A/N: Hello once again, Dearest Yu Yu Hakusho Lovers!

Seriously got this up within like five minutes. Time got away from me, been super busy. My apologies for any bad grammar or misspellings.

For those that are concerned: the kitten is still alive, though he isn't out of the woods yet and he needs at least another week of treatment.

Symbols Guide:

* : Written by CM; She writes for Akari and Hiei
3 : Written by Star (supposed to be the 'heart' symbol, but FF doesn't like the 'less-than' sign, so it's a 3 instead); She writes for Toriko/Shikiyoku and Youko/Kurama
~!**!~ : A universal transition between scenes or characters, sometimes used to indicate a passage of time, but most often used to transition between major scenes that are happening. As the story progresses, this will evolve into mainly separating the (usually two) scenes happening between authors/characters.

As a general rule, anything in italics is thoughts.
Unless it's used in a sentence like this, which merely indicates emphasis.
[Anything written in italics inside square brackets is Youko speaking to Shuichi/Kurama inside their mind and is private conversation, unable to be picked up by telepathy.]
{Anything written in italics inside curly brackets is inner dialogue by Shuichi/Kurama to Youko, and is also private conversation, unable to be picked up by telepathy.}
"Quotations are usually reserved specifically for telepathic dialogue being transmitted from one being to another, but sometimes this can also mean a character isn't being careful about what they're thinking and anyone with telepathy in the nearby vicinity can listen in without taking any effort."

The only exception to that last rule is for the Shiba Inu dog, Nabu. All of his "spoken" dialogue will be in italics and quotations, but is communicated through body language or dog-like noises, so unless a character is able to translate those they are unlikely to pick up on what he is saying any more than the average person might understand his general moods like aggression (bared teeth, ears back) or excitement (wagging tail).
The above rule also applies to Akari's old friend Isamu when he is in his dog-form.

For the first time since she'd arrived, Akari was waking on her own, eyes pulling open to stare at the door of the chambers blearily. She pulled the pillow further under her head and wrapped her left arm up and over her head, the bracelet catching on her hair briefly before she jangled it free.

A deep sigh.

It was… blissful being able to actually sleep in.

Even if she feared the motives behind it.

She shifted some more and her eyes came open again, staring at the door that was cracked open, voices outside floating around.

The maids, she knew.

"Should we wake her?"

"Lord Yomi didn't specify."

"Maybe he thinks we should know the answer."

"Sir Takeo didn't request anything either."

"Do you think she'll attack if we wake her?"

"Surely not."

Akari sighed. "HAven't you two ever heard of closing the goddamn door?" She rolled over onto her other side, pillow being jerked over her head. There goes that restful sleep. Probably won't happen again.

Ever.

She heard the door creak open.

"Where's Takeo?" she suddenly piped.

"In a meeting with Lord Yomi and the council."

Akari hummed to herself.

"You weren't asked to be woken."

"That's fine." She pulled the pillow away and pushed herself to sit up, glancing at the two women who stood at the edge of the bed, one holding a glass and the other holding a bowl. "That," she nodded to the bowl, "can go. I'm not hungry." She reached for the offered drink and, in one very quick motion, downed it all. She made a face, now actually tasting the blood component Takeo had reminded her of last week. She passed the empty glass back. "I assume Sachi is in the meeting as well?"

"Yes."

"Good." She tossed the covers to the side and grabbed at the leather armor she'd tossed aside the night before. "The armor-smith?"

"In his office, as usual."

"Good." Akari ran a hand through her hair before turning and padding to the door, not even bothering to change from her night clothes and into something decent. "Do me a favor," she said, pausing at the door and looking back at the two maids, "close the door on your way out, hm? And don't touch the dresser. I have it organized the way I like it. Capiche?"

They nodded in unison and she moved out the room, shutting the door behind her. She tossed her hair around a bit as she moved down the corridor, eyes turning down to her left wrist, appearing to anyone else that she inspected the rips in her armor when she took to staring at the petals linked around.

Not a single one was missing, as she'd made a point not to use them. She wriggled her wrist, causing it to shift around against her skin as she sighed.

I haven't forgotten. I promise. Her eyes came up, staring blankly ahead as she rounded a corner. Even if I had the seed, I wouldn't call you here. It isn't worth us both being stuck.

Her lips twitched, turning up very briefly.

You're not allowed to come for me this time. I'll handle myself. *

~!**!~

The gentle, steady hum of the cloak drying had set Shikiyoku into a relaxed, half-awake state. Though, having been gathered into Renai's arms where they lounged on a big fluffy chair nearby helped immensely. He had taken to stroking her hair where it fell down her back, occasionally lowering his face to nuzzle at her affectionately where her head had come to rest against his chest, his free arm wrapped around her front and keeping her from falling out.

One of his legs was propped up behind her, the other hanging off the edge and he rested his foot on the floor.

"Well, they're very pretty." He noted, enjoying the rich, red color of both the bracelet around her wrist-both her hands were tucked up under her chain-and the large flower in her hair.

"Mm. Thank you." She replied sleepily with a smile.

"I am sorry to hear about your losses, my love." He pulled her closer and put his cheek against the top of her head, his sympathy clear on his face. "I can't even imagine..."

Renai gave out a little sigh, at a loss for words.

Shikiyoku buried her nose into his shirt and he resumed playing with her long hair.

"What of the others though?"

"Hm?"

"You're going to have to make a choice eventually, should they not back down. It would behoove you to consider their strengths and weaknesses."

She didn't answer him at first and he shifted underneath her a little before going still.

"Tell me of this Douji."

Her eyes opened, "He's...well, he's young."

"Age is of little consequence."

"I know." She shut them again. "He is inexperienced."

"He can be taught, you mean."

Shikiyoku let out a huff before going on, "He has strong ties to his tribe."

"Being that he is so 'young' and 'inexperienced,' I do not think you would be forced to stay among his people for long should the both of you decide you are each other's best option."

"True." Shikiyoku allowed.

"He would give you the freedom to follow your own pursuits when you finally leave them."

"Mm. And likely have his own ideas." Shikiyoku added wryly.

Renai said nothing more on it, "What of the kitsune? What are his motives?"

"I...don't know." Shikiyoku answered truthfully. "I'm not exactly sure why he hasn't given up yet."

"He's a kitsune." Renai pointed out dryly.

