Warning: This story is yaoi. You are not forced to read it if you dont like it.
Standard disclaimer applied. See my profile.
AN: All right, Im back. Everything is only getting started, so get ready. Also...This chapter is dedicated to ShibuNoNeko, Gemenice and Daughter of Darkness17 for being my first reviewers. I hope it will live up to your expactations. Enjoy! Mari
Makai Rumours
1 Shattered Plans
Hiei could not tell the cause of Kuramas hesitation to accept Kuronue, for he had never been interested in that kind of crap- much to Mukuros dislike. According to Hiei, "crap" was every kind of social interaction leading to the display of emotions and interest in another person. Every kind of activity indicating intimacy was an enigma to this feisty fire demon. When the ruler decided that her heir should possess also this art of 'manipulative skills', she tried to give him appropriate education. Conversation lessons helped somewhat; Hiei had learnt a new style of gaining information. She coaxed him into lessons of dancing and diplomatic speech as well; but nothing worked here. He was hopeless. Mukuro gave it up and prayed to all known Gods for a miracle to occur, for the desperate demoness was aware of the fact that a good ruler must be able to judge whom to trust- or at least pretend that he trusts, for his own profit. Hiei was not willing to learn how to trust (or at least to pretend it). She knew if this demon really became her successor, he would have a difficult time as a ruler. His unawareness could lead to more difficult position in negotiations or cause serious problems to find a trustworthy mate for him. With his lack of social interaction skills, it was very likely to misjudge any relevant relationship or jump to wrong conclusions while gathering information.
And Mukuro was rightly worried; for this was exactly what happened to Hiei while stalking Kurama and his partner.
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Kuronue just rolled his eyes: "No matter how far we get, some things never change…" he sighed and took a sip of the steaming drink. "Come on, Kuro," Kurama tried to cheer up his partner, "this way we get our drinks for free. What more do you need?" he beamed at the annoyed Chimera with his trademark smile Mr. Brilliant #18.
And while the youkai ladies around them were busy with blushing and fainting, Kuramas partner just shook his head and decided to check the tavern once again. There were not aggressive and noisy guests tonight. 'Good,' Kuro thought, 'at least I would be left alone.'
The moment they entered this bloody far-flung public, almost all present guests rushed to them. Kurama was a Makais celebrity; he was even more popular than Raizen or Yomi. Kuronue thought he had been used to that already. But the constant flow of insignificant demons throwing themselves to Kuramas feet was quite disturbing. Even after twelve years of their partnership he could not comprehend his partners predilection in spreding rumours.
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The rumours Kuronue was thinking about were not spread without reason. Kurama had had his motives; and one of them really was to have some fun with innocent inhabitants of Makai. But there was no living soul except Kurama, who would know about the existence of serious causes of the foxs extravagant behaviour.
Now, there were a lot of mixed gossips flowing Makai from every possible direction. But they had their roots in three ultimate rumours created and originally spread by Kurama himself.
Kuramas favourite was the one about him being a cruel, reckless and half-insane sadistic monster with killing as his first hobby and torturing as the second one. He liked to spread this rumour in Raizens territory; teasing and playing with its inhabitants. When they came to Raima- the biggest town in Raizens country, he went through it with an emotionless face and cold eyes, causing all apparitions run away in panic. The fox ended up laughing on the ground for about twenty minutes.
Yomi was Kuramas former partner-in-crime. They were good friends; so while in his territory, Kurama spread the rumour about Yomi being his former lover. When the ruler of Gondara got angry and wanted to lock horns with Kurama (not so figuratively speaking); the mischievous fox modified it slightly, to please the troubled ruler. From that time, it is rumoured that Kurama spared no effort in seducing Yomi and Yomi was the BEST of all his ex-lovers. From time to time, kitsune added some juicy details of their fictitious sex-life. Consequently, Kurama was banned from Yomis territory. However, a couple of years ago, Yomi sent Kurama a big thank-you-gift and the master of thiefs was once again welcomed. (The rumour caused an increase in Yomis popularity. There were many demons who wanted to have a lover praised even by the famous Youko Kurama).
Being at Mukuros territory, Kurama knew the ruler was an extremely powerful and smart female. Therefore he decided to spread the hearsay about him as insatiable, sensual, irresistible and mysterious seducer. Rumour has it that if you are lucky and happen to be chosen by this; or any other youko, it would be the experience of your life. There were a few youko tribes in Mukuros territory; and the gossips started to cause unforeseeable trouble – the number of outsiders eager to take a youko lover or mate increased to such an extent that there were soon more suitors than youkos willing to be bound. And youkos do not like to be forced. They love freedom. So they asked Mukuro to make a treaty with Yomi to allow them settle down somewhere in his territory. Both rulers came to an agreement at a record time when Mukuro gave the reason for the agitation within the youko tribes. Yomis helpfullness was the main ground, why she ordered her best craftsmen to make the three magnificient jewels. The jewels, Kurama and Kuronue stole. The jewels, Hiei had to get back by any means.
