Chapter 6: The Two Lords

The night passed in silence. Kurama wasn't able to get any sleep, Kuronue's words still fresh in his mind. He just couldn't accept he was about to die. He rolled over and stared at the wall, his heart pounding in his ears. Akiko hadn't taken the news well. She had vanished as soon as Kuronue had left and Kurama didn't see her again that night. He was leaving in the morning at first light. Kuronue had said he would leave a marker in the park where Kurama needed to be. Hyoga would then make a portal to take him back, where he would enter the custody of Lord Raizen.

He wasn't scared of Raizen, he never truly had been, but the thought that he would die like a common prisoner was too much to bear. He wanted to die on his feet, his claws and fangs soaked in his opponent's blood. That was the only way for a demon like himself to go, not by a clean beheading.

Dawn came all to quickly for Kurama. A bright sunbeam in the eye told him it was time to leave. He paused at the door with his hand on the knob. What about Akiko? He wanted to see her again, just a final time to say goodbye. She'd helped him through Human World and saved his butt more than once; he owed her at least a farewell.

"Are you leaving?"

Kurama jumped and spun around. Akiko was standing in the hallway, still wearing the clothes from the day before. She took a few steps forward, pulling her hand from inside her jacket. Kurama didn't move while she fixed something around his neck and kissed him on the cheek.

"I guess…this is goodbye," Kurama whispered, fingering the necklace Akiko had clasped around his neck. There was a small pendant hanging on the end, a silver star. Kurama looked away, blinking furiously and willing it to just be over and done with. This was the hardest goodbye he'd ever done.

"I'll miss you Kurama," Akiko said before her voice broke.

The fox demon hugged her quickly before he pulled open the door and stepped outside. Kurama paused and took one last look back. She was watching him through unshed tears, but he saw the smallest trace of a smile on her face and returned it with one of his own. Then he turned his back and flew the length of the hall. He wanted to stop at the end of the hallway, but he forced himself to keep going and vanished through the doorway, giving Akiko one last wave over his shoulder. The door slammed behind him, and he was gone.

There was a solemn welcoming party at the park in the form of Kuronue's holographic image. The bat demon simply nodded to his friend and vanished. The rift appeared moments after, swirling ominously, a black mar on the perfect morning. Kurama glared at it as the start of all his misery and pitched a stone through the portal. Then he glanced about, searching for a hiding place.

There was a crack in the trunk of a tree nearby and he knelt down beside it, withdrawing a small package from inside his shirt. Kurama tucked the envelope inside the tree and stepped back to examine his work. If you looked just right you could see the brown envelope he'd hidden, but only if you came directly down the path like Akiko did every morning. That was what he wanted to know, whether or not she would be able to find it.

Kurama stood in front of the rift and took a final glance at the human world. He'd probably be one of the only demons to ever see it and live to tell the tale. What a story this would make! The fox demon stepped up and, taking a deep breath before the plunge, passed through the rift.

Lord Seiryuu and his private army were congregated in the mountains of Demon World, shivering in the cold and fiddling with their weapons. The army's orders were strict; they were to capture the demon that appeared through the portal and take him prisoner. They were not permitted to kill him, no matter what, under penalty of death if they disobeyed. He was essential to their lord's plan and could not be killed until it was secure.

The blackness of the void darkened suddenly, and Kurama appeared and landed hard on the ground. Everyone was motionless for a second as the winded demon regained his senses, then jumped into action. He was still confused, they knew, and Kurama was gagged and bound by a spell similar to Spirit Cuffs. He was picked up by a group of several demons and they went airborne, flying swiftly back to Lord Seiryuu's castle.

"That was too easy," Lord Seiryuu chuckled to the demon next to him, cloaked in black. "He is just the clueless fool you described him to be."

"I would never lie to you milord," Hyoga said, dropping the hood from over his face.

Kurama awoke in darkness, feeling as though every muscle in his body was sore and he was going to be sick. He didn't notice anything for a while as he drifted in and out of consciousness, but always there was the presence of demonic energy all around him. After he'd reawakened for the third time, Kurama thought he could just faintly see the form of someone else, just a very faint outline against the inky blackness. Whoever it was, he (she?) was demon, they were giving off their own demon energy, but it was weak and inconsistent. The more he watched and sensed their presence, the more unnerved he became, until he worked up his courage and spoke.