"Fair enough."

"If he thinks you are a worthy prize, you are indeed a worthy prize."

"He...I know him so well. He and the cat both. Either would be a fine choice, if for different reasons."

"The fox would certainly be a challenge." Renai grinned. "He is hard-headed and stubborn and it would take a great deal of patience to turn his thoughts of lust to thoughts of love."

Shikiyoku smirked.

As if she didn't already know that.

And she knew she could easily teach Kitoushi of love, even if it would only take time.

"What of...Kafu? And Horu?" These were two names Renai knew well.

"I-" Shikiyoku's eyes shifted to the side, and she sighed. "I know they have not asked me directly yet, but I am fairly certain they wish to no longer be considered."

"Pity."

"Agreed."

"Though it does narrow down your choices."

"I had planned on dropping by and speaking with them while down here."

Renai grew silent, sifting through the names she had provided him with earlier. The entire affair interested him on some level or another, since he had not so much as experienced it in the slightest.

"You said Uryo?"

She nodded.

"And Hiei?"

"They are the others, yes."

"Tell me of them." 3

~!**!~

Akari winced as the demon pulled the strings tighter around her midsection, her breath leaving in a small hiss.

"Apologies."

She nodded at the demon who had fastened the torn armor over her for inspection. His dark eyes roved over every inch, lips pulling downward with every new section he noted being torn, ripped, or even simply stained. "He's pushing it," the demon said to himself, crouching before her seated person and poking at a slash at her side. "I think he enjoys making me do this over and over."

Akari shrugged. "I think he just enjoys the torture."

"Very likely both."

She crossed one leg over the other, eyes following the demon who poked and prodded at the bodice, finding the weakened places here and there and pausing when she occasionally winced again.

"I'm going to start making him pay for my services."

"Or… you could make better armor."

The demon shot an unamused look up at her. "Not happening."

"I know."

"Yomi had specifications about this."

"Yes, I'm aware."

There was a silence that hovered on the air as he began pulling the strings of the armor away, loosening the outfit before pulling it up and over her head, earning a hiss through clenched teeth and her arms moving over her abdomen. His gaze softened. "Any progress?"

"None."

He made a discontented sound as he turned away and lay the leather garments over his workstation, his hands beginning to glow as he pulled it apart bit by bit. "Any new ideas?"

"A few, but none really worth trying at this point. I can't even stay between the layers for longer than ten minutes."

"Well then, I guess you better get to work."

"It's not easy without my energy, you know."

There was a pause. "You know… you're quite the fighter when you wish to be."

"Except when I'm in a place where everyone else is also a fighter. I've got nothing compared to any of these demons."

"No, but you're learning."

"Not fast enough. It's been months."

Another moment of silence as the demon turned to stare at her, glow at his hands disappearing. He regarded her with an unreadable gaze before he spoke. "Was the boy really someone you knew?" The question seemed out of the blue, but she'd been expecting it for some time.

She didn't respond.

"I had hoped that wasn't actually the case."

"He's… or, he was the alpha of the pack I was born to. I had planned on undermining that and giving it to another more… worthy demon." Her eyes shifted to the ground. "He'd done a lot of wrong to the pack. He'd done a lot of wrong all around."

"You were close?"

"We were, yes. Before he took over the position of Alpha, and before I was stowed away to the human world." She took in a deep breath. "At least, I had thought so." She paused, wincing. "He.. had orchestrated that." The silence on the air became heavy, and she released another sigh. "He'd arranged for me to be sold to the highest bidder. He and… the alpha then had decided my attitude towards my duties was questionable at best, damnable at worst. So, they went with damning me."

"Did you know this all along?"

Akari's eyelids slid closed. "No. Not until the day I was supposed to leave."

"Then you must know, it was no coincidence he was here that day."

"I never took it as such."

"He came for you. He traipsed through the front door and demanded the guard to let him pass. Killed a good many of them on his way. He wasn't here for trade. He was here to redeem himself. He risked his life and lost it for you." The demon turned around. "Must have been pretty torn up to have given up his former friend."

Akari slid her gaze up to the demon who had begun to work. "Takeo ripped his heart out. And I-"

"You don't have to talk about it."

"I was satisfied. Happy. I'd even considered doing it myself, but I couldn't. Because he was a part of my pack. He raised me."

"And then threw you to the wolves."

"I…" She hung her head. "I deserved it, honestly. I was awful to him. I basically slapped him in the face with my bloodright and said it wasn't… wasn't good enough for me, when he'd been vying for it his whole life. I deserved to be thrown away, to be put in my place."

A heavy sigh left the other in the room. "Did you… miss him?"

"I did. I told myself that if I'd lived to get back to him, I'd apologize profusely. I'd tell him he could have it, because I didn't deserve to be Alpha. I didn't deserve the loyalty of the demons who had watched me traipse around flaunting the blood-right around, doing whatever I pleased. But when I got there, I was tossed away. Isamu didn't even get to see me before my father… before I was thrown away again. He'd given me the name of a human who would have better use of me than the pack ever would, and it just so happened that human was the one who killed the ones who'd taken my ears and tail. The same human who killed the ones that had stripped me of every ounce of dignity, of strength, of pride I ever had"

"And no one else knows who was behind your particular case?"

"...no."

"Do you regret it? Not saving the boy?"

Akari lowered her head, imagining the corpse that still lay in the fighting room, her designated training area. "No."

The demon didn't reply, only moving to sit on a stool, his back facing her as he sunk into his concentration further. From here on, she wouldn't get much from him, she knew.

So, she took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and began trying to move between the layers again.

I want out of here. and I'm going to get out of here if it's the last thing I do. *

~!**!~

"And that drunken old fool is Hiei's father?" Renai laughed as if it were the funniest thing he had heard in a long time.

Shikiyoku couldn't help but smile as his chest rumbled with his mirth beneath her, her amusement magnified by Renai using the same vernacular to describe Uryo as Uryo had used himself.

When Renai's laughter died down to intermittent chuckles, Shikiyoku spoke up again, closing her eyes.

"He seems to think I wouldn't be content with him. With his lifestyle or some such nonsense."

Giving her wording, Renai didn't bother to ask how she felt about his lifestyle.

"And would you? Be content?"

