Disclaimer: I don't own anything except this fic and the mind that helped me right this useless drivel. Flames are encouraged. If you choose to flame, please give me a reason for the flame.

=== Normal POV ===

Youko's Death Plant ripped off a nearby demon's head. He kicked the torso aside into the pile of bodies. He crossed his arms across his chest with the vines writhing around him, eager for more blood shed. He focused his curious golden gaze upon his fellow demon. "Enjoying yourself?" he called sarcastically.

Hiei blinked, his concentration broken. His hand still gripped at the weaker demon's neck as he looked up at Youko. "What?" he demanded angrily. "I'm busy."

The fox demon smiled broadly. "I asked if you were enjoying yourself. You seem less distracted here than at home."

He looked away and broke his victim's neck before tossing it against a boulder. "Hn. If you could call that a home…"

"As long as it keeps the weather out, I consider it a home." Youko walked towards him. "I know that Karasu is…" he fished for a decent word. "eccentric… but he hasn't broken his vow. He has allowed us whatever we desired as long as we worked for his and our own causes." He stared thoughtfully at the demon Hiei had expertly carved into. "And…I must admit, it hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be. I suspected that he would torment me as he did on my first day."

"Hn."

The spirit fox raised an eyebrow. He had learned that the fire demon's "hn" could be defined as anything. But, he had stayed with him for nearly a year. He could usually tell what he meant if he paid enough attention. "I beg your pardon?"

"When I was recruited many years ago, he wasn't as calm as he is now. He was experimental in the way he commanded his presence," Hiei began thoughtfully. "At first I didn't have a problem. As long as I listened to him, I didn't have to look at him. He would find random demons and humans when possible. He would torture them for no reason and of course he grew bored. They could only take so much before breaking down or dying so he turned to me. I was his 'fun'. He'd torture me whenever he was bored."

He touched the countless healed-over nicks on his arms unconsciously. "But he seems to like you. He favors you," he said bitterly. His ruby eyes narrowed.

"Favors me? What have I done for him to favor me?" he asked in surprise.

"Your reputation. You're the 'Great Youko Kurama.'" He stood up and faced the demon. "It's the way you were made…the way you were born. There aren't many kitsune demons out there anymore. They've been sold as pets."

"Pets?" Youko repeated blankly. "How can we be sold as pets…we've been in mostly human form as I am now for several centuries."

"I know. They sell the ones like you just like that. They're exotic creatures…the females are perfect in every aspect: curvaceous, gorgeous…and the males are powerful, handsome and well built. The bastards that run the black market find the kitsune population and stunt their powers when young. They make good pets, I suppose."

Youko felt heat rise to his cheeks. "Are you insinuating that I make a good pet for Karasu?" he demanded. The Death Plant's many heads lowered to meet Hiei's shorter stature and snapped at his face.

Hiei slapped the plant away with the flat side of his katana. "Yes. For the moment, you are his 'pet' whether you like it or not. And I'm his slave," he realized angrily. His ruby eyes flashed, matching his anger. "Just wait until you piss him off. Just wait…"

The kitsune personally didn't care. The only question that bothered him was the fact that Hiei didn't go ahead and kill Karasu since he was so angry with him. Youko was satisfied with his life and Karasu didn't bother him. He only killed when there was a reason to…or if he was bored. Karasu neither gave him a reason to nor bored him.

He shrugged and urged his Death Plant to dig into the pocket of the demon Hiei had destroyed. It picked up a gold trinket and dropped it into its master's hand. Youko studied it. "It looks cheap…as if a human forged this." He wrinkled his nose in disgust at the corpse. "Why can't they tell the difference between what's worth something and what isn't?"

"They aren't that bright." Hiei used his katana to lift the cloth around the corpse's chest and picked up a small bag. Opening it, he found countless silver coins mixed in with a few copper colored ones. He smirked. "Here. Look at this." He tossed it at Youko who caught it.

He wiped the blood away from a coin and looked at it. "This is human money." He stared in disbelief at the countless demons they had decimated. "We had to kill them over these worthless things?"

Hiei shrugged and brushed the dust off of his robe. "They died for nothing I suppose."

"As long as they retreat we wouldn't have to kill them," Youko reminded. "They chose to fight back thereby accepting their deaths."


"Excellent. You retrieved the useless objects," Karasu congratulated.

