His silvery tail moved in a slow wavy movement in the air. He held his youkai's hand tighter, with a firm, protective touch which was not devoid of tenderness. His ears twitched as he tried to grasp any noise different from the soft blow of Summer Makai breeze...

Well, in fact there was a sound which he had been forced to listen to for the miles... Hiei's grumbling...

"Hn... Stupid Youko... I wanna go back home."

The golden eyes offered Hiei a condescending look from above, as Kurama was so much taller than the delicate Fire Demon who happened to be his mate. The magnificent youko smiled, and as he did it, Hiei felt his youkai heart filled with a sudden sweetness. The Youko looked so much like his Shuuichi aspect when he smiled in such a fond, naive way like that.

Yeah, it had been that kind of smile which put him into that inevitable situation, to begin with. Kurama had asked Hiei to accompany him on such a trip with that same kind of smile adorning his lips, and the youkai could not say no to his weird proposal

And there was Hiei, dragged by his hand to Tercentenary Youko Convention of the Makai.

Youko were not very social creatures. They fought and worked hard to keep their territory in a very determined way. They always hunted alone. Youko usually gathered with other youkai races rather than his own peers, forming bands to loot and plunder the Makai. Some of them routinely chose to experience anonymous lives in many of the  villages and cities around. But whoever they were, whatever they did, most of the Youko traditionally met once every 300 years.

It was an ancient custom, and very few apart from the youko themselves knew of its existence. They met to breed, to defy one another for territory. They also enjoyed having their share of tattling, bragging and showing off. They were not very honorable motives, Hiei would say...  Anyway, Youko Kurama said he could not miss such an event.

Despite his grumbling and cursing, Hiei could not convince the youko to leave him behind. Their territory was protected by all kinds of dangerous plants Kurama could have come up with. Yet, the youko could not be moved from his decision to make his lover take part  in that insane Youko Gathering.

"This is gonna be a bore. Let me go home, Kurama!"

Kurama just shook his beautiful head and kept on walking his way, bringing a bad-tempered Hiei along. It was time to make use of  his last minute argument...

"Hiei, there'll be many ex-lovers of mine there; both male and female, and also ex-gang members, ex-companions and friends. Many of them are much more handsome than Yomi...  I'm glad you don't mind me going there on my own. It's good to know you trust me enough not to be jealous.  I love your confidence, baby..."

It had been enough. Hiei stopped resisting on the spot, and walked faster to accompany the youko's large steps, not resisting the journey anymore.

However, Kurama was the one facing a difficult situation. It was clear to him he could not leave his companion alone. He had turned to be extremely careful and dedicated to Hiei after Karasu had almost succeeded in killing his pretty youkai. Almost one year had passed, and yet Hiei hadn't acquired his full powers and you-ki back. Makai was a more peaceful place under Enki 's rule, but many powerful, dangerous enemies still lurked by and Kurama could not risk putting Hiei's life in danger again.

Kurama would not say taking Hiei to a place crowded with other oversexed, crazy, drunk and hot youko could be a safe place, but it was his less hazardous alternative.

He should be very attentive of his pretty youkai. He knew very well what his race was like. They'd view Hiei as a cutie, delectable prize. They'd want to eat him alive - in a figurative sense of course.

"We're near... It's just down there, after that large boulder. It's a beautiful ravine, and very secure." Kurama announced, pointing out the path which extended further down into the woodlands to Hiei.

"Hn... I don't care at all. If there's a tree where I can hide and take a nap it is good enough."
 
"Hiei, when we arrive, don't talk to anyone." The Youko added, very  worriedly. But he faced Hiei's apparent disbelief, and he continued his gentle ordering. " Don't go away from me, don't stare at strangers, don't accept food or drink from anyone but me and don't let go of my hand..."

The short demon glared at the youko, pulling his hand from Kurama's with an angry impatience.

"I'm fed up with being treated like a baby!"

