Disclaimer: Don't own them…

Part 5 Start of the End Feb 14

7:25 a.m.

Yomi looked at the back *NAKED back* of the sleeping from beside him. Slowly, as if afraid he would wake, he traced a finger on the soft skin. The figure shifted slightly, as if repulsed by his touch, but otherwise, did not wake. The blind youkai sighed, 'When he is awake he gives himself unconditionally, but when he's asleep... It's as if his subconscious is still trying to fight me.

'But that's gonna change. Things are going to change. Soon...'

 The horned Makai lord unhurriedly stood up from the bed and stretched, wryly noting that he still had all of his clothes on, and that his… 'heir' had none. Nothing really happened that morning*, but… it was not necessary for Kurama to know that. Yomi walked to the opposite side of the bed where the redhead was facing and knelt down. He brushed a few red locks off the half-youko's face that caused the latter to wake. The verdant eyes opened slowly and blinked, and when the features of the person in front of him registered, he softly spoke, "My lord…"

Yomi simply nodded and cautiously pulled the redhead up and cradled him to his chest, "How are you feeling?"

Kurama's brows knitted up. 'Did something happen...? This morning, that kiss...' His head shot up and he studied his master's features, trying to find his answer. He drew a blank and simply replied, "Fine, my lord."

A bob of the head and a voice, "Good. Then I want you to dress up. We're going to spread our domain." As the door closed, Kurama was left in a pool of blankets, looking uncertainly at his hands.

"Is this it? Your latest conquest, my lord?" Kurama inquired as he tipped his head to see the blind youkai. All that have happened early in the morning were nearly forgotten.

Yomi looked down at the redhead as he thought, 'Iie. My conquest is a certain youko.' He just nodded in response.

"Then what is our strategy?"

"I was hoping you could tell me, since you have always planned our moves."

"I don't think that is necessary anymore, my lord."

"Hai."

The two were referring to the oncoming troops of this particular land Yomi sought after. The youko looked at the surroundings coolly: the place was vast, no doubt why Yomi wanted it to be part of an extended Gandara. The army moved in and stopped before the two youkais. At their backs were their own set of men whom Kurama personally trained since Sachi had been disposed of. A horned youkai, whose skin was the deepest black stepped forward, obviously the leader of the so-called "Hiyoku" land, "What is it you want, Yomi? This is beyond your boundaries. Turn away now before a gruel battle begins."

Kurama looked at his master, as a thought struck him, 'So black… Like Hiei's clothes. No. I must stop this. I have to concentrate. In a few moments, this land will be part of Gandara.'

Yomi smiled at the youkai, "Shiroi, dear friend. I wish to have this piece of land added to Gandara."

"Hah! I am not stupid enough to let you enslave my people. You think you can move us with your flowing words? No!"

"Then, I'm afraid we'll have to make a little sacrifice. It's a big mistake to have mocked and put me down, Shiroi."

At those words, Gandara's army started to move but were stopped by a hand from Yomi. Once again, Kurama looked questioningly at him. His master merely looked back at him and nodded. A secret message.

But the opponent's army had started to move closer as Gandara's troop whispered words of confusion. Suddenly, to their surprise, vines shot out from the grassy floor and wrapped each of the enemy to the point of choking them. Yomi smiled, "It really was a big mistake, Shiroi. Now many lives will be lost."

Kurama tried to look as impassive as he could, but deep inside he was wailing. He didn't want this – 'Gods! Look at all those youkai! And the one at the back, was he still a child?' But he had no choice, he HAD to obey. So all he did was to remain stoic. Yomi looked at him, obviously pleased by his subject's obedience. He reached out to caress the kitsune's smooth cheek. The latter tensed up for a moment before he relaxed, and smiling, Yomi leaned over to whisper affectionately in his ear, "Did you enjoy this morning, kitsune?"

Once again, Kurama's mind was racing. Did they really…? He was saved from answering when Shiroi, one of the few who managed to survive, screamed, "I YIELD Yomi! Stop! We will give you the land."

Yomi corrected his form and gave a clap, "That is good. You've finally come to your senses. But you see, you are not needed anymore." Once more, he told Kurama Spare everyone but him.

