Kinno tried to intervene.

"Daddy... Oh, please, don't be mad at me, I can explain it..."

One strong arm clung passionately around his waist. Shura took one deep respiration, not allowing Kinno to leave his side.

"Don't say anything, Kinno. Let me deal with this despicable villain!" Saying this, Shura defiantly took one step forward, enough to stand between Kinno and his father, as a protective barrier.

The lovers still held hands. The prince noticed Kinno trembled intensely.  He made his fingers caress the back of his blondie's hand in all the sweetness his infuriated temper allowed him at that moment.

Kurama approached the couple. His face shifted between derision, as he looked down at Shura,  and irritation, when his eyes met his son. He could not understand... It must be a curse! An evil spell! What was wrong with him that his life was so much locked to Yomi's? He tried, tried, tried and yet could never really get that Horny Doom out of his life!

He shook his silvery head in slow disapproval. Disdainful, he stared at that travesty of Yomi.

"Why has such curse been imposed on me?" His eyes searched for Kinno. He was very aware the golden kid was scared, even so he glared wickedly at his own son, to make him aware of the evil he had done. "Kinno! Of all youkai in the Demon Land, why did you have to bang Yomi's son? It was only to annoy and vex me, was it not?"

The golden fox hid his face against Shura's flowing black hair. He whined a frightened, stuttered excuse, so softly that only Shura was able to hear it.  Kinno had murmured it close to his ear, and the youkai could even sense his sweetheart's lips quivering against his cheek. One warm drop slid along the edge of his ear, and the prince knew it was a tear Kinno had cried.

"I love him, Daddy... I love him too much..." Was all Kinno could whisper.

Shura felt himself inspired by that tender gesture of love. He must fight for their happiness at any price!

Infuriated at Kurama, the prince clenched his fists, preparing himself to fight. That scoundrel! Not only had he turned his father's life into misery, but now he tried to do the same to Kinno! No! He could never allow it!

"Don't you dare frighten Kinno, you low-life villain! We are together, and neither you nor anyone else in the Makai shall separate us! I am not afraid of you, you filthy animal!"

Kurama snorted. He scowled at Shura and insisted in getting closer to them. He advanced a first, and then a second step, before challenging that spoiled brat again. Yomi should have taught him manners - That kid acted as if he were the King of all Three Worlds!

Well, coming from Yomi's son, what else to expect?

"Go back to your nanny, Shura-chan. I have no business with spoiled little brats like you!"

Shura felt so deeply enraged that he could not breathe for an instant. Kinno squirmed, sneaking a little away from him. The boy's hand had seized the tender flesh at his waist in such a fierce clasp, it hurt.

It was then Shura let Kinno free. He put his hands together before his chest, and in one split second he summoned a furious energy blast, that he threw at the youko.

Kinno cried in terror, when he saw the intense energy being hurled against his father. He had no time to attempt any gesture that might make Shura miss his aim.

But when his scared eyes searched for his daddy, the golden youko heaved a relieved sigh when he saw Kurama dodge the furious blast of energy.

The silver youko had jumped aside, elegant and wild in his foxy nimbleness. He landed softly meters away, crouching gracefully, but already fixing his ireful stare at Shura. His face showed a scornful smirk.

Shura's scowl grew more intense when he saw his attack hit a pile of rocks in the background instead of Kurama.  A small rocky mount a little away from them was smashed into an exploding pie of debris and dust.

"Spoiled little devil! I'm gonna teach you a lesson!"

Shura grew deadly pale, not of fear or shock, but of the purest, deepest, most intense wrath there could be. Kinno tried to reach for him, but he moved him aside, gently, but firmly.

"I'm gonna kill you for what you have done to Papa!" He growled.

"No, sugar! No! No, Please!"

Shura did not seem to care for Kinno's desperate plea. He only had time to shove his sweetheart out of the way with his left hand, and then throw a sudden discharge of you-ki with his right one.

Kinno cried louder. He actually tried to stop his boyfriend, but it was too late.

The blonde youko writhed in terror when he saw all that impacting energy explode right against his daddy's chest. Kurama was shoved meters away, in a blast of light. Then, Kinno did not want to see anything else.