"But Hiei... It's dangerous..."

"Damn, Kurama! Don't you want to sew a tag with my name and address on my clothes?"

Kurama chuckled, but he had to admit it was not a bad idea.

"No youko would hand you back to me, even with the tag, baby. They'd tumble over one another to get a piece of action with such a dainty, delicious small youkai like you..." Then the Youko held Hiei's smaller hand once more, while inclining over him. "I have to protect you my pretty baby..." On saying that the Youko let his tongue slide onto Hiei's palm, with a very wet and broad lick.

Hiei frowned. He didn't need a babysitter - He just wanted a lover... But that Fox Spirit seemed to have now that weird disposition of treating him like an invalid.

On one hand he couldn't say he disliked the attention. It was good to be guarded, tended and cared for by such a powerful and highly attractive creature such as the youko. But on the other hand it was suffocating; the youko could demolish all his Class-S pride and his self-esteem just winking one of those alluring golden eyes of his and whispering his kind commands...
 
"Kurama, I can take care of myself! Leave me be for a while!"

Saying that, before the youko could react, Hiei pulled himself from his touch, jostling him and then turning into a quick passing black blot which disappeared amidst the woods.

Kurama shouted his lover's name, unable to believe his stubborn youkai had just flitted towards the Convention Area on his own -  It could mean a lot of trouble for them both.

Kurama hurried after his sweetheart, almost regretful of having brought him to that Gathering. If at least Hiei could follow his advice...

Stupid youkai!
 
 

The pretty, young youko just walked up and down along the thick spiked fence, built up with a huge variety of thorn vines and plants which set the boundaries for the convention area. There were no gates; the path continued beyond the unfriendly walls, but even then he remained outside. He just stood there, watchful of anyone approaching the entrance, refreshing himself  using a beautiful, decorated silk fan, which he held with grace by the very tip of his long fingers. He let his tail waggle in slow undulations, to the right and left, stroking the sides of his own thighs, as he walked, up and down the entrance.

Although he wanted to be seen, he didn't want to be noticed. The Convention bouncers would kick him off  as soon as they spotted him there. It was a very hard life for a young orphaned youko like him. But he needed to take the risk - It was the best chance he'd ever get of meeting the only one he had always craved to know.

He bent over one blooming shrub along the path and picked up a flower, sticking in his hair, together with the colorful silk strands and beads which ornamented the long braids interlaced by the sides of his long, luxurious golden mane,  which extended down to his thighs, full and wavy.

He observed a tall, well-built BlackYouko coming down the way to get to the entrance, and showed him an enticing smile as he accompanied his steps with a very sexy look in his golden eyes. He picked up one of his long braids and started to rotate its end in wide circles in the air with a delicate flick of his wrist. Then he winked one golden eye, very aware the older youko ogled his young, appealing body. On purpose, he wore just a translucent loose fitting, short tunic which showed much of his muscled pale chest, and revealed his long, vigorous thighs in full.

"O-nii-san, if you're looking for company, I'll be here..."

Then he bent over just enough to push his rear up a bit, while he waved his long golden tail in the air, in a very clear signaling among Youko.

The black youko smiled, and waved, announcing he'd be back to talk to him later. Then he passed through the gateway.

The golden young youko remained there like before, just waiting. He fanned himself, abhorring the heat. He didn't have a knack for thievery; in fact, he could not even hunt appropriately...  None of the his own Youko Race would shelter him, even though some of them were very inclined to pay him for his quick services. Other youkai races would never trust a strange youko so much so as to allow him longer in their dens than it was necessary.

But maybe, if he were lucky, he would not be such a homeless anymore.

All Youko in the Makai  had been called to take part in the Convention, but he was one of the few whose entrance was strictly forbidden It seemed his occupation was taboo among Youko, but he had only found out  when he was already in the job. How could he knew it, anyway? He was so young at the time!

