Disclaimer: Guess what? The assassination of YYH owners is put on hold till
I can find an assassin that is expendable and cannot hold a grudge with an
insane authoress. Maybe I should hire a Weiss Kreuz member..but they aren't
expendable! They are male assassins that work at a flower shop! Who could
not like that?! Homophobes that's who! Death to homophobes!
SORRY! Caught up in unimportant matters, like Oedipus Rex, Antigone, and Romeo & Juilet. You know how disgusting Oedipus Rex is?! Antigone is so-so, and R & J are disgusting me with their lovey-dovey stuff. Also I am a total spaz and forgot. I made this one extra-long so you can forgive me!!!
"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." Kurama-like quote, ne? Ah well, on with the fic or off with my head!
~~~
Rikonomi stormed out of the room with such vigor that she decided to finish the wedding preparations early. She went to the first slave she came upon to express this desire.
"Yes ma'am?" the timid girl asked. Rikonomi said in an acidic voice, "Listen you little whelp, I want those nuptial clothes done in a brace of days or else I'll be very angry."
"Two days? You said six!" she exclaimed, twisting her hands
"I changed my mind, the wedding is going to be in four."
"But I have to get measurements and the cloth."
"Well then you might as well get a good team of seamstresses and measurements before nighttime. I'll be looking for you in two days. If they are not finished, you, my dear, will."
Botan gulped; Rikonomi never made empty threats. The witch smirked briefly and walked away. The blue-haired girl's face scrunched into a very offending expression then went to find Kurama. The fox was getting his slave look together in the slave quarters. It didn't fool anyone; poor boy still looked like a Prima Donna. He dirtied his hair and pulled a long potato sack over his tunic. Botan clucked her tongue and smeared some soot from an ash tray on his pallid cheeks. He looked dreadfully exhausted and she felt a little regretful for making him do what she was about to say.
"Kurama-san, Rikonomi personally informed me that in four days time, your husband will be hers. And in two days time, my head will be hers if I don't get their clothes together. I need you to get Hiei-chan's measurements today."
Botan didn't expect him to almost jump out of his boots in glee. His pale face became considerably brighter and he gave her a rib cracking hug. "A thousand thanks! No, ad infinitum thanks!" he chortled. Botan patted his dirty red hair and smiled weakly. "Just hurry so I can make the nuptial things," she handed him a long measuring rope and sent him on his way. Kurama felt like skipping, but his new slave persona was supposed to be solemn. He briskly walked towards Hiei's chambers.
~~~
Rikonomi smiled as she climbed the swirling steps to her dungeons. These dungeons held many wonders, all of which either helped her and/or hurt someone else. She was a collector of torture devices, like the spiked sarcophagus, stretch table, and iron masks. Hundreds of screams etched and soaked into the cold stone walls like a sponge taking in water. She could almost her them, it was like twinkling bells to her pointed ears. Taking a ring of skeleton keys from her waistband, she plucked one and stuffed it into a door. The door creaked like a moaning man because she had kept a "pet" slave very close to the door and his moans etched into the hinges. The fatigued thing moaned about his aches as often as possible, begging for her to release him. He was such a cute slave, but died young because she came in and banged the door so hard open he was crushed under the immense weight. Poor little Suzaku, he thought he was the greatest of the saint beasts. Turns out he was the most vulnerable to Rikonomi's "charm".
She went to a large stone table, covered with large runic symbols that glowed when touched. It was like a giant list of ingredients, when she touched one the substance it represents would drop into a vial on the opposite end of the room. On that end, there was what looked like one large chemistry set, for potion making.
The witch rubbed her long nailed hands together and examined her book of recipes for potions. The book was full of delights and poisons that would make any torturer smile mischievously. She thumbed through the acidic concoctions and plant fertilizers, the common poisons and love stirrers; she found a very short recipe which she paused and reviewed.
