The poor youko seemed in agony.

Shura made one finger edge around the youko's shoulder, brushing the flowing hair which fell down his back. The touch moved slowly along the scapula, drawing abstract caresses onto Kinno's skin. Then the touch moved upwards to follow the line of the fox's shoulder, and then was brought down along the very fair arm, all the way.

There was no opposition from Kinno when Shura brought that slow caress down along his arm and gripped his hand. The youkai held that silky, small hand firmly and yet with precious docility with his own.

The pressure of his fingers around Kinno's hand was tender, reassuring...

"Kinno. Look at me."

The youko shook his head. His foxy ears flattened against his beautiful hair, and the only response he could offer was to huddle tighter yet.

A particularly deep gasp shook Kinno's whole body.

"Come here... Come to my arms..." Shura insisted.

Kinno still resisted. It was the prince who shifted closer to the youko, leaning his body onto him to speak softly into his ear. "Your past is not important. You told me the truth now, and it makes me the most happy youkai there is..."

The youko seemed to relax a little after Shura's comforting words. However, he continued to refuse looking back at Shura.

"I didn't do it for fun. I was forced... But I always wanted to be a good youko."

"I know, my beloved." Shura enforced it, with noble sweetness.

"I was an orphan, I had no one to teach me, no one to care for me."

One hand fondled the youko's beautiful hair. Then, Kinno shuddered as he felt the weight and the warmth as Shura embraced him from behind. The golden youko started to chuckle very softly, yet embarrassed, when he noticed Shura kissing his hair. The youkai covered the youko's blond mane with a succession of light, tender smooches.

"Why should I care about your past Kinno? What matters is the life we'll share from this moment on."

The youko smiled. But he hid his contentment with his fingers, covering his lips tenderly. Nevertheless, Kinno's relief was obvious. He sat up graciously then, and looked slowly over one shoulder to the flushing face of his youkai boyfriend.

"Is it the truth, Shura? Do you forgive me?"

Yomi's son smiled.

"Forgive you? Why should I forgive you, Kinno? If you say you were forced, you were never the one to blame. There is no guilt to be forgiven," Shura stated.

Kinno looked at the youkai for a long while. His eyes wandered around his face, observing the pale, noble beauty of that horned demon in all detail. The youko showed a thoughtful expression; it took him a while to understand all Shura had said. His sweetheart must be very educated; he spoke so beautifully...

But when Kinno finally joined pieces, and managed to grasp it all, he gave his boyfriend the most relieved, enchanting smile.

"Nothing to forgive? I am not guilty? Do you really think that, sugar?"

The prince assured him with a firm, decisive nodding of his head.

"I do," was all Shura said.

Kinno jumped into Shura's arms, half-giggling, half-crying. He could never imagine Shura would be so generous to his mistakes; not after all Kurama had said of him. He loved his daddy, but he had been too tough on him in the beginning... It hurt. After that Kinno became almost sure anyone else, especially Shura would act in the same way. But his baby had been so good to him! He could hardly believe it!

Bright and cheerful, the young lovers made their lips meet in a kiss. It was a long, blissful kiss. They closed their smiling mouths pressed tight together, and Kinno started to moan, softly, delighted with all that wet caress. Shura gasped, holding the youko snug against his own chest. That delicious kiss increased his arousal.

The prince had to draw in a long breath, after they parted the kiss. Kinno was too sensuous... He could barely resist...

Kinno still smiled. He rested his face on Shura's shoulder, and closed his hands in a tight clasp around his arms. The youko's touch sensed the firm outline of  the youkai's muscles under his coat.

Shura was indeed a hunk; and such a sweet one...

"If I were strong I could resist, I could say no... But I'm not strong like daddy or you, sugar. I was a child, and I didn't even know what those bad youkai were doing to me..." The youko kissed the tender flesh between Shura's neck and chin, eliciting a short tremor and a pleased gasp from the boy. "I didn't like to be touched that way, but I could not avoid it..."