He jumped into Shura's arms, sobbing, cuddling tight to him, with his face bathed in tears. He whimpered and stammered, "no, no, no, no, it's my daddy, don't hurt my daddy, no, please no..." clinging to Shura's waist, holding back his right arm, not to let him strike his father again.

Shura caressed his youko's hair, very tenderly.

"Hush... Foxie, don't cry... " Shura made Kinno face him. He felt pain start deeply in his heart when he beheld the youko's face all wet with tears. Kinno was so nervous, so frightened, that his whole body trembled... And he could not stand watching his blondie suffer. "Look, goldie... I have promised you I would not harm him, didn't I? He's alright..."

Kinno rubbed his eyes dry with the back of his hand. He sniffled his cry, and looked up, while Shura stroked his back for comfort. Yomi's son knew he could kill the silver youko whenever he wanted, but then he would kill something inside of his foxy sweetheart as well. It was much better just to inflict mere flesh wounds and thus hurt nothing but Kurama's damned pride.

Kinno sobbed, as he watched his father flat on the ground. He kept his breath suspended, in a fit of agony, till he observed Kurama slowly try to sit up.

The silver youko was stunned, and it took him a long while till he managed to keep balance enough to kneel up and get on his feet.

Shura gently drew Kinno to his side, and he advanced one half-step, to defy Kurama with all his noble audacity.
 
"You have influence over my father, but you don't rule over me, Youko Kurama! Stand back! Now!"

Kinno's soft voice covered Shura's harsh words with his sweet interference. He took one step towards Kurama, as if willing to reach for him. But Shura still held him back by one hand, gentle but resolute.

"Daddy, please... This is the youkai I love... I don't want to see you fight..."

Kurama brushed off the dust and earth from his white tunic. He kept himself in a challenging pose, insisting in confronting Shura. He roared loudly.

"Get your filthy hands off my son! You must be a damned peek freak just like Yomi! I don't approve of this relationship at all!"

Shura's mouth gaped for an instant. He stared in total awe at Kurama.

"My father is not a peek freak!" He protested with vehemence.

The silver youko gave the kid a sneer. He arched up one eyebrow, while he slowly, very calmly answered back.

"I know such things of your father that would make you blush to death, horny boy... He is a size queen, and you must be just like him!" Kurama found a seed in his hair. He started to roll it in his fingers then, while he continued to threaten Shura. "Don't come near my son ever again!"

Shura's anger was so intense he started to quiver.

"How dare you, despicable creature? You're evil! You're the worst demon ever come to life! You blinded my father! You sent an assassin after him!" Shura needed to take a deep breath in order to continue. "You addicted my papa to those flowers of evil dreams! I'm gonna avenge my papa!"

Kurama's response was very quick.

"If Yomi got addicted it is because he is a weakling!"

Shura seemed so infuriated he could not say anything else. He let go of Kinno's hand, and started to slowly summon his you-ki, to call an attack again. He focused all his fury, all his might, making his whole body glow with his coruscating you-ki.

Kurama's response was to make a wide gesture in the air, preparing to hurl the tiny seed against Shura.

"I'm gonna turn you into plant-fodder, boy!" The youko announced.

It was Kinno who detained the growing havoc. He cried, begging loudly for the two of them to stop, and hurried across the short distance separating his sweetheart and his daddy. Then he threw himself in Kurama's arms. He knew it was the only way to halt him.

The golden youko cried, and clutched to Kurama the strongest he could, sobbing, whining, using all his might to hold his tall, imposing father back.

"No, daddy, please, don't hurt my sweetheart!" Kinno begged louder, using all the muscle strenght he had to cling to Kurama, shaking him, trying to drag him away from Shura.

But the youko stood firm, unmoving, despite Kinno's drastic attempt to pull him away. The voices were loud and nervous, as Shura insulted the silver youko and Kurama responded, and Kinno wept, loudly, for them to stop their fight.

They did not noticed the silent figure in a dark coat approach them, coming from the other side of the arid field. He stopped by the side, contemplating the two parties with placid shut eyes, and furrowed eyebrows. Anger altered his pale semblance.

Kurama's eyes widened when he saw the pale but imposing figure stand by Shura's side, and with cold calmness lay his hand on the curve of his shoulder. Then he stepped on, as if taking the lead of their confrontation. His face showed great fury towards the silver youko.