Shikiyoku hesitated, "I...out of everyone I feel as if it is Uryo that I know the least. He was not around while I was here all those centuries ago. I had not even known of him when Hiei and I did arrive at the Niiro."

"Having him as Consort would definitely give you that opportunity." Renai noted wisely.

"I suppose." She mumbled.

"So, he would be the largest 'unknown' so to speak. Which could have great benefits or equally as great drawbacks."

"I suppose." She murmured again.

The room fell to silence save for the background humming of the cloak coming clean.

Renai looked down at what he could see of Shikiyoku's face.

"And what of Hiei? What of the most recent Champion?"

Shikiyoku had known the question was coming and even though she had attempted to gather her thoughts on the matter, she found herself still rather scattered about it.

"I-" She took a breath and still came up with nothing.

Renai settled down a little bit further into the chair, Shikiyoku moving even closer to him if possible before either of them found themselves comfortable.

"He has not asked you to remove the Mark." Renai commented, knowing at the least that much.

"I'm not really sure why." Shikiyoku muttered under her breath.

"Well, why not? Why wouldn't he ask?"

"I-" She let out a noise of discomfort, "I don't know." She sighed, feeling as if perhaps starting from the beginning might help. "I had originally been led to believe that he did not want to be my Champion either, and had acted accordingly on several occasions, but he has continuously left me baffled by his actions and-"

Shikiyoku felt her skin starting to buzz a little as she recalled even now waking up in his arms as had been-until the last several nights-the ritual between them.

Renai did not miss the activation of her energy, as he knew the feeling quite intimately himself, and he raised an eyebrow as he looked down at her.

"Seems he has quite the effect on you."

Shikiyoku cheeks reddened with embarrassment at having once again lost any semblance of self-control, and when only thinking about him at that.

"Little creep does it on purpose." She grumbled.

"Does he?" Renai said with no small amount of interest.

"Yes." Shikiyoku replied, even just the single word a tad vehement. "He asked me to stay with him, so I did, and I stayed at the edge of the bed too, because I didn't want him to feel uncomfortable because he always gets so uptight anytime I get near him, and then I wake up and he's got his arms around me and giving me that absolutely infuriating little smirk he always wears when he thinks he's done something-"

Renai let her continue to rant without interruption, but his own amused expression became harder and harder to withhold until she finally ran out of breath, giving a last little huff of vexation-she had just finished talking about how he'd suddenly decided holding her hand was a brilliant idea-and he started laughing silently at her, feeling the flurry of her energy start to release a scent into the air around his nose.

She could feel his abdomen shaking underneath her, but when she suddenly lifted her head from his chest to glare at him, his face appeared neutral, though she could feel the tightening at his stomach where he was having difficulty not starting the laughter up again.

"I can't believe the nerve of such a demon." Renai told her compliantly.

Her eyes narrowed, skeptical of his sudden assent, though she nodded her head, "He's being confusing. I don't like it." Lies. Utter lies.

"How dare he take you in his arms-"

Her nod grew more assertive, "Why the sudden change? Why suddenly be okay with it?" Why do you wish he would do more?

Renai lifted one of her hands from underneath her chin and wove their fingers together, holding them up for him to consider, "-and hold your hand."

"He's even kissed me! Did I tell you that?"

"No!" Renai appeared shocked, lowering their hands so that they rested against his shoulder.

"Yes!" She emphasized it with a curt nod.

"The very idea." Renai huffed indignantly.

Her eyes shifted to the side, "Well...he's only done that to change me back, though. I don't even know if he could handle kissing me for romantic reasons. I doubt he even knows what a kiss is for really. Probably is just views it as a chore. Just like everything else!" Though the sudden renewed buzzing of her skin at the idea betrayed her true thoughts about such an occurrence.

"Still! That's no excuse!"

"He's an impetuous little devil." She complained.

"To think you were even considering him as Consort material."

"Right? I-" Wait. No. That's not right.

She frowned at him, finally assessing the genuine humor dancing in Renai's eyes, though the rest of his face disclosed none of it.

"You're awful."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"You're a terrible person."

"Me? How so?" He was the picture of innocence.

"I hate you."

"You don't mean that." Renai winked at her.

She didn't answer him directly, only settling her cheek up against him again with a good deal more force than was necessary.

Renai finally released some of the tension across his ribs in a light laugh as the room grew quieter.

"You want know what I think?" He asked, holding their hands up to inspect them again.

"Not particularly." Shikiyoku growled, still half-mad at him and knowing he would likely tell her in any case.

"I think allying yourself with someone who can challenge even you in matters you were practically born to fulfill might be the greatest asset of them all." 3

~!**!~

Nabu's claws clicked along the sidewalk, head low and nose to the concrete as he continued at his steady trot. For the past couple of days, he'd been restless, anxious, and unable to concentrate on any one thing. Today, it seemed even worse, and he'd managed to drive out every pest, every rodent in the area of the house before trying for a nap.

In the end, he'd ended up going for a run, visiting the shop where he always was awarded food for visiting, and then walking by the shop he knew Yusuke owned.

He hadn't stopped, though.

He'd circled around town twice, and in the end he'd ended up going in a single direction. The direction he'd been avoiding merely because he didn't want to intrude into another's home. Another's territory.

The demon had promised, though.

Nabu slowly moved up the steps, finding the air around the premises to be heavy.

Or was it just him?

He approached the door and took to sitting in front of it, eyes up at the doorknob as he hesitated, an ear twitching and his tail flattening against the porch.

Maybe he'd go home.

Maybe he'd stay.

I dunno what to do. *

Almost as if of one accord, the right ears of both Youko and Kit alike flicked towards the front door as if they waited for some sound that had not as of yet happened.

They sent each other glances.

"How long do you think he's just going to sit there?"

"Quite possibly as long as we let him." Kitoushi guessed.

"Wanna bet?"

"Make a bet with you? No."

~!**!~

Renai let out a contented sigh, hand moving through Shikiyoku's hair methodically and soothingly, feeling that her breath against him was steady and slow.

He couldn't help but feel some sort of affection for this demon laying upon him. After all, he had gone to great lengths to ensure that they were the last of their kind.

Or rather, your mate did.

He let his eyes flicker towards her, pulling his other hand, which still held hers, over to her face and drawing a single finger across her cheek, smiling lightly.

Though you didn't hardly think it mattered much.

