Chapter 10- Home Sweet Home

"I know that," Kiara turned away from Yongei.

"And you remember what your mother will do to me if she finds out?" Yongei sat on the ground and put his head in his hands. "Yaoi isn't accepted there! A tsuyoi will find both Amitomo and my necks! She'll kill me!"

Kiara had already thought of that. "Well, you know how Sabaku's ruling women traditionally take on an enkai as well as a husband?"

"Yeah . . ."

"You and the guys will be my enkai,"

"Wait, did you ever tell your mother that you broke off the engagement?"

Kiara slapped herself on the head, "No, I knew I forgot something,"

"I'll pretend to be your husband, and the rest will be the enkai,"

"What about Kurama? He's pretty famous in the spirit world," Kiara bit her lip nervously.

"Call him his human name. Suiichi Minamino, right?" Yongei got up and brushed off his tunic. "Better be getting back,"

"Sure," Kiara placed a hand on her stomach as Yongei walked back through the woods. She then placed a hand over her mouth and ran towards a pack of bushes.

* * *

"We should reach Sabaku in two hours," Yongei said, pulling up the hood of his cloak.

They had been camping and marching for three days. They could have been there by now if they did not have to stop every two hours to allow Kiara to empty her stomach.

"Traveling with pregnant women is never a wise decision," Hiei remarked.

"Show some sympathy will you?" Amitomo said, helping Kiara drink some water. "It's not like she asked for this to happen,"

Kurama had been silent for the three days of traveling. He had walked when he was supposed to, and ate when told to. Other than that, he acted as if he was dead. Kurama had taken the news of Kiara's pregnancy by Karasu hard, and it looked as if he would never recover.

The others had been sympathetic to Kiara, even Hiei when he wanted to be, and had tried to help out however they could. They had all agreed that taking Kiara back to Sabaku was the best course of action, and they had all agreed to play the part of being Kiara's enkai. They might not have if they knew what it was.

"What is an enkai anyway?" Yusuke leaned against a spiky rock formation in the middle of the desert. The green cloak that Yongei had provided him rippled around his feet. "What do they do?"

"An enkai is a harem made of men," Kiara said. "In Sabaku, men are subservient to women, and, traditionally, the ruling women of Sabaku collect men to form their enkai,"

"Ruling women?" Kuwabara questioned.

Kiara looked at him, "Yes, my mother is the leader of the Sabaku, and I'm the heir to the throne,"

"Let me get this straight," Hiei glared at Kiara. "We're supposed to be your 'collection' of men that are supposed to do whatever you want, and give it up whenever you want? I refuse! Don't you, Kurama?"

"I don't care," Kurama glared at Kiara. "She's already done Karasu, you might as well have the pleasure too,"

"Kurama," Hiei mumbled as he watched the red-haired demon walk away. "I'll go get him."

"No, this is between Kurama and me," Kiara followed the kitsune. She waited until they were well out of earshot to speak. "We need to talk,"

"About what?" Kurama had stopped but he kept his back to Kiara.

"Us, and where we stand," I'd better not blow this. "I just became pregnant for crap's sake. Why don't you want to talk about it?"

"Why do you want to talk about it?" Kurama looked over his shoulder.

"Because in nine months I'll be pushing something the size of a watermelon out of me, and I want to know how you feel about it!" Kiara was on the point of crying steam.

"You want to know how I feel?" Kurama had finally snapped, really snapped. "I feel betrayed! You had it in you to stop Karasu and you didn't! You're a damn Sabaku for crap's sake! You're one of the Nine Warriors of the Flame! It's like," Kurama struggled for the words. "It's like you enjoyed it."

It was Kiara's time to get mad. "You think I enjoyed it? You think I enjoyed going through hell? I was screaming for you to help me until he slapped me to near unconsciousness! I believed you would save me; that you would stop him! Oh, want to know what I did when I woke up? I slit my wrists with my fingernails! You stand here and say I enjoyed it? Then you must think being manipulated, confined, raped, and attempting suicide is a whole ball of laughs!" Kiara's eyes looked angry, yet tears of steam began to show.