"I can sense you're there. Who are you?"

His response came as a small cry of joy, and then sharp claws severed the ropes around his arms and legs. Kurama sat up and massaged his ankles, slightly perturbed by the response he's received. Then the other prisoner's face came into view and he had to choke down his own cry.

A familiar pair of glittering amber eyes was watching him intently, and something soft and leathery like wings brushed his arm. Kurama reached up and grabbed hold of the long black ponytail that hung just within his range of vision, pulling it down swiftly and ending up with Kuronue's head in his lap.

"Why didn't you help me sooner?" Kurama hissed through clenched teeth, then he laughed and pushed his friend off, watching him rub his scalp with a smug expression.

"I'm sorry Kurama," Kuronue protested in a strangely submissive tone, "but I couldn't risk someone finding us, and plus, you weren't even awake most of the time."

"Right. So, where are we, exactly?" Kurama glanced around, but he couldn't see anything through the darkness and felt extremely stupid. "I thought you said we were going to Lord Raizen."

"What?" Kuronue exclaimed almost too loudly, "I never said anything like that. Kurama, I haven't seen you since that incident two days ago."

A lengthy silence followed his testimony. Kurama couldn't believe his ears. That had been Kuronue that had appeared in Akiko's living room, and he had seen him again in the park just before he passed back into Demon World. There was something wrong with this, Kurama had sensed it at first, and now everything was starting to piece itself together.

"So you're saying, if you're not betraying me," Kurama said levelly, trying not to let his voice get out of control, "that it was someone that stole your form and gave me that message last night. Because I saw quite clearly you, Kuronue, and we had a lengthy discussion about Lord Raizen and the possibility of Lords Seiryuu or Mukuro using the rift for their own purposes. You said Hyoga had used his power to create an image of you."

At the mention of the shaman's name a growl rumbled in Kuronue's chest and he retorted coldly, "Hyoga's been feeling really full of himself lately. That's something he would do."

"What do you mean? What's happened?"

"Hyoga's taking orders from Lord Seiryuu now," Kuronue said darkly. "That's where we are; Lord Seiryuu's dungeon."

A light flickered nearby and both demons fell silent, watching it approach. Soon a hooded demon bearing a flame in his hand came into view, along with the lord himself. Kurama glared at him, a growl forming in his throat and his claws flexed.

"You're absolutely right Kuronue," Seiryuu said in his surprisingly soft voice. He brushed his dark bangs from his face and Kurama felt all the strength leave his limbs as he stared into his hard blue eyes. "But do you know why we need you alive?" The flame bearer shifted, and Kurama saw Hyoga's familiar eye paint underneath the dark hood.

"Because for your plan to succeed, you need demons that have been to Human World," Kurama snarled, his eyes boring into Hyoga's, but the shaman didn't blink. "So it was you that betrayed us Hyoga, not Kuronue. You used your powers to create an image of him and told me nothing but lies last night. Lies except for that little bit about planning to send demons into Human World by the thousands."

"Very good Youko Kurama," Seiryuu drawled. "Hyoga's been taking orders from me for a long time. When he sensed the rift and a weakness between the barriers of the two worlds, I was the first demon he told. The second ones, of course, were you and your little friend."

"When you came to me and asked about anything interesting it was almost too good to be true," Hyoga continued. "I decided I could use you to test my theory and gave you that stupid riddle to work off of. Truly I just needed time to prepare, and when I saw that you were at the point of snapping with your frustration and Kuronue's ignorance I played my trap. The original plan, see, was to have you go completely annoyed with your friend so you would be angry with him once you arrived."

"We knew that once you arrived in Human World a message would be sent to King Yama of Spirit World and he would send bounty hunters after you. That was another part of our plan, to see how long you would last. Then was something we didn't expect. You made a human friend and started engaging the humans. We knew then that it would be harder for us to monitor you, so we had to do another test. I fed Kuronue false information about reopening the rift and sending him through. The fool, he was so sure he would see you again that he fell for it."