"Hai." With that, the vines crushed the black youkai, as the others were set free. Yomi smiled at the remaining creatures, "You are strong for you survived. You will be put to great use. Now go and tell the other people about your new master. And the punishment that awaits disobedience."

Immediately, the youkais scampered around towards the village at the center of the hills. Their own army cheered as they marched back home.

Rinku slipped from his hiding place and quietly headed out to the others. When he opened the door, the sight that met him were Touya and Shiwa, training, Chuu, Jin and Suzuki were having a happy hour session, along with playing cards. The yoyo boy couldn't help but scream at the, "What are you doing?! This is serious! I thought you were planning!"

Jin almost choked over his share of liquor, "What's wrong?"

"Cinderella? Of course, it's Kurama, baka!"

Everything seemed to stop. Rinku took a seat as he 'humphed' and began his tale.

A guard walked in and started removing his armor. A second one entered and greeted the first. They both seemed in high spirits and were chatting excitedly.

"Wow! That was the best! We didn't even do anything."

"Yup, I guess we were backup or something, in case something goes wrong."

"Or, if someone decided to disobey..."

The two paused and looked at each other, with a silent signal that said, 'let's not go there, someone might hear'.  They proceeded to dress up, "So, Hiyoku is already part of Gandara."

"Yeah, idiot. But what I can't get is why… never mind."

"You mean, why the six weren't sent?"

"Yup. Chuu, Touya, Rinku, Suzuki

Suzuki acted up, "He forgot 'the handsome'!" Everyone's fist found their way to him.

Rinku cleared his throat and continued.

            "Shiwa and Jin. If we really needed backup, they would have been the best gamble. I bet the six of them plus Yomi and Kurama would be enough to conquer Mukuro's property!"

            "Yeah, well..."

            By this time, a third soldier had come in and had listened in. Suddenly, he snapped his fingers and inquired, "Hey, did you hear about what happened this morning?"

            "Huh? What?"

            "I heard from a servant, you know, the one I hang out with - "

            "You mean your lover. *snicker*"

            "Shut up. Do you want to hear this out or not?"

            "Okay... you're no fun!"

"He told me that early this morning, about 6 o'clock or so, he saw Yomi enter Kurama's room. My friend was supposed to bring in Kurama's uniform an hour later. When he reached the room, however, Yomi was just exiting the room, and he caught a peek before the door closed. There our trainor was, sitting naked on the bed! Of course, my friend didn't see everything, but, he could predict."

The two youkais whistled, "Shit... did Yomi...?"

A sound of a throat clearing. The three immediately turned around and saw Yoda standing by the doorway, "If you value your lives, better watch what's coming out of your mouths."

"Yes sir!" The three scampered on.

Everyone sat in silence for a while. Touya was now gritting his teeth and was tightly gripping his hand into fists. He broke the silence, "It's time to act. We don't know what else that bastard will do…"

The rest nodded. Jin stood up and declared, "I'll go inform Yuusuke and Hiei."

But before he could exit, the door opened, and there stood Asa, Kurama's messenger. "Let me do it for you. I also don't want him… hurt."

Kurama slowly lowered himself onto his bed. He tried to clear his head of the things that happened. In the tournament, in their conquest, this morning… But he couldn't keep his thoughts from what happened this morning. Yomi had come in, and kissed him. Iie - he had let Yomi kiss him. What happened after was blurry… or was it that he didn't want to remember? He sat up and hugged his knees to his chest. For a while, he remained that way, until he shifted his head to the digital calendar on the table. It blinked Feb 14. His brows crunched up. Valentines day... He remembered how usually spent these days with Hiei on the park, trying to avoid his classmates who even stampede to his house to present their gifts. 'Hiei...'

Without warning, the digital calendar was flung towards the wall and ended in a broken heap on the floor.

~ÀÀÀÀÀ~

A dark cackle escaped. Leisurely, a figure pulled himself out of a void and when he was fully out, he examined the sleeping redhead. He reached out a part that resembled a hand and traced the kitsune's face. He flipped his black hair that was mixed with a few curly blond locks and quietly headed out the door. A whisper was left in the air, "I'm free. And I've come for you… Kurama."

* - everything that happened in Chap 1

Tbc…

Finally, things are starting to move. Comments? Flames? Suggestions? Please Review!ü