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Kuro suddenly focused on a strange figure sitting in the taverns corner, in seclusion from all this commotion around his kitsune partner. The dark apparition looked at the chaos with indifferent face and a touch of contempt in the dark red eyes. He had a third eye on his forehead; slightly gleaming with violet light. Kuronue knew the guest was not as tall as he or Kurama, but he could not tell how old the demon was. The curious thief could not even assess his powers or youki level. This was strange. Either was the lonesome guest weak, like an upper D-class (not likely, he would not travel around here alone), or very very strong. Not only powerful enough to mask or block the type of his powers; but also the amount of radiating ki. Well, all demons knew how to mask their energy, but if the black-coated youkai masked his own energy that way, he would be the only one non-emitting youkai in the room. He was not hiding, so there was not reason to mask anything. Kuro came to conclusion that the black-haired apparition had his fellows somewhere near and then turned his attention to the bar. He decided to ask for some supplies and meals. So he stood up, leaving Kurama with his new fan-club.
Immediately, the figure in the corner turned his gaze to Kurama and shocked silver fox heard suddenly a deep voice speaking to him mind-to-mind:
'Youko Kurama, I suppose.' Surprised Kurama just nodded, forgetting that its not possible to see a nod of ones head inside ones head. The guest in black smiled, unseen by anyone, and the voice in Kuramas head continued. 'You stole something what belongs to me. I need to have it back.'
'And you thought I would hand it back if you asked me nicely? This level of naiveness isnt even funny.' The fox smiled absent-mindedly at the female pouring him another drink.
'I want to offer you something in return.' The voice replied.
Kuramas impatiance grew. 'Im not interested. You should have kept those things better protected. Now get out of my head.'
The deep voice took the irritated tone: 'There is just one person whose orders Im bound to follow, and its not you. So shut up and listen. Its a challenge what I have to offer.'
'A challenge? What do you have in mind?' Kuramas impatience was instantly replaced by curiosity. Youkos love challenges of any kind and there were many challenging things this particular Youko had never done so far. But he could not remember someone offering it like this. Kuramas golden eyes twinkled with anticipation.
'A game. Ill find a possibility how to get close enough to you to steal back whats mine. Try and stop me.' The deep voice sounded nearly mocking. 'I could not find any benefits in turning you into a corpse; so relax. Itll be just a war of strategies, a battle of brains so to speak.'
For Kurama, it sounded tantalizing, it really did. He was feeling a little down lately and this could be a welcomed distraction from his problems. He was just sending a little prayer of thanks to Inari, when a serious suspicion crept into his mind, waking his cautious self back to life.
'And how should I know you wont kill me while being off guard? And are you willing to keep yourself out of my business?' Kuramas questions sounded clearly derisive. He was pretty sure there was no chance for anybody to poke into his plans, unless he allowed it.
'I have just told Im not here to harm you.You are perfectly capable of protecting yourself as well as keeping me out of your plans, though.' Something in strangers voice made Kurama trust him. When he was thinking about it, there was something peculiar about this conversation besides the fact that its existence in its entirety was somewhat unusual. He did mind-to-mind communication very often, but it never felt like this. Something was different; but he could not figure out what. Kurama thought about the whole thing and finally decided. 'I refuse.' He answered and secured his mind to block out the strangers potential efforts to restore the mind-link.
"Im sorry ladies, but I have to go," Kurama stood up abruptly, bathing the fan-club in another radiant smile. He said something about fresh air in Kuronues direction and in an instance, he was out of the tavern.
The dark-haired apparition smiled and moved from his table in the corner to the bar, waiting patiently for Kuronue to finish his quarrel with the barkeeper. When he did, the red-eyed stranger payed for his drinks and turned to face Kuronue.
"I could help you."
"What?" was chimeras sharp reaction.
"You have heard. Im offering you my help and I need your help in return." Kuro locked his gaze with the former object of his examination, puzzling together the pieces of what to say. 'Things should go one by one.' He decided to start from the beginning.
"Whats your name, kid?" "Hiei. And whats yours, bat?" Kuronue chuckled, amused with the younger demons irritated face expression. "Im Kuronue, Kuro for friends." He gave Hiei a couple of seconds to reply "nice to meet you," or at least "hi," but Hiei obviously did not understand the purpose of the pause; or maybe he didnt want to. Kuro sighed and continued. "What kind of help do you think I need? And what do you want in return?"