"So, it was all a trick?" Kurama asked bitterly.

"More or less," Seiryuu answered, "but you weren't the most helpful experiment. When you saw Kuronue, your bond with him was called into question. We had hoped you to be angry still and refuse to help him. We miscalculated, and instead you tried to save him. But Hyoga was able to seal the rift despite your aide to your friend, and we were still able to learn a valuable share of information through you. Information that you're still providing us by wearing that necklace."

Kurama froze, and he felt the cold metal of Kuronue's amulet around his neck as his chest shook from his ragged breathing. Everything, everything had been a lie. A trick! Kurama felt his anger burning in his heart and tried to lunge at Seiryuu, but with a simple flick of his hand the lord sent the fox flying backward and into the wall.

"That necklace you're wearing has told us everything you've been doing the last few days, and where you were last night. It's been mighty helpful, I'll tell you."

Kuronue knelt beside Kurama and helped his sit up, but his own hands were shaking. "What about myself?" he asked suddenly. "You knew I wouldn't be able to go, and once I tried it should have been done. Why did you keep me alive when you could have killed me?"

"That should be obvious," Hyoga said smugly. "You were another experiment. We wanted to see what would happen to someone that got caught in the middle. You were perfect for that. Unlike your friend, you played your role perfectly. And, my friend, if you think about it, we are in the process of killing you now. Remember when I operated on your leg? The medicine?"

"It's poison," Kuronue whispered, and almost automatically his hand flew to his throat.

"No you fool, if it was you'd be long dead by now. It's a paralysis medicine. You told me you were unable to move your legs at the time. That's the point, once we slip you the other potion I have that activates it, you'll be as good as dead."

"Bastards," Kurama snarled from Kuronue's side. He tried to stand but his friend pulled him back down, holding his arms behind him. Kurama growled at him but Kuronue didn't relent, increasing the pressure on his friend's wrists until the fox demon winced.

"We'll return for you tomorrow," Seiryuu told them. "We wouldn't want you to miss the moment this has all led up to." He waved to them before Hyoga extinguished his light and they were bathed in darkness once again.

Kurama snarled angrily at Kuronue and the bat demon released his friend's hands. He forcefully pulled Kuronue's necklace from his neck and threw it as hard as he could against the wall. The metal cracked and the gem shattered, scattering shards along the floor. Kurama ignored his friend's whimper and was about to throw himself against the wall as well when his hand brushed the charm that still hung at his throat.

"Who gave you that?" Kuronue asked when Kurama took the necklace off and held it in his hand.

"Girl I met in Human World," he answered simply, turning the star over on his palm. There were hinges on one side, and he slid his claw through the middle and opened the locket. Though it was small, he could just barely see the symbol for friendship carved inside. Kurama's hand closed around the locket and he couldn't resist smiling when he remembered Akiko's face the first time she saw him. "I won't give up Akiko," he whispered into his hand, "even though it looks bad for us, I won't give up."

A sudden spark of nervousness awoke Kurama in the middle of the night. As he sat up, the hair on the back of his neck stood on end and he glanced hurriedly about, searching out an intruder in the darkness. Kuronue lie asleep a few feet away, his wings curled around his body. It was safe for Kurama to say that he was completely unaware of most everything around him. Kurama put his nose to work and tried to find an unusual scent lingering in the air. There was Kuronue's (stronger than usual, which meant the demon had been locked up for a while and hadn't been bathing), the slightest whiff of Seiryuu's from earlier, Hyoga's and the scent of ashes…what was that one? Unusual…he'd never encountered anything like this before…

"Kuronue," Kurama whispered in his friend's ear, "there's someone here."

Kuronue blinked in confusion and sat up, putting his own senses to work. He immediately felt the chill that had awoken his friend and stared intently into the darkness, feeling slightly nervous. Someone had managed to sneak in and was waiting for them, probably laughing at their insecurity. Kuronue located the intruder just as his friend called out to him.

"We know you're here," Kurama said loudly, his voice showing no traces of fear or hesitation. "I suggest you show yourself."