"My dear Hiei-chan will be sleeping like a baby." she said as she touched the runic stone table. Several bright lights ignited at her touch and died when touch faded. The odd shaped bottles opposite of her sparked to life and magically filled with green, orange, and crystal colored liquids. They all combined in a goose-necked beaker with an ignited burner underneath. They bubbled and churned until it turned bright blue. It deposited into a small vial which corked but itself and rang a glassy tone. It wanted badly to say it was done and Rikonomi could claim it, but mystic glass cannot talk.
The witch grabbed it and laughed manically. "My dear Hiei, you are slipping deeper and deeper into my hands."
Pivoting on her high heel, she exited with a swish of her robes. The door slammed closed and the skeleton of Suzaku fell from its chains on the wall.
Rikonomi got to Hiei before Kurama, for she knew shortcuts. He still sat on his crushed red velvet bed, staring out the hole in the wall that doubled as a window. He hid a few of the tear gems he wept under his pillow; he doubted they were still there. The maid came in and did a full bedroom sweep of anything he could use to escape; she also took his diamond-studded scabbard that he had brought with him.
'Why? Why couldn't you wait?' he thought. Just a little longer, and they would have been a happily ever after. But stories don't work like that, they never do. For "ever after" was an entirely different story altogether; there was now "happily" ending scene, it was just a quick-end, close the book phrase. It was all too similar to the quick-start phrase of "once upon a time". Why was he thinking of fairy tales? Maybe because on the surface of his mind, he loved Rikonomi, the cursed part loved her more than life and day itself. But deeper, much deeper than any sword could pierce was a familiar longing, needing of a fox that stole his heart. A piece of the heart was dug and buried inside of that fox, kept safe from harm. A little bit of the fox was in him too. He could feel the fox paw at his insides and growl lowly, lovingly. He wanted endlessly to growl and wrestle the beauty until they both were satisfied. Hiei sighed and became alert at the sound of the door swinging open.
"Hiei-chan, I'm back my darling!" her voice made his stomach turn and his mouth water, warnings that he was going to vomit. Rikonomi swept him up in her arms then curled her fingers in his hair. "Sweetie, I got you a little drink."
The witch uncorked the bottle and made the smell waft up Hiei's nose. "Doesn't it smell heavenly? Come on take a sip."
Hiei was about to struggle but his mouth involuntarily opened and she poured the liquid down his throat. It slid down and he suddenly felt light headed. The room spun wildly and his head wobbled on his shoulders. He lost his balance and fell into the covers of the bed. His eyes rolled back and he was in a coma. The witch smiled and kissed his lips delicately.
A sharp intake of breath made her raise her head. A red-headed slave boy stood in the doorway, clutching a rope. She mistaken the gasp as a surprise that she would be in the chambers. Her wicked smile surfaced and she strolled nonchalantly over to the shivering boy. She bent over and whispered into his ear, "He's all yours, just be quick with the measurements."
~~~
Kurama had reached the door in such a hurry he had to catch his breath. He flattened his now unruly hair and wiped some of the dirt from his cheeks. He wanted to be a least a little better than a slave when he was in Hiei's presence. When he opened the door, he expected Hiei sitting at a window, staring down the many stories. He, however, did not expect the thing itself hovering in a kiss over Hiei's prostrate body. His surprise and jealousy were shown through the gasp that escaped his lips. Kurama, hearing his fault, clamped a shivering hand over his mouth.
Too late, the creature moved its predatory orbs toward him. Its rancid breath was tingeing Hiei's subtle cheeks. The thing slithered toward him, looming high above him like a cobra ready to strike. It smiled that crocodile smile and leaned its head towards his ear. Its forked tongue flicked something about quick and measurements then slithered off. He still shivered after it left. Kurama would only be comforted by his husband's body lying on the bed.
The fox rushed over and gave Hiei a sob-filled hug. Only after a few heart- filled apologies later did he realize the poor prince was sound asleep. Kurama chuckled at his own stupidity, but still lay there, hugging his love. Why did his fox curiosity overcome his good sense? He could have waited. But he didn't and nothing was going to change the past. Flicking tears from his eyes, he measured Hiei quickly. Kurama wanted to get that out of the way so if anybody came in, he could leave quickly.
