Authors Note: -pokes- I see you. Yes, you, I see you reading, but not reviewing. The hit counter keeps track of you. So, do me a favor? At the end of the chapter, hit the little button that says 'review' eh? It won't take that mush time at all, I promise, and if just five people are kind enough to review the story for me, I'll update with the next chapter. Yea, that's right, I'm bribing you. But don't think of it like that, think of it as…let's say, incentive. And if that's not enough, why, just look at the wonderful virtual prizes that are in store!

BlueUtopiah: As a thank you for your review, I give you limited edition blue-haired Mukuro plushie, because, your hair is blue ;

For ladyasile: I think this mischievous Yusuke T-shirt for the little bunny on your profile will work. What would we do without the detective to shove Kurama thru the gate to makai? A very boring story, I think xD

Midnight Soliloquy: Since there are two of you using the same account, you get a Split-persona Kurama plushie, part Shuichi, part Youko!

ShinigamixGirl: Hmmm, well, how about this plushie of Hisoka/Tsuzuki cuddling while reading fanfiction? I could't think of anything else xD

DemonUntilDeath: Your one of the review's I didn't see till posting this ; So I went and added on before submitting, because your review rocked. This Chibi Youko and Hiei oil painting for you as virtual gratitude! About the Beta testing, I'm serisouly going to look into that. I sit here and edit the stories, but I always seem to miss something…

Oreoxlove4ever: A Kurama eating oreo plushie for you. Thank you for the review!

Last, but in no way least is this Hiei detail toy with real strip-tease action! for Kyohana.

Thank you all for reviewing, it means more than words can convey. I had a random burst of writers block, with this chapter, so please forgive me for it's short and blah-ish contents.

Chapter two:

A Journey in Makai

The forests of makai are what myths are made of. It is these lands that once stumbled upon, by men lucky enough to find their escape, was written down as the heavenly realm. What the Greeks called Elysium and the Egyptians Aaru, are the retelling of what their original authors scribed. A valley of foliage is at my every side, in pastel shades of violet, green, amber and yellow-tinged white. The soil is scarce from sight, the plant life gorging themselves on its nutrition and growing in elegant, interwoven patterns below my feet.

Deadly beauty is what surrounds me, deceptively delicate, each holding a sting worth ten times the venom of their splendor. I know, for it was I who planted most of them, and cultivated the rest. I frequented this part of makai, in what seems a lifetime past, when ningenkai itself was not so different from makai in its bloodlust, and demons of all rank frequented mortal ground. Nothing ever remains unchanged, however, and though it was I who sculpted the landscape, her bounty is no longer mine to keep. This forest belongs to Mukuro, for it is along the center of her territory. I feel as though she has stolen from me, a stroke of irony, for these forests are quite possible the only thing I, as Youko, ever gained without thievery.

My youki is detectible. I want to be found, preferably before I am forced to seek out Hiei within Mukuro's castle. At the passing of another mile, I bring my youki to spike, hoping to draw him out like moth to flame. It has been two days since I started my venture here on makai soil, lugging a tote bag over my shoulder, loaded with the various instruments of torture needed for a proper fitting. Yusuke, in all his crafty manipulation, had jumped the gun a bit, forsaking the fitting which was necessary to buy Hiei's tuxedo. Another reason for my hesitance to confront him in Mukuro's sites; forcing Hiei to comply with a tape measure and probing hands will be enough of a challenge without her breathing down my neck.

A rouge gust rocks against me, tousling my hair in ribbons of ruby, but with the setting sun its color darkens, and I drop my tote to make camp for the third night. Rays of orange have trickled away into moon kissed blue. Above, the sky has become a snow globe, cased with ebony which fades into lighter hues of night the further in my eyes travel, where at its center lie the light of traveling souls.

Despite the cool of the wind around me, I feel warmth here, the tingle of sunlight which is his youki. For the past few miles, I have felt eyes upon me, it is only now however that I feel his presence, and it is now that I show my awareness to the eyes which have watched my every move. My head lifts, and I scan the surrounding shrubs. Leafs above rustle before I pinpoint his location, I can't help but to think he is giving himself away to me. Hiei often 'stalked' me by use of the trees while in ningenkai. Some things it seems have yet to change.

