Hiei: Yeah, and more annoying.
RDK: Why is everyone being so mean to me?
Flamer the red Kirby: Because you're acting like an annoying tick and you're the size of a shelf teddy bear.
RDK: OO' Is that it? Well, I'm not going to let my size be my downfall!
T.K.: Quit screaming!
RDK: NO! I still have something to say! Anyway, I should have said this in the beginning, but if you haven't read two other of my stories, "Nushi's Koi" and "You're My 18-Year-Old Father!" , you're going to be highly confused. I recomend going to those first before reading on. For those who've read those stories, THIS IS THE NEXT STORY!
Hiei: You're a little late...
Flamer: Much...
RDK: Well, better late than never. On with the fic!
It seemed that Kurama just fell asleep as he awoke to the thin streaks of light that cut through the thickness of the unknown forest and onto his face. He yarned, moving a piece of red hair out of his face. The fox then noticed that he was back to normal.
Suddenly, he closed his eyes, taking in the beautiful sounds of the forest. Birds cripped and flew through the trees and small animals scurried around, making tiny noises as they distrubed fallen leaves. As the fox opened his emeralds again, he once again noticed his regular hair.
"Did I change back overnight?" Kurama though out loud.
"That's exactly what happened last night." a voice said from the remaining darkness.
Kurama looked over to where he saw Hiei last night to see him emerge from the forest. To the fox's surprise, the fire demon gained some inches over the years and his attire fit his new stature; black boats, black trench coat, blue shirt and same attitude. Still, as Kurama stood back up, he realized that Hiei was at his neck and nothing more, but at least he didn't have to strain his neck to look down at him any longer.
"You have some explaining to do, old friend." Kurama said, narrowing his eyes.
Hiei huffed.
"First, my own question. I believe you're still working for Koenma?"
"It keeps me on my feet." He answered.
Hiei huffed again, walking off.
"If you still work for him, I can not tell you anything."
Kurama was surprised by the comment. He followed after Hiei, trying to reason with him.
"What does my job have to do with this island?"
The fire demon turned around, looking at him with cold red eyes.
"If you're being watched, I can't tell you the truth about this place."
"I guess I'm in luck because I asked Koenma to not observe me during this mission."
Hiei cocked an eyebrow.
"Not even Boton's with you?"
Kurama nodded. Hiei sighed, sitting down suddenly.the foxfollowed suit.
"It is thus... since Ruby's leave to the Makai, I've managed to track her down every month to see if she's still alive. It was then that I came to this island."
"Why did I turn into Yoko when the orange moon came out?"
"It was an orange moon and you know that means mating season for dragons. This also means that all demons that are on the island suddenly turn into their strongest form. Yours being Yoko and mine being a multi-eyed creature."
Kurama chuckled.
/-So, he didn't want me to see him in that mosterous form. Shy...-/ "So, can you explain those two dragons?"
"Dragons? Hn, they're everywhere!"
Kurama's eyes widden.
"Everywhere? What do you mean?"
"Dragons have long since become a heathly race that has been growing since our trainer years, kitsune. But, it is this island that the alpha male of the dragons lives. He's the one who started up the whole population." Hiei said, looking at the towers.
Kurama followed suit, still feeling a rather strong level of energy. He had to get to those chambers. Then, another question struck him.
"Hiei, have you got in the fortress?"
The fire demon once again chuckled.
"You'll be lucky to even get to the forest edge without being destoried on the spot. I was almost killed instantly by several female dragons, and if it wasn't for my speed they would have got me. My guess is that there's some kind of force that lets them know someone other than a dragon is coming."
Kurama sighed. He should have listened to Koenma before jumping into the mission like this, but Hiei's information seem to be helping.
"Have you seen this Alpha?"
"No, but it's someone I know. I'm sure of it." Hiei said, closing his eyes in thought.
Then, Kurama saw another emotion in the fire demon's rubies as they opened again. Something he only saw when Hiei was with Ruby or him...respect.
