Disclaimer: I don't own YYH.

Written for Red Kitsune Flames.

Dedicated to Monique.

Warnings: Violence, torture, shounen-ai…all that good stuff.

This will be a chaptered fic…I originally intended to write a one-shot but, with the help of Red Kitsune Flames, my ideas overflowed. It will probably be three chapters, so nothing too long and drawn-out. Pairings are (one-sided) Karasu/Kuronue, (later on) Kuronue/Youko Kurama, and (much later on, one-sided) Karasu/Kurama with some nice Kuronue/Kurama. Confusing, yes?

Well, I expounded on Red Kitsune Flames' idea of Karasu as a vengeful ex-lover of Kuronue coming after Youko Kurama to come up with this backstory of how Kuronue and Kurama met and why Karasu was so intent on destroying Kurama during the Dark Tournament.

I'll write and post the other chapters as soon as I have time. So for now enjoy this first chapter and please review!

…………………

Heavy eyelids fluttered open to reveal a pair of indigo eyes, so deeply colored sapphire that they were almost dark amethyst. Black, bat-like wings shifted slightly, disturbing the mess of blue-black hair that covered a bruised, delicate-featured male body. A pale face distorted in pain that resulted from this tiny motion of wings. A desperate hand clutched at the demon bloodstone pendant that hung around a slim, wounded neck.

This is how the thief Kuronue began every morning.

Kuronue's large, pointed youkai ears twitched and strained to hear the slightest indication that his captor was near. He heard nothing.

He glanced around the chamber, not moving anything but his eyes, for it pained him to move any other part of his body. It even hurt to breathe. He had taken quite a beating the previous night, as he had many other nights before.

It had not always been like this. Kuronue was a good thief. Actually, he was an excellent thief. He'd never joined a gang, for he preferred to work alone, and he'd made hundreds of successful heists.

However, one month ago, Kuronue had made the dreadful mistake of attempting to rob a powerful demon named Karasu, who delighted in the use of bombs and delighted even more in the use of bombs for torture. Karasu had captured Kuronue, for although the bat demon was an excellent thief, he was not highly skilled in the use of his spiritual or demonic energy.

Karasu spared Kuronue's life and, fortunately or not, fell in love with him. Of course, nothing pleased Karasu more than to harm the ones he loved.

And so, the thief Kuronue lay, bloodied and bruised, on the cold stone floor of his cell.

He dreaded the days to come. Karasu hadn't touched him…sexually, at least…but the thief knew that his new master eventually would. And then he would be killed. Karasu had told him as much.

His master seemed to enjoy taunting him with phrases such as, "Having my way now would spoil everything, my pet, but I'll have that beautiful body of yours soon enough. Once I've crushed your beauty, I'll crush your life, and that pleasure will be something infinitely greater than anything physical could give. After all, the intimacy that murderer and victim share is unparalleled."

That last bit was Karasu's favorite phrase…he managed to work it into almost every visit.

Kuronue shivered involuntarily just thinking about his master's cool, acidic voice mocking him. He tried to instead think of the day when he would escape to fly free once more. But Karasu had broken the bat's wings and driven all hope from him. All that was left was abuse, pain, and death.

Suddenly, Kuronue heard the squeal of the metal door just outside his cell. He closed his eyes, attempting to appear asleep in order to avoid his tormentor.

The raven-haired Karasu moved closer to Kuronue's barred chamber. "You should know that doesn't work on me, pet," Karasu said, his violet eyes staring almost lovingly through the bars. "Why won't you show me those lovely jeweled eyes of yours?"

An explosion rocked the room, and Kuronue's hoarse voice screamed in pain. Blood smattered the already crimson ground.

The smoke cleared, and Karasu chuckled when he saw the bat demon staring at him, enraged, while clutching at his left leg, where the bomb had torn his flesh to shreds. "That's better. Now, come over here like a good boy."

Kuronue clenched his teeth in refusal. "No," he growled. "I refuse to be your plaything."

Karasu smiled wickedly, revealing fangs that did not often appear. Another small explosion, at the bat's waist this time. The thief writhed in agony.

"Haven't you learned anything this past month?" the raven questioned.

Another explosion, another scream.

"Let's see," Karasu snickered, "how much more it will take for you to obey."

Two more bombs, two more rounds of excruciating pain.