The boy stared deeply at Kinno, with his very intense pink eyes.

"Do you like when I touch you?"

The youko stirred happily in Shura's arms, enjoying the warmth of their embrace.

"I love it, my lollypop... I can't wait to make love to you..."

Shura blushed immediately. He turned his face so Kinno would not witness his sudden discomfiture. The youko took the chance to reach up and kiss one of those exquisite long ears of his boyfriend, nibbling its tip and making his tongue trace a wet line up and down its shape.

A gasp coming from Shura was heard again. His body became taut, and he even closed his eyes under the extremely delicious stimulation.

"Ahn... Kinno..."

"I love touching and being touched by you, sugar..." Kinno said then. It was a line he used mostly with his customers; a motto his clients usually appreciated hearing. But back then Kinno could never be sincere while uttering it. However Shura's presence made his words and his spirit match into one whole, passionate truth... "I want to be always with you..."

The horned demon breathed deeply, lengthily for a while, trying to compose himself from the sudden surge of lust which had flooded him. He tenderly circled one arm around Kinno's waist, gazing sweetly into his beautiful golden eyes.

"I cannot condemn you for anything, Kinno. I know children usually have a very hard life here in the Makai. Luckily I have a strong father to protect and care for me. I cannot vilify you for your misfortune; no one chooses to be an orphan willingly."

Kinno just nodded, fascinated with his sweetheart's words.

"You are my youko now," Shura continued. "I just want you to promise me you will never give yourself to anyone but me."

Kinno did not hesitate at all. He tightened the embrace around Shura, shouting a loud, happy "I promise!"

Shura pulled Kinno backwards a little, enough to gaze at his fair smiling face. The youkai forgot all about his sworn feud, his promise to his father and his concerns about his father's state of mind and spirit. He focused solely on Kinno and the feelings they shared.

Love was indeed a force impossible to be denied or fought... The youkai perceived he needed to surrender to it, let go of all his wrath, all his preoccupations, and just let himself go with the flow of their passion...

Shura determined he could think about a solution to the youko dilemma afterwards.

"I will make you my jewel of love; my treasure... I will shelter and protect you, always... "

Shura tried to bring Kinno in for another kiss, but the youko avoided the caress. He held the fluffy end of his tail against his lap, concealing his sex and shifted a little backwards, showing an inviting smile. Then he extended one calling hand to the other demon.

"Come, my sugar... Let's play..." Kinno proposed, stretching against the velvet-like cover of moss on the ground. The youko stirred slowly. Then he  parted his knees in a seductive fashion, to allow Shura a partial view of his intimacy. It was then Kinno let go his tail, displaying the tumescent evidence of his desire to his partner.

The boy uttered a half-suffocated moaning sound. The excitation grew too urgent inside him. He was hot; he had never felt himself so impassioned. Shura looked around, cautiously. The vegetation was tall around them, and the whole forest seemed very quiet and calm. There was no way they could be interrupted.

The prince started to struggle to unfold his coat then. Kinno chucked softly, observing Shura, while he softly let his fingers caress the green patch he was lying on.

"It's gonna be so good to make it with you, sweetie... Come to Kinno..." The youko uttered, wrapping his soft words with a long, amorous moaning sound. He struck a sexy and yet naive pose to his boyfriend's delight then, drawing his tail out of the way so that Shura could see his whole naked behind.

The boy had thrown his coat meters away. Now he was hastily tugging at  his boots.

"Kinno, please, this is my first time. Don't tease me much, yes?"

The youko had lain on his belly for a while, keeping his tail high and waving it happily. The brush of the fox followed a very particular rhythm, like in a mating dance.

"First time? It's my first time with you too..." Kinno declared sweetly, offering a pleased smile to try to calm Shura's anxiety. He knew how such things were. He had been company to many a young demon in his life. But it was better to forget it. It had passed and now could expect a new life with his dear steady lover. "Come... I can't wait much longer, my darling..." Kinno chanted with all docility, waving and fidgeting his fingers in the air to call his lover on.