But at least he'd have a chance to see him, talk to him, and who knows... He dreamed of being welcomed and...

He sensed a sudden move at his side, and turned to see, clinking the jewelry, glass pearls and crystal beads he adorned himself with.

The fast black blur halted, materializing into a short youkai, all clad in black, with spiky hair and a beautiful purplish Jagan in the middle of his brow, which made him extremely charming.
 
The golden youko made an indignant face. It was unfair competition; the youko would undoubtedly favor that delicate strange youkai rather than one of his own race - All youko loved novelty.  Life was hard enough for a young hard-laboring youko like him without  discriminatory competition. That shrimp would spoil his business.

Besides, it was his territory - He had arrived there first!

"Hey,  little one, this is my area; I'm already working here."

Hiei, who just stood for a while at the gate, observing the surroundings before entering,  stared at the golden youko, intrigued.

"Hn? Are you the gatekeeper?" He asked, offering the young youko a very ill-tempered frown. It was one thing Kurama didn't need to worry about - Jealousy - Hiei didn't want to get acquainted with any of those crazy youko.

"No... Are you going in?"

Hiei gave some slow steps towards the youko. It was a very young creature, an early teen in Youko scale, and the fire demon felt himself  interested in him; he seemed familiar...

"Hn... I was invited."

The golden youko laughed, and his crystal clear laughter was free and vivid. His head tilted backwards as he laughed a little more, and all of his hair cascaded  in a a voluminous slow slide down his shoulders and back while he'd  swayed the very tip of his tail in a tight, quick wriggling succession.

"Jaganshi, you're in big trouble. They're gonna make the main course outta you."

"Ah... Reception clerk? Or you're someone's bodyguard?"

The young youko smiled seductively to Hiei, inclining towards him to be face to face with the shorter youkai.

"You're not going to last long in their hands; I don't have much to worry about loosing customers to you."

"Customers? You're a street vendor? What do you sell?"

The young youko unfolded his fan and hid his smile behind it in a seductive appeal, while winking one eye. He murmured at Hiei's ear then.

"If you want I can show you for a very special price... You're so small, let's say I could make a discount."

Hiei blinked, a little confused. He was so attentive to try  to perceive why that Youko seemed so familiar to him that he did not even mind being called 'small'. He just knew he had seen eyes like those before - golden, slightly slanted, displaying spite mixed to the sweetest seduction.  He just mumbled some inarticulate illogic reply, and let his eyes, even the jagan become closely fixed on the youko. That golden creature was beautiful but weak, almost as weak as an ordinary Ningen. As Kurama would put it with a derisive smile, that golden Youko didn't seem capable of summoning a lettuce...

Hiei was so absorbed trying to figure out where the hell he had seen that youko before he didn't realize Kurama's stealthy but angry approach. He just felt the broad, heavy hand of his lover placed delicately on his shoulder, and then a soft grasping touch pushed him slowly to the side.

Kurama stared at the Golden youko with a frown, clearing his throat loudly.

Hiei just rolled his eyes, bored. He just didn't want Kurama to start making scenes; A jealous youko - it seemed too much for a poor youkai like him to put up with...

"Making new friends, Hiei? Don't you remember I just told you not to talk to strangers?"

Hiei looked up to the bluish Makai sky, sighing and trying to build up a bit more of his patience. All that crap again? Oh, no...

"I can take care of myself!"

"Oh, yeah? You just let go of me for a split second and then you're here, looking for trouble!" And Kurama glared at the shorter, more delicate golden youko, with an intense ill temper. His ears stood very erect, twitching nervously at the top of his silver head, and his tail was bristled and up in the air.

Hiei looked at his youko's long hands, and observed his nails ready to attack, clasped like claws. He could feel Kurama's indignation and his you-ki arising all around. The grass rustled under their feet, sounding like a low roaring. Hiei could almost sense the plants and trees' roots crawling to attack, worming their way underneath the soil.

