"What would you like hon?"

"To be left alone by the likes of you."

"Aw, now don't be so quick to answer darli-"

The snarky female who was just a little too friendly suddenly found her wrist in the clasp of a very unhappy fire-demon. Narrowing his eyes, Hiei tightened his grip until she began to struggle for release, tail whipping wildly back and forth in panic.

"I said no," he growled, watching in satisfaction as her eyes widened a little more in fear. "Now get lost."

The woman smartly paid attention to what she was told and scurried away. Hiei grunted and returned to the stained mug sitting in front of him with an even more disgusted gaze. He gently prodded the drink with the point of his index finger, wondering if he should bother tasting it. He finally understood why taverns were so dark. The owners wanted to keep the customers from seeing exactly what it was they were consuming.

"Ya goin' drink that?" Hiei looked up upon hearing the thick accent Another female was standing over him. This one had dark blue-hair, ears that curved up into a point, and a look that was entirely too human for Hiei's liking. Not that he should really be one to be displeased by such things...

"You can have it." Perhaps the drink would kill her for him. The young girl grinned and grabbed the drink, downing the alcohol in a few chugs. Hiei didn't know whether to be impressed or disgusted. He decided on the latter, wrinkling his noise as she slammed the now empty mug onto the table with a satisfied smile. She laughed at his expression and sat down near him.

"I didn't ask for company," Hiei said, tone biting.

"Yer lucky I think yer cute," she said, earning a harder glare. Her face and tone suddenly turned serious, green eyes glinting dangerously. "Othawise ya'd be dead." With a cruel smirk she leaned back. "Or haven't ya noticed we've already taken this establishment?"

Red irises glanced about the tavern, and Hiei began to notice that there were several more occupants than there had previously been. Many of the former customers were looking nervous, a few shifting about and looking ready to run. These newer residents varied in size, shape, and race, but there was one very common, un-nerving trait amongst them all. They were all giving off high levels of spirit energy.

"What's going on here?!" The manager, a squat, bad tempered demon, stormed out of the back, voice booming. He glared as one of the new men approached him, smiling in a charming fashion.

"We're just going to be occupying this space for a few hours. We hope you'll accept our company." As pleasing as his words were, it was obvious there was not room for any arguing. "You see, our leader is feeling a little under the weather, and we're trying to treat him to a good time."

Hiei's eyes watched the exchange in quiet observance. Leader? So they were all part of a gang of some sort then. A powerful gang. Hiei could not detect all the members even with the help of his Jagan; his instincts told him there were more than he was simply seeing here. This situation was not looking good.

"Are you going to make a mess?" The owner obviously didn't care who was residing in his tavern, so long is they did not cause much damage to the place itself. Typical.

"Not as long as everyone behaves themselves." The gang member turned around, leaning against the bar as he fixed a cold stare on everyone in the establishment. "Just go back to your drinking and small talk. Get comfortable. Nobody is allowed to leave until we're done here."

"Since when did you start making all the rules?!" Perhaps the man was drunk or perhaps he was just very foolish. Either way it didn't matter. His body crashed to the table, purple liquid oozing from his throat to the floor.

"Any more protests?"

Hiei hissed under his breath. He really did not want to have to deal with this right now. Had he been his former self, solely Hiei, the fire demon might have decided to start a fight. He did not like to be confined or told what to do. But seven years had past since that day by the tree when Zan had finally freed himself and started the bonding process with Hiei. Now it was near impossible to tell the two souls apart. Hiei was now Hiei- Zan. The smart, observant part of Hiei that had at one time only been a trait of Zan told him to corporate; it would be less messy that way.

"Pretty good, eh?" Upon looking up, Hiei's eyes widened in surprise. The female bandit was twirling a dagger in her fingers, grinning with pride. The weapon was stained with the protesting man's blood.

"You're quick," Hiei admitted, causing his companion to giggle. With a quick sweep of the hand, she cleaned the blade and tucked it away. She raised her hand for another beer, whistling at one of the waitresses. Body remaining tense, Hiei sat back and looked around. "So who is this leader of yours? Anyone famous?" The power of the lackeys in the bar had Hiei suspecting he might want to stay out of the sight of whoever controlled them.

"Shhh..." The woman pressed her finger to her lips, looking around with a secretive glance. Hiei bit his lip to keep from saying something insulting. She was really getting on his nerves. "Be patient my little sweetness." Consequences be damned, he was going to kill her now. "Ya'll be seein' 'im soon enough." She suddenly leaned over the table, tracing one finger down the side of his face. Her voice lowered as his eyes widened further. "Or maybe ya won't. I'm takin' a likin' to ya. We might just have to find ourselves a room, eh?"