Kuronue jumped as a hand rested on his shoulder, and he spun around with his fangs bared. Now that he knew where to look, he could see a pair of crimson eyes watching him, and the glint of a sword tracing every movement he made. Then from the shadows stepped a demon, and Kuronue had to prevent himself from laughing out loud.

"Quiet fool, or I'll cut your voice box out."

Kuronue gulped and took a step back, while Kurama took a few forwards and stared down over his crossed arms at the short demon. They locked gazes for a moment before Kurama shook his head.

"You aren't a demon of Seiryuu's," he declared, "but you're not here to help us either. You should learn to better control what your eyes reflect."

Before Kurama could blink the sword flew into motion, and shiny droplets of blood dripped from a cut on his arm. The fox demon blinked for a moment in surprise before flicking them into the air with his thumb, his eyes narrowed into a death glare.

"I'll only tell you this once," the demon said, "and if you miss it that's your loss. Lord Mukuro has ordered your presence in his castle. He sent me to retrieve you, with orders that if you refused I could kill you how I wished. Your powers are bound, we both know that, so it will be your choice whether you decide to stay or not."

"Why does Lord Mukuro wish for our attendance?" Kurama shot back. "The doings of other lords in their own kingdoms is no business of Lord Mukuro's. What does he offer that our present state does not?"

"It's simple," the demon growled, "if you stay Lord Seiryuu will kill you once the rift is complete. Don't look at me like that, all the lords know of its presence." He glanced from Kurama to the hallway outside his cell and back again. "Lord Mukuro says he will free you if you are willing to grace his castle with your presence."

"A very self-confident demon Lord Mukuro is," Kurama mused, raising an eyebrow in Kuronue's direction. The bat demon shrugged. "We have decided. You can tell your lord that we shall offer our attendance once he has freed us."

"That's what I'm here to do," the demon said, sliding his sword back into the scabbard on his back. "This won't be pretty," he warned them with the slightest trace of a smile. "If Lord Seiryuu's demons appear I won't defend you."

"So polite are Lord Mukuro's demons," Kuronue muttered. He flexed his wings and watched in wonder as the demon messenger pounded a hole through the wall with his fist, coated in demonic fire. "There's more to this guy than we thought," Kuronue muttered to Kurama as a good portion of the wall crumbled.

Shouts and curses erupted in the night from the direction of Seiryuu's castle, and Kurama grabbed Kuronue and jumped through the hole in the wall. Without thinking he took flight, following the other demon into the air. Below them Seiryuu's army was assembling, but without orders from their lord they were disorganized and didn't pursue them.

"Look out!" Kuronue shouted from somewhere on Kurama's left, and he swerved quickly enough to avoid a blast of energy aimed at him.

"Damn them," Mukuro's messenger shouted as another blast shot at him, and without even flinching he absorbed it, then fired back his own blast of fire. It struck its mark and several demons collapsed, burnt beyond saving. "Fly higher!" he yelled to Kurama, who pulled up steeply and streaked into the clouds.

Once he was high enough he was out of range Kurama leveled out, searching for his companions. After a few seconds Kuronue surfaced through the clouds and flew along with him, his wings beating powerfully enough to blow Kurama aside. A moment later the messenger demon showed up through the cloud cover as well, this time from above them. Once he was sure both demons hadn't been struck he shot forward, almost leaving Kuronue and Kurama behind.

"I'm not sure what to think about this," Kuronue whispered to Kurama once they'd caught up. "I don't trust this guy. When we were in that fight he absorbed an energy blast without a second thought. That's not something most demons can do."

"You're right Kuronue, he's easily an A Class," Kurama said, his eyes focused forward. "When I first sensed him I knew, and that was what prevented me from becoming too suspicious of his claim. Mukuro only hires the highest level demons to work for him, and this demon is almost as strong as they get."

"But you could beat him, couldn't you Kurama?"

"I don't know," Kurama admitted, "and I definitely won't try with this cursed spell still in effect." Kurama glared down at his wrists, still faintly glowing with a greenish light from the bond that had been placed on them. "No, I think we'll just have to wait and see what happens to us now."