Shura got rid of his tunic. Then he undressed his shirt, with impatient tugging movements. He flipped his shirt away. Then, naked from waist up, he looked at Kinno with desirous, glinting eyes.

Kinno responded with the same kind of amorous glance. He gave Shura a girlish half-smile, when he brought the tip of his tail onto his lap again, in an sweetly shy manner. Shura started to pull down his black pants, and the youko accompanied his slow, shy movement with a delighted anticipation.

The boy yanked off the crumpled pile the pants formed around his ankles. He kicked the clothes aside, and showed himself before Kinno, very aware of the reddish tone covering his cheeks. He could not deny he was a little embarrassed about the situation.

But the prince did not try even the slightest gesture to cover himself.  The youko smiled while he looked down, scanning his steady's gorgeous body with wide, pleased eyes.

"Oh... you're beautiful, my horny-boy..." Kinno murmured, visibly enthralled by such notice.

It was only then Shura placed one hand slightly over his erect sex. His face flushed more intensely. In fact, a rosy tint covered his whole body now.

"I hope you like me..." Shura murmured very timidly, as he pulled himself closer to the golden youko. Shura would not even look up; his eyes were cast down, his hand still strategically posed over his erection. He reached Kinno then, staying right before him when he gazed at the youko in the eyes. "I only know the theory; you'll have to help me..."

Kinno welcomed his lover drawing his arms around his shoulders and bringing the sweet demon right into is embrace. Their legs locked together with perfection, and Shura chuckled when he felt the soft, teasing bump of Kinno's tail against his thigh; it tickled...

The youko kissed one of the curved horns on the side of Shura's brow.

"You're so tasty..." He murmured.

The boy quivered in Kinno's arms when he felt the youko's tongue slide down his horn, pass his closed eyes, draw a wet caress along his cheek and then reach his mouth.

The youkai breathed in very deeply, entranced by Kinno's warmth, and his delicious musky perfume. His arms searched for Kinno's waist, circling it  in a manner his fingers could discretely caress the enticing contour of his behind.

Kinno laughed softly against the boy's pointed ear. That pretty horned youkai was so deliciously timid and polite... Kinno had never dreamed such a charming young youkai could ever exist.

"You're delicious, Shura... I can't wait for you to show me all your theory..."And on saying this, Kinno expertly grazed his knee along Shura's erection, slightly like a feather.

The demon Prince shut his eyes tight and drew air in very slowly. He was barely resisting all that lustful rush darting through his body, demanding release.

He positioned himself between Kinno's knees, half-lying against his body, always mindful not to hurt him with his horns. He brushed his cheek on the youko's chest then, in circular motions, nestling his own urgent erection onto his lover's long, luscious thigh.

Shura kissed one of his sweetheart's pinkish nipples. He rolled his tongue around the tip, making Kinno wiggle with ecstasy in his arms. The horned boy kissed the youko's whole breast then, hungrily sucking the taste of his flesh.

The golden youko moaned softly.

"Oh, baby... It's good..."

Shura brought his smiling, kissing mouth down along the line parting Kinno's belly. He kissed his skin while the blond youko kept on stroking him confidently, giving him motivation to continue his gentle caresses.

The prince's hand moved below to stroke the golden fur in his youko's lower parts. His fingers wormed through the delicious plush, reaching further down...

"You're so beautiful... You're the most arresting creature I have ever seen..." Shura murmured against the scented skin of his lover. Then, without warning, the youkai drew Kinno's hard sex into his mouth.

The youko jumped, twisted and turned in a frenzied delight. His body arched up in one long twitching spasm, and he lifted his knees high to delicately fondle Shura's back with his feet.