"We were just talking! The youko kid wanted to sell something to me, but I still don't know exactly what."

Somehow, Hiei's calm words seemed to enrage Kurama more yet.

"Ah, he wanted to sell you something?"

Kurama took one elegant, menacing step forward, and stood with firm defiance on the way between Hiei and the strange youko. He let one of his arms close around Hiei's shoulders, pulling him to lean on his hips, as he challenged the Young youko with a vicious half smile; just enough to display the tip of his sharp fangs.

"This youkai is my partner. I hope you realize what it means..."

"Ahn? It means you work together?" The golden youko mumbled, apparently confused, as his eyes darted from the tall imposing youko to his short, black clothed companion. It seemed he had some difficulty trying to understand that uncommon pairing. "It's a bit weird, isn't it?"

Kurama took another step towards the youko, and his eyes glinted, as he showed an angrier scowl.

"You're not very clever, are you? It means we live together!"

The pretty youngster smiled and waved his folded fan in the air before tapping it playfully against his own head.

"Ma always said I had looks, not brains!" He chuckled then, making both Hiei and Kurama be sure - He was a total airhead.. - "Then you work and live together? It's so romantic... Ahnn... Are you two working together at the Convention?"

Kurama took another step closer and Hiei could almost feel the ground trembling with the multitude of monster roots and plants ready to break free and attack the boy.

"Listen to me, you riffraff ! I'm not in your type of dirty business. Do you know who you are talking to?" Kurama announced, closer yet to the golden Youko, his tail wraggling menacingly in the air...

The Youko brushed his tail all over himself, caressing his own waist and thighs. He brought the hem of his tunic further up to show more of his long legs with a seductive smile.

"It doesn't matter. They are not going to hire you because I'm younger, and much more beautiful than you."
 
Kurama's eyes sparkled, but he kept himself as cool and collected as it was possible in such a situation. He was a class A youko, he could not go around Makai picking fights... Besides, he was better than that...

He stared at the younger youko contemptuously. Then he rested his palms on the sides of his hips, standing proudly erect before that poor creature before him.

"Watch your mouth, you harlot! I'm not rabble like you!"

The younger youko just shook his head, winking to Hiei again...

"Hey little one, how can you stand such a partner? He's a bore, heh?

Hiei nodded, very slowly.

"He is a real pain in the..."

Kurama turned his astonished, wide eyes to his lover, and shouted out his name, in a loud, nervous scolding.

"Hiei! Don't talk to him!" Kurama exclaimed, apparently almost losing control over himself.

Hiei chewed his lips to avoid any other comments, surprised before his lover's altered temper. Kurama seemed truly pissed...

"Don't you dare to talk to me or to my partner like that!" Kurama exclaimed.

"Why?" The youngster insisted.

Hiei stared at the Golden Youko, then looked at his Silver Youko lover, and nodded.. That was already going too far. It was better to try to pull Kurama's strings back.

He reached his tall lover, pulling him by the edging of his white tunic.

"Leave the youko alone. He was doing nothing to me, we were just talking."

"He's the lowest form of life among our race! He's the meanest, he's less than a slave!"

"He's just a youngster, fox... Why are you so hysterical?"

"Forget him, Hiei! You seem too much interested in him. Why?"

Hiei stared at the two Youko again. He looked at Kurama first, then at the Golden kid. Yes... There was a strong resemblance...

"It's just that he looks a bit like you."

Kurama eyed his lover with an angry indignation. How could His Hiei say such thing? He was quite probably the most powerful youko from the Makai. And even his reputation as a ruthless thief was one he could be proud of. On the other hand, that despicable youko was the coarsest form of life any youko could think of. Worse than an assassin! Worse than a traitor! Worse than a parricide!

"Hiei,  I thought you loved me! how can you compare me, your dear spouse, to that worthless character? I'm not one to be compared to such a low life youko!"