The koorime prince looked content, as if he knew his love was right there. Right there and waiting to strike down the evil. How Kurama was able not to drag him out of there then is a mystery even he never solved. Kurama got up and stealthily moved out.
~~~
Rikonomi went back up her swirling staircase to her "laboratory". In a contained frantic moment, she threw the skeleton of Suzaku from his chains out the stone window. She cried out. Surely Hiei would be easy enough to woo over! But he wasn't and she was angry. She tapped her chin with her long nails and mumbled to herself. She could threaten to curse him, or possibly torture him. But that would put wrinkles on his face or horribly disfigure the little demon. Her hand trailed to her forehead and she heaved a great sigh.
A faint ting in the back of her mind made her alert. She got it! Like her master always said, "You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar, but a potion would work also."
She smiled and ran to the runic-etched table. The witch slid her hand to the book and smiled happily as she found the page instantly. The runes glowed, sensing her idea. They hadn't done this potion in a while and were eager to be touched. Rikonomi placed a finger on the rune that meant "a thousand screams of scorpions" and the beakers and ingredients bubbled across the room. "A pinch of this to turn his wolfish attention to me..."
The rune meaning "virgin's blood and lust" rippled a dark red color in anticipation. "A minuscule amount of this to stir his desires to me..."
The next few runes were things unmentionable and unpronounceable by human tongue. She hissed and cackled the words and skimmed a finger across the rune surface. It was always accompanied by "a little" and "a pinch", small measurements. Too much would set the thing off-balance.Finally, the last part was left. Her black-clawed hand hovered inches from the shining silver surface. Curling smoke licked at her fingers, releasing a slight giddy sensation in her pale fingertips.
"And for the last, but not the least. Not a lot but just to make the prince's mind see things my way and to pollute that heart of his.."
However, the ingredient would have to wait. A spark of smoke sprouted faintly in the middle of the room and a disembodied voice rang through the room. It sounded calm, snake-like, and similar to hers but dignified. It was obviously someone of high status. She gasped in delight as she recognized the voice.
"My dear Rikonomi, I wouldn't touch that just yet.."
"Master!" she squealed joyfully, "Oh master, I knew you would come!"
The icy sweet voice said placidly, "Yes, but I am at a quandary. What form should I take to appear before you and your gracious wedding?"
"My lord and master, why don't you come as the mere beastly handsome shape that people tremble with fear and devotion to? Your true form will melt the hearts and shake the knees of anyone!" Rikonomi said, bowing low to the smoke still drifting.
"You put it so nicely. I will then," a bang and a tall man stood before her. He wore a long black coat that had red lining. It was cut into a crooked hem at the bottom and draped about his slim black slacks. His long, straight black hair floated down as he glossy black shoes landed on the cobblestones. His pale mouth was hidden by alabaster mask. His eyes flamed a brief moment before settling on the kneeling servant.
"Stand, dear," he ordered sweetly. She obeyed and instantly started kissing his long-nails hands. "My lord, the Raven King, Kind of Darkness and Evil! I am honored by your presence!"
His eyes flamed in a smile and he withdrew his hand from her lips. "Now, now, why be so formal? I may be your lord, but I am also your friend. And call me by my true name, those titles you call me bear no meaning at this moment."
"Yes, Karasu, as you wish. Tell me, what brings you here?" she asked, then noticed she was speaking to smoke entrails for he had glided to the runic table and studied the book that lay open. "Ahh, trying to turn your playmate darker than he already is? My, my, you are such a witch.."
"Thank you," she said with a smirk on her face she rushed over and fawned over him. "Would you like something to drink? Eat? Torture? Pleasure? Anything you want is my command!"
His eyes flashed the purple flame again, "No, no, no. And as a matter of fact, yes."
Her face became confused and curious.