When she last visited there had been no time for them to simply lounge about, for his mission had required as quick a change of her as possible. He thought it amusing how much he enjoyed simply sitting here, how much he had wanted to hold her, and how willing she had been to oblige.

The physical contact was something of their nature, and while his mate may have thought something of it, he certainly didn't view it as anything more than the face value: a comfort for them both.

Renai leaned his head back a little as the low humming in the room came to a stop and he looked back at Shikiyoku, wondering when the last time she had gotten to sleep soundly was.

With just the slightest hint of a sigh, he smoothly extricated himself from her without disturbing her in the slightest, and walked over to retrieve the dark cloak.

It had turned out quite nicely, smooth and without blemish once more, and he folded it into a neat square.

Shikiyoku's eyes were partially open as Renai walked back and held out the cloak which she took without hesitation and held in her arms, curling around it and appearing to fall back asleep, her mouth open slightly to breathe.

Renai made a noise of amusement and scooped her up into his arms, starting to blend himself into the layers around them. 3

~!**!~

Nabu sat underneath the door handle for a while longer, silently debating, silently unsure about what to do. He stood and even walked parallel to the door, nose to the ground and sniffing idly as he battled silently over it. He even turned to go down the steps before huffing a sigh and coming back, sitting right where he had been minutes before.

He took a deep breath, ears flattening against his skull, and he released the smallest of whines at the door. He lowered himself to lay in front of the wooden structure, his chin resting on his paws and his nose just touching the door.

I'm already here. Might as well…

He reached a paw forward and lightly scratched at it. "I uh… I ran out of lizards to chase. And rabbits…" *

Kitoushi and Youko's ears flicked again at the sound of the whine and the two of them once again exchanged glances, though this time they were of an uncannily similar expression filled with both amusement and mischief.

Of one mind, they got to their feet without passing a word between them, and within the next moment they were on all fours and blurring between the layers to stalk unnoticed out the front door, silver-furred fox and sleek, black, panther-sized cat side-by-side.

They circled around behind the Shiba and looked at one another again before sitting down, Kitoushi's tail curling around his feet as they unfolded the layers from around themselves.

"Ran out, hm?" Kitoushi asked calmly, tail moving up and down steadily.

"I think he might be feeling a little lonely, cousin. Look at his poor little ears." Youko tilted his head to the side, yellow eyes gleaming. 3

Nabu jumped as if he'd been scolded, the voices of the others causing him to abruptly stand and turn to face the two behind him now, momentarily defensive before his muscles relaxed and he was sitting again.

"I.. ran them off." He admitted, eyes taking in the large cat. "Weren't you smaller?" He couldn't think of anything to say to the fox, his ears turning further down for a moment before they swiveled forward to lock on the pair attentitively. *

Kitoushi stepped forward silently and he shifted forms to the much smaller house-cat, moving to rub his body along Nabu's side.

"I can be."

Youko only watched with amusement. 3

Uncertainty blossomed, making the dog's tail move just a little when the cat moved forward to show affections. He lifted a front paw, as if it were in the cat's way, and turned his head to watch the cat with confusion in his eyes.

He gave a sigh and shook his head a little, eyes moving to the fox.

Why haven't you looked for Akari?

"Do you have a mega size too?" *

Youko lowered his head in a rather humanoid nod for a fox, "My, ahem, mega size is a little too large for the street."

His eyes flicked to Kitoushi who had circled around and rubbed at Nabu in the other direction before almost melting back down the steps and changing size before coming to sit next to Youko again.

"As is his, for that matter." Youko added. 3

Nabu's head tilted to the side a little, his eyes turning to the cat again as he moved away, growing with each step before he stilled again.

"I think it suits you better."

Akari is still gone and you're sitting around. Comforting.

"Do you have a super mega size?" *

The fox lifted his head to start a yawn, though he stopped in the middle of it and appeared amused.

"I seem to be unsure, now, of what you mean precisely."

"Perhaps we should just show him and he can decide for himself." Kitoushi suggested.

Youko turned his gaze from the cat back to the dog.

"Does that seem acceptable to you?" 3

Nabu's head tilted in curiosity. He'd only been joking, but.. okay.

"But you can't do that here, right?" *

The cat and fox exchanged a glance.

"Well, no." Kitoushi's tail lifted and lowered once. "We would take you to Youko's meadow." 3

Nabu blinked once. "The meadow?" His tail moved slightly behind him as he recalled the butterflies he'd chased so long ago.

Or, had it really been that long?

"Yeah, okay!" *

Youko gave the dog a foxy-grin as Kitoushi stood and bent his head down, reaching behind the dog to carefully grab him by the scruff of the neck, both Kit and Youko turning and starting to blur between the layers, lengthening their strides until they stood paws-deep in heather and flower-buds.

Kitoushi gently put Nabu down and Youko ran ahead of them, letting out a bark and morphing until he stood over the tops of even the trees that surrounded his fortress, letting out a second bark that resonated much lower than the first, turning and giving the pair he left behind a bow, four tails swishing in the air.

Kitoushi huffed and turned his head to the side.

"Show-off." 3

Nabu's entire body tensed, curling up a little when Kitoushi's jaw closed around the fur scruff behind his head. His paws tucked up to his chest, staying there until Kitoushi lowered him to his feet, where the dog quickly shook himself loose.

He hadn't been carried like that in a long time.

He lifted his head when he heard Youko's second bark, his eyes turning up and up-

And up, and up, and up.

Nabu's maw fell open and he had to sit on his rear to keep from falling over.

"You're…"

He couldn't think of anything.

Suddenly, "You're super duper ultra mega sized!" His feet gave a little dance of excitement. That's so cool! Can you hear me up there?!" *

As soon as it was apparently that Nabu was impressed, Youko sat down, his tails swishing a few times behind him as he looked to the side, appearing much too pleased with himself.

When Nabu spoke, Youko turned back and got to his belly, starting to crawl forward until his very gently nudged at Nabu with his nose, which alone stood taller than even Kitoushi.

He let out a short huff of air from between his teeth, the ears atop his head twitching.

"Of course he can hear you." Kitoushi commented, "You aren't so unimportant as for him to miss your words." 3

Nabu's ears quickly swiveled back as Youko lowered his nose to the ground, a puff of air making the dog wince, eyes closing and head moving back just a little. He recovered after a moment and resumed his awe-filled staring, mouth open and tongue lolling, tail swishing in the grass.

