Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Kitsunebi ❯ Chapter 3

Disclaimer: I do not own Yuu Yuu Hakusho nor do I make any money from this piece of fanfiction.

 

Reader Warnings: Shounen-ai (AKA Slash, M/M), lime, pairings: Kurama x Hiei, Yomi x Kurama, Yuusuke x Keiko, Kuwabara x Yukina

 

AN: And heeeeeere's Chapter 3! I've opted to keep the traveling part to a minimum so we can get to the fun part. *wink*

 

Kitsunebi

Chapter 3

 

It took Yuusuke and Hiei until nightfall to reach the Gandara-Torin border. Hiei's Jagan was glowing brightly in the darkness as he searched for signs of enemies and Kurama. As before, Hiei could sense no signs of the fox. Walking to the nearest border patrol, the pair flared their youki signatures to allow the guards to know just who was approaching. As they check in through the border, they were given an escort of Yomi's Special Forces. After all, Yuusuke was the Lord of Torin and Hiei was Mukuro's ambassador.

 

The duo arrived with much fanfare the following morning as the entered the town. The man residents in the streets stared in awe as they got a once in a lifetime glance at the Lord of Torin and the Ambassador of Alaric. Rumors flew as awestruck youkai compared notes on what was and was not accurate. Hiei and Yuusuke simply walked through it all in silence each keeping their sense sharp for any signs of their missing comrade. Once inside the castle, they were both shown to their rooms in the guest quarters as a servant bowed out, telling them with great regret that Lord Yomi was occupied but would see to it that he is notified of their arrival.

 

Once settled in, Yuusuke enters Hiei's room. He enters to find the Jaganshi with his ruby eyes closed and the Jagan softly glowing. “Anything?”

 

“No. But something tells me Kurama's here. He has to be. Why the Jagan isn't finding him is a curiosity.”

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Later that afternoon, Hiei opted to go for a brief spar with Yuusuke before it was time to prepare for Yomi's party. As they were finishing, a gentle round of applause reached their ears. To the shock of the pair, it was none other than Kurama. While he was in his human form, the clothing he wore played his androgynous nature to the hilt. He wore a pair of translucent slacks with a red and black silk trim, along with a shirt of the same material with the same trim at the sleeves. A long green tunic, much like the ones Kurama favored in battle, covered the shirt and pants and a blood red sash completed the outfit.

 

“That was a beautiful display, my Lords,” Kurama says, walking over. “I do hope one of you will be so kind as to be my sparring partner later tonight.”

 

Yuusuke gave Hiei a look, and when the fire youkai returned the Mazoku lord's look with one of puzzlement, he says, “Kurama, so nice to see you again. You can drop the whole `lord' business.”

 

Kurama reacted with a puzzled look. “My lord, you react as though you know me. But I assure you, I am positive I have never met either one of you before in my life. I do find it quite strange that you know my name though. Have you perhaps talked to my betrothed, Lord Yomi, earlier?”

 

Hiei was stunned. How could Kurama forget about them? And worst of all, Yomi? As Kurama's betrothed? Hiei clenches his fist, in pure anger. If there was something Hiei knew, it was that Kurama loathed the goat youkai ever since the kitsune found out he was still alive. Something was not adding up in Hiei's mind, and so, he reached out the only way he knew how. Fox, can you hear me?

 

No response came. No change in expression, no flash of recognition in Kurama's eyes. Hiei stood there rooted to the ground. The telepathic bond the pair shared had been Kurama's idea shortly before they decided to steal the three treasures of the Reikai. “It would be more convenient and easier to coordinate ourselves if we didn't have to speak out loud,” the redhead had stated at the time. After the heist and their capture, they had agreed that it might not be such a bad idea to be able to send telepathic messages to each other. It had proven to be invaluable over the years through their many trials as part of Yuusuke's team, and for Hiei to get no response simply left him bewildered.

 

Fox, don't play dumb. I know you can hear me. Once more, Hiei was met with silence. It was then that Hiei noticed something, something that he would have missed if he had not spent many years as a thief. An object was softly glowing underneath the kitsune's clothes, and unless the observer was either actively searching for it or had a particularly keen eye, would miss it.

 

“Lord Hiei is quiet person, isn't he?” the redhead asked, shaking Hiei out of his thoughts.