Not keen on another round, Kuronue forced himself to ignore both the pain and his dignity. He used his arms to drag himself forward, closer to the man he despised.

"Very good," Karasu said, crouching down to come face to face with the bat youkai. He reached through the bars to stroke Kuronue's cheek. "Such a beautiful face...perhaps when I destroy you, I'll preserve this stunning feature to best serve my memory of you."

With the twinkle of a sudden idea in his lavender eyes, Karasu put his other arm through the bars and held the bat youkai's head in his hands. Kuronue grimaced at the contact.

Karasu chuckled. "I realize that at this point you fear my touch, but in time you'll learn to enjoy it."

The raven pulled the thief's face forward. Sensing what was about to happen, Kuronue tried to pull away, but Karasu held him still.

For the first time, the master of explosives fit his head through the bars and kissed his captive, shoving his tongue into Kuronue's mouth and pulling from him all his kiss was worth.

The sounds of two more explosions echoed in the chamber. The thief tried to scream, but Karasu swallowed his cry in the kiss.

"Next time, don't disobey me, and don't pretend to be asleep," Karasu hissed as he pulled away and exited the room, leaving Kuronue to collapse to the ground in nerve-shattering pain.

Tears welled in the captive's eyes, and his breath came in short, shuddering gasps as sudden spasms of agony washed over him. Eventually, the piercing pain receded to a dull throb. His breathing became more natural, and he found himself in the dark void of sleep.

&&&&&

The metal door screeched open and slammed shut, startling Kuronue out of his slumber. He opened his eyes, bracing himself to see Karasu, but night had fallen. He could not see through the darkness.

He fully expected to hear the raven's bitter voice, but instead a new sound reached his ears. At first it was a light panting, as if to regain breath lost from running quickly and silently. Then it became a quiet laughter. It was a different laughter than the only kind he had heard in the past month. This laughter was full of life, amusement, and pride.

"Who's there?" Kuronue hoarsely whispered.

The laughter immediately ceased. Kuronue felt someone move closer to his cell. His youkai eyes had adjusted to the darkness by now, and he looked up to see who stood there.

The first thing he saw was a pair of golden eyes staring at him through the bars. A fine-featured face was shrouded in a mess of long, silver hair, through which poked two silver fox ears. The demon was tall, dressed in a simple white robe and pants with a hole in the back to allow room for a gleaming silver tail. He held a golden medallion, which obviously did not belong to him, in his right hand.

"It depends on who is asking," the kitsune replied in a strong, sultry voice that seemed to speak with no required effort on the demon's part.

"I'm the thief Kuronue," the bat youkai struggled to say. Speaking was becoming increasingly difficult with his loss of voice to shrieks of torment.

"Thief, hm?" the fox questioned in slight amusement. "You look like more of a prisoner to me."

"I was captured on my last heist," Kuronue replied.

"You must not be a very good thief, then. Thieves are not supposed to get caught."

"It was a mistake."

"A fatal mistake, I take it."

"You haven't said your name."

The fox smirked. "I, too, am a thief. You may have heard of me…Youko Kurama."

Kuronue's mouth dropped. "You're Kurama?" he as close to exclaimed as his burning throat would allow. "You're infamous!"

"And don't I know it," Kurama said.

"What are you doing here?"

The youko glanced at the gold medallion. "A heist," he replied. "I only came in here to escape the hunters sent after me. They should be gone by now, so I'm off. Farewell."

"Wait," Kuronue begged. "I need to get out of here. Please…help me…"

"You are of no concern to me."

"He'll kill me…"

"I have nothing to gain from your life."

"I can be your partner," Kuronue pleaded. Forgetting the bombs surrounding the cell that were attuned to his energy, the thief grabbed the bars. He cried out in pain as the small bombs exploded, tearing his flesh and splattering his blood.

"I work alone," Kurama spat in annoyance as Kuronue's blood came dangerously close to staining his robe.

Then, the spirit fox noticed the interesting artifact hanging around the bat demon's neck. "However," the kistune said, switching tones, "I may be able to set you free…if you give me that Makai bloodstone of yours."

"My pendant?" Kuronue panted. "Never."

The bat's eyesight went in and out of focus. The loss of blood was too much…he would faint.

"That's the only way I'll help you," Kurama taunted.

"It was…my father's…"

No…he couldn't pass out now. Kuronue tried to resist, but his body was shutting down in preparation for sleep. His vision rapidly faded to black.