"Leave it to me, son. These despicable vulpine creatures shall pay for maligning your chaste honor!" Yomi murmured to his son before addressing Kurama.

Shura still tried to draw his father back. He must explain Kinno was not a despicable youko like his father, but then Yomi did not allow him to. A peremptory gesture of his broad hand impelled Shura to keep silence.

The youko aimed a haughty sideways smirk at Yomi.

"You and your kind must have acted in collusion in order to pervert my pure and loyal son! I should have known! White, Striped, Golden, Silver; A marauding skulk has taken over my Kingdom!" Yomi exclaimed as he approached Kurama and Kinno. The silver youko protected Kinno with his own body, and he stepped forward too, to bully Yomi.

"I cannot say it is a pleasure to meet you either..."

"Kurama! What have you done to my son? Have you bewitched him as you have done to me in the past?"

Kurama could not avoid laughing. Oh, Yomi was really an act... He really enjoyed playing the part of the victim...

Kurama looked down his nose at the blind king. He held Kinno to himself, embracing him with possessive closeness.

"Yomi, we had an agreement when I came back. You would not interfere in my life, and Hiei and I would be away from you and your ambitions. So, what has this clone you dare to call son done to my only kid? Kinno is my son! This horny dead ringer you keep around has seduced and molested my only son!"

Yomi halted midway. For a moment he did not have any reaction. His face turned towards Shura for an instant before he faced the silver youko once more. His pale expression begged for confirmation.

"Son? When did you have a son?"

"It's none of your business, Yomi! What matters is that I am responsible for Kinno! I am his guardian, and Shura offended my son's integrity!"

Kurama looked over his shoulder to the blond youngster who had taken refuge behind him. Kinno hid himself behind the youko's back, and his you-ki was so weak, that he could be totally cloaked by Kurama's powerful energy.

The golden youko stretched his neck to look up at the kingly seven-horned youkai, who was Shura's father.

His chin quivered with fear. He flushed. He stood on his tip toes and looked at Yomi over Kurama's shoulder. Then he waved the King a hello, with trembling hands...

Yomi did not seem to care. And Kurama elbowed Kinno, to make him keep quiet.

"Your clone was squeezing my son in the most immoral manner! I can't allow my poor, naive kid be fooled by your son's perversions!"

Shura seemed very offended.

"No! I have the best intentions! I love Kinno! It's you who are the pervert! You were the one who seduced and lied to my papa! You are evil!"

Yomi hesitated in retorting to his son. The revelation that Kurama had a son struck him with a paralyzing surprise. He tried to sense the other youko, but his you-ki was blurred, indistinct, weak... 

"Shut up brat!" Kurama yelled.

Yomi stood in an attacking position. His right fist was held menacingly before him, as if he were ready to charge against Kurama.

Shura walked to his father. Yomi let go of his fighting stance to close one arm around his son's shoulders. The fathers faced each other furiously, each holding his own son with jealousy and protectiveness at the same time.

The youko and the Makai King stood in the most vicious confrontation.

"Don't you yell at my son, Kurama! He's very different from me! Shura won't ever tolerate being humiliated!"

"Yes, he must be a cruel sadist! He must be doing the most terrible things to my poor Kinno!"

"Your son is the pervert! Why didn't you keep this seducer of evil on a short leash? It was your oversexed son who has corrupted Shura!"

"Leash? Why didn't you put your horny son in a chastity belt? He was the seducer!"

"No! My son has always been pure! I don't want your son near Shura! Keep him away from Gandara!"

"It was your son who came into my domains after Kinno! You must keep your sex-maniac son locked up, Yomi!"

Kinno looked at Shura; apprehension and sorrow had cloaked his always radiant face. His father was so engrossed into the argument that he managed to sneak out from his grip.

Shura did the same, carefully slipping out of the encircling arm of his father. He smiled at Kinno, and reached out for his hand, while they skipped from that confusion, standing aside, tenderly embraced, waiting, not willing to let go of their love, but also fearful of  interfering in their fathers' discussion.

They were enraged...

Kinno was extremely nervous. He hid his face on the crook of Shura's neck, whimpering very softly. Shura enveloped him with his arms, eyes open to the powerful demons still quarrelling furiously one with the other, not yet engaging into real fight, but getting dangerously close to it.