"Is there something else you'd like to share?"
"... I'm afraid that one of these dragons that I saw at the front of the gates... was Ruby."
Kurama's heart was struck.
"Nani!"
"She was the one who sent the pack of dragons on me... and I just don't know what to expect. The only reason why I've stayed on the island is to figure out... why Ruby in here."
/- Why would Ruby be involved in this? -/
"We've got to get in that fortress."
"Easier said than done. First, you have to wait until day because that's when whatever force that's surrounding the forest dissapears. Then, you have to creep inside the castle and not be spotted by the millions of dragon guards in it. And then, if you're very unlucky, you could go up the wrong tower."
At first, the fox thought Hiei was joking about going up the wrong tower, but he could tell the fire demon was being serious.
"Why?"
Hiei sighed.
"I've heard grave tales about those two towers. It's said that one tower leads to the alpha's chambers, where only the alpha female can enter safely. The other tower... is a maze that has four exits. One's another way into the Alpha's chambers... but the maze and the other three exits are hell holes. Traps, blood-thirsty dragons, and gas cells rest for any intruders who gets lost."
Kurama's imagination ran wild as itcould picture someone actually become lost insaid maze. The gas filling their lungs until they collapsed on the ground for blood-thirsty dragons to find later. But as the startling images past through his head, he only wanted to go to the towers more, just to prove his skills.
"Well... I guess we have our work cut out for us, don't we, Hiei?" Kurama joked, but Hiei was not laughing this time.
"We have to get through Ruby first if we hope to even make it into the castle."
Kurama smiled. He could see the uncharacteristic hint of worry in Hiei's eyes.
"I'm her father. Don't worry, she'll obey..."
It seem to ease the fire demon's mind as the two walked through the forest. They made less conversation, as almost all questions were answered. But, yet, another question popped into the fox's head.
"Are... the other two here?"
Hiei nodded.
"Kai had recived her reincarnation and now lives somewhere in the castle. Chi-Li is also guarding the fortress on the other side. All of them seem to be working for the Alpha male."
Kurama gasped and turneda shadepaler.
/- Not Kai! What's Kai doing? And Chi-Li, too? Who is this Alpha? -/ The fox thought, but in the back of his mind, he kind of saw this whole thing about Alphas and dragons a little... normal.
"Doesn't this seem natural to you, Hiei?"
The two stopped.
"Nani?"
"Think about it. Ruby, Chi-Li, and Kai are all female dragons and they are taking orders from an alpha male. In a pack of wolves, females are controlled and protected by an alpha male and female. A few other males are around, but not as important."
Hiei huffed.
"Coming from you, a canine, it makes since."
Kurama blushed.
"But, this is a different Alpha male, Kurama. The reason that you've been on this mission is to kill him, but why do you think that's the case?"
The fox blushed even more. He hadn't stayed long enough to ask why. Hiei caught on.
"This Leader is planning something devilish up there, and every moon that comes in the sky gives him more power. The orange mating moon was just the beginning." Hiei explained.
Kurama wanted to ask of what different kinds of moons there were, but became still as the entrance of the fortress came into view. Dragons with spears stood still, guarding the oak doors from non-dragons and greeting dragons of both genders into it.
The two of them walked around the fortress until they spotted Ruby's post. She was all alone, which was good, but as Kurama started to leave the bush of the forest and talk to his daughter, Hiei pulled him back in.
"What the hell are you doing! Look up!" Hiei snapped in a whisper and pointed up.
The fox gasped to see many dragons flying in the sky as if ready to bomb dive on a moment's notice. But, they weren't humanoid dragons. They were real dragons. Scales, tails, roars, the works.
"Those things will eat you alive if you don't keep it quick." Hiei said.
Suddenly, he dissapeared, startling Kurama until the fox saw him with his back againt the stone of the fortress. He motioned for Kurama to make his move over, but because Kurama was human now, he wasn't as fast as he liked and one of the dragons from the sky dove for Kurama.