The demon sucked, a little awkwardly at first, but soon he got the mastery of that lustful art of love. He kissed, letting his tongue run all along Kinno's erection, always attentive to his response. He sucked vigorously, and yet tenderly, caressing his fox's balls and his inner thighs. All the while Shura was led by the moaning and groaning sounds Kinno gave out, accompanying the rhythm of prince's mouth and tongue.

"Ahn... Sugar... Please.. I want you inside me..." The youko proposed, frantic.

The youkai interrupted his kissing with hesitation. But he could feel Kinno felt just like him; too close to the climax to hold back much longer.

Shura moved up, sliding his own body along Kinno's belly. He nuzzled the blondie's chest then.

"Kinno... You make me so excited..."

The youko gave the other demon one of his most precious smiles. He reached down for Shura's hand and brought it to his mouth. The youko started kissing, sucking and licking his partner's fingers in a slow fashion.

"Kinno, why are you doing this?" Shura asked him, laughing with the titillating sensation the youko provoked..

Kinno just smiled amorously around Shura's fingers. He stopped for a moment, to whisper something into the youkai's ear.

"Oh...  really?" Shura retorted, after Kinno's insinuating revelations. "Tell me in case I hurt you, right?"

Kinno opened a wide beam, and reached forward to stroke his love's black hair. He was thrilled before that protective, so compassionate youkai. He had never received that kind of attention from a lover. It was such a simple thing, such a simple question and yet it meant so much...

His eyes became teary once more. But the youko resisted, and instead of crying, he gave his babe a hopeful smile.

"No one has ever asked me that... No one ever cared about me... I love you more and more, sugar..."

The youko lay back onto the moss, still keeping a mysterious half-smile in his lips. He parted his thighs then, just a little bit more and faced Shura dearly to transmit him assurance.

The youkai leaned onto Kinno. Then he touched him in between his legs, guided by the youko's own hand. All the while, Shura kissed the blonde's chest, his belly, and his sides.

Kinno shifted, lying on his side, still holding Shura in between his parted knees. His golden tail waved, brushing against his own hips and thighs, slow and steady.

"Here, sweetie... Kinno will show you..." The youko whispered, as he showed Shura his entrance, slowly inciting him to push one finger into him.

Shura stopped all the kisses and caresses to look downwards at the pale, palpitating flesh. He swallowed hard, delighted with the view, quietly enjoying the new sensation of  the warm pressure which engulfed his finger.

The youko started to sway his hips in a soft motion, and Shura's hand followed the same rhythm, stimulating and stretching the orifice.

Kinno moaned; it was a murmur of pure delight. Shura bent onto the beautiful, pale abdomen of the youko to kiss his navel. The youko gave out a small cry, squirming with pleasure against his love's holding arms.

The kiss slid down. Shura made his lips follow downwards his belly, reaching his thighs, and again, they touched the youko's gorgeous, huge shaft. The boy covered Kinno's sex with a series of wet kisses and sensuous slips of his tongue, and the youko twisted against the soil under that sudden elation.

Kinno reached down to touch the hand which fondled him. His fingers ran along Shura's, in a mute request that he continued that delightful massage further.

The blonde gave out a long, enticing hissing sound of approval when Shura inserted another finger into him. He shuddered, turned and wriggled bringing his hands downwards to try to hold and stroke Shura's shaft which grazed his thigh.

The young youkai was too fired up. And Kinno could feel in his own body he was equally aroused. It was too delicious! The sensations dominated all his senses, flooded his body with emotions and joys he had never experienced before.

Love... Yes... It must be it... It must be what caused all the difference and intensified every feel, every touch...

Kinno started to moan, entranced, as his lover stimulated him harder. The fox moved his hips around the touch which filled him, positioning himself in a way that...

"Ah!...  Yes... There, sugar... Touch it there..."

Shura acquiesced very tenderly, content for being be able to offer his partner all that bliss. He did what Kinno asked him, touching the lump inside his tight, deliciously warm passage, pressing his fingers against it with firm yet tender strokes.