"Your son must be a skilled libertine to have influenced Shura!!"

"Why didn't you teach your son to keep his hands off youko's tails? He's a rogue, not a prince!"

"I am sure you did it on purpose! My son is ruined! You were using Shura to reach me, were you not? You are a bane, Kurama! You wanted to spoil my plans for the Kingship of the Makai! You cannot stand the fact that now I am more powerful than you! I am the chief now!"

"I don't give a damn about it, Yomi! I gave up fighting for power! Lucky you! If I wanted I would have you wrapped around my finger again!"

"No Kurama; Never again! And as you cannot control me you used your own son to frame Shura into your nefarious schemes!"

Shura closed his eyes for just one moment, making his decision. He slowly caressed Kinno's back, his hand feeling the softness of his long, perfumed hair. The young youko's breathing was convulsive. He tried to hold his cry back in vain. He quivered, and sobbed, clinging to Shura the tightest he could.

"S-sugar... I don't wanna lose you... My daddy doesn't like you..."

Shura turned his face to place a tender smooch on his lover's pale cheek.

"I don't want to lose you either, my goldie..."

"What are we gonna do? I love you much, my lollypop..."

Shura knew he would disappoint his father gravely, but remaining by Kinno's side was his best chance to become happy in life. What would his life be worth without love? Would he be like his mournful father? A demon addicted to dreams and nightmares from his own past, always alone, always in search of a ghost which, despite all his power, all his authority, he would never be able to turn into reality?

No... His father Yomi might enjoy the suffering of a long lost love, but Shura preferred to give farewell to the Throne, to the Makai, to everything, and keep Kinno with him...

"Let's run away."

Kinno raised his head. His flushed, crying face was touched by one tender  caress.

"You are all I need, Kinno. Will you run away with me?"

Kinno was surprised.

"W-Where to, sugar?"

"Away. Out of here, where our fathers can't reach us. Let's escape to the furthest regions of the Makai, or we can cross the border, and reach the Ningenkai..."

"My son is just a child! Your malicious son abused his innocence!"

"C'mon, Yomi! Gimme a break! If he is your son he is not innocent!"

"Your son is a filthy lecher!"

"It is your horny son who couldn't keep his pants on!"
 
 Kinno lowered his beautiful golden eyes. Shura noticed his furry ears twitching, reacting to the nervous shouts of their fathers.

"It took me so long to find my daddy... How can I run away now? I'm gonna miss him too much... And my brothers... My Ji-chan Hiei..."

"It's not forever.  We just need to give them time to cool down and get used to the idea that we must be together."

"Oh, Shura... I don't know..."

"Don't you love me?"

"Yes..."

"Will you come with me then?"

Kinno looked down to his daddy and Shura's papa. They were furiously screaming one at the other's face, their hands cutting the air in nervous and angry gestures, their eyes blazoning with wrath and their bodies tense, on the verge of a fight...

"Liar!"

"Loser!"

"Traitor!"

"Cheater!"

"Pervert!"

"Wide-ass!"

Kinno sighed out, helplessly. His eyes met Shura's beautiful rosy ones, and he showed a delicate smile.

"Yes, sugar... I will follow you wherever you go..."

Shura gave Kinno the most radiant, satisfied smile. He held his youko's hand then, and brought him along, showing a very specific direction, beyond the rocky hills which surrounded them.

"There... I can find us a passage to slip into the Ningenkai..."

"I always wanted to know the Ningenkai..."

They sneaked away, unnoticed by Yomi and Kurama, who had interrupted their angry discussion for a moment to just exchange the most furious glares, in an indignant silence.

"I don't like you; I never have. I want you away from me and my family, Yomi!"

"You were unable to understand my feelings for you!  You are truly a villain! Your son must be the same! I demand that he keeps distance from Gandara's prince!"

"There is only one way to decide this..."

"I agree, youko..."

"It is something I always wanted to do, Yomi... To kick your ass and smash your face for what you have done to me and Kuronue!"

"And I always wanted to shove a lesson up your haughty youko's ass for all that happened then, you coward!"

"I'm gonna kill you! I should have done it myself back then!"

"And I'm gonna do what I should have done centuries ago! Claim my revenge upon you, villainous creature! I can't have the light of my eyes back, but I can steal yours too!"