Lord Mukuro's castle was located in the heart of the northeastern region of Demon World, hidden well in the mountains and nearly impossible to find unless the searcher already knew where it was. The castle was made of dark polished stone, shining in the moonlight. A pair of towers stood in the wall surrounding the fortress, one on each end of a gate that opened into a large bailey, where the demons that served the lord were housed. Then there was a smaller wall and inside it was the palace, home of the lord and his highest servants.

Kurama and Kuronue gazed at the castle in wonder as they made their descent, noticing the large wall that surrounded the entire setup. The only entrance was the steel gate, and they landed in front of it, aware of the immense size and sturdiness of the bars. After a few words with the guards they were permitted to enter, and the two new demons followed their messenger through the housings of the army. Dark gazes followed them until they reached the smaller wall, where they were stopped.

"The newcomers have to be identified by the lord," a guard said from the wall-top.

"Fine!" their guide shouted, and he turned to both of them. "They're sending out a guard to search you, so it would be better to know now if you're carrying anything stolen."

Kurama and Kuronue exchanged nervous glances but shook their heads. Luckily for them they weren't carrying any of their thefts. Neither of them had their weapons either, and that seemed a reassuring thought.

A guard appeared through the gate and beckoned Kuronue forward. Hesitantly the bat demon followed him into the gatekeeper's room, where he was questioned and searched. Kurama had to wait outside, blindfolded, and the fire demon that had bailed them had been allowed to enter by presenting what Kurama imagined was a pass. Now he was in the company of the gatekeeper, an older demon that bore a large halberd.

"It's your turn," the gatekeeper said in his deep voice, and Kurama was led into the room, where his blindfold was removed.

"State your name," the demon that had led Kuronue away ordered, and Kurama obliged, all the while taking in his surroundings. The room was small and there was an exit leading into the yard of the palace.

"Mukuro has to be paranoid or something," Kurama muttered as he tugged his shirt off over his head. The guard had been ordered to do a strip search, and Kurama hadn't been able to talk his way out of it. He was forced to stand as the guard searched his clothes. The only thing he had been permitted to keep on was his necklace, which they didn't think to be a threat to their lord. Personally, Kurama thought they were crazy. It wasn't the warmest in that gatehouse and he was starting to shiver, even after he wrapped his tail around his waist.

"You're permitted to pass," the guard said finally, tossing Kurama his clothes back.

"Finally," Kurama groaned as he tugged his pants on and tied his belt around his waist.

From there he was led out into the yard where Kuronue waited, awestruck by the sight before them. Mukuro's palace was just as amazing as the fortress, made of shiny obsidian. A mysterious green light seemed to be emitting from the windows and barbed spikes stuck out below the balconies. The front of the palace was a single story, most likely Mukuro's audience hall, but toward the back were several towers, one on each end of the building and the largest in the very middle. That was obviously the lord's quarters.

"That's amazing," Kuronue muttered to himself, looking up at the tallest tower. He'd never seen a demon lord's palace before. It would be worth becoming a lord to live in a place like that.

"You're permitted to enter," the fire demon said from Kurama's side. "I'm not allowed to attend the audience with you, but if you're disrespectful in Lord Mukuro's name I'll hear about it." With that he left Kurama and Kuronue with the guards and flew out the gate.

"Nice one isn't he," Kurama chuckled as the guards pushed open the doors to Mukuro's palace.

He only had to take a single step inside to know he was out of his league. The hallway they now stood in was enormous, and lining the walls were carvings of different demons, most of which Kurama had never heard of. Though it wasn't long, they were intimidated even before they came to the end of the hallway and stood before the huge wooden doors that marked the entrance of Mukuro's audience chamber.

"Well, we've got to do this sometime or another," Kurama said, and he pushed open the doors. Taking the lead a few steps in front of Kuronue the fox demon started toward the far end of the chamber, where there was a small dais and what immediately reminded him of a throne. Seated there was the strangest demon he'd ever seen.