Hiei made an angry scowl too. OK, he could tolerate a lot from the youko, but that was going a bit overboard... That hysterical type of criticism was too much to bear. He'd better move on and give time for Kurama to calm down - He didn't want to argue with his dear, but altered, fox.

The Golden young youko approached them, his face adorned  by a beautiful, bright smile.
 
"Humpf... What an angry face... You're a very hostile old youko, but your spiky-haired friend is very cute. Aren't you interested in a threesome?"

Kurama counted to ten to try to calm down, but his you-ki was high around him, brilliant and vibrating, a silvery haze growing more intense as his indignation increased.

"I don't have any business with scum like you."

The golden youngster didn't seem to care about Kurama's words. He just stood there, observing with a childish curiosity the two lovers, his golden eyes flitting continuously from the youkai to the silver youko, and back.

"You are so different in size. How does it fit?"

"Fit what?"  Kurama asked, cautiously.

"How do you fit the smaller one? I bet it hurts him a lot when you make it... Maybe you should try one of your own race."

Hiei blushed, and hid behind Kurama's taller body, covering his face with the fluffy end of his silvery tail. He heard Kurama's roar coming from his throat, furious, hoarse, and pulled Kurama by his tail, so they could be a bit away from the kid.

"Come with me, Kurama... There's no use in picking a fight with a nutty youko like this. Let's get going."

Kurama nodded. It was better to leave, before he did something really stupid, and fatal to that idiotic golden youko. He turned his back to the youngster and breathed in deeply, as he rested his hand on Hiei's shoulder again, bringing him along. He had never met anyone able to annoy and infuriate him so much in such a small amount of  time... He just wanted not to see or listen to that youko again.

The golden Youko just stood there, watching them walk away with a silly smile across his face. He just could not believe it had happened so soon.
 
He had found him, for sure - he had heard the cute, small youkai calling him by his name...

He took one last glance at the silvery figure who was moving further along the narrow, rocky path in between the high cliffsides. Kinno was delighted with the other youko's beauty and imponence. He was magnificent, just like what he had been told. Finally his dream had come true! It really was him there - Youko Kurama!
 

 

They continued along the way, following a narrow gorge flooded with all kinds of vegetation. The steep rocky sides of the cliffs were punctuated with large boulders and small caves hidden beneath shrubs or uncommonly high tufts of grass. And Hiei knew many youko eyes already followed their steps further in as they walked..Those creatures were there, lurking by, probably full of apprehensions about the comeback of the legendary thief Youko Kurama.

However, legendary or not, Kurama had no right to treat him as a child. He had always disliked such - He was small, but he was no child at all.

K'so!

Hiei offered Kurama a squinted, annoyed look. Kurama was not in a good mood also. The tall youko held his lover's small fingers very tight in his hand, bringing him with him. Their eyes met, both of them with  an angered expression sparkling in the corner of their eyes as they glimpsed one another.

"You're too jealous. I hate it when you make such scenes."

Kurama frowned his brow, being very direct while he stared at his pretty half-koorime. However, Hiei turned his face, pretending to observe the rocky landscape around.

"It's your fault. Why did you stop to talk with such a low life, despicable creature?"

"He's a youko." Hiei answered, with a very low, controled voice. "I thought you wanted me to be more sociable. Your Shuuichi aspect was always annoying me with all that good manners and politeness stuff!"

"But I'm not Shuuichi anymore - Things are rather different here in the Makai!"

Hiei snorted, with a deep ill disposition towards Kurama's stupid jealousy.

"What's the difference? I can't believe you think I might be flirting with such block-headed youko like that!"

"You seemed too interested by the way you were talking to him..."

"You're sick, Kurama! He's just a youngster!"

Kurama halted, still holding Hiei's delicate, small hand, preventing him to keep on his way.