Their breathing was intense. They panted with anger.

"No you-ki weapons or barriers. It is a hand to hand dispute."

Yomi agreed. One wicked smirk showed in his pale face.

"No plants."

Kurama acquiesced. Then, he ground his teeth noisily. A long, menacing roar started from the back of his throat. He immediately assumed a defense, keeping his position. His hands and arms flowed in a graceful move, as he protected his front. He placed one foot a single step behind for better balance.

Yomi stood proudly in a very rigid position. He placed his clenched fists before him, and punched the air a couple of times, with energy. Then he stopped. He smiled cynically and waved his hand, calling the youko for the fight.

The silver youko snorted, with disdain. He swayed his body to one side, and then the other, trying to fool Yomi's perception. He pretended to attack in a semi-circular move to the right, but he stepped false on purpose, and aimed a very direct, very straight attack, willing to finish it all with one single thrust.

Yomi moved aside effortlessly, and the youko missed him. The blind King did not even let go of his soft contemptuous smile as he felt the air dislocation indicating Kurama tried to punch him again. He merely turned with a graceful twist of his body, and fenced the youko's hit, crossing forearms with him.

"You're losing your grip, youko! Married life is not doing you much good!"

"You know nothing about it! You are green with jealousy, Yomi! Why don't you confess?"

The youko tried a heavy punch with his left fist, but Yomi dodged the movement. He managed to catch Kurama's wrist with a fierce grip, not letting him escape. He quickly made his right arm aim down, to punch the youko right at his stomach.

Held in place, Kurama could not steel himself for the hit. He huffed and groaned with pain, and when he bent over himself, affected by the extreme punch, Yomi took the chance to shove his bent knee upwards, hitting Kurama's chin with violence.

Kurama was thrown away with the attack.

He fell, but even before Yomi could step closer, Kurama rolled over himself and got on his feet. He charged against Yomi then, running fast and jumping on him, so fast Yomi could not skip the strike this time.  The silver youko stuck one very heavy, very forceful kick right on Yomi's chest, also violently hurling him away.

But Yomi did not fall. He merely lost his balance and his sense for a moment, enough to give Kurama a chance to hit him again. Kurama was about to aim a punch right at Yomi's face, but the blind youkai held his arm, twisting it in a lock. Kurama groaned with the sudden pain, but he managed to grasp and twist Yomi's wrist, crooking his arm and elbow in a weird and very painful angle. Yomi complained too, but he didn't let go, and his reaction was to twist Kurama's arm more evilly.

The youko did the same, applying the same force, twisting Yomi's arm past to the limit, almost breaking it...

Both youkai were tense. A grimace of pain showed on their faces, equally anxious and ireful. Their lock was tight, and they still struggled one against the other, measuring forces, one trying to bring the other down, using all might to make the other cry and squirm and give up the battle...

"I'm gonna tear your arm off! Let me go!"

"Yomi, I know you enjoy pain, but I'm gonna grind your arm off if you don't give up!"

"Kurama, I'll teach you a lesson!"

"You are not good enough to teach me anything!"

Kurama's golden eyes fixed on Yomi's shut ones. The youko felt Yomi was staring at him; staring from within, as his perception focused on his face, on his expression. It was a blind stare, and yet, it still carried warmth and affection...

Yomi still loved him... He could see it so clearly...

He recalled once he even hated Yomi for his insistence and his insane passion. He was annoying with his servility and his constant presence; it even sickened him...

Even after all this time Yomi was still waiting for something Kurama would not be able to give him - passion, love, sex, partnership...

"I want you away from me and my family!"

"Tell your son the same! I don't want Shura hanging around with youko!"

They scuffled, in a series of locks and clinches, one trying to immobilize and throw the other down, exchanging the most varied series of loud insults, till Yomi skipped to the side, and struck a powerful blow at Kurama's face.

Kurama stopped the attack, and fought back with one fast hit with the knife of his hand, right on Yomi's neck.

He missed. Yomi threw himself forward, and his broad, strong hands closed around Kurama's neck. The youko also managed to clutch the king's throat with his firm long-nailed fingers, crushing the tender flesh, as Yomi started to strangle him...

Neither demon noticed the calm, observing figure in black at their side.

