Ascending Olympus

Karasu, Lord of the Underworld, stalked impatiently through his realm. Humans, he decided, were much too fragile to be any fun. There was no challenge in breaking them, no fight in their eyes as they died.

Even the semi-divine, those ill begotten children resulting from the affairs of immortals and humans, were more delicate that Karasu needed them to be.

If he had to be trapped down here - for he was trapped, no matter what his brothers said - then at least there should be some entertainment. Watching Tantalus's torture only could be funny for so long, especially since the fool had become resigned to his fate. What he needed was something new. Someone new. Someone young, fair of face, slender, delicate.

Karasu caught himself nearly salivating at the idea.

He flipped his long, inky black hair over his shoulder, reveling in the feel of the silken weight sliding against his bare back. Perhaps it was time to visit the upper realms and see what new meat had cropped up. It was easy enough to wait for some wandering human to end up near the River Styx.

Botan, the boat girl, had orders to bring all of them to him directly, but his heavenly brother Koenma was always having illegitimate children that he would never miss if Karasu happened to borrow one of them.

Yes, he decided, a trip would be perfect. It had been at least a hundred years since he's been above. Perhaps he'd let this visit be a surprise. It did please him so to see Koenma off balance. The smug bastard.


Kurama smiled at his mother as they sat in the Grand Round of Mt. Olympus. Shiori, Goddess of the Harvest, gazed down at her son, the young God of Spring. He was braiding daisies into a crown, making the flowers flourish with his touch.

She was proud of him, her beautiful son. He looked nothing like his father, Koenma, King of the Gods, which she rejoiced in. Koenma was no kind of father for one as lovely and gentle as her Kurama.

He sat there, the ethereal lights of Olympus gleaming on his pale, perfect skin. Falls of straight scarlet hair tumbled over his shoulders and down past his waist. Eyes as green as new leaves sparkled as a couple of the other gods entered the Round.

Yusuke, God of War, grinned at Kurama as he entered. "How's it going, Red?"

"Just fine, Yusuke. And yourself?"

"Fresh from battle, and I'm feeling good." He wiped a spatter of blood from his cheek. "I've always wondered if you're any good at fighting."

Kurama smiled softly. "You'd be surprised."

Yusuke laughed uproariously. "Red's got bite. Must be dear Daddy's influence, since Shiori is as kind as a anything."

Shiori frowned. "Kurama is nothing like Koenma."

"Of course not," echoed Mukuro, Goddess of Wisdom. "We need no more godlets like Koenma running around. Yusuke's bad enough."

"You wound me, sister," Yusuke said.

"If only I could," the goddess countered.

Yusuke was about to respond when a dramatic sigh cut him off. The King of the Gods had appeared in the Round and was sitting in his throne with his chin in his hand. "You all are so tiresome," he declared. "All you do is argue." He flicked brown hair out of his eyes.

"And I suppose you think they should be more like you, dear." Shizuru, Queen of the Gods, entered and smirked at her husband. "Fraternizing with anything that will stand still long enough?"

Kurama chuckled and shook his head. He was very familiar with the antics of his family. They argued and tried to one up each other all the time. It was tiring, but he knew that he wouldn't trade this for anything in all the world.

Suddenly the golden doors burst open and a cold wind blew in. All of the gods were on their feet at once, Mukuro and Yusuke ready to defend themselves and the others if need be.

The moment built in tension until two short gods walked in. One of them was dark haired with red eyes and a bored look on his face. The other was a female who shared the same eyes as her companion, but with pale turquoise hair.

Koenma groaned and plopped back down in his seat. "Not him."

Yusuke and Mukuro exchanged glances. "Him who, Lord Koenma?" The goddess asked.

"Lord Karasu," the female at the door responded in a soft, soporific voice. "He's come to visit."

Kurama frowned. He had heard of this Lord Karasu, but the god had taken over the Underworld long before he was born. Judging by the looks that were being passed around the Round, Koenma's eldest brother was not welcome.

"What is he waiting for then?" Koenma demanded. "I'd rather he get his game over with sooner rather than later."

"Not that he cares," the little god at the door said. "But I believe he is waiting for an invitation."

"Bastard. Go tell him to get his ass in here and make it quick."

The two, who had to be twins, bowed as one and went to go gather their master.

Kurama sidled closer to Yusuke. "Who were they?" he whispered to his elder brother.

"Hiei and Yukina," the war god answered. "Death and Sleep respectively."

"And they attend Lord Karasu?"

"Yep. I can't believe that asshole is back here again."

The redhead opened his mouth to ask another question, when his voice died in his throat. The rest of the Hall had fallen silent as well as slow footsteps approached the doors. In a matter of moments, the one everyone had been anticipating had arrived.

Tall and deathly pale, Karasu walked into the Round with his head held high. Violet eyes glittered cruelly as he cocked his head at his brother. "Koenma. How good to see you after all these decades apart."

"Cut the crap, Karasu," The bright king snapped. "It is well established that we hate each other."

"Hate is such a strong word," the lord of the Underworld replied. He was clothed in black robes, and wore a mask that seemed to be made of the grayed remains of human bones over the lower half of his face. Those vibrant eyes roamed around the gods who were assembled before they landed on Kurama's face.

It was fortunate, or perhaps not, that the mask obscured the sadistic smile that curved over Karasu's lips then. He let his eyes rake over Kurama's form, delighting in what he saw. That hair! And those eyes! All of it spoke to a beauty and innocence that called to the dark god like a clarion.

Kurama, for his part, froze once he felt those cold eyes on him. He was used to being gazed upon for his beauty, but this was something darker…something more predatory. He didn't like it.

Shiori caught the direction her brother's eyes were fixed to and stepped forward, wrapping her arms around her son. "What do you want here, Karasu?" she asked boldly.

"Who is this beautiful beacon of light?" Karasu asked. "Yours, Shiori? He is certainly Koenma's. There is no mistaking the glow of my dear brother's arrogance around him."

"That is Kurama," Koenma answered warily. "The young god of Spring. He is mine and Shiori's."

"Incredible," Karasu whispered. His eyes flicked to his two attendants and they inclined their heads.

"What do you want here, brother?" Koenma demanded. "Neither the heavens or Earth are yours to interfere with."

"Oh calm down, Koenma," the dark god replied flippantly. "I have no intention of wrecking your precious playground. You are skilled enough at that yourself. Is it too much to ask to come visit my family every once in a while?"

Koenma's golden eyes narrowed. "That doesn't sound like you."

Karasu chuckled. "I can see when I'm not wanted. I'll gladly leave now if you promise me one thing."

"What is it?"

"Come visit me in the Underworld before the moon next shows her face."

"That's it?" Koenma asked.

"Yes. That is all I ask."

"Fine. I'll do it. Now get out."

"As you wish." Karasu executed a mocking bow. He looked at Kurama again. "It was…bewitching to meet you, little Kurama," he murmured. With another burst of cold wind, the Lord of the Underworld was gone as if he had never been.

Shiori tightened her grasp on her son. "What do you think he really wants, Koenma?" she asked.

The god king shook his head. "How should I know? Karasu has always been a mystery to me. Whenever he decides to direct his attention to something, it cannot end well."

Kurama couldn't contain the shiver that racked him at his father's words.


A/N: Yep. I'm writing another story. Yep. I'm crazy. Well not really. This story isn't going to really get going until a couple weeks from now when I am done with school for the semester. You get this short preview because it's Sekah's birthday! Happy Birthday, darlin'! This chapter is dedicated to her. Let me go on the record as saying that I will be taking liberties with Greek Mythology and language in this fic, but it won't be anything major.