Hiei visibly trembled in anger. He reached up, grabbing her hand and jerked it away from his face. Her dagger was at his throat the next second. All noise was hushed as every pair of eyes in the establishment turned to look at the quarrel. Hiei saw a few of them glinting hopefully; demons and their blood fetish.

"Is he bothering you Kaida?" one of the gang members asked from across the room. She shook her head.

"We're just establishing who's the dominant one 'ere," Kaida called back. A low growl emitted from Hiei's throat as the man and a few others started laughing.

"Aw, he's angry, Kaida!" one of them hooted from the back. "Better listen to her kid. She doesn't mind taking them after they're dead."

"Shut yer trap," she yelled back, glaring at the man as he howled. A few others whistled and whooped, some yelling out suggestive remarks about what to do when the two were alone. Kaida rolled her eyes at them and turned her attentions back to Hiei. "Now be a good boy. Let go within the next five seconds, and maybe I'll be nice."

If only he could tear that voice box out. But the cold steel right near his jugular made Hiei listen, loosening his grip. There was another ripple of laughter through the area, and the regular noise of the tavern started again. Kaida's weapon seemed to disappear once more, but this time Hiei caught the flash of silver as it slipped up a sleeve. Brashly, she moved her hand back to him, sliding it along the younger demon's neck. Hiei suppressed a sickened shudder, bristling at the touch. He had to think of a way to get out of this situation both alive and without having to sell himself (and perhaps get lucky enough to kill this female in the process too). Whether she died or not, he foresaw a long shower and many weeks of hard work in the future. Since when had he become so weak a woman could beat him?

"Now about that room..."

"Find another victim Kaida. This one's mine for tonight." Hiei barely noticed the fact that the hand was removing itself. The voice distracted him fully. It was as smooth as it was strong and as coy as it was lavish. Its soft, yet masculine tone conveyed an authority that was not to be questioned.

It was a voice Hiei had heard before.

"I didn't know ya preferred this type Kurama," Kaida asked as she flippantly propped her legs up on the table before her. "'e looks more like a lover than a good fighter if ya know what I be sayin'." The room was once again hushed as the haunting presence of the fox-spirit near glided across the rough, wooden floor. Hiei went rigid, eyes narrowing, trying his hardest to appear threatening. The youko's mouth curved upward in an amused grin, and the young demon knew that the thief had not been fooled by his attempts.

"Can I have 'im after yer done if 'e still be alive?" Kurama turned to Kaida, smiling at her question. He playfully slinked towards her, stopping at her side and gently running one hand through her hair. She closed her eyes and murmured at the touch.

A moment later, Kaida was on the floor, holding her wounded cheek. Hiei watched, fascinated at rivulets of blood leaked through the spaces of her fingers from the gouges Kurama had made with his claws. Deftly, the youko licked the blood off one finger. His face scrunched in distaste, and he spat the substance back at her.

"Unlike you, my dear, I don't use every pathetic creature I come across for a toy. The weak can be just as amusing in other ways. Now go outside and keep guard before I decide to use my claws on a more delicate portion of you." Kaida disappeared as quickly as her dagger, running out the door as she had been assigned.

"Go about your usual business." Kurama barely whispered the words, but the other residents jumped immediately, suddenly talking loudly and hurriedly about anything possible. A few ordered more drinks to calm their nerves. Languidly, the silver fox took Kaida's seat, turning sideways in the chair and crossing his legs. A waitress came over with a few beverages on a tray, her arm shaking so bad the mugs nearly fell off.

"W-w-would you l-l-like a d-d-drink?" She stuttered. Kurama looked over to Hiei, raising an eyebrow. Caught off guard by civility of the dreaded youko's actions, it took the fire child a moment to respond. He shook his head. The drink here was un-acceptable, and he felt he would need all of his wits if the Prince of Thieves felt like playing mind games tonight.

"Nothing for me either." The waitress hurried away, glad to be relieved of her duties to that table. Kurama watched her go with a bored expression before turning around in his seat to face Hiei. Resting his elbows on the table and placing his chin in his hands, the fox studied the boy in front of him with curiosity and what Hiei could only define as contempt.

"So you're Hiei," he said, looking the boy up and down, a glimmer of sarcastic laughter reflected in his eyes as they came to rest on the white streak in Hiei's hair.. "Forbidden child of the Koorime. Abandoned by your race only days after your birth. You have a sister, am I correct?" As much as he prided himself on his composure, Hiei came awfully close to falling off the chair.