"I was starting to believe you were ignoring me," a smile comes easy to me this time, for no matter the spite in me, I am happy to see him "Hiei." In the canopy above the leaves rustle, and with movement to fast for my human eyes to see, he descends to my side. Black hair, a cherub face that contrasts his persona so, a toned body well covered by cloak and scarf. It is eyes though, that I see first, blood red garnet with an ever burning flame.



"Time among humans has not dulled your senses, I see."

"No…" I agree, my tone questioning "but it is hardly a challenge to notice when someone is rustling about in the trees." His eyes narrow, just slightly, an expression some might take for anger, yet I know it to be confusion. "I did not 'rustle'. I do not give myself away when in hiding, nor do I flaunt my youki."

A laugh tickles my throat, my hand rising to my lips to stifle its sound. Hiei tenses, an agitated scowl crossing his child-like face, and inclines his head towards me in a challenging manner. "I fail to see the humor of your carless return. You may have very well announced to a third of makai your arrival."

"You are worried about me?" I murmur, my had lowered, eyes once more entranced by the narrowed orbs of my counterpart. Every moment I watch him, my spirits rise. It is both pleasant and agitating, for though I am at a content to see Hiei after so long, bitterness still harbors a portion of my soul. "I was trying to get your attention Hiei. Alerting you with my youki was the simplest way; if other demons seek me out in malevolence that is my cross to bear."

He rebukes my statement with a standard "Hn" and turns his head away, those fiery eyes now gazing blankly into the distance. "Your gift was well-received, I take it?" In a flash, his eyes are upon me, his silence an inquiry all its own. Unzipping the tote, I stand, fishing a notepad and tape measure from its innards and address Hiei again "The flower of regeneration which I gave you. I regarded your absence from ningenkai as a sign of acceptance, on her part. Am I wrong?"

My gut wrenches as he watches me, his gaze scrutinizing, arms tight to each side. An 'itch' foams up inside my mind for an instant, but it vanishes before I can regard it as a threat. Still, the thought occurs to me that Hiei might have attempted to read my mind…

"Mukuro promoted my post. I am to take charge of this jurisdiction, as her heir." My smile softens, even as Hiei tilts his head in inquiry of the belongings in my hands. I fall into my own thoughts as his words are recited internally, and fail to notice that my grip on the paper is tightening. So, Hiei was in training, all this time. With Enki as enthroned emperor, the remaining two 'Kings' have been appointed a share of makai to rein over as his subordinates; the era of peace demons have entered is a fragile one, and though it appears that the main powerhouses of makai are in agreement with the changes taking place, even Enki must now of the preparations taking place for ascension to the throne once he passes. Hiei, in a strange way, has become in a sense, demonic royalty.

"Fox."

The force of his tone startles me to reality, and blinking I meet his gaze, once more skeptical and scrutinizing, as if beholding a very elaborate lock to which he has no key. "I asked what is in your hands." Not quite fluid with my thoughts and actions, it takes me a moment to respond. I pull my hands up, look at the instruments and smile, tired though it is. I had all but forgotten the fitting.

"These," I begin, holding out the tape measure for him to see "are what I need to take your measurements." After examining the dangling yellow plastic, he again turns to me, an eyebrow razed in confusion. He looks positively naïve, standing as he does, with his wide inquisitive eyes. The nature of my perverted tendencies of past plants the fleeting thought of measure something a little more southward on the korime, and I blush because of it. Kitsune are very well renowned to be sexual creatures; and with being reborn as a human, this body is quick to betray me in fits of hormonal peak. I have not enjoyed going through the lusts of adolescence a second time.

"Measurements?" Hiei questions and I nod, wrapping the tape measure round my wrist and kneeling down to fish out a pen from the bag. "Yusuke told you he wanted you in the wedding, did he not? Well, in human weddings, it is custom to wear a special garment that is called a tuxedo for the ceremony. I need to measure you, so we know what size to buy, understand?"

Again he nods, but still seems standoffish. He no doubt has a foreboding feeling, and when I next speak, that feeling rushes to his face in anguish.

"Good. Now, strip."