He almost didn't catch Kitoushi's words.

"So cool…"

He swiveled to Kitoushi. "Can you get that big too?" At first, he was excited, the thought of seeing two creatures playing at a size like that, where trees were actual toys.

But then he realized the chaos that would ensue, and his ears lay back.

"Please say no, I don't wanna be the only little one." *

Kitoushi gave a silent cat-laugh at Nabu's last-minute addition, sending Youko an amused glance.

"Our grandfather was even larger than that."

Youko scooted back and sat up, an ear flicking with annoyance.

"Don't go there, cat." He leered down at Kitoushi. "Besides. Why don't you show him your super duper ultra mega size?"

Kit's ears rotated back in slight agitation and he closed his eyes, speaking to Nabu, "I...do not get nearly that large. And neither do I particularly enjoy it as some seem to do."

Youko shrugged, "It's usually such a bother. Impractical for my more subtle go-to methods." Youko lay down in front of them.

Letting out a little sigh, Kitoushi stood and backed up a little.

"I did say I would show you, though." He gave his head a shake and the ripple went down his body as he enlarged, ending up standing perhaps ten feet tall at the shoulder, though next to the giant fox, he hardly seemed comparable.

He paced back and forth in front of Nabu a few times, dropping down after a second and wriggling his hindquarters in the air as if to pounce on him.

~!**!~

"You are quite the swordsman, fire warrior." Uryo had settled into a branch a foot or so above Hiei, his legs stretched forward, ankles crossed over one another, and his eyes closed, head tilted slightly forward as if asleep. 3

Hiei's eyes came open for the briefest of moments, turning up to look at the demon lounging in the branches over him before he lowered his chin and closed his eyes again. His arms remained crossed and his legs one over the other.

Where did the random compliment come from?

"I'd say the same, except I can't see yours without the Jagan."

~!**!~

Nabu's head tilted with the exchange between the pair, blinking once. They're related?

Well, duh. Everyone knew a fox was kin to a cat somewhere along the line, right?

This is more direct.

His tail swished in amusement as the pair bantered back and forth, the dog's eyes roving back and forth, and then up again when Kitoushi shifted. He followed the cat's movements with wide eyes, tail swishing faster and disturbing the grass behind him, sending a few blades out of their roots and sticking in the fur of his tail.

And all movement stopped when Kitoushi bowed, his backside moving, wriggling.

Panic.

"Ni! No, no, no, no! I'll be crushed! I don't wanna be flattened!" *

Youko's laughter rang out clearly over the trees as he threw his head back at the dog's reaction and Kitoushi grinned at him after lowering his body the rest of the way to the ground.

He raised a paw up over the dog as if he was considering batting at him, but his ears were erect and his tail calmly raising and lowering behind him, and he only lightly touched the dog at the very top of his head.

~!**!~

Uryo let out a low chuckle.

"For all you know, my technique could be atrocious." 3

Hiei scoffed. "It's not atrocious if it gets the job done." He shifted his weight a little, allowing one leg to fall from and hang over the side of the branch, sitting up a little straighter. What brings you?

~!**!~

Nabu's ears turned back at the loud, echoing sound of Youko's laugh, staying that way even as the sound died away. He eyed the cat, wary eyes watching the paw that lifted. The closer the paw came, the lower he dipped his head until the contact was made, where Nabu's eyes blinked closed for a moment before opening again.

He relaxed, tongue quickly flopping over his bottom jaw.

"So graceful for such a large body. Is it weird, the differences?" *

Kitoushi's eyes crinkled as he lowered the paw next to Nabu, which was at least twice the size of the dog himself.

"We perceive time differently." Youko commented. "Like how one stride for us takes you many steps. What may be a month for you could be mere days for us."

"For you." Kitoushi corrected. "I am not so big as to notice a difference." He turned his brown and blue eyes onto Nabu. "There was a time in the past when we were all large."

~!**!~

Uryo huffed another laugh, and for a few seconds the silence grew between them until a small blue jewel dropped in front of Hiei's face, spinning lightly in the air from the necklace on which it hung from Uryo's sudden movement even as his hand stilled a few feet above Hiei's head.

"It has come to my attention that this belongs to you." 3

Hiei felt something on the air change, and his eyes slowly slid open even before Uryo spoke. His eyes were drawn upwards, alighting on the little gem that glinted in the sunlight of the day. His eyes widened a little, a hand twitching as he fought the urge to simply snatch it from the air, instead calmly regarding it before turning his eyes to the demon above him.

"And how, exactly, did it come into your possession?" Here, he finally reached up, hand open to accept it should it fall.

There was no doubt in his mind that it was his. The energy around it was all too familiar, seeming to sing to his very soul.

~!**!~

Nabu's head tilted even further to the side, an ear flopping a little as he continued to regard the pair with both amusement and awe. "Kind of like the layers have different times too?" His tail moved in amusement. "Akari always tries to remember the differences, but doesn't do a very good job of it. She isn't very good at keeping up with the time on any one layer, much less all of them. Makes sense, I guess."

He stood slowly and placed his front paws on Kitoushi's paw, the dog's nose twitching as he leaned forward to memorize the scent. He moved away after a moment and looked up at the pair again. "I never knew that this was a thing. It's kinda cool. I wonder if Akari can do this too?"

~!**!~

"Come on, Hanase! You're not even trying!"

Akari gave a growl, but otherwise didn't answer.

"Yomi's expecting results by the end of this month. You're slacking!"

Another growl.

"You're lacking motiv-"

"No," her voice came out heavy, dark, and when she opened her eyes to glare, they reflected the same darkness, "You are my problem. You won't shut your mouth for longer than a minute to I can think!"

"It shouldn't be a thinking matter! You're just not doing it!"

"Sachi!" Takeo's voice rang out, loud and clear throughout the room. "That is enough! Return to your sanction!"

"I am second in command. You don't have a single word over me."

Akari's growl was low, not even heard by the others in the room. Even when she moved beyond the layers, she could hear their bickering, their yelling. Her eyes came open to watch the hazy figures, her lip curling up in disgust and anger.

She held her breath and began counting backwards from ten. By the time she was at one, her eyes were open and she was very strongly considering delving from one layer to another, making an escape while the pair were oblivious to her absence.

