**Standard Disclaimers Apply - This chapter - implied Mukuro x Kurama**
Hiei raised his arms to stretch his back. An hour and a half have passed since the appointed time of his meeting with Mukuro. The jaganshi was about to leave his King's empty office when the door violently swung open. Shocked that he didn't feel the intruder's ki, Hiei unsheathed his sword and readied himself in a swordsman's stance. In strolled a laughing Mukuro, whose right arm - a mechanical arm - was wrapped possessively around the waist of a youko. At over seven feet tall, the towering creature had his left arm draped across Mukuro's shoulder.
"Ah Hiei, there you are," Mukuro cast him a quick glance before turning back to the silver youko in her arms. Hiei relaxed his stance but kept his blade out.
"You're late, woman," said Hiei as he stepped forward from the shadows and regarded her King and the outsider with cold eyes. The youko met his gaze. Until now, no one in Alaric, except Mukuro and the other generals have dare look at him squarely in the eyes. Yet this creature was not merely looking, in fact, this creature seemed to be ogling him from head to toe. How insolent! With a smirk on his face, the youko winked at Hiei and flicked his tail in a display of mock playfulness.
Mukuro had made him wait for an hour and a half while she was occupied by this...this….tramp?! "Who is this?"
"Forgive me, General Hiei, how could I have forgotten my manners?" the youko interjected with a twinkle in his golden eyes. "Youko Kurama, at your service." He bowed deeply.
Hiei froze. This creature is Youko Kurama, the legendary king of thieves? He had disappeared from Makai twenty years ago, only to reappear as Yomi's advisor two years ago. Hiei had expected the demon to be bulkier and more muscular - the epitome of masculine power. Instead, the youko before him is slender and tall, with pale skin and long silver hair reaching past his waist. Hair that Mukuro have playfully twirled around her fingers.
Ignoring the insolent tramp, Hiei scowled at his King, "Woman, what is the meaning of this?"
"My, my, you're in a delightful mood today," teased Mukuro, finally releasing her grip around the youko's waist. Stepping forward towards Hiei, she said, "I didn't think it was possible for you to grow any sourer."
"Hn." Hiei continued to frown.
"Not in the mood for jokes, I see," Mukuro rolled her eyes. "Let's get to the point then - I am here to name you as my heir."
Hiei's eyes widened at the casual announcement, and then returned to its usual glare. The extra training she had given him, the healing after each of their fights, the time they have spent discussing strategy - Mukuro had been grooming him for succession all along. Realizing that Mukuro had recognized him as an equal, Hiei allowed himself to feel warm inside for a short moment before his attention quickly snapped back to a more serious matter at hand. "Shouldn't such matters be discussed away from the prying ears of our enemy?" He gestured to Kurama.
"Him?" Mukuro tilted her head backwards to where the youko is standing. "Youko Kurama is no enemy of ours."
"He works for Yomi!"
Mukuro replied in a deadpan tone, "As far as I know, we have no open conflicts with Yomi and Gandara. Unless you have started a war without my knowledge, Gandara is not our enemy. Besides, Kurama is here on personal business." She said her last sentence with just a hint of a smile and flicker of mirth in her good eye.
"What kind of personal business?"
"Need I spell it out for you?" Mukuro looked a little exasperated. "We've been….let me think of a term you can relate to….sparring. Yes, sparring! Both in the training fields and in my sleeping quarters. Do you understand?"
"Hn." So some of the rumors are true then. While the personal life of his King was really none of his business, Hiei wondered if it was a good idea for Mukuro to entangle herself with the infamously sly fox. Was he a spy? Hiei dismissed the thought. That would be much too obvious. Besides, Mukuro had given Yomi no reasons to be suspicious. She'd been very open about her political stance. She'd even taken the courtesy to inform Yomi of her trip to Tourin for Yusuke's crowning ceremony. Besides, if the youko did turn out to be a spy, Hiei could just cut him down.
Hiei returned his focus to the true intent of this meeting. "Five soldiers have reached Class A since our last update. I've promoted them to captains. Recruitment has been steady with demons from both Tourin and Gandara joining our forces, indicating that the Makai commoners have the most faith in our army. End of report." With that, Hiei turned to leave.
"Not so fast," Mukuro called out behind him. "Do you accept my offer?"
Hiei turned, "I don't have a choice." It was a statement, not an accusation.
Mukuro smiled and shouted after him, "I expect you to be on your best behavior at tonight's announcement banquet."
Hiei doesn't understand why the hell the fox is sitting at the head table. No, not only was he at the head table, he was sitting to the immediate left of the King. That spot is typically reserved for a general. Hiei, on the other hand was seated on the right side of the King. At least, Hiei reflected dourly, he had Mukuro as a buffer between them. Meanwhile, Shigure, Mukuro's other general, had the great misfortune to sit next to Kurama. With Mukuro away greeting guests, it is clear that the youko had nothing better to do but to tease Shigure.
"Hmm Shi-chan, do tell me about this big piercing on your forehead." The fox twitched one silver ear.