Lord Mukuro, if that's who he was, was extremely well dressed, just as Kurama expected for a lord. At his knee rested a long sword and there were numerable broken weapons around the dais. But what truly surprised Kurama and made him pause was Mukuro's face. His entire head was covered in bandages, all except for his right eye, which stared out at them without blinking. It was disturbing, because that eye didn't look like it belonged to a demon. It didn't blink, but just stared at them as they approached and bowed low.

"You may rise," Mukuro told them in a soft voice that didn't fit his image. "I suppose you don't know why you're here." When both demons nodded slowly, he continued. "As my messenger told you, I am offering you safe harbor from Lord Seiryuu. He will not dare come after you in my territory."

"Forgive my ignorance, milord," Kurama said curtly, "but what use would a demon like me be to a lord like yourself? We came here knowing of milord's offer, but offers usually come with prices, and we would like to know milord's price before we set terms."

"A clever demon you are Youko Kurama." Mukuro rose, and Kurama took a half step back. "Let me see your hands," he commanded, and reluctantly Kurama held out his hands. Mukuro took hold of his wrists for a moment before a surge of power shocked Kurama and he looked down, surprised to see the green light that had marked his wrists had faded.

"He removed the binding," Kuronue gasped from Kurama's side. He offered his own hands to Mukuro and was removed of his spell also.

"You have nothing limiting your powers now," Mukuro told them, "and if you distrust me you are free to defend yourselves, though I would like to avoid that if at all possible. I wish to speak with you of an alliance, though that cannot be done until you are rested enough to listen." Mukuro snapped his fingers and immediately a pair of servants appeared at his side. "Take these demons to their chambers. Make sure they are well cared for."

A tall snake demon dressed in black robes gestured to Kurama and began to lead him quickly from the room. They exited through a small side door and appeared on a stairwell, spiraling upward into one of the towers. Not minding the stairs both demons flew to the top, where there was another hallway with the occasional door branching off it. One of these doors had been marked with a symbol that Kurama couldn't read, and this was the door he was led to.

"I take my leave," the servant said once he'd opened the door and made sure Kurama didn't need anything. He vanished into air, leaving a small puff of smoke as the only clue he'd been there.

Kurama took only a moment to look around before he collapsed on the bed, too tired to do anything else. His brain was buzzing with new information and he just wanted to sleep, but he didn't allow himself to doze off. Mukuro's offer had surprised him and he had to think his way through it before the dinner audience he was expected to attend that night. An alliance? Kurama didn't believe that for a moment. Mukuro was a powerful demon lord who could find the most powerful of demons to do his work, why would he want the help of a pair of thieves.

"We know about the rift," Kurama muttered, then suddenly fell silent. Alliance nothing, Mukuro wanted their knowledge! He wanted the power of the rift so he could use it. A demon that could send an army into Human World could control it completely if the fighters of King Yama didn't exterminate them. With all of Human World under their control a demon would be extremely powerful, maybe even strong enough to challenge the other lords for dominance. That was what Mukuro wanted, power over the humans!

Kurama's head throbbed and he gave up thinking about it, but his suspicions didn't fade. He would have to warn Kuronue before the audience so neither of them would accidentally slip and give Mukuro information. Kurama closed his eyes and fell asleep almost instantly, a smug smile forming on his lips.

It was evening when Kurama awoke, finally having a decent rest and feeling better than he had all week. One of Mukuro's servants had left a change of clothes on the table in his room and he took that as a hint. There was a basin of water in the corner and he knelt beside it, looking at his reflection.

"I look terrible," Kurama groaned. His hair was matted in places and his ears looked ruffled. Smudges of dirt on his face made him blush as he thought of what kind of impression he'd made on Mukuro earlier. Kurama wet his hands and washed his face, allowing the water to dry on its own as he stood on the balcony.

So Mukuro wanted his knowledge of the rift, he knew that much already. But what was the point of bringing both of them when he could get the information from him alone? Was it like Seiryuu wanted, to ask Kuronue about being trapped inside? Kurama wasn't sure how much detail Mukuro had about the rift, or if he even knew Kuronue had been unable passed through. It brought back the pain in his head as he debated it and reluctantly Kurama decided the only way he would know for sure was to ask, indirectly of course.