Then the boy increased the rhythm. His fingers slipped in and out of Kinno's body harder and faster, inciting him more.

"Ah... Please... Kinno is yours... I'm your youko. You can do anything you want to me..."

The boy groaned. That voice, those words, the way Kinno squirmed under his body... It was far more than he could ever imagine; it was more than a dream, more than paradise... His body responded making a sharp tingling pain run all along his spine, along his hard sex... A constrained pressure squeezed his balls, tautening his groin and thighs... He needed release.

Kinno tightened the embrace, making Shura's whole body lean onto his. Then he demanded a kiss.

Shura trembled. When he noticed Kinno's delicious tongue slip into his mouth, and sensed his hard shaft graze the tender cleft between Kinno's velvet like thighs, he almost could not resist. He breathed in, again, and again, as deep as he could to try to control himself.

The youko's long legs closed around Shura's waist, bringing him into position, gently pushing him in. The prince closed his eyes, and felt he could almost die with ecstasy when that hard, demanding and very sensitive part of his body, touched Kinno's crevice.

Shura started to penetrate him, in a calm, slow push...

"Ah... Blondie... I love you..." The boy groaned, doing his best to hold his climax back as his shaft forced passage into that tight, warm core of his lover's body.

"Sugar... Kinno loves you too... It's so good... Come... Let's be happy together.."

The blond demon swayed his hips under Shura, tightening his grasp, clenching his muscles to hold around his babe tighter. Shura gasped, holding back one cry of delight when he noticed a feather-caress brush  his thighs... The tail... That soft, deliciously silky tail...

The prince moaned deeply, moving upwards to envelop one of  Kinno's small, rosy nipples with an adoring kiss. The movement made his member slip deeper into Kinno, who responded with a loud groan, bringing his own knees wider and up, to let his sweetheart possess him whole.

The youko noticed the vibration, he noticed the shiver cut through Shura's body. It was then he knew the horned-boy could not wait longer... Shura started to thrust into him, faster, faster, guided by his enthralling delight. As for Kinno, the mere thought it was Shura, the love of his life, his sugar, his steady sweetheart who was penetrating him to fill him with his cream of love for the first time, made Kinno reach his own climax too...

The young lovers clung one to the other with an almost desperate energy. Suddenly both of them felt too hot, too aroused, as if the same high fever possessed their senses. The friction between their embrace, Shura's warm, muscled body, rubbing, caressing his erection firmly, was making Kinno lose his mind.

"Yes, sugar... make Kinno happy now..." The pretty youko murmured close to Shura's long ears. One sensuous motion of his tail against the boy's buttocks was enough then to cause Shura to collapse to climax.

Shura abandoned himself in Kinno's arms for just one second. His body was cut by a sudden spasm. He was struck by a sudden weakness, which made him dizzy, blackening his sight...

It was one moment, one instant of the purest delight...

"Ahn... my blondie... I ..." He rumbled, ecstatic. A tingling rush of shock and pleasure poured into his body, in a fierce flood of passion.

One vigorous thrust forward and a deep, exhausted sigh out signalled Shura's blissful climax. Kinno rocked and swayed his hips, and reached down to pump his own shaft. The feel of the liquid warmth filling him, and the beautiful ecstatic face of his lover drove him into rapture. The youko uttered a passionate cry when his own erection twitched in his fingers, spurting forth a rich gush of his semen..

They snuggled tight, breathing together in a slow pace. They needed now to calm down from the intense orgasm. Kinno played with Shura's straight silky hair, and the demon prince slowly licked the youko's chest, savoring the salty flavored sweat exuding from his pale skin.

"I'm sorry, I came too early, but I..."

Kinno softly caressed Shura's lips with one finger. He smiled to the boy then.

"I loved it... We came together..."