"Apart from wishing you a happy wedding and being nosy about your potion- making, I have something to ask of you."
"Anything my lord! As you wish!"
He smirked inside his mask, "Your fiancé is the koorime prince Hiei is it not?"
She smiled proudly and puffed out her chest, "Yes, lord! A fine catch is he not?"
Karasu failed to answer, he only said, "Hmm", and returned to studying the book. "I am more interested in another."
"Who? Tell me, Karasu, and I shall see to it that they are brought here in a blink!" Rikonomi grabbed his arm and gave it a shake in excitement.
He picked off her hand and said, "He had a husband, a certain kitsune with lavishing red hair."
Her face fell and turned violent, "That thing?! But, but, he is terrible! He is disgustingly ugly, and if you call that unruly mass of fur 'lavishing'..."
The Raven King held up his pale hand to silence her, "I have my opinions of beauty and you have yours, which is clouded by jealousy. I suggest you let me finish or my desire to have his hair entwined in my hands as I pull back his head will not be the only red I see."
She closed her mouth and stared at him ruefully, "Alright, what about that kitsune?"
Karasu fantasized and said in a voice just above a sneering whisper, "I want him screaming in agony under me as I rip his soul out of him and see his flesh writhe and twist into disfiguration under my searing hands while my disturbed lust is fulfilled."
The words "agony" and "disfiguration" made her insides creep and crawl in joy. "My lord! I shall fetch his lovely carcass at once! Only my lord would deserve such a prize!" In her mind she thought that only her lord would relieve her of that problem.
"Good. Very good, my dear. Now, you don't have to go as far as you think. For he is right here," Karasu waved his hand about, "In your castle! I sense Youko crawling about his soul; he shall be very easy to spot. But give him a few days."
"He's here!?" she screamed, rage boiling. "Hiei's mine! All mine! Why does that stubborn jack-"
"Silence!" he yelled. She cringed, "Sorry, my lord. It was not my place."
"I forgive you but just remember my dear. Too much evil destroys evil, be careful" Karasu said while pointing to the rune that still lay waiting, it smoked softly and waited to be touched. She nodded, "I'll keep that in mind."
In a swish of red-lined cape and green smoke, her master disintegrated. She mimicked his voice and said, "Too much evil destroys evil! Pheh! Like I, the dark witch, don't know that!" She returned to her work.
~~~
Kurama had to hold in a breath when the skeleton landed on his head and staid there, he didn't risk the bones jangling if he moved. Kurama hung from a rope, leading to the window of the dungeon. He heard about her potions and decided to make one of his own. He heard it all and his hands twisted it in anger. Him? A thing? He was utterly insulted, but he knew she would get hers. The fox heard her exit her lab with a slam of the door and he let out a breath. He tossed the skeleton of Suzaku off himself and climbed the rest of the way.
Jumping into the room, he instantly went to the runic table. He knew of these things. While he stole from apothecaries, old hags sat behind these and tapped out a potion's recipe on the runic slabs. The runes glowed and smoked as his hands glided across the surface. "A lot of this," he said, pressing hard and long on the thousand screams of scorpions.
"A ton of that," his hand skimmed and his palm pressed the virgin's blood and lust. "Let's not forget these," he dragged both his hands across the table, touching all runes and making the beakers across the room hiss and churn. The mystic glass screamed for mercy. "And last, and not at all least," Kurama's hand hovered above the smoking rune that represented all that is cruel, vile, and evil in the world. "And don't be careful!" he hissed and slammed his palm onto the rune. It cried silently and Kurama smiled as the beakers grew hot and whined their glassy tones. The fox flitted to the other side and removed a large wine bottle from his pack. He emptied the beaker's contents into the bottle and corked it. It resembled honey wine, a golden hue that smelled divine after he sprinkled in some herbs from his pack.