It would be an easy thing, to get away. They couldn't shift layers like she now could.

She could dive from this layer to the first, even take a nap before…

Before what? Waiting for Yomi to find leverage on the layer and hunt her down? Spend the next few centuries running, assuming they didn't catch her first?

She gave a sigh.

Patience.

There was no need to create extra trouble for herself.

"Akari."

The voice cut through even the in-between layer, piercing her brain and bringing her eyes open to stare at the blurred beings in the room.

Many of them.

How long…?

"I do believe it's time you joined me for dinner."

Akari's eyes widened. Dinner? But, she'd just had breakfast about ten minutes ago!

"Akari."

"Lord Yomi, I think she's-"

"Hush, Yoda"

"Yes sir."

Akari took a deep breath and, after swallowing once, allowed herself to fall from inbetween the layers to the eighth layer, then pushed herself to stand. "I apologize," she bowed her head forward in respect, in deep apology, "I lost track of time. I hadn't realized-"

"No need. You hadn't tried to disappear for such a lengthy amount of time." He turned to leave the room. "Come, miss Hanase. Dinner awaits."

Akari avoided eyes with the others as she hustled to keep up, very surprisingly hiding the nervous shake of her muscles. *

~!**!~

Kit looked up at Youko and the fox spoke up again.

"It used to be that the lower one went in Demon World, the larger time expanded. A month at the First Level was only a day for the Ninth."

"It seems the combination of Demon and Human World has done a number on those...numbers." Kitoushi commented. "There is very little rhyme or reason to them as far as I can tell."

Youko nodded in agreement and lay his head down, eyes closing to half-mast.

Kitoushi looked over at Nabu and said very softly, "We should dog-pile on him."

~!**!~

Uryo let the necklace slip from his fingers with absolutely no hint of hesitation into Hiei's awaiting palm.

"I found it." He replied simply. "Or...perhaps...it found me."

His head raised to lean back against the tree trunk and he appeared to be considering the sky thoughtfully.

"I was tearing through the level at a tremendous speed when the thing smacked into my forehead. I believe I literally ran into it as it fell from somewhere above me. Hurt. By the time I had skidded to a stop, I had no idea where it came from since I was in the flatlands and sensed no one in the immediate area."

Amusing that I immediately knew it was her tear.

That's probably why I kept it all these years.

Uryo shifted again and raised his arms to put them behind his head, his eyes closing again.

"I have that little bauble to thank my being here, though. Without it I likely would have incinerated myself all those years ago. Either that or ran myself quite literally to death. I was, shall we say, 'going through a rough patch.'"3

Hiei's hand closed around the gem as it landed in his palm, his eyes staring at it for a moment before turning up to look at the demon with a slightly raised brow. He easily knew where the demon had been when the gem had fallen, because Hiei had tracked its movement as far as his two eyes would let him.

He remembered standing at the cliff's edge.

Odd how that happened.

His eyes lowered to the gem again, and after a moment, he slipped the necklace over his head and hid it underneath his scarf.

He didn't say anything. He wasn't very good at saying 'thanks'.

~!**!~

Nabu's head tilted to the side a little as he regarded Youko, giving no indication he heard Kitoushi. The dog reached a paw forward and rested it on Youko's nose, tapping once before resting again. His head straightened up and he sat back again, tail moving.

Whatever he'd been about to say, he didn't. *

"He's tired." Kitoushi murmured when Youko did not appear to have either heard Kitoushi or felt Nabu's tap. "I doubt he's slept much the past few days. Some old friends of ours gave him some information or another, on what I didn't bother to ask at the time, that likely had him traipsing around all the layers for whatever reason. He just got back before you showed up."

Kitoushi dropped to his belly and started to creep forward.

"Which means-" More creeping, "-he won't be-" Creep, creep. "Expecting it..."

His hindquarters wriggled behind him a little, his front paws dancing back and forth, testing the ground beneath him as he calculated the distance.

~!**!~

Uryo released a giant mental sigh of relief once the jewel was no longer in his hands.

He didn't particularly have need of it any longer, though it was a bit of a tragedy to let the only memento he had of his lover go.

In the end, the thing didn't belong to him, and Uryo wasn't the type to begrudge or covet an item that was not his own in the first place.

"I have found no traces of other openings on this layer," Uryo began, completely disregarding the fact that he had said nothing of Hiei's heritage. On purpose, mind. "But I plan on scouring the others. Seeing the dead come to life, having to take them down again is...disconcerting. I hope it was only a fluke."

Uryo dropped to the ground from the tree, pausing, and sending a brief grin in Hiei's direction.

"You'll look after her, won't you?" 3

With the feeling of his rightful tear gem against his skin, the fire demon was satisfied, a sense of… relief suddenly falling over him and brushing away some amount of stress he hadn't realized he'd been holding. When Uryo spoke up and broke the silence, Hiei lifted his eyes upward again, eyeing the other as he mentioned the rift that had formed.

"I've come to learn there's no such thing as a fluke on this layer." came his level reply, neutral expression hiding his feelings on the matter. But, for their sake and Shiki's, he too hoped that was indeed the case.

His eyes followed Uryo's descent. When the other paused and glanced in his direction, Hiei raised a brow.

Was… Uryo giving up his position? Or simply asking to protect her while he was away?

"Naturally," he replied after a moment, eyes sliding shut.

~!**!~

Nabu's eyes shifted to Kitoushi curiously as the cat spoke, earning a quick turn of his head back to the fox demon. Was it Akari? He gave a very subtle dog-like frown before Kitoushi was speaking again, bringing big, round, brown eyes back to the cat demon to see him very slowly creeping up to the fox.

Thoughts suddenly pushed aside, Nabu mirrored Kitoushi's stance and his tail began to swish back and forth in the air, his excitement steadily growing.

He looked to the cat, waiting for him to say 'when'. *

Kitoushi glanced at the dog, "Ready?"

He didn't even really have to ask and he turned his attention back to Youko, aiming for the fox's side and wriggling a little before he grew very still and...

...jumped!

"Dog pile!"

The cat landed gleefully in the midst of Youko's side near the kitsune's ribcage, and while at first his plan had been to extend his claws and dig them in, he momentarily forgot himself and stared down at the fur in surprise.

It came up to his shoulders, which wasn't particularly out of the ordinary, but it was so soft that it had Kitoushi turning in a circle, beginning to purr.