Yomi's son smiled back, feeling relieved and confident. He pulled himself a bit apart form Kinno, sitting up in between his parted thighs. The pink-eyed youngster looked down at the semen coating Kinno's belly. He touched the warm moisture and stroked his youko with a pleased affection. Then his fingers traced a slow, tortuous way downwards...

"Let's do it again? I bet it's going to be much better then."

The youko's alluring face shone with happiness. He nodded to his boyfriend's words, entranced by his proposition. He had never been so happy with the prospective of a second sex-session... Naturally; before it was just plain, boring, torturing business. Now, it was love; real love.

"My pleasure, lollypop..."

Shura offered his partner a coy, but at the same time extremely sexy half-smile. Then he bent over to enfold his youko lover with his arms again...
 
 

But how could he have been rational after all that surge of passion which invaded him and Kinno?

After loving and being loved by that magical fox-spirit over and over, Shura only wanted to lie back and relax.

He waded out of the small lake, using his hand to brush the excess water from his body. Then he bent down here and there to pick up his trousers and shirt. He got dressed then, very slowly. He fastened his trousers, but kept still his shirt unfolded, loose around his worn out body. He was not in a hurry to leave that nest of love, after all...

The boy breathed deeply the fresh scent of the forest. His ears twitched when he noticed a sound, and yet he kept relaxed, knowing it was his pretty golden youko.

Kinno appeared in through the dense vegetation, carrying lots of different fruits in his arms. He ran and hopped animatedly towards Shura, sat down on the patch of moss again and blew his sweetheart a smacky kiss. "Hungry? Come here, let me feed you..." The youko invited, showing a delighted and genuine bright smile while he patted his own lap, calling Shura to join him.

The youkai lay on the green, resting his head across Kinno's lap. The fox had piled all the fruit next to them, but he would not let Shura serve himself. It was Kinno who slowly drew one apple to his babe's mouth, holding it for him to bite.

"Hum... Good..." The young prince commented, chewing a mouthful.

Kinno acquiesced, stroking one of Shura's pretty horns.

"It's my daddy's... He grows lots of yummy fruit..."

"I know, Kinno... But nothing you put in my mouth is more tasty than you..."

The youko shuddered, thrilled with the compliment.

"Oh.. you're so kind... You're just like a prince, my honeybun..."

Shura chewed another bite. But then he refused any more, detaining Kinno's offering with a polite gesture of his hand. The horned demon looked up right into his youko's golden eyes. He could not help feeling a little unease.

He cleared his throat, writhing a little against the youko's lap.

"Ahn... Kinno... We have to talk..."

"Yes, sugar..."

Shura continued, mindful not to look at Kinno right in the eye. He was really feeling guilty for having lied to his pretty youko now.

"It came to my mind now... I have not told you important facts about me."

"Yeah?"

The youko still smiled. His fingers stroked Shura's soft hair with tenderness.

"I lied to you about my life."

Kinno blinked his clear eyes. His face showed a sudden puzzlement, and for a moment, he interrupted his slow strokes on Shura's head.

"You lied? To me?"

Shura lowered his eyes, affected by remorse. He had been through too much pain and hardness lately. He was tired, strained, nervous... Nevertheless he was determined not to let his sweet Kinno have any part of it. He would prefer to preserve his pure, so loving youko from all his suffering, but he should not lie to him any longer.

"I am truly sorry, my dear youko. I am much embarrassed to confess it to you." The youkai breathed in very deeply, inhaling a tortured sigh of pain. "I lied about my life and my father."

Shura gently wormed his touch around Kinno's arm, to stroke his shoulder. Kinno placed a comforting hand on the other's chest, assuring him of his love and attention.

Kinno became very worried. His face seemed paler yet when he looked down at Shura with serious, concerned eyes.

"Oh... Are you a slave like I was?"

Shura shook his head.

"No, blondie..."

"What is it then? I will understand... I don't mind, I love you, even if you are a thief, a pirate, an assassin... I love you, no matter what..."