"Too much evil destroys evil," he chided to the bottle and he could see the liquid reflect a grinning skull. He grinned too. Kurama was going to get his Hiei back, even if he had to kill every bloody demon in the wedding.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wheeeeeee! Evil Kurama! *drools* Sorry, y'all for not doing this sooner. As always, REVIEW!!!
SORRY! Caught up in unimportant matters, like Oedipus Rex, Antigone, and Romeo & Juilet. You know how disgusting Oedipus Rex is?! Antigone is so-so, and R & J are disgusting me with their lovey-dovey stuff. Also I am a total spaz and forgot. I made this one extra-long so you can forgive me!!!
"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." Kurama-like quote, ne? Ah well, on with the fic or off with my head!
~~~
Rikonomi stormed out of the room with such vigor that she decided to finish the wedding preparations early. She went to the first slave she came upon to express this desire.
"Yes ma'am?" the timid girl asked. Rikonomi said in an acidic voice, "Listen you little whelp, I want those nuptial clothes done in a brace of days or else I'll be very angry."
"Two days? You said six!" she exclaimed, twisting her hands
"I changed my mind, the wedding is going to be in four."
"But I have to get measurements and the cloth."
"Well then you might as well get a good team of seamstresses and measurements before nighttime. I'll be looking for you in two days. If they are not finished, you, my dear, will."
Botan gulped; Rikonomi never made empty threats. The witch smirked briefly and walked away. The blue-haired girl's face scrunched into a very offending expression then went to find Kurama. The fox was getting his slave look together in the slave quarters. It didn't fool anyone; poor boy still looked like a Prima Donna. He dirtied his hair and pulled a long potato sack over his tunic. Botan clucked her tongue and smeared some soot from an ash tray on his pallid cheeks. He looked dreadfully exhausted and she felt a little regretful for making him do what she was about to say.
"Kurama-san, Rikonomi personally informed me that in four days time, your husband will be hers. And in two days time, my head will be hers if I don't get their clothes together. I need you to get Hiei-chan's measurements today."
Botan didn't expect him to almost jump out of his boots in glee. His pale face became considerably brighter and he gave her a rib cracking hug. "A thousand thanks! No, ad infinitum thanks!" he chortled. Botan patted his dirty red hair and smiled weakly. "Just hurry so I can make the nuptial things," she handed him a long measuring rope and sent him on his way. Kurama felt like skipping, but his new slave persona was supposed to be solemn. He briskly walked towards Hiei's chambers.
~~~
Rikonomi smiled as she climbed the swirling steps to her dungeons. These dungeons held many wonders, all of which either helped her and/or hurt someone else. She was a collector of torture devices, like the spiked sarcophagus, stretch table, and iron masks. Hundreds of screams etched and soaked into the cold stone walls like a sponge taking in water. She could almost her them, it was like twinkling bells to her pointed ears. Taking a ring of skeleton keys from her waistband, she plucked one and stuffed it into a door. The door creaked like a moaning man because she had kept a "pet" slave very close to the door and his moans etched into the hinges. The fatigued thing moaned about his aches as often as possible, begging for her to release him. He was such a cute slave, but died young because she came in and banged the door so hard open he was crushed under the immense weight. Poor little Suzaku, he thought he was the greatest of the saint beasts. Turns out he was the most vulnerable to Rikonomi's "charm".
She went to a large stone table, covered with large runic symbols that glowed when touched. It was like a giant list of ingredients, when she touched one the substance it represents would drop into a vial on the opposite end of the room. On that end, there was what looked like one large chemistry set, for potion making.
The witch rubbed her long nailed hands together and examined her book of recipes for potions. The book was full of delights and poisons that would make any torturer smile mischievously. She thumbed through the acidic concoctions and plant fertilizers, the common poisons and love stirrers; she found a very short recipe which she paused and reviewed.
"My dear Hiei-chan will be sleeping like a baby." she said as she touched the runic stone table. Several bright lights ignited at her touch and died when touch faded. The odd shaped bottles opposite of her sparked to life and magically filled with green, orange, and crystal colored liquids. They all combined in a goose-necked beaker with an ignited burner underneath. They bubbled and churned until it turned bright blue. It deposited into a small vial which corked but itself and rang a glassy tone. It wanted badly to say it was done and Rikonomi could claim it, but mystic glass cannot talk.