Youko lifted his head to regard the cat with amusement.

"And here I was expecting to get clawed."

Kitoushi paused in mid-turn and gave a haughty sniff as he started to knead his paws into Youko's side.

"If I clawed you, you might kick me off."

"I could kick you off anyway."

Kitoushi looked at Youko with mournful eyes, continuing to knead in place.

Youko's side heaved underneath him in a sigh and the fox lowered his head to the ground near his front paws.

Kitoushi stopped for a second, front leg lifted as he looked about curiously.

"Nabu? Where'd you go?"

~!**!~

Naturally.

Uryo nodded approval and shifted the layers about himself.

"It shouldn't take terribly long." His voice sounded wavery from inbetween. "I'll find you when I've finished. I'm sure I'll have news of some sort."

Uryo landed on the Second Layer and took off, finally feeling the pent-up tension at his shoulders from staying in one place for too long releasing as the wind howled in his ears from the pace he set.

He'd been sober for two days.

~!**!~

Renai landed silently on the First Layer in the middle of Shikiyoku's bedroom, finding that he gave the sleeping demon in his arms a small smile as he moved over to her bed and gently placed her down on it.

She shifted only enough to turn on her side away from him, the cloak still clutched in her arms as she curled up about it again.

He did not stay to see her move, only lowering himself back through the layers as soon as she was out of his arms. 3

Hiei nodded at Uryo before the demon was gone. And the next moment, he was aware of a new energy signature that was there and gone in a moment, and his red eyes turned to the window of Shikiyoku's bedroom to see her curled up on the mattress, clutching at something dark in her hands.

He stared for a moment, searching for the energy that had appeared and then disappeared, quickly ruling it as non-threatening before he pushed himself to stand. He folded between the layers just long enough to slide into her room.

This time, he gave a slight hesitation, not moving as his eyes alighted on the material in her grasp- or, what little he could make of it. His eyes darted for the end of the bed, noting that his cloak was gone.

Okay, not gone. He knew exactly where it was.

And that was all the prompting he needed before he crawled onto the bed and lay himself next to her, laying so he could face her. A frown briefly- just briefly- colored his features before his expression became neutral and his energy warmed the space around her, inviting her closer as he rested an arm over her shoulders.

~!**!~

Nabu pounced as soon as Kitoushi did, his paws leaving the grass and was soon enveloped in the fur at the very top of Youko's head. Seconds after, the dog himself found his entire body enveloped in the white fur. He couldn't even see anything but the white fur around him.

Soft, fluffy white fur at that.

He heard his name, and the dog tried his hardest to stand up and over the fur, though he was only half sure his ears made it past the long hairs.

"I'm here!" *

Kitoushi heard the voice, muffled though it was, but as he looked around, ears perked up to the front in the direction he thought he made out, he could see nothing.

"Here." Youko said as one of his large ears flicked backwards, opening his eyes and looking up as if he could just see the dog on the top of his head.

Kit focused in on the fox apparition's head, but let out a 'mrow' of confusion as he saw nothing himself.

Youko made sure to stay very still otherwise, amusement clear in his gleaming yellow eyes, "You are like a flea, little one."

~!**!~

Shikiyoku let out a breath that could be taken as little other than a sigh, though a likely candidate for expressing 'contentment' more than anything, was seeing as how the wrinkle between her eyebrows smoothed out as she released it.

She pulled far enough from her slumber that her eyes came open about halfway, giving a sleepy smile at the white shirt she spied and turning her face upwards as her eyes closed again to make sure the wearer of the white shirt could see said smile as she shifted closer to him.

"Mm...Hiei..." It appeared as if she meant to say something else besides just mumble his name, but nothing more made it past her lips. 3

Hiei watched Shikiyoku as she began to shift around, her face coming up so he could see the smile on her lips as she came closer. His own expression seemed to thaw from the carefully neutral stare to the very soft light in his eyes as he pulled her towards him.

He waited for her to continue speaking, but when she did not, he released an air of amusement.

"It can wait," he said in a low tone as he shifted a little, getting comfortable as well.

~!**!~

Nabu lowered himself to his all fours again, looking down when he felt the skin of Youko's head shift with the movement of the fox's ear. He gave a little sound of amusement through his teeth at Youko's comparison. "So this is what it's like for a flea?" He shook himself a little, then began to move away from the direction he'd landed, using his nose to find the way towards Kitoushi.

"This is so weird. And your fur is really soft." He continued on, moving until he lost his footing and tumbled a little ways, coming to a stop where silver met black. "Found you!" *

Kitoushi blinked and looked down, unable to see his own paws, and he lowered himself through the fur onto his stomach, shifting his paws back and forth with quick, measured movements as if looking for the dog he felt touch him somewhere.

He went ahead and got himself comfortable.

"I still don't see you."

"You're right next to each other."

"I know that." Kit's ear flicked in annoyance, the tip of his tail twitching as he put his head down, curling one leg underneath his chin.

~!**!~

"Mm-mm." Shikiyoku shook her head and closed her eyes tightly, bringing them open again and making more sense of what she could see of Hiei's face.

While her first instinct had been to tell him that Uryo was looking for him, she found herself blinking sleepily, the tiniest blush sneaking up her neck as he pulled her closer, which set her skin buzzing pleasantly, if a little erratically.

And instead of managing to say anything else, her cheeks now slightly pink, Shikiyoku stretched herself up without much thought, planting a quick kiss on the underside of Hiei's jaw and then burying her face down in the cloak as if she immediately regretted it, the top of her head against his chest. 3

Hiei raised a brow at the negatory sound he's received, but the lack of anything following. He became aware of her energy next, and that brought his lips up very slightly in a lopsided smirk of amusement, which very quickly turned to surprise at the moment he felt her lips touch his skin.

He didn't move for a moment. Even when she'd settled, he hadn't moved other than the occasional blink of his eyes.

And then he huffed a breath through his nostrils and shifted his head so that his nose just touched Shikiyoku's head, his eyes falling close.

And he realized how much he'd missed this moment.

So he didn't dare speak a word to interrupt it.

~!**!~

Nabu stilled when he heard Kitoushi move, the dog's tail beginning to swish back and forth at an even faster rate as an idea struck him. He crouched low against Youko's skin, his nose twitching against the large hairs that moved around him.

