and Yomi, bothered by the contact, turned around, slowly.

"What is happening in my Kingdom? A Youko Convention? This is a kid! You must be some pedophiliac! I have to snatch my son out of this den of vice and perversion!"

Hikaru's ears pricked out. He could not help but glare at Yomi.

"A den of what? Mind your words, sir!"

Yomi showed a very angry scowl. This time he did not even mind using his you-ki. A single push was enough to shove Hikaru several steps away.

The grey youko landed flat on the ground again. He groaned, painfully. He had power over stones, but his butt was not made of one... It hurt!

The King bent over enough to push the baby out of his way, very gently, even though he was visibly starting to lose his patience. It was then Hyoko stuck out his tongue, and tapped Yomi's enormous hand away from his shoulder, with an angered aversion.

"I don't like you! You're ugly!"

Yomi did not give any importance to the small youko. He was about to cross the doorway and step in, when he heard his son's voice.

"Papa! I am here!"

The two youko and Yomi were immediately drawn towards the voice. Hikaru let out an audible sigh of relief. Yes, he had never stepped out of a fight before, but then he had never been opposition to Makai's King Yomi before... It was a narrow escape...

Hyoko ran to Hikaru, embracing his hips and cuddling tight to him. Both foxes merely observed Yomi advance some few steps towards Shura, who had showed up on the left side of the house.

Hikaru only hoped the King would get his son out of there and never come back. He held Hyoko's hand and brought him along, as he headed to his house, planning to turn his back on father and son and forget all that insanity...

The Gandara's King stayed very calm, but very attentive, as he channeled his perception while his shut eyes were fixed on the figure ahead of him. His face changed very slowly, from serenity to contempt and then to wrath.

"Papa, I came after you! What are you doing here? Let's go back home!"

Yomi murmured something. But it was such a soft, and yet ireful whisper, that only by reading his lips the meaning could be grasped.

"Deceiver," was what Yomi had murmured.

But Yomi looked over his shoulder towards the grey youko. His face showed intense fury, and Hikaru even saw the King's you-ki rise in a misty fusion of purple and silver.

"Who do you think you are trying to fool? This is not my son! He is just a pretender!"

Hikaru trembled with the strong voice. He did not know what to say...

"King Yomi Sama, I know nothing about what is going on! This must be your son! At least he looks like you! So I beg you to leave my property! You are frightening the kid!'

Hyoko stuck out his tongue again. Then he hid his face against Hikaru's thighs and started a loud feigned weeping, complaining of the big bad youkai.

Yomi hardly kept his composure. It was only the presence of that small youko whelp who was holding him back.

"I can read my son's you-ki signature! This is a deceiver! I am blind but I am not an idiot!"

Yomi placed his hands one before the other, and a ball of energy started to form, whizzing and growing, and started to aim it at the false Shura...

What stopped Yomi was that Hyoko and Shura, or else, Ikki, cried out, begging the King to stop. Shura, or better, Ikki held his hands up in the air, while he stammered, nervously, crying out he was Ikki, that he was just a child, begging not to be hurt.

Even before the transformation had ended, Yomi had already called back the sphere of energy he was weaving in his hands. "No, no, no! "The brothers begged, at the same time, as they embraced themselves.

Hikaru was startled when he watched the youkai change. Who could have guessed he was a shapeshifter? The youko watched the quick, hazy blur envelop that young but strong horned figure, shifting him back into the small, spiky haired Ikki. The grey fox just hoped Yomi would not want retaliation for the trick that demon kid had played on him...

Hyoko stirred in Hikaru's arms, and the grey youko let him go. The baby ran, frightened, towards his brother.

"Please, I did not know about it... And I don't think you shall mean harm to kids..." Hikaru inhaled deeply, still nervous with all that unexpected confusion. "Your son is not here anyway... Go away, please..." Hikaru begged again.

The youkai turned around to face the youko with his blind eyes. His long eyebrows furrowed, but Yomi's voice was even soft as he spoke.

"You made me waste too much time. Clever, but risky, youko... I could have killed you, and these kids. You must think better next time you are protecting someone."

Hikaru gulped, as he watched the youkai leave the area. He seemed determined as before; he might be more than able to trace his own son's you-ki...

The youko walked to the two kids. Ikki looked very funny wearing that coat which looked times larger than appropriate for him. Hyoko looked at him in return with his big puppy red eyes.

"I think you should better run home and warn your father. Kinno is into a lot of trouble, kids..."
 
 

They had run like crazy, but Shura knew there was no where he and Kinno could flee to.

He stopped, embracing Kinno sweetly against his own body. It had been a very close escape. His blood still rushed violently through his veins, and his breathing was yet heavy with his nervousness and agitation. Though they had escaped till then, the best way Shura could think of to protect his sweetheart was to head back to Gandara, and leave him.

"Papa is coming after me. I have to go back to the city, blondie... I can't let him catch us together..."

Kinno rested his head on Shura's shoulder. His arms closed around his chest, as he supported himself a little upon his well built boyfriend. He was very tired; he had run so much he was even dizzy, and the rocky irregular soil had hurt his feet, and ruined his delicate embroidered slippers. He breathed deeply, murmuring against his lover's ear.

"Sugar... No..."

Shura made Kinno face him. Their eyes met, and the horned youkai seemed very worried.

"My papa said he would execute you... I cannot risk your life my jewel..."

Kinno rubbed his nose against Shura's cheek. His face was warm and flushed because of their hurried escape. The youko kissed his face then.

"Are we meeting again, love?"

The prince seemed sad. He returned the soft, naive kiss, pecking his blondie's cheek also.

"I hope my father has not hurt your friend and your brothers. "Shura's strong hands clasped tightly the tender sides of Kinno's waist, bringing him closer for a kiss; one last kiss. "We have to say goodbye. Please, blondie, go home... My papa will follow me, not you..."

They kissed. It was a hungry and sorrowful kiss, because both knew they would not meet again for some time. Their fingers traced slow lines of caresses one on the face of the other, when they parted the kiss and exchanged one deeply affectionate gaze.

"I love you, sugar..."

"Yes... I can't live without you my blondie..."

"When do we meet again?"

"I don't know... I'll come to you, don't worry. I won't ever leave you..."

Kinno sniffled his cry. His eyes were teary, and his lips quivered with the emotion. He did not want his honeybun to leave, but he knew he had to...

They slowly unlocked their arms, pulling apart their embrace. Shura smiled bitterly, suffering to be forced to leave the demon he loved so much behind.

A tear trailed down Kinno's cheek, very slowly...

"Will you wait for me?"

"Yes, sugar... Always..."

The pair heard a sound. They turned at the same time, startled to be interrupted in their idyll.

Kinno felt the ground escape under his feet. He panicked, and he abandoned himself in Shura's arms, too nervous to stand on his own.

It was Kurama.

The youko snorted. He placed his hands on his hips, and looked down his nose at the pair, showing a predatory half smile. His eyes glinted, ominously.

"I've got ya, lovebirds..."
 
 

To be Continued...