"How...how can you know?" Hiei stared at Kurama with wonderment. Perhaps the rumors were true, and the youko could actually read minds. Kurama smirked as if he really had heard the other's thoughts.

"Research. You've perked my interest. You see, I don't take kindly to those that steal what's mine. And you, my boy, have taken something very dear to me." Kurama did not speak with malice or reproach. Instead, his tone and gaze were both somber, as if he had accepted whatever it was that Hiei had done, not because he wanted to, but because he had to.

"If I've taken anything of yours..."

"Call me Kurama. Or Youko if you're uncomfortable with familiarity."

"...Youko, then I do not have knowledge of it," Hiei finished, waiting for the fox's reaction. He expected to be killed at once for his uselessness – he stilled, ready to fight – but Kurama only astonished him further. The youko sighed, picking his head up off his hands and leaning back in his chair.

"No, you wouldn't." Kurama chuckled, sweeping a few wisps of hair out of his face with a light touch. Hiei couldn't help but be impressed by the creature's grace; the mere fluid power his whole body seemed to convey in even these simple movements.

"I tracked your movements," he finally continued after realizing Hiei was not going to respond, "to the surgeon Shigure. He told me a few very interesting things about you Hiei. Very interesting." Kurama's voice became quiet, and he removed his gaze from the child, staring down at his clasped hands on the table. "Have you fully bonded with Zan, then?"

Hiei glowered. Shigure had talked. Luckily for him, Zan was not in danger of being harmed by Kurama. Hiei had no doubts the youko would torture anyone he was close to in order to obtain the item the fire demon had unknowingly stolen from him. It was a relief, at least, that Shigure didn't know which ice maiden was Hiei's sister. Kurama couldn't know that either then.

"Yes, we've bonded. So if you've ever thought about hurting him, your chance is over," Hiei hissed quietly, giving the fox his best intimidating gaze. Kurama blinked, and then, much to Hiei's annoyance, burst out laughing. The other occupants of the bar stared at them, but the members of Kurama's troupe threatened them to leave their leader alone.

"That was quite entertaining!" Kurama laughter slowly dying off. The youko grabbed a mug containing an unknown substance as a waitress passed by. He took a careful sip, then stared into the drink with a gaze of bewilderment before setting it back on the tray and shooing the waitress away. His eyes continued to twinkle as he turned back and smiled at Hiei. "I never understand how the drinks around here end up worsening. When I was young...well, you don't care and I don't want to sound senile." Hiei raised an eyebrow but was not going to interrupt his companion's suddenly good mood.

"You're very mistaken about my interest to you," Kurama continued. "I can't get back what you took, so there's little use in my hurting those closest to you."

"Then why do you give a damn about him or me?"

"Tsk tsk, Hiei." Kurama waved a finger in front of the other demon, silver strands wavering as his head shook back and forth. "As with Kaida, you forget who is really in control here. I could eat you alive child," the youko purred, whipping his hand out suddenly. The fragile looking claws stopped nanometer's from Hiei's forehead. The young demon forgot how to breathe, and he watched with both awe and apprehension as the ward covering his Jagan slowly drift to the table.

The youko chuckled again, but this time the usually enjoyable sound was frightenly dark. Slowly Kurama pulled his hand away, examining the claws with a satisfied smirk.

"You better get stronger, little one. That third eye can't do much without a proper master to control it." The fingers came together and formed a fist. Kurama observed his knuckles as they turned white, eyes narrowing in anger. "Wouldn't want to hurt that precious body of yours now would you, Hiei?"

Before Hiei had a chance to retort, Kurama stood up quickly. He didn't even need to form a signal; his underlings immediately stood and crossed over to their leader.

"Sir, I thought we were going to stay for a few more hours," one of the more daring demons spoke up from the back of the group. The entire place went still. Hiei fully expected the creature to be decapitated for his insolence.

Youko Kurama was not the demon the gossip had made him to be. Either that or he was in a strange mood tonight. The youko turned his head and regarded the one who had questioned him with an intense stare. Hiei stiffened with surprise.

"We'll go someplace else. The air here is too thick for my liking."

And just as the troupe had appeared without warning, sound, or tussle, they equally left. Many of the residents fled the tavern immediately; others stayed, too drunk or not yet drunk enough to leave.

Hiei continued to stare at the doorway through which the mysterious and beautiful demon had just disappeared. The little man could have sworn, just for a brief moment before speaking to the questioner, the Youko had glanced towards him. Something about those eyes in that second; the bright gold was filled with both sorrow and longing. It created a feeling in Hiei that he didn't understand but wanted deeply to.

It felt...familiar.