"I am a prince."

Kinno chuckled, truly amused.

"Oh, sugar, don't try to pull my leg like this! I am not that stupid..."

The youkai stared deeply at Kinno. His fingers closed tighter around his fair arm, demanding attention.

"I am the only son of  the King of Gandara."

Kinno still snickered a little longer, but as Shura's serious, focused face caused the youko's amusement to cease. His laughter soon turned into a mortified little smile.

"How can it be?"

Shura sat up. His arms closed around Kinno's waist, and he brought the youko closer. Then Shura repeated the truth he had concealed since they had first met. His voice sounded soft and yet determined as he spoke it, so near Kinno that they almost kissed.

"I am Shura. King Yomi's son. I am Gandara's heir."

Kinno still tried to deny that fact. He could not understand... However, Shura did not let him protest. He continued his explanation, very slowly, very calmly, to give Kinno time to comprehend the whole truth. All the while, he slid the tip of his finger along his youko's face, tracing his beauty with light caresses.

"When we met and started dating, I did not trust you much. I lied because I doubted your real feelings and intentions towards me.  I imagined you could be interested in me only because of my power and position." Shura placed a kiss on the tip of Kinno's nose, and yet the fox remained very still, too confused to respond.

"You are not a General's son..."

"No, foxie."

"Are you a prince? For real?"

"Yes..."

"Are you rich and powerful? "

Shura nodded, patiently, still eye to eye with Kinno.

"Do you have treasures, and tracts of land, palaces, servants and guards?"

"We have the biggest and most powerful army of the Makai."

"Your father is a King..."

"Right. King Yomi."

For a moment Shura imagined the youko would not believe him. But what happened was just the contrary. Kinno believed him immediately, nevertheless he felt too dejected about his words. His golden eyes were turned down, and the fox tried to avoid Shura's intense stare.

Kinno sighed in, desolate.

"Oh, sugar... I feel so ashamed of myself..."

"Why?"

"You're a noble prince and I am nothing... I am just a poor, weak youko, and you are so important..."

"No!" Shura exclaimed, very decidedly. He held Kinno's face, cupping it with a firm but tender touch to make the youko face him again. "You are very important to me! You are my lover! You are my youko!"

Kinno felt confused for one moment. But Shura seemed so intense, so truthful, that he trusted his ardent words.

"You are not ashamed of me then?"

"No. And I will never be. You are my lover, and I need you," Shura insisted. To reinforce his argument, the prince leaned onto Kinno and kissed his lips then, making the contact deeper with slow, undulating strokes of his tongue, eliciting an entranced response from the youko.

Kinno enveloped Shura in his arms again, abandoning himself in that kiss... They moaned, kissed, and spoke tender promises of love one to the other at the same time. They were both lost to the mundane world; the only thing that mattered then was just their love, and the lust growing once again in their bodies...

When they finally stopped kissing, they were aroused again. Excitement rushed all through their young demon bodies, following their blood, flooding them with loving emotions and sensations.

Shura smiled. He licked his lips, noticing the youko's delicious flavor coat his mouth.

"Kinno, I just need to ask you one favor.

"Say it, my sweetmeat... I'll do anything for you..."

Shura sighed in loudly. The pain was returning now, that he was starting to recall all the nightmare of affliction he had left behind before entering that paradise of love.

"We need to keep it a secret."

"But wasn't it a secret before?"

"Now I really mean it! No one can know about our affair. Not even your brothers, not even your father! Don't mention me, don't mention my name... Can you do it?"

The youko assented calmly.

"I promise it to you. Why all this secrecy?" Kinno asked then.

Shura leaned his head back onto the youko's warm lap. His heart pounded painfully when the image of his blind, love-sick father came to his mind.

"It's my father. The King is not fond of youko; he would never approve of our relationship."

Kinno became sad. Nevertheless, he acquiesced with docility.

"Oh, Shura, I am so sorry to hear that..."