Hiei looked at the pair with his trade mark smirk.

"Are you two having fun?"

The youko and the King turned at the same time towards the angered admonition, as they heard their names called energetically. Kurama immediately let go of Yomi. He even pushed the King away from him, not to allow Hiei to become jealous and start imagining things...

"Put an end to this insanity! I heard you screaming on the other side of the Makai!"

Kurama tried to protest, but the short, and yet extremely imposing youkai in black reached out for his fluffy silver tail. Hiei yanked it vigorously, to demand silence.

Kurama jumped, but he managed not to give out a single "ouch", even though it hurt. He insisted on being very resolute and angry, glowering ominously at Yomi.

"His son has seduced Kinno, Hiei!" Kurama complained.

Hiei gave Yomi a sideways glance. It was a very strange assumption...

"Is it a fact?"

Yomi's eyebrows furrowed. His pale face displayed the most intense wrath. Despite it, his voice was calm and composed, as he expressed his grievance in a very formal fashion.

"I have always taught my son to be away from the influence of any youko. Shura is a conscientious, responsible and straight demon boy. It is more likely Kurama's son, a youko, has ruined the prince."

Hiei smirked. He nodded his head very softly. It would be better not to mention anything about Kinno's past, or things might be worse. Anyway Yomi might have a point...

Kurama glared at his lover. He inclined himself a little to be closer to Hiei's eye level. Then he pointed an accusative finger at Yomi.

"That sicko and his son must have planned everything, Hiei! It must be a kind of personal revenge against me! Kinno promised us he would be a good youko! He said he would not lie to us, or cause us any trouble! But then who shows up? The Horned Doom of the Makai and his little motherless brat! I am sure they were using Kinno to reach me!"

The King protested with ill-temper. Only Kurama could bear such mean thoughts!

"You are such a paranoid, Kurama!"

"And you are a megalomaniac, Yomi!"

Hiei stood in between the two demons, looking up at them with very angry eyes and a stiff neck. Those two were too much taller than himself! K'so!

"Enough! We are here to discuss the kids! Enough of this bullshit! Why didn't you solve it 1000 years ago? Damn! It's much too long to still be holding a grudge!"

Yomi quieted. He breathed deeply. The furrow on his brow vanished and he started to open and close his clasped fingers, trying to relax and get rid of the tension in his shoulders. That whole situation was very straining...

"I agree we must find a solution. What is done is done. Shura is totally infatuated by this youko that he calls Kinno."

"You must have done it on purpose, because I..."

Hiei shushed the youko. He called his name, and arched his eyebrows in a irritated expression. 

"Why don't you ask the kids what happened? Isn't it better than acting hysterical?"

 There was still much resentment on Kurama's and Yomi's faces. Nevertheless, despite their frowning expression and tense attitude, they kept silence and allowed Hiei to speak further.

"If your kids love each other and are happy together, I doubt you will ever succeed in bringing them apart. I think you'd better find a way to try to cope with the idea..."

Yomi lowered his head slowly.

"I fear my son has been lured enough to forget all I have taught him, and all our plans for the Makai."

"Kinno had promised me he would never lie to me again, and now I find he was hiding so much from me... He betrayed my trust because of your son, Yomi!"

"Shura is still naive! He's like a child regarding love... I don't want him to be involved with any youko."

"It is Kinno who must have been fooled and used! My son is ingenuous and  good hearted! Your son must have misled him!"

"I demand reparation for the harm your son have caused to Shura's innocence!"

"Are you mad, Yomi? I must be the one to be offered amends!"

The Makai King sighed in. The situation was too distressing. He crossed his hands at his back and lowered his head. His long hair and the shadows cast by his horns upon his pale face seemed to increase the impression of utter defeat, very clear in Yomi's features.

"It is too late. We cannot turn back the time. Now we must find a solution, the quickest we can."

"I agree. What are we gonna do with them?"

Hiei walked very slowly around the two fathers, observing them. It seemed they would not engage into a senseless fight again. He did not want any confusion or any disputes. Since he had come to the Makai, all he wished was to live in peace with Kurama, and dedicate all his life and energy to the love they shared. The old times of fighting, confusion, and violence must be over, definitively. What he least wished in his life is turmoil of any kind.