The witch grabbed it and laughed manically. "My dear Hiei, you are slipping deeper and deeper into my hands."
Pivoting on her high heel, she exited with a swish of her robes. The door slammed closed and the skeleton of Suzaku fell from its chains on the wall.
Rikonomi got to Hiei before Kurama, for she knew shortcuts. He still sat on his crushed red velvet bed, staring out the hole in the wall that doubled as a window. He hid a few of the tear gems he wept under his pillow; he doubted they were still there. The maid came in and did a full bedroom sweep of anything he could use to escape; she also took his diamond-studded scabbard that he had brought with him.
'Why? Why couldn't you wait?' he thought. Just a little longer, and they would have been a happily ever after. But stories don't work like that, they never do. For "ever after" was an entirely different story altogether; there was now "happily" ending scene, it was just a quick-end, close the book phrase. It was all too similar to the quick-start phrase of "once upon a time". Why was he thinking of fairy tales? Maybe because on the surface of his mind, he loved Rikonomi, the cursed part loved her more than life and day itself. But deeper, much deeper than any sword could pierce was a familiar longing, needing of a fox that stole his heart. A piece of the heart was dug and buried inside of that fox, kept safe from harm. A little bit of the fox was in him too. He could feel the fox paw at his insides and growl lowly, lovingly. He wanted endlessly to growl and wrestle the beauty until they both were satisfied. Hiei sighed and became alert at the sound of the door swinging open.
"Hiei-chan, I'm back my darling!" her voice made his stomach turn and his mouth water, warnings that he was going to vomit. Rikonomi swept him up in her arms then curled her fingers in his hair. "Sweetie, I got you a little drink."
The witch uncorked the bottle and made the smell waft up Hiei's nose. "Doesn't it smell heavenly? Come on take a sip."
Hiei was about to struggle but his mouth involuntarily opened and she poured the liquid down his throat. It slid down and he suddenly felt light headed. The room spun wildly and his head wobbled on his shoulders. He lost his balance and fell into the covers of the bed. His eyes rolled back and he was in a coma. The witch smiled and kissed his lips delicately.
A sharp intake of breath made her raise her head. A red-headed slave boy stood in the doorway, clutching a rope. She mistaken the gasp as a surprise that she would be in the chambers. Her wicked smile surfaced and she strolled nonchalantly over to the shivering boy. She bent over and whispered into his ear, "He's all yours, just be quick with the measurements."
~~~
Kurama had reached the door in such a hurry he had to catch his breath. He flattened his now unruly hair and wiped some of the dirt from his cheeks. He wanted to be a least a little better than a slave when he was in Hiei's presence. When he opened the door, he expected Hiei sitting at a window, staring down the many stories. He, however, did not expect the thing itself hovering in a kiss over Hiei's prostrate body. His surprise and jealousy were shown through the gasp that escaped his lips. Kurama, hearing his fault, clamped a shivering hand over his mouth.
Too late, the creature moved its predatory orbs toward him. Its rancid breath was tingeing Hiei's subtle cheeks. The thing slithered toward him, looming high above him like a cobra ready to strike. It smiled that crocodile smile and leaned its head towards his ear. Its forked tongue flicked something about quick and measurements then slithered off. He still shivered after it left. Kurama would only be comforted by his husband's body lying on the bed.
The fox rushed over and gave Hiei a sob-filled hug. Only after a few heart- filled apologies later did he realize the poor prince was sound asleep. Kurama chuckled at his own stupidity, but still lay there, hugging his love. Why did his fox curiosity overcome his good sense? He could have waited. But he didn't and nothing was going to change the past. Flicking tears from his eyes, he measured Hiei quickly. Kurama wanted to get that out of the way so if anybody came in, he could leave quickly.