It seemed a nightmare. He had never argued with his Youkai in such a way. He had been  jealous like that before; Mukuro had always been a kind of a threat to his relationship with Hiei, but that was over long ago.  Might the Bionic Bitch rest in peace enough so as to never come back, not even in a million years...

Maybe he was insecure now... Mukuro was a kind of competition he could easily beat, but a younger, and, well, more beautiful youko? And a Golden Youko, one of the rarest species among the whole race...

Yes, maybe he was afraid to be compared, and then traded for a better, younger, prettier fox. It was something which happened everyday among the Youko Race. They just couldn't keep a steady relationship. They were always trying to find prettier, stronger, brighter breeding partners...

"Sorry, sweetie... I was just very worried about you..."

Kurama kneeled down on the rocky ground. Before Hiei, he pulled him closer to himself.. Then, at eye level with his dear lover, the youko placed his hands gently around his waist and drew himself towards him, nibbling his small chin with a wet, delicate grip. After that, he kissed his warm youkai's lips.

"You are very inexperienced in relation to my race. We're usually nice, but some of us are real perverts - violators, cannibals, slayers... They'd do terrible things to you, baby; they'd eat you alive. I was just thinking about protecting you."

Kurama's large but slender hand patted his spiky-haired head. And Hiei was swallowed by the warm embrace of his youko, who let his larger body, his longer arms, his rich mane enfold Hiei's small figure very fondly.

"Hn... But It was just a young youko."

"You don't know how low, how mean he is for our race. He's worse than an assassin, worse than a mercenary... He's so despicable he is not allowed to enter the Convention Ground. That's why he stays outside the area boundaries. I saw you with him and got too worried about you, baby..."

"What makes him so mean? He seemed just a not very bright kid."

"He's a shame to our own race, try to forget about him, OK? He's a camp-follower, a dirty harlot - The worse kind of Youko scum."

"If you say so..." Hiei mumbled, willing to let the topic rest. But in fact he still had not perceived the serious grievance of the young youko's crimes. He had not really grasped it, but he had no intent of extending the discussion further.

The youko stood up with a graceful, slow movement. The scowl on his pale face had changed into a soft smile, as he brought Hiei with him, hand in hand with his youkai lover, to follow their way, hand in hand, so they could flow their way.

Some steps further down they met some other youko, engaged into the most varied activities, scattered in small groups here and there. But they'd stop whatever they were doing to observe the tall pale silvery youko in white and his small companion in black, who seemed so different and yet so much alike to one another. The whole area was covered with green -  trees, bushes, shrubs, and the high wild grass all over, in every small breech among the many rocks and boulders.

Hiei halted when he sensed something pulling his right foot, stinging him.

He looked down and found a small cub. Its reddish tail waggled to one side and the other, and twitching pointed ears showed above the high grass. It was a tiny, chubby, fluffy fox cub, which had attacked his foot with all his fury, biting the tip of his boot.

He looked at Kurama in distress, trying to know what to do with that tiny but furious enemy.

Kurama laughed, bending over to take a closer look at the playful kit.

"Ah, Hiei... He just wants to play..."

"Hn..."

Kurama picked the fox kit up by its neck, and put it to the side, telling him in a smiling whisper to go look for momma.

He looked at his Hiei then with those kind of big puppy eyes usually seen only in Kurama's counterpart  - His Ningen aspect Shuuichi. Then he let his fingertips caress Hiei's palm as he held his hand a bit tighter.

"It seems this youko kit likes you a lot, Hiei."

"So what?"

"Sometimes I regret I won't have any kids with you; you'd be a wonderful father."

Hiei's eyes widened, and he tried to follow his way, but Kurama still held his hand.

"One crazy youko is already far too much for me. I don't regret it at all!"

Kurama  chuckled, amused by Hiei's bad tempered looks. He had always loved to tease his koibito like that...

Kurama didn't have the opportunity or the desire to keep on such talk. He smiled happily and waved when he saw a group nearby. They were five tall, imposing youko, and stopped chatting right as they recognized him.