Yomi's son smiled. "Kinno must be really be a good youko," he thought, with a loving sympathy.

Shura had tossed his head, enough to place a smooch on Kinno's belly. The youko chuckled, pleased with the tingling feel.

But soon the horned boy showed himself  somber and serious again.

"He made enemies with a youko he met in his past. This youko was a vicious thief and mercenary. He deceived my father, using and abusing of his trust and dedication."

Kinno shook his head, in a quiet, solemn lamentation. He tapped a finger on the middle horn of Shura's brow, and the prince, encouraged by Kinno's sense, continued. His voice sounded low-pitched and bitter as he continued to tell his accusations.

"My father was betrayed in the most mean and cowardly manner. He was ambushed and attacked, and still bears the scars in his eyes and his soul."

"Poor Shura's daddy...It must be a very bad, bad youko, who did it to your papa, sugar..."

The calm, young face of the prince underwent a severe change. His eyes burned with fury, and he glared, looking at the green forest coverage above them.

"Yes. He is  the most despicable demon I ever heard of. You are such a kind jewel, Kinno... That thief is mean and low compared to you. I am sure a scoundrel like him would not be worthy of kissing the ground you tread on, blondie!"

Once again, Kinno had to take one moment to virtually grasp all those  words meant. But he soon smiled back to Shura, to offer him some consolation.

"He tried to kill my father. He deceived my papa, acting as a friend, as a lover, and then paid a mercenary to kill him!" Shura took a deep breath. He was starting to feel the anger affect his temper. He must keep control not to scare Kinno much. "My father is still alive, but he was blinded... That bastard blinded my papa!"

Kinno's eyes widened. He was surprised and shocked, It was indeed a sad story.

"Poor Shura... Is this bad youko still alive?"

Shura nodded. The vengeance glinted in his rosy eyes, and he clenched his fists firmly.

"Yes, Kinno. That's why I came here. To hunt down the bastard and kill him."

"You didn't come to see me?"

Shura looked at his blonde youko, puzzled. In fact, only now had the fact occurred to him.

"No... I did not know I could find you here in this territory. I came here looking for that villain in order to avenge my father." He stared deeply at Kinno. "Blondie? Why are you here, in these woods?"

"I live here."

Shura assented.

"Then you must have heard about the evil-minded youko I look for."

Kinno seemed worried as he wondered who that youko might be. Inside, he hoped it were not his friend Hikaru. He loved his gray friend, but  he needed to admit he had a mysterious, unspoken past...

"Do you know the name of the youko who betrayed and blinded your papa?" Kinno asked, in a concerned tone.

Shura sat up again. That whole situation was leaving him restless and strained.

"Yes. I'm gonna kill him for what he did to papa. The bastard's name is Kurama."

It was immediate. Kinno's eyes were flooded with tears. His chin quivered as he tried to repress his cry for a moment. But then he groaned, the color left his face, and he started to weep and sob again, louder than before...

The prince could not understand. He tried to hold Kinno dearly onto him, but the youko struggled against his kind gesture.

It was then Shura stroked his beautiful blond hair, surprised with his sudden, almost hysterical crying.

"Kinno... What's wrong? Please..."

Sobs, groans, whimpering, sniffling... At first Shura didn't grasp what Kinno told him. The youko had concealed his face with his hands, and wept convulsively.

Nevertheless, Shura insisted. It was only after some long, agonizing moments that Kinno managed to utter an articulate explanation.

"No... Sugar, please, no...You can't kill him..."The youko whined painfully. "I beg you..."

"Why, blondie? Tell me why..."

After giving out a long sigh, Kinno was able to explain his sudden despair.

"Youko Ku-Kurama..." Kinno stammered. "Is m-my daddy!"

Shura's eyes grew wide. He brought his hands to his head, and moaned hopelessly, crying out his fate with a loud, grievous lament..

"Oh, No... Please, it can't be..."