Youko looked at him in bewilderment. "Useless? You knew these were mere trinkets?"

The taller man glanced at the crimson stains that had blossomed on the white robes of the fox demon. "Yes. And I see that you've gotten dirty from retrieving them." He took a handful of the robes and ran his finger across one of the stains. He sighed as if he were frustrated with him. "My dear Youko, you're a demon of class. You should learn to kill without dirtying yourself."

A smile crinkled the corner of his violet eyes. "But I daresay you enjoyed yourself?"

Youko frowned. "Why would you ask that? I always enjoy a good kill."

"Yes, yes, I realize that. But your face doesn't come back as flushed as it is now." He ran the tips of his long fingers down the milky cheeks. He tilted his head to search for the reason in the golden eyes he had come to admire. "Has the thought of returning to your quarters caused the heat to come to your cheeks?"

Hiei raised his eyes to Youko, attempting to decipher the emotions behind the passive façade. He could only read the disgust that Youko obviously felt at being touched by the taller demon.

"I'm not flushed," Youko snapped stubbornly. He pulled away from the unwanted contact.

Karasu laughed. "Be that way, but I own you. Don't forget that."

"Nobody owns me."

The raven-haired demon shrugged his slender shoulders. "Believe that if you want." He lowered his violet gaze to Hiei and gave him a roguish wink. "I'd hate to take away your beliefs. Don't you agree, my forbidden child?"

Hiei had a strong urge to shudder, but he managed to control it. "I'll be in my room," he announced, ignoring Karasu's remarks. He glanced down at his bloodstained cloak with a grimace before leaving for his room.


Youko entered his room and heaved a sigh. He would have enjoyed his life recently as long as he didn't have any run-ins with Karasu. He hated the man, but at the same time, he couldn't help but admire him. Only Karasu had the gall to stroke his face without his permission. Only Karasu could touch him and leave him feeling helplessly weak. He rubbed the back of his hand across his cheeks to massage away Karasu's touch. He didn't enjoy a male's touch...it wasn't something he enjoyed...

"Oh…Kurama," a female crooned. "You've been on another mission haven't you?" She went towards the fox demon and shook her auburn hair seductively away from her eyes to peer at his robes. She made 'tsk-tsk' sounds as she walked in a full circle around him, surveying the damage. She sighed. "You got dirty again. Oh well, we'll get that fixed."

Youko gave the gorgeous demon a smile. "Do that, will you, Ame? I'm tired."

Ame raised her bright green eyes to her friends. "Sakura, Himawari, help me with him." Two girls hurried to the fox demon and began to remove his robe. They did this at an annoyingly slow pace, first untying his sash and carefully folding it to removing the robe itself. All these females enjoyed teasing him, removing his clothes slowly so they could feast their eyes on a little of his body at a time.

Instead of smiling and going along with this game, Youko frowned. "Ladies, forgive me, but I am in no mood to play this evening." He shrugged the robes off of his body into a heap at his feet. He went to the washroom.

"Let me help with your hair!" Sakura begged. She was a fox demon too. She was one of the 'purchased pets' Hiei had been talking about. She had been Karasu's 'toy' for a while, but he grew bored with her. He gave her to Youko to have his way with her and the rest of the demon females. The girls all remained loyal for the spirit fox. For two reasons. They were afraid that any wrong doing would be reported to the crow demon. And, finally, how could anyone resist Youko? He was almost painfully adorable…

"I can do this myself," Youko said dismissively.

Sakura and the rest of the females gazed at him in smitten adoration. He was so handsome…so distractingly sexy and daring yet he didn't flaunt around acting as if he knew he possessed these traits. He didn't force them to do every little task for him as well as using them for what they were bred for. In fact he seemed slightly shy at the fact that his whole chamber was filled with at least one female of every demon species.

"No…you said you were tired," Sakura argued with the angelic demon. "You just relax and don't lift a finger. The girls and I will help you."

"But…" The fox demon trailed off, knowing that he couldn't argue with the twenty or so demon girls that surrounded him. If he wanted to, he could easily kill them off, but they were females. As a male from an honorable specie, killing females when they didn't threaten your life was a deed punishable by death.

It wasn't long until the many demons had scrubbed the blood from his skin and soaped the stench of death away from his silky hair.