In fact, the fact Kinno might be dating Yomi's son even made some kind of sense...

Hiei gave a proud smile to himself as he thought on that fascinating golden youko Kurama had fathered. Yomi's son probably had no chance to resist; he must have been crashed by Kinno's intense beauty since the very first moment they met.

"You realize that protesting and forcing them will only make matters worse, don't you?"

Yomi agreed. Kurama remained unmoved. The youko was very contrary to the idea of that love affair between Kinno and Yomi's clone.

But it was expected, given Kurama's fussy ways...

"We will have to lock them up if you want them apart. Shura would never have disobeyed my orders if he were not madly in love." Yomi smiled slightly; a bittersweet smile. "I have talked at length to Shura days ago. I told him that a Youko would not be an appropriate partner for him, and I tried to encourage him to let go of this young passion."

Kurama accepted Yomi's comment without trying to refute his words. He  softly nodded his head.

"Kinno is very kind and affectionate. He inspires love in everyone that sets eyes on him. He is incapable of harming anyone, Yomi. I guarantee it to you."

"I guess forcing Shura to be apart from your son will only make our children suffer. I could never be happy in my love-life, but maybe my son will..." Yomi could not avoid a soft tint of red to show on his face. A soft, embarrassed half-smile curved his lips, directed at Kurama. "When I told Shura to forget the youko who had inspired him so much passion I must have known by my own experience it was impossible. One can never let go of a passion for a youko..."

Kurama crossed his arms, and faced Yomi, feeling very annoyed. But it was Hiei who interfered, loudly clearing his throat and elbowing Yomi's side.

"Hey, cut that out Yomi! You better find your own youko. This one is taken", Hiei teased.

Yomi's smile widened. Kurama was surprised to see him take Hiei's jest so easily. That horny demon had always been precipitate and hot-headed. Being a King must have changed him.

"I do know it, Hiei. I guess I must book Kinno, so Shura can keep the fox-demon he loves."

"Don't worry, Yomi. Kinno is a very good hearted youko."

Kurama stepped on, standing right between Yomi and Hiei. He showily pushed Hiei away from Yomi, gently but firmly. He felt like Doom hanged over his head; thankfully Hiei was not Yomi's type, but one could never be sure... And he knew enough of Yomi and his sexual appetites to take precautions...

"Well... Going back on topic... What shall we do to our kids then?" Kurama asked, carefully drawing Hiei closer to him, circling one arm around his shoulders.

"We must be very attentive of them, and keep them under our careful observation."

"And I will talk to Kinno and try to shove some sense into his head..."

"In case we allow them to continue meeting one another, I shall need to be given guarantees. I need a commitment to be set. My son is very young and inexperienced. I don't want Shura to be used and later rejected no more than a disposable sex-object."

"I say the same about Kinno, Yomi. My son is very attractive but he is extremely naive and trusting."

"I have not planned any of this, Kurama. But now all we can do is to keep them under our vigilance, and arrange them to meet in a proper, honorable manner. If we forbid their affair I am sure they will not obey."

"Yes. They will meet secretly, like today."

"We better accept facts as they come then..."

Hiei smiled. He could have never imagined such a scene would happen - It would be fun to add fuel to the fire and watch it all burn...

"Well, why don't you make them marry each other?"

Kurama and Yomi became so startled that they froze in total shock, for a long, nervous moment.

Hiei still showed a very mischievous smile. Those two were acting   pretentiously if they imagined they would ever be able to prevent the love of their young. Hn... How could they avoid the facts? Demons who had always been moved by passion from the very beginning...

Kurama scowled. Yomi grew paler yet. The fox looked at his former associate with startled eyes, and Yomi arched one eyebrow over his tightly shut eyes. The faces of both fathers were filled with apprehension.

Hiei shook his head.

"Hn. I thought you two have learned the lesson by your own experience. There's no way to fight back love..."

The short youkai looked very intensely at the tall demons. He reached out to pat his youko's hand, assuring him of his presence. It was only then Kurama looked around, finally distracted from his quarrel with Yomi to notice.

"Kinno and Shura are gone!"

Yomi tried to sense the surroundings, perceiving the reality with his calmly closed eyes. His many ears twitched as he tried to catch even the faintest impression from the runaway lovers.

"They have gone that way..."