Kurama smiled as he heard his name being insistently called. They waved to him, urging him to join their talk. The five of them were old friends from his lifetime before the Ningenkai... They were thieves and smugglers.

"Let's go baby, I wanna introduce you and show them how proud I am of being your mate."

"But you said I should be away from strangers!"

"But these are old friends, and I wanna exhibit my cute youkai lover around a bit..."

Hiei protested, and pulled himself from the firm youko's hand, but his tall companion didn't let go of  their clasp.

"No Kurama, I don't wanna go."

"I have to introduce you. Don't you understand? I gotta make it official!!"

Hiei shrugged, trying to show himself unaffected by that. But as Kurama gently took him with him, bringing him gently by his hand, his chest seemed to burst with contentment. Official! He'd be officially acknowledged as Youko Kurama's companion!

"I have to present you officially as my companion. Then no other youko in his or her sane mind will try to flirt with you."

Hiei looked up at the sky, feigning carelessness.

"Hn... I just hope none of those youko friends of yours try to bring the good old times back ..." He added, with a very low, calm tone.

"Oh, baby, you're jealous too?"

"Who? Me? Nah, Absolutely..."

Kurama just offered his youkai a sweet smile, pretending to have accepted his denial.
Then, as a prize for such a subtle, but delightful display of affection, Kurama inclined forward, to give his youkai a very wet and playful lick on the tip of his nose.

Hiei snorted, showing a disgusted frown while wiping the wet from his nose with his sleeve. But Kurama knew in fact he had done it not to clean his nose, but to hide his pleased smile.

Hiei was always playing the tough guy. How lovely...

Hiei followed Kurama in a silent quiescence. If he had ever had any doubts about Kurama's faithfulness and commitment, these questionings would have come to an end at that moment. So that was the real motive Kurama had insisted so much to drag him to that stupid convention...

It seemed Kurama was not ashamed at all to be the first Youko in the history of the Makai to be officially married.

Hiei pressed his lips tight together so as not to grin with a proud contentment. He didn't mind following his Youko lover at all now. He did it with his chin up and a proud, almost imperceptible smirk on his lips as he walked, accompanying Kurama's steps perfectly, even though their size contrast was much. They still held hands, and Kurama caressed Hiei's little fingers fondly, by rubbing his longer ones onto them, very slowly.

Hiei exulted on seeing the other youko's astonished faces as he and Kurama approached their group. Hn... He could not deny, it was very good to feel that way, and to flaunt about being Kurama's life partner.

Kurama greeted his old friends with a waving hand and a broad smile, complimenting them effusively, shaking hands and patting backs. Hiei stood very erect by his side, with his arms firmly crossed upon his chest, and his red eyes very attentive to the talk and to the looks of the other youko.

They were five. Two Brown ones, Two Red ones  and one Dark Grey older youko. They talked to Kurama but stared at Hiei, apparently confused by his presence. He drew his eyes very intently towards the taller red Youko, who seemed to be the most stunned of them. Hiei didn't need to guess - Quite probably he was one of Kurama's former lovers. The idiot gave out a very warm, sweet voice while speaking to his fox. Moreover, he ogled Kurama with a seductive insistence while they talked. To make it worse, this ridiculous red youko insisted on touching Kurama; he touched his arm, held his hand, patted his shoulder.. He even tried to hug him, but Kurama deviated from his touch, in a smart, foxy move.

While he was trying to accost Kurama, he stared at Hiei with extreme ill-will.

Well, it was time for him to know Kurama had a new Lover.

"Hn... Lost anything?" Hiei mumbled, very aggressively; he didn't appreciate strangers staring at him that way.

It was so sudden, and Hiei's eyes displayed so much indignation that the red Youko, whose name was Minato, so he heard, stood back,  speechless.

"Is he a servant, Kurama?" The other Red Youko commented, as a revolted frown altered his features "You should not have brought him here..."