 

“That he is,” Yuusuke replies, glancing over at Hiei. When Hiei gave a tiny shrug, Yuusuke decided to give Kurama one last test. Perhaps he was acting because Yomi had found Kurama's only weakness and was exploiting it again. “Oh, by the way, I sent a messenger along to let Kuwabara know to guard Shiori.”

 

“Shiori? Who's that?” the redhead questions, utterly confused.

 

Hiei took that moment to speak up. “Thanks,” Hiei says, covering Yuusuke's question with an answer. “If you would, please notify Lord Yomi that I, Lord Hiei, will be your sparring partner in the entertainment phase of tonight's feast.”

 

“That will most certainly be my pleasure,” Kurama replies. Just then, the castle clocks clanged, letting all who could hear it know that it was now five in the evening. “If you will excuse me, my lords, I must prepare for tonight's feast.”

 

Once out of earshot, Yuusuke whirls to face Hiei. “Did you see how he reacted when I mentioned his human mother?”

 

“That's not the most disturbing part, detective,” Hiei cryptically replies. “Come, we should get ready ourselves. Good thing I brought a spare set of clothes. Oh, and be ready to flee tonight after my sparring match with Kurama. If things go well, we will need to leave, and maybe prepare for war.”

 

Yuusuke sent back a puzzled look. “What did you have in mind?”

 

“You'll see, detective, you'll see. But I assure you, you'll know when it happens.”

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Thank you, honored guests, for being here tonight,” Yomi starts, raising his wine glass. He had been dressed in full ceremonial robes befitting a Makai lord. “Tonight, we are here to celebrate a wonderful occasion. After much persuasion, Kurama has finally conceded to being my mate. Now, before we begin, I have been told that my future mate here would like to have a sparring match with Lord Hiei, Ambassador of Alaric. Let us all go to the stadium to enjoy the match.”

 

If Hiei was confused before, he was now downright furious. While he was unsure as to why he was so angry, he did know that Yomi had claimed his fox against his will, and he would be having none of that. That thought, though, stopped Hiei short. `Since when did I think of Kurama as mine?'

 

As the party ventured over to the arena, Hiei caught Yuusuke's eye, and then sent his glance over towards Yomi. Yuusuke gave a small nod in acknowledgment. After all these years of working with the speedy fire youkai, Yuusuke had a guess as to what he had in mind and knew that if things went the way Hiei wanted them to, someone would have to hold Yomi off. The rest of the minor youkai lords and ladies present would present no real threat, but Yomi would certainly be a problem.

 

As the party settles into their seats, Yomi proclaims his rules for the match. “The rules for the match are as follows: Live weapons are allowed, but no killing. The match ends at one hour or if one of the fighters yields.”

 

Hiei casts his cloak aside, revealing his usual blue tank top and black pants as Kurama steps into the ring in white pants, shirt, and tunic, all with lavender trim. A sash of the same shade of lavender completed the outfit. As Kurama pulls a rose out of his hair, Hiei wrenches off the bandanna on his Jagan and unsheathes his katana. The two get into a defensive stance, waiting for Yomi to give the signal.

 

Yomi stands in the audience, arm raised. “Begin!” he shouts as he drops his arm.

 

In an instant, Hiei had closed the distance to strike, and Kurama had dodged back and parried the blow with his whip. Trusting his instincts, Hiei trains his Jagan onto Kurama's mind only to find that the fox's mind was closed to him. The staccato of whip on stone, sword on whip, and sword on stone echoed through the arena. Appreciative gasps came at appropriate times, near misses, flashy dodges, impressive techniques. To Yuusuke, this was all normal; he had seen the pair spar before at Genkai's temple. Hiei, needing to keep up appearances, charges in for another strike, one that Kurama would barely dodge. A collective gasp from the audience was earned when Hiei's katana slashed through the tunic, revealing a large fox-shaped pendant around Kurama's neck. The pendant was glowing softly as Kurama deftly jumps back to land on the far side of the ring.

 

As Kurama checks himself to see if he was injured, Hiei smirks. He had figured out the truth, and Enma himself be damned if Hiei did not correct the problem. `So that's how the infernal goat did it. Heh. This could be fun.'

 

To be continued . . .

 

AN: That's the end of Chapter 3. Review make me write more, so drop me one!