He turned his thoughts instead to the activity outside. Even though it was dark demons were scrambling around working on jobs, sharpening weapons and running errands. So this was what it really looked like in a lord's castle, none of that fake stuff about the armies waiting for battle in their armor all day and all night. Now that he thought about it the defenses around Mukuro's palace seemed lacking, not as stiff as he had expected. Either Mukuro was really confident or really foolish.

"Excuse me sir, but your presence had been requested by the lord. He wishes you join him downstairs."

Kurama didn't bother to turn around as the servant vanished. He watched outside for a while longer before deciding it would look bad if he was late and picked up the clothes he'd been given and looked them over, his nose wrinkling in disgust. They were trying to turn him into a man of the royal court and he didn't like it.

It wasn't so bad, he decided as he knotted the sash around his waist. He didn't look that different from before, really, except instead of white he wore navy. He ran his claws through his hair and sprinkled a few drops of water on it so would lie flat, then did the same with his tail. Finally satisfied with the refection that smiled back at him from his water basin, Kurama left his room and flew downstairs.

Kuronue was waiting for him in the entrance hall, looking very self-conscious. Kurama looked him up and down before forcing back a laugh and giving his friend a sympathetic smile. (A/N: Think a cross between Kurama and Hiei's normal dress). Kuronue was wearing black pants that extended to midway down his shin, where they buckled tightly around his leg. His shirt was sleeveless, and over it he wore a red sash, which tucked through the belt he had knotted around his waist and hung to his knees. The sash's trim was a royal blue and his belt was white. He wore his hair down instead of pulled back, and that was what caused Kurama to smirk as he led the way toward Mukuro's audience chamber.

"You'd better stop grinning like that Kurama," Kuronue warned as they passed through the doors, "or I'll have to tell everyone about the tail incident."

Kurama gulped and wiped the grin from his face immediately. His tail had finally returned to its normal thickness after that incident, he didn't need Kuronue drawing attention to it. "That was a cheap shot," he complained, but Kuronue only grinned in reply. He had him at that, and Kuronue knew it.

"Listen," Kurama said, all the playfulness gone from his voice. Kuronue stopped chuckling and listened, his eyes narrowed. "I did some thinking and I know what Mukuro's alliance really means. He's no different from Lord Seiryuu in his plans, just sneakier in his means. Mukuro intends for us to tell him about the rift." Kurama glanced at Kuronue, who didn't look very surprised by that information. "I think it goes without saying that we can't mention anything that would be useful for him. It's safe to say he'll have scribes hidden to take down our every word."

"It's not like we know anything about the rift anyway," Kuronue pointed out, "he'd need Hyoga for that." Kuronue spotted one of Mukuro's servants and approached him, leaving Kurama to puzzle in the center of the hall.

"This guy says we're expected to attend dinner with Lord Mukuro in the east wing," Kuronue called over to Kurama, who broke from his thoughts long enough to nod. "I guess the east wing's that way." Kuronue pointed to a door that sat in the back of the chamber, and he jogged over to it and pulled it open. "Kurama, get over here!"

The fox demon shook his head and followed his friend through the door, trying to mentally piece together a story to tell Mukuro, explaining why they didn't know anything about the rift. He was sure he wouldn't slip, but Kuronue was a different story. The bat demon wasn't the best at keeping secrets once he knew them. They'd paid for it a few times as well, and Kurama could only hope Kuronue kept his head until they were free to go.

"Thank you both for coming," Mukuro said from his seat in the room. There were two chairs set beside him, and he motioned for his guests to take them. A few servants hovered in the corners of the room, but they weren't what made Kurama tense; he could smell other demons hidden in the rafters.

"I've summoned both of you here tonight to speak of an alliance," Mukuro began, and immediately Kurama snapped to attention. "As you are probably aware, Lord Seiryuu has become increasingly bold with the movement of his armies and the expansion of his territories."

"Real emphasis on the armies," Kuronue whispered to Kurama with a snort, but the fox demon kicked him and gave him a glare that said quite plainly to shut up.