Lucky, the fox made it over before the dragon was eating him and not his leftover shadow. The confused creature looked around before flying back into the skies. Hiei and Kurama let loose the breath they had been holding and walked towards the steps leading to the oak door Ruby was guarding.
"This Leader must being doing something to have this much protection." Kurama stated.
Hiei didn't make a comment as they slowly made their way to the door, but right before they looked over the steps to see if she was still there, there was a light tap on Kurama's shoulder that made the fox tense. Hiei felt the tense and turned his neck around, only to daze upon a smiling Ruby.
They took a look at her.
Ruby's figure had become much more defined and she looked more like Yoko more than ever. Her fox ears came to a point, her silver hair came to her knees as her orange orbs shone with delight. Her body was covered with ancient dragon armor that Kurama remembered giving Kai at one time, and her fox tail swade back and forth excitedly. Her white dragon wings fluttered with happiness.
"Father, Hiei! My goodess! I haven't seen you two in the longest." She whispered lovingly, hugging the fox and kissing Hiei deeply.
Hiei took advantage to the dragon's unusual nice attitude and held Ruby's chin for a deeper embrace. Ruby giggled as she made circles over the fire demon's covered chest.
"It feels funny. You being taller than me." She purred.
Hiei shivered slightly, enjoying the shifting in his senses, but then held the dragon by the shoulders.
"Ruby, is it possible to get in the Alpha male's chambers safety?" Hiei asked.
With that statement, Ruby's whole face became cold. She backed away from the two as her eyes narrowed into ice. Her hand went into the air with two fingers pointing to the sky. Hiei and Kurama watched in horror as the whole pack of real dragons shot from the sky and came down to devour them.
The two dodged them easily, but more came down, roaring fiercely. Their claws were larger than Kurama and Hiei as they slamed them down to attack them. The more dragons that came down, the less space there was dodge. Kurama and Hiei found themselves surrounded by the herd of dragons. They growled hungerly and some roared in the demons' face.
"Damn, what's got into Ruby!" Hiei gasped as he back against Kurama.
"It's the Alpha male, Hiei. Females are loyal to him." The fox reminded, taking out his whip at last.
Suddenly, all of the dragons attacked at once, but seem to push Kurama out of the crowd. He fell to the ground painfully, goaning as he tried to focus on Hiei.
/- The Alpha male must have an issue with Hiei more than me, because the dragons have stopped attacking me all together. -/ He thought, watching as the fire demon fought off the dragons without hurting them.
Kurama looked at Ruby, who was still looking as stiff and maligant as her eyes held ice. It pained Kurama to see his daughter act such a way... and towards her own mate.
Suddenly, as Hiei was knocked to the ground and one of the dragon's huge claws were about to pierce him, a demanding voice broke the fight.
"Ruby! That's enough!" A voice called from the oak door.
The attacking dragons flew back into the air and the three looked at the voice's owner as she walked down the stone steps. She had beautifully pale skin and her eyes held identical orange orbs. Her hair was a flowing jet black as strains ran wild in front of her face as the wind blew. Her body also bore ancient armor and her wings folded against her back. All at once, Kurama's eyes began to water...
...as so Kai's.
"Hiei, Yoko... it's been a while." She said, walking towards her reicarnated lover.
"I agree..." Kurama smiled, walking up to her.
A beautiful reunion took place briftly before Kai looked up at Kurama from his arms. Her eyes also seem to narrow, but not as cold-heartly as Ruby's.
"You wish to see the Alpha male, but he does not wish to see Hiei..."
RDK: T.K. I'm sorry.
T.K.: For what?
RDK: For having Yukina and Kuwabara together.
T.K.: Oh, that's okay. I'm not mad anymore.
RDK: You aren't! YAY! Why not?
T.K.: Because I now have a new love, and her name is Boton.
Hiei and Flamer: That's just disturbing...
RDK: Well, that's your opinion! Review please. Pwease? kawaii kirby puppy eyes