Kurama stood in shock.

"This is the time I need you the most!" Kiara sobbed.

Kurama stepped toward Kiara, his hand outstretched. He placed his hand on her face, and drew her into a hug. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!" He sobbed. "I'm an idiot for treating you like this! It's just that,"

"You don't need to explain," Kiara smiled. Kurama was hers again.

* * *

"Sabaku is just over this sand dune," Kiara said as she led the group. The atmosphere had lightened greatly after Kiara and Kurama made up, and everyone seemed in lighter spirits. Except Kuwabara who had been stupid enough to out his hand down a strange hole and got bitten by a snake. But, he had been reassured by Yongei that the swelling would go down, and that his finger would not be green and purple forever.

"I wonder if they still have the guard up," Yongei wondered out loud.

Just then, a figure burst up from the sand, and leveled its tsuyoi with Yongei's throat. "You, a man, what is your business here?" the cloaked figure had the voice of a woman, and when she took off her hood, she looked almost exactly like Kiara.

"Jiara? Little Jiara? Is that you?" Kiara's voice was very surprised, yet happy.

"Big sister, you're home!" Jiara flung her tsuyoi to the ground, and embraced her sister. Then, she looked around suspiciously. "Who are these men? What are they doing with you?"

"Relax. They're just my enkai. And, you remember Shi Yongei, don't you?" Kiara gestured to the man.

"Oh, yeah. I remember now. What a strange arrangement of men though." Jiara focused her gaze on Hiei. "What a small man! He's quite funny looking," Jiara giggled. "Mother will want to see you. I'd go with you, but I'm on duty," Jiara twirled very fast, then she sunk back into the sand.

"Vamos," Kiara said.

* * *

 The royal palace of Sabaku was made out of white alabaster stones. Large statues of Tanaka Moraine filled the halls, and the walls were painted with images of her, her daughters, and a few of her enkai. Busts of the daughters were on display, even old ones of Kiara. Servants ran through the palace, following orders and commands. Kiara and the group were ushered into the throne room post haste, and Kiara's mother and sisters were overjoyed to see her.

"Seven long years and you have finally returned to us," Kiara's mother had a kind face, which looked like an older version of Kiara's. Her white robe and gold jewelry fitted her well. "Welcome home,"

"Kiara!" Kiara's sisters ran to her. These four were the older than Jiara: Liara, Miara (who were twins), Diara, and Viara. "It's so good to see you!"

"What have you done?"

"Was the temple nice?"

"What an interesting man!" Viara crouched down where Yusuke and the others were kneeling on the floor. She ran her fingers down Yusuke's face.

"Leave me alone lady!" Yusuke snapped.

"Stop that Yusuke!" He was a bit surprised when Kiara slapped him across the face. "He's the troublemaker of the group," She said to Viara.

"That's alright," Viara smiled. "I like them fiery,"

"I like this one," Liara placed her hand on Amitomo's head.

"He's beautiful," Miara joined her twin. "Almost angelic,"

"This is a very exotic group of men," Moraine walked among the group. "We are very pleased. Except this one you could have done without," She pointed at Kuwabara, who looked about ready to explode. Moraine then turned to Yongei. "Yongei, how are you?"

"Very well, Your Majesty," He lowered his eyes.

"Your twin brothers have recently joined my enkai." She informed him. "Would you like to see them?"

"Very much so, Your Majesty," Yongei did not look pleased to hear this news.

"Stand," She told him. Moraine then yelled, "Tongei! Dongei! Get in here!" Two identical teenage demons ran into the room, and then stood attention in front of their Queen. "Your oldest brother has returned,"

"Yongei!" Dongei cried as he embraced his brother.

Tongei stood off to the side. "Hey,"

"Hey? Is that all I get for being gone for seven years?" Yongei smiled.

Tongei grinned. "Big brother, you're home," He ran to hug his brother.

"Tongei, Dongei, you have the rest of the day off to be with your brother," Moraine said.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" They said in unison.