"We're going to help you relax," Himawari cooed, her elf ears twitching as she took his arm and pushed him down on the pile of pillows.

Youko settled onto the pillows. A fresh robe hung on his shoulders. He had barely managed to pull the robe on. The many females crooned over certain aspects of him. Sakura scratched behind his ears, knowing that it was a ticklish spot. They giggled as Youko purred.

"Aw…he's so adorable…I'm glad we get to stay with him…"

Karasu opened the door. He chortled as he saw his favored pet surrounded by the females he had purchased long ago. "Excuse me," he said as he strolled leisurely into the room. He shooed Himawari away and sat on her pillow. His violet eyes flashed knowingly as all the females inched away from him and moved closer to Youko.

Youko glanced at them and at Karasu. "Do we need to be alone?" he asked slowly.

"No. Not unless you want to be alone with me."

The girls looked hopefully at their master who shook his head. "They'll stay with me."

Karasu nodded. "Naturally…" He laced his long fingers together. "Have you ever fought a spirit detective?" he asked.

"No…why?"

"I've managed to lure one here. I've arranged a few killings and the match between you and Reikai's favored detective for the day after tomorrow."

"What brought you to do this?"

"I've heard stories of their Angel of Death. She takes the spirits of the dead across the Sanzu River to be judged. Then they get condemned to either hell or heaven."

Youko stared at him. "What about her? Why do you want to lure her here?"

"It isn't just her, you see. We can sell a Spirit Detective to owners of the black market. They wouldn't mind having the young man brainwashed to serve them. As for the ferry girl, I'm sure some demon such as yourself would pay millions to use her." He smiled at Youko. "Are you up to the challenge of subduing a spirit detective? A share of all earnings goes to you." He nodded at the girls. "Buy some more things…such as the ferry girl, perhaps?"

"I've got enough girls as it is," Youko retorted. "Why would I want some human girl that's been turned to work for Reikai?"

The girls around him nodded enthusiastically. "That's right!" Sakura insisted. "He has us and he doesn't need anybody else!"

Karasu smirked behind his mask. It was amazing that Youko could own all these women. And with his looks, it was equally amazing how none of them seemed to fight jealously for his attention. "I agree with you all beautiful ladies, but Youko…a grim reaper would be and interesting addition to your collection you have here."

"I'll see. All this attention gets a little tiresome at times. No offense, ladies, but there are times when I'd like to have room to breathe."

"Sorry…" Himawari said in a small voice "But we can't help it."

"You're just so cute…how can we help it?" another girl asked.

"So you're up to the challenge?"

"Yes, for the spirit detective."


Ok, I want your opinions, people. Would you like me to continue doing everyone's POV or would you like me to stick to 3rd person POV? The 1st person's POV is pretty limited to what everyone else can be thinking but 3rd person POV can show what everyone is thinking at the same time. It's up to you. If you want me to continue in random 1st POV I will or if you want 3rd person POV I can do that to. It's up to you reviewers!

Ame no kodomo: That's so nice of you to say! You're also the first reviewer! Congrats! I hope you liked this chapter too!

Miyako14:Really? You think it's interesting? Thanks! I thought it was boring, but thanks for telling me otherwise!

Spoonerific: Yes, I agree, Karasu rocks. Even though he's dead on the anime, he did put so much damage on Kurama. He should be honored for that! O.o but that's why some people hates Karasu! He almost killed our little fox demon! Ah well.

Natsumi-chan: Aw, you don't like Karasu? Even though he may be a sadistic s.o.b. I like him. He's just so calm when he hurts people. It's so creepy that it's funny somehow. That's ok. Maybe he'll get his come-uppance.

Volpone: You're psychic?! Really? Then if you are psychic, who's my fav actor? You can't look at my Bio! That's cheating! Well, there might not be much Y/B or K/B but there's even less HieixBotan. That's why I'm attempting to write one. Notice the word ATTEMPT. I saw your new fic up! I'm sure it'll be as good as all your other fics. I'll read it when I get a chance.

Pyromaniac bunny: That's….an interesting suggestion, but I don't know how that'll all fit into this fic… I'll think of something, I'm sure I will.

Pretty nutter: I'm not sure about the ID number for foxgloves. You can look under my fav author's list and find Volpone's name and the fic Foxgloves will be under her account. Enjoy!

Thanks for the reviews!