The koorime prince looked content, as if he knew his love was right there. Right there and waiting to strike down the evil. How Kurama was able not to drag him out of there then is a mystery even he never solved. Kurama got up and stealthily moved out.
~~~
Rikonomi went back up her swirling staircase to her "laboratory". In a contained frantic moment, she threw the skeleton of Suzaku from his chains out the stone window. She cried out. Surely Hiei would be easy enough to woo over! But he wasn't and she was angry. She tapped her chin with her long nails and mumbled to herself. She could threaten to curse him, or possibly torture him. But that would put wrinkles on his face or horribly disfigure the little demon. Her hand trailed to her forehead and she heaved a great sigh.
A faint ting in the back of her mind made her alert. She got it! Like her master always said, "You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar, but a potion would work also."
She smiled and ran to the runic-etched table. The witch slid her hand to the book and smiled happily as she found the page instantly. The runes glowed, sensing her idea. They hadn't done this potion in a while and were eager to be touched. Rikonomi placed a finger on the rune that meant "a thousand screams of scorpions" and the beakers and ingredients bubbled across the room. "A pinch of this to turn his wolfish attention to me..."
The rune meaning "virgin's blood and lust" rippled a dark red color in anticipation. "A minuscule amount of this to stir his desires to me..."
The next few runes were things unmentionable and unpronounceable by human tongue. She hissed and cackled the words and skimmed a finger across the rune surface. It was always accompanied by "a little" and "a pinch", small measurements. Too much would set the thing off-balance.Finally, the last part was left. Her black-clawed hand hovered inches from the shining silver surface. Curling smoke licked at her fingers, releasing a slight giddy sensation in her pale fingertips.
"And for the last, but not the least. Not a lot but just to make the prince's mind see things my way and to pollute that heart of his.."
However, the ingredient would have to wait. A spark of smoke sprouted faintly in the middle of the room and a disembodied voice rang through the room. It sounded calm, snake-like, and similar to hers but dignified. It was obviously someone of high status. She gasped in delight as she recognized the voice.
"My dear Rikonomi, I wouldn't touch that just yet.."
"Master!" she squealed joyfully, "Oh master, I knew you would come!"
The icy sweet voice said placidly, "Yes, but I am at a quandary. What form should I take to appear before you and your gracious wedding?"
"My lord and master, why don't you come as the mere beastly handsome shape that people tremble with fear and devotion to? Your true form will melt the hearts and shake the knees of anyone!" Rikonomi said, bowing low to the smoke still drifting.
"You put it so nicely. I will then," a bang and a tall man stood before her. He wore a long black coat that had red lining. It was cut into a crooked hem at the bottom and draped about his slim black slacks. His long, straight black hair floated down as he glossy black shoes landed on the cobblestones. His pale mouth was hidden by alabaster mask. His eyes flamed a brief moment before settling on the kneeling servant.
"Stand, dear," he ordered sweetly. She obeyed and instantly started kissing his long-nails hands. "My lord, the Raven King, Kind of Darkness and Evil! I am honored by your presence!"
His eyes flamed in a smile and he withdrew his hand from her lips. "Now, now, why be so formal? I may be your lord, but I am also your friend. And call me by my true name, those titles you call me bear no meaning at this moment."
"Yes, Karasu, as you wish. Tell me, what brings you here?" she asked, then noticed she was speaking to smoke entrails for he had glided to the runic table and studied the book that lay open. "Ahh, trying to turn your playmate darker than he already is? My, my, you are such a witch.."
"Thank you," she said with a smirk on her face she rushed over and fawned over him. "Would you like something to drink? Eat? Torture? Pleasure? Anything you want is my command!"
His eyes flashed the purple flame again, "No, no, no. And as a matter of fact, yes."
Her face became confused and curious.
"Apart from wishing you a happy wedding and being nosy about your potion- making, I have something to ask of you."
"Anything my lord! As you wish!"