"Yongei, you have the rest of the day off too to visit your family," Kiara said, smiling.

"Thank you, Mistress," Yongei said. The three brothers walked out of the room.

"Dinner is ready, Your Majesty," said a tall man, bowing as he entered the room.

* * *

"Why do we have to eat in the kitchen?" Yusuke complained.

"Maybe because we're not worthy enough to eat in the presence of the Queen?" Kurama suggested as he ate his soup.

"Wonder what they're talking about," Kuwabara said.

"Wonder wonder," Remarked Hiei.

* * *

"Oh, Kiara, a man was brought in yesterday claiming he belonged to you," Viara said.

"Really? Who? What did he look like?" Kiara wasn't even a slight bit interested.

"He's in your apartments right now. We chained him to the wall so he couldn't escape," Diara said.

"He was a beauty," Miara said dreamily. "Such a man I've never seen before,"

"Tall, dark and handsome," Liara slurped her noodles.

"Again, who was he?" Kiara pestered her sisters.

"Too bad he has that mask on, I would love to see what his lips looked like," Moraine commented.

"Karasu? Was his name Karasu?" Kiara felt even worse than when Kurama was mad at her.

"Yes. How did you know?" Liara asked.

* * *

Kiara strode into her room, she hadn't seen it in years, and it looked exactly the same as when she had left it. The servants had been cleaning, and fresh flowers were in the vases again. A dark, shadowed figure sat on the windowsill. He turned when she had entered the room. His ankle was attached to a chain in the wall.

"I thought you'd never come," Karasu smiled. "You forgot these at my house," He rolled her bundled nunchaku to her. Her flute was missing.

"What are you doing here?" Kiara growled.

"I'm being here with you," He stood up, and walked towards Kiara. "You're having my son aren't you? So, naturally, I'd like to be here when it happens," His purple eyes bored into Kiara. She couldn't move again. He put his arms around her.

"Leave me alone," she managed to say. "I'll call the guards and have them kill you. No, I'll kill you myself with my powers," Kiara glared.

Karasu didn't seem to care. "I don't think so. I think you really do enjoy this, being in the arms of a handsome demon who loves you heart and soul,"

"You don't have a soul, remember?" Kiara smiled evilly a bit.

"Ah, but I'll have one soon. Thanks to you," Karasu leaned in to kiss Kiara.

"Go away," Kiara was able to just turn away from him. "Leave me alone," Steam poured from her eyes.

"Never," Karasu only held her tighter. "Sshh, don't cry," He picked her up, and carried her over to her bed. "Sleep now," He waved a hand over her faced. And, before she knew what was happening, Kiara was sound asleep.

"This is working out perfectly," Karasu strode back over to the window, and laughed.

AUTHOR'S NOTE- Dum, dum dum! What will the guys thibnk when they find out Karasu's in Sabaku? Kurama will have another spasm. Ha ha ha.

Another profile:

SHI YONGEI

Eyes: Crystal blue

Hair: Black with blonde spikes

Height: 6'6"

Family: Mother, older sister, younger twin brothers. Father died when he was little.

Bio: Yongei is a very fun loving guy, and appears to be about twenty-two years old. He was born into a noble family in Sabaku, and was engaged to Kiara when she was born. Yongei wasn't a very brave or outgoing child when he was young, and this made him easy to make fun of. To show he wasn't a coward, he started piercing his face and ears himself, which made him suddenly very popular with the other Sabaku boys. He was not supposed to be the leader of Team Shi, but Kiara didn't want the responsibility, so she gave it to him. He was heart broken when she cut off the engagement, and went to the Temple of the Flame immediately following the Tournament in hopes it would ease his pain. Yongei was happy when Kiara got back together with him at the Temple, but realized she wasn't happy with him, so he told her that it was okay if she just let him go. He carried around his feelings for her until he realized he loved Amitomo, and then finally put them to rest. It will be very interesting to see how Yongei handles everything going on in the saga.

C yah.

Suri