When he was certain he'd heard Kitoushi still, the dog moved slowly towards the cat, crawling along Youko's skin for a few minutes. And then the dog leapt from the fox's fur just long enough to land on Kit's head and jump away again, hiding within the white fur before yelling, "You're it! Hide and seek, go!" *

Kit felt his head being jostled and he raised it, looking about and seeing nothing, though his tail began twitching again in amusement.

"Now... This is hardly fair, Nabu."

~!**!~

"Mm...Uryo's looking for you." Shikiyoku finally managed to say, not bothering in the slightest to even try and mask her energy. What good would it do anyway?

For a second her fingers shifted towards her neck, searching for the necklace that was no longer there.

That calmed her energy rather quickly, her shoulders loosening their tension.

She hadn't realized until after it was gone that she had made a habit of running her fingers along the thing until getting to the pendant itself and holding onto it.

...and now each time she reached for it she was reminded how he was no longer there either. 3

Hiei raised a brow. "I spoke with him earlier," he murmured back, his eyelids remaining closed as he let out a little breath that rustled a few strands of her hair. A few tickled at his nose, but he didn't mind it. He took a deep breath, mind turning to the necklace that now hung near the one Yukina had given him, side by side. He'd have to remember to return hers to the ice maiden later.

Hiei quickly noticed the change in Shikiyoku's energy, the quick retreat of it. His brows furrowed and he took the moment to actually bury his nose in her hair, touching her head lightly as he held her a little tighter.

~!**!~

"I never said I played fair!" The dog's voice floated on the breeze as he moved away, and he said nothing more. He didn't want to give away his position as he scrambled along Youko's side. *

"Fair enough." Kitoushi allowed, rising up to stand on all fours.

He took an experimental sniff of the air, but just as he had thought, he could smell little else besides Youko, though the lifting and lowering of the ribs beneath him appeared to indicate that the kitsune had fallen asleep regardless of the disturbance on his side.

Kitoushi stalked forward, belly low to the ground, in the direction he thought Nabu's trajectory from his head must have landed the dog.

As he moved, he lessened his size, becoming as a house-cat and snorting a little to himself at the enormousness of the furry forest around him.

On silent feet, he padded onwards, barely catching the smell of the dog on the air, and even then having to struggle to make sense of it, forced to pause every few feet to make sure he was on the right track.

~!**!~

Her arms never left the cloak they were wrapped about, but her fingers clutched tighter at the fabric as the sorrow, which still felt too personal, too real, started to make her eyes sting. The ache she had almost gotten used to at this point-a realization which almost scared her-went from the dull, constant pain she had carried with her the past few days, into a more insistent wrenching of her emotions, one that managed to pull a single sob from her throat that shook her shoulders even as the tears started falling freely, silently, down her face.

When she sensed Hiei almost enveloping her, she drew as close to him as possible, trying to take comfort in his embrace, in his warmth and how completely his energy surrounded her, in how strong his arms felt holding her, the safety, the protection of his tightening muscles, in the soft fabric of the shirt he wore as she rested her cheek against it and started to feel it dampen with her tears...

...the softness of the material drew a strange sort of chuckle from her in the midst of her noiseless crying. 3

Hiei withheld the breath he wanted to release as the smell of salt became a subtle scent on the air between them. He didn't know what to do, what to say. There wasn't anything he could do or say. Nothing that he knew of, that is. He wasn't exactly the best role model for… dealing.

His form of such a thing usually meant mass destruction until he didn't feel anymore.

He had a feeling that it wouldn't help here.

So he hesitated, unsure, feeling awkward at the place he'd put himself in.

"What…" He paused, tone very light, voice nothing more than a low murmur, "what do I do?" What do I do to end this, if anything?

~!**!~

Nabu scampered away from the direction where Kitoushi had been, nose high in the air as he made attempt after attempt to figure out where exactly he was. In the end, he found himself lost among the fur. Happily so, and his mind wasn't afforded the ability to wander away to… other things. *

Grumbling quietly to himself, Kitoushi paused and lowered his nose to just barely brush against Youko's warm skin, amused briefly that the skin twitched under the attention of Kitoushi's whiskers.

At least he was able to catch part of the smell here. It didn't hardly lift beyond where Kit sniffed, and he felt reassured in his decision to change forms in this case, given that much taller and he doubted he would be able to distinguish anything apart from Youko's musk in how heavily he was surrounded by it down here.

The warm skin under his padded paws allowed him to move silently along, barely swishing the strands of fur around him as he stepped through, nose low to the ground though his eyes were up, surveying the area with a cat's watchfulness.

It was darker down here too, in a strange way, but Kitoushi hardly noticed.

~!**!~

It was...difficult to think. Difficult to pull herself away from the ache and the sorrow to latch onto Hiei's words, spoken aloud into the silence of the room, her tears falling silently as they always did.

What was she to tell him?

There was this darkness keeping her mind overcast, a heavy cloud she found she did not have the strength on her own to draw away from.

She knew this feeling.

Knew it well. Intimately, even.

Last time it had led to her severing the bond between herself and her Champion.

What do I do?

...I don't know.

Besides holding her? Besides making sure she wasn't alone for now, even if she drew away-though she did not have the strength.

Distract me.

She drew her face up, closer to the torn collar of the shirt and placed her nose against the skin she found just below his neck, the contact sufficient enough for her draw a shaky breath and gather her thoughts.

"This is..." Her words caught in her throat. Enough. Fine.

He was uncomfortable. And if he hadn't already had his arms as tightly around her as he did, she probably would have drawn away. In any case, she tried to shove past the haze. For him.

She wasn't about to voice any of the number of things that happened to pass over her mind's eye when he asked. Because in the end she would never ask more of him than she felt him capable. Willing. Even if there were things she doubted he would even think of.

That's part of the...problem.

She finally managed to finish her sentence, "...good." 3

Hiei's lips pulled downwards just a little against Shikiyoku's hair, his eyelids never even twitching open. He could tell there were things she wouldn't say, perhaps couldn't, but he didn't press her on them. He took a small breath through his nostrils and released it a moment later, sending a few strands of her hair fluttering, brushing his nose and making it itch.

No it's not.

"Okay."

Thanks for reading! Bless your face. If you sneezed during this chapter, bless you. Peace off! -Star