"Ill help you get him."
The answer didnt make much sense to Kuro, so he asked what Hiei meant with "get him".
Hiei just smirked. "I know you want to have the silver youko in your bed." At first the chimera did not know whether to laugh, cuss or kill this foolhardy busybody. And then an amusing idea crossed his mind:
"I dont need your help with getting that sexy youko partner of mine, for he is already willing to share my bed,"Kuronue replied with a mischievous glint in his eyes and a seductive tone in his voice.
And Hiei, believing his spying skills more than the words of a thief snapped: "Are you sure?"
Now it was impossible for Kuro to contain his laugh. "I cannot think of a way, how this could be debatable."
Hiei instantly recognized the stupidity of that question and in result was fighting the first blush in his life. Kuronue was fighting too – for his breath with the fits of laughter, but was losing without mercy. However, his reason was still fully capable of function. He was curious about the obvious interest of the little youkai in his love-life.
But neither of them had a chance to comment, because a few moments later a group of at least ten demons stormed into the tavern and started to riot. Hieis and Kuronues thoughts were following the same path: to get out of there. Kuro didnt want to get injured, for Kurama had planned the next heist for tomorrow night. And Hiei did not want to present his powers in front of the thief yet – he wanted to keep a moment of surprise at his side, if needed.
In the same moment, they both darted to the door. Hiei, with his speed was almost twenty paces from the tavern, when he heard a blast. He turned his head and saw Kuronue hot on his heels. Hiei cursed a row of first class Makai swearwords at the chimera – he could at least choose a different direction for his escape. But at the sight of what was following Hiei froze: the group of demons prepared for an attack like Hiei had never seen before. It seemed like they chose the target – him or Kuronue or maybe both, Hiei didnt know, for they were still running in the same line. The pack of attackers somehow joined their powers, one by one, until two of the group controlled a huge ball of energy. Hiei was mesmerized, but not stupid. The last thing he wished was to stay and watch. He beat his retreat, even more quickly. If he had been having any thoughts of doing away with the gang before; he would know by now it was too late. He could kill some of the pack, but he would not be able to fight back their ultimate attack.
Then he noticed the forest around them. If he was a nature youkai like youkos were, he would have felt it much sooner: everything tried to flee away from the attackers. The air temperature dropped and the fire youkai could almost hear the forest groan with painful anticipation of what was to come. He turned his head once again to glimpse at the chimera, but Kuronue was not following anymore. Hiei suddenly saw him, with body lying on the grassy ground in spasm; his posture gave away the agony creeping along and in his limbs. Hiei didnt have the slightest idea of what might have happened to the thief, but he was glad he didnt have to experience it too. It lasted only a second for Hiei to realize that he cannot let him die there.
In a blur he was back, grabbed Kuronue and tried to get away as quickly as possible. The fire demon wondered if a hiding place of some sort would be a good idea. But judging by the panicking animals running out of their nests, dens and shelters, it wouldnt be much of a help.
In the next moment all hell broke loose. It felt like the air turned to liquid and burnt its way through the nose to lungs. Hiei could almost sense death sneaking among the trees as everything behind him was slowly giving in in the last desperate gasp for life. Hiei felt like screaming. He had been at the verge of death many times, but he had nothing to compare this situation to. In that very moment he knew he would lose himself in the darkness that devoured every inch of the forest behind him.
Suddenly, on the left, he noticed a light green tinge. It was just a petty fleck among the trees; nevertheless it gave him will-power to resist the blackness, even if for a little while. Hiei abruptly changed his directon towards the light. At his speed, it grew rapidly and the exhausted youkai finally saw it was a kind of barrier. However, the run in the acid air with unconscious Kuronue on his shoulder took its toll on Hieis body. It must had been twenty, thirty paces at most to the barrier; but the fire demon was desperately gasping for breath. Every step became a battle of its own. He realized, he would not have the strenght to get there both, himself and the thief. So he decided to do the best given the situation; and in the last outburst of his power, Hiei lifted Kuronue and sent him flying through the verdant walls of energy. The chimera landed on the ground inside, not-so-lucky fire demon fell to the ground outside of the barrier. But he did not mind his tumble at all, for his senses were already overwhelmed by nothingness.
End of Chapter 1
AN/ Perfect time to end the chappie, ne? Things have finally started; and Ive got the feeling that as the chapter 2 comes out, my story baby wont need its diapers anymore.
For those who still havent lost their interest: the next chapter is out in a week, as usual.
Until then, Mari