"He learned of something that put those big ambitions within his grasp the day you locate the void between our world and the world of humans." Mukuro glanced at both demons in turn but neither flinched, their faces remaining passively blank. "I'm sure you're aware of this, but with power over Human World, Lord Seiryuu would become one of the most powerful demons in our world. That would be extremely hazardous to the balance of power between the three kingdoms, and ultimately they would fall to Lord Seiryuu's rule."

Both Kuronue and Kurama nodded, having already discussed this themselves. Kurama was doing some very quick thinking as Mukuro spoke, and something about his story made him edgy. There was a lot of information in that statement that most demons of the royal courts didn't know. Kuronue seemed to guess what Kurama was thinking and shot a question in hopes of bringing it into light.

"Milord," Kuronue began politely, "before Kurama and I agree to an alliance we would like to make certain we understand milord's terms. You are offering us a position in your ranks in exchange for information concerning Lord Seiryuu's battle strategies?"

Kurama's breath caught sharply in his throat as he listened, then he turned to Mukuro to see his response. There was nothing to be read from the one mysterious eye that looked back at them, but there was definitely a certain stiffness to his back that hadn't been there before. Kuronue looked pleased with himself, and for a few seconds a tense silence hung over the demons.

"You are too clever for your own good," Mukuro said finally. "That was what I had planned to ask you for, but in light of this I have changed my mind. My deal is this: I will offer you protection in my kingdom from both Lords Seiryuu and Raizen. In exchange you will tell me all about this rift."

"And if we deny the offer?" Kurama challenged.

"I will return you to Lord Seiryuu, as you are his prisoners and I took you from his dungeon without his assent. You shall be returned to him and suffer whatever fate he has planned for you," Mukuro told them with a trace of triumph in his voice. They could not refuse such an offer.

Kurama looked at Kuronue and managed to catch the bat demon's eye. He looked panicky, just like Kurama felt. What would they do now? Kurama tried to search his friend's eyes for some hint, but they remained blank except for a nervous fear.

"Might we have some time to consider milord's offer?" Kurama asked, praying silently Mukuro agreed. Though it was clear that hadn't been the response he'd been expecting, the demon lord nodded and told them he wanted their answer in an hour's time.

"That couldn't have gotten much worse," Kuronue grumbled once they were free in the main hallway. Kurama couldn't agree more, though he kept his thoughts to himself. He longed for a quiet place to sit and think, but since they only had less than an hour he was forced to remain in Kuronue's company, walking around the grounds outside.

"I'm suspicious of the whole thing," Kurama told his friend as they passed the east tower. "Mukuro seemed nervous when you were talking, it bothered me at first and I think I'm beginning to see why."

"Explain," Kuronue said as he flopped in the grass on the south side of the palace. Kurama sat down beside him and was silent for a moment, his head on his knee. True, it could just be that Mukuro had been surprised by Kuronue's bold statement, it had been quite jarring for him as well.

"I think," Kurama began hesitantly, "that Mukuro wants us to believe that it's really just that simple, that we either accept his offer or get thrown back to Seiryuu. Think about it. Would Seiryuu have just let us escape if he knew we were going to the palace of his enemy with such valuable information? His army hadn't pursued us once we were airborne, and I think they were ordered not to."

"Are you saying Mukuro and Seiryuu are in this together?" Kuronue asked, and Kurama shook his head.

"I'm not sure of anything right now Kuronue. I just wish we had more time to think about it." Kurama rolled onto his back and watched the stars twinkle overhead. "Honestly, I just wish that whatever is going to happen to us just happens, so I can get out of this tangled mess. If we end up dead Kuronue," Kurama turned his head so he was looking at his friend, "I'm glad it was in a plan where we were true assholes to our executioners."

Kuronue laughed for a moment, then rolled onto his side so he was looking in Kurama's amber eyes, his face serious. "So that's what you choose, is it?"

His friend nodded, and Kuronue smiled. "I never thought it would have built up to this, with Mukuro and Seiryuu involved. Makes a guy seem special, you know? To be killed by one of those infamous demon lords." Kuronue turned away and sat up. "If that's what you choose," he said quietly, and he heard Kurama prop himself on his elbows to listen, "then I'm with you to the end."