He smirked inside his mask, "Your fiancé is the koorime prince Hiei is it not?"
She smiled proudly and puffed out her chest, "Yes, lord! A fine catch is he not?"
Karasu failed to answer, he only said, "Hmm", and returned to studying the book. "I am more interested in another."
"Who? Tell me, Karasu, and I shall see to it that they are brought here in a blink!" Rikonomi grabbed his arm and gave it a shake in excitement.
He picked off her hand and said, "He had a husband, a certain kitsune with lavishing red hair."
Her face fell and turned violent, "That thing?! But, but, he is terrible! He is disgustingly ugly, and if you call that unruly mass of fur 'lavishing'..."
The Raven King held up his pale hand to silence her, "I have my opinions of beauty and you have yours, which is clouded by jealousy. I suggest you let me finish or my desire to have his hair entwined in my hands as I pull back his head will not be the only red I see."
She closed her mouth and stared at him ruefully, "Alright, what about that kitsune?"
Karasu fantasized and said in a voice just above a sneering whisper, "I want him screaming in agony under me as I rip his soul out of him and see his flesh writhe and twist into disfiguration under my searing hands while my disturbed lust is fulfilled."
The words "agony" and "disfiguration" made her insides creep and crawl in joy. "My lord! I shall fetch his lovely carcass at once! Only my lord would deserve such a prize!" In her mind she thought that only her lord would relieve her of that problem.
"Good. Very good, my dear. Now, you don't have to go as far as you think. For he is right here," Karasu waved his hand about, "In your castle! I sense Youko crawling about his soul; he shall be very easy to spot. But give him a few days."
"He's here!?" she screamed, rage boiling. "Hiei's mine! All mine! Why does that stubborn jack-"
"Silence!" he yelled. She cringed, "Sorry, my lord. It was not my place."
"I forgive you but just remember my dear. Too much evil destroys evil, be careful" Karasu said while pointing to the rune that still lay waiting, it smoked softly and waited to be touched. She nodded, "I'll keep that in mind."
In a swish of red-lined cape and green smoke, her master disintegrated. She mimicked his voice and said, "Too much evil destroys evil! Pheh! Like I, the dark witch, don't know that!" She returned to her work.
~~~
Kurama had to hold in a breath when the skeleton landed on his head and staid there, he didn't risk the bones jangling if he moved. Kurama hung from a rope, leading to the window of the dungeon. He heard about her potions and decided to make one of his own. He heard it all and his hands twisted it in anger. Him? A thing? He was utterly insulted, but he knew she would get hers. The fox heard her exit her lab with a slam of the door and he let out a breath. He tossed the skeleton of Suzaku off himself and climbed the rest of the way.
Jumping into the room, he instantly went to the runic table. He knew of these things. While he stole from apothecaries, old hags sat behind these and tapped out a potion's recipe on the runic slabs. The runes glowed and smoked as his hands glided across the surface. "A lot of this," he said, pressing hard and long on the thousand screams of scorpions.
"A ton of that," his hand skimmed and his palm pressed the virgin's blood and lust. "Let's not forget these," he dragged both his hands across the table, touching all runes and making the beakers across the room hiss and churn. The mystic glass screamed for mercy. "And last, and not at all least," Kurama's hand hovered above the smoking rune that represented all that is cruel, vile, and evil in the world. "And don't be careful!" he hissed and slammed his palm onto the rune. It cried silently and Kurama smiled as the beakers grew hot and whined their glassy tones. The fox flitted to the other side and removed a large wine bottle from his pack. He emptied the beaker's contents into the bottle and corked it. It resembled honey wine, a golden hue that smelled divine after he sprinkled in some herbs from his pack.
"Too much evil destroys evil," he chided to the bottle and he could see the liquid reflect a grinning skull. He grinned too. Kurama was going to get his Hiei back, even if he had to kill every bloody demon in the wedding.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wheeeeeee! Evil Kurama! *drools* Sorry, y'all for not doing this sooner. As always, REVIEW!!!