"That big scar on your face adds so much character." A playful flick of his tail.
"What is that alluring earthy scent you are wearing? It goes so well with your icy stare." The fox had the audacity to lean forward so that his face was mere inches away from Shigure's, head supported by slender hands that were propped up by elbows on the table. Shigure, avoiding eye contact and clearly uncomfortable shifted from the fox as respectfully far away as possible.
Hiei rolled his eyes and stopped paying attention.
He had known Shigure way before he met Mukuro. After all, Shigure was the one who implanted Hiei's jagen, his third eye, onto his forehead over eighty years ago when he was just fifteen. After that power reducing surgery, Shigure had trained Hiei on the art of swordsmanship. They parted ways just one short year later when Hiei deemed himself strong enough to survive on his own. Hiei never kept track of the surgeon after that, and was completely surprised when he learned that Shigure also worked under Mukuro's service.
In truth, Hiei admired Shigure and was thankful for his instructions in swordplay. He never once regarded Shigure as a political rival, mainly because Hiei have never really had any political ambitions. Besides, his power had outgrown that of Shigure's years ago and it had been clear from the onset that Mukuro was more interested in Shigure's skill as a surgeon than as a swordsman.
It was time for Mukuro to make her formal announcement. She gestured for Hiei and Kurama to join her at the center of the banquet hall. In a flash, Hiei was there beside her. The silver youko, however, made a show of slowly getting up from his seat and gliding gracefully to where they stood. The entire banquet hall hushed at his exquisite appearance. Though Hiei was annoyed, he now understood why so many of the servants had been on Team Hot Stranger.
"Lords and Ladies, my trusted advisers and counselors, as well as dear countrymen," began Mukuro. "It is my greatest honor to present Hiei Jaganshi. Please bear witness to his formal appointment as my heir." The guests kept silent. Annoyed, Mukuro dropped her formal demeanor. "Let's forget this formal bullshit, ok? Our proud country have never believed in hereditary succession but instead have relied on each King to choose a suitable successor. You all respect me for my power, my policies, my judgement, and my attitude. I'm here to announce that Hiei will continue my legacy. You can rest assured that he will never compromise our freedom by sucking up to any other territory, country, or realm, including those Reikai assholes."
At that, Mukuro nudged Hiei forward and the crowd cheered. Before her guests could implore her heir for an acceptance speech, she gestured to Youko Kurama and added, "Also present is Youko Kurama, key adviser for King Yomi of Gandara, acting as witness to Hiei's appointment. Let it be known by all of Makai that Hiei is now heir to Alaric." At that, Mukuro and Hiei started making their way around each banquet table to accept congratulations and kind wishes from the guests. Youko Kurama tagged along to flirt with the lords and ladies of Alaric.
By the time Hiei got back to the head table, desert had been served. No matter, it is the only course Hiei ever cares about. Mukuro was still making her rounds but Hiei could really wait no longer. Their pastry chef really outdid himself this time, the beautiful molten lava cake before him had blue Makai berry sauce generously drizzled on top and an abundance of decorative berries. Hiei made a mental note to reward the chef before picking up his fork and digging in.
Faster than he can blink though, Hiei's plate was snatched right before his eyes.
Eyes shooting daggers, Hiei looked up to meet the twinkling golden eyes of the silver youko. "Lord Heir," the fox leaned in and whispered in a breathy voice, "Let's trade. My plate obviously has a bigger slide of cake, and considering your fondness for chocolate, I think this one ought to be yours." Youko Kurama set his own plate before Hiei.
"Besides, I do love colorful baubles." The youko eyed the large berries on Hiei's plate and took a whiff with a look of utter pleasure. "The berries on your cake has an earthy aroma. Simply delightful."
Before Hiei could react, the Youko turned his attention to a low class serving woman who had been refilling their wine, "Would you like a bite, dear? It has been said that chocolate leads to higher levels of desire, arousal, and sexual satisfaction. Here, have a taste." The youko offered up a morsel of cake and berry with his fork.
The serving woman blushed a deep shade of crimson, and allowed the charming youko to feed her.
"Snatch my food away without asking again and I'll kill you," Hiei glared at Kurama.
Satisfied that he could now enjoy his cake in peace, Hiei turned back and started eating, only to be interrupted by the sound of choking. The serving woman, who Kurama just fed, had wrapped her hands around her throat and was turning pale. Other wait staff were shrieking in fear while Shigure, Kurama, and Hiei observed passively. One of the head servants rushed forward to help the poor choking demon, but it was too late, she had started wheezing and then turned blue. Within moments, she was dead.
Kurama knelt down next to the body and took a quick sniff near her mouth. "Just as I suspected. The earthy scent of Makai swamp mushroom is unmistakable." He continued his explanation to both Shigure and Hiei, "This brightly colored and deadly mushroom is found only in the swamps 40 miles south of here in Alaric territory. The mushrooms must have been disguised as berries."
He tilted his head towards Hiei, "Now sweetheart, where's my kiss for foiling this assassination attempt?"