"Or is he your new sexual toy? You always had such strange taste..." One of the brown Youko, apparently the younger one, with very long hair, added, with a very amused smile.

"If he's your sexual toy you should share him with your old friends, Kurama." The dark grey youko proposed, winking one eye to Hiei, and reaching out to pat his head.

Hiei's eyes glinted, furiously when he saw the stranger's hand approaching his face. The youkai just opened his mouth, showing his fangs with very determined intentions, and a ferocious stare towards the youko.

"Hey, Ibuki, watch out! He's gonna bite you"

Kurama just laughed, obviously delighted at all that, imagining it to be very amusing... He brought Hiei closer, stroking his shoulders, making him to rest comfortably against his side. He leaned Hiei's head with a slow, sweet tenderness on the curve of his waist, and started to caress his shoulders and arms, openly demonstrating how fond he was of the short youkai.

"You brought him here looking for a trade?" Asked Ibuki, pulling his hand back very quickly.

"He's very small... I wouldn't use him not even to pick my teeth..."Minato commented.

Kurama caressed Hiei's back with a very light blow of his long, fluffy tail and smiled when he noticed his friends' extreme curiosity increasing even more.

The stupid Youko was no doubt having lots of fun teasing his friend's curiosity like that. He had always enjoyed these silly games... Hiei sighed, totally abandoned against Kurama's larger body, not minding being observed by the other youko as his lover fondled him. It was very good for them to see who he really was in the present order of things. Hiei just allowed himself to be caressed in public because he wanted it to be well noted that they were together.

"His name is Hiei." Kurama finally announced, still caressing Hiei's shoulder. "He's my Life partner. We exchanged vows and married each other some years ago."

Hiei glared at the five confused Youko, and unconsciously let his body move to be closer to Kurama's, almost leaning on him. He just looked at them from below, with a slight impression he'd have a stiff neck if he continued in that Convention for long.. Why did all Youko have to be tall like that? K'so!

"Youko Kurama got married?" Minato mumbled, apparently too astounded, staring at Hiei with very wide, fixed eyes. He just could not believe... "It's an absurd, Kurama! He's not even a Youko!"

"Got any problem with that?" Hiei commented. His anger was increasing. He definitely couldn't say he was pleased on getting to know that stupid Minato.

The red Youko took another step backward, letting way for the other youko to approach. And one of the brown ones just yelled to another group of Youko a little further down the rocky slope.

"Guess what! Youko Kurama has got married to a Fire Youkai!!!"

Hiei blushed. K'so! Youko seemed to enjoy that kind of sensationalist thing.

In a short time they were surrounded by other youko. Many of them approached calmly, gathering around the smiling Silver Youko, and staring, pointing and gossiping one to the other. Once in a while Hiei could hear a soft, undisguised chuckling sound...

Kurama didn't let that broad smile go off his face. He just tried to answer to all of the questions, shaking more hands as more youko joined the group, all of them too curious about Hiei and Kurama's comeback. Others arrived as the news was passed around - Youko Kurama, the Legendary Thief, one of the most powerful Youko, ex-partner to the Makai Leader Yomi and one of the Finalists of the Makai Bujutsukai had arrived. And furthermore - He had got married to a Fire Youkai who had been Mukuro's Last Heir but had resigned her domains for no apparent reason...

It was such an irresistible piece of news! The Youko were agitated around Kurama, and both male and female seemed even more interested in getting to know Hiei.

Hiei suddenly realized how uncomfortable it was to be surrounded by all those taller  bodies, all of them with wavy, fluffy tails of all colours, pushing him further, separating him from Kurama as they gathered around the Silver Youko. Kurama must have been too damned popular. All of them wanted to talk to him.

Hiei thought he could have the opportunity to sneak away, slinking among the multitude of thighs and tails around them and look for a shade under a tree to take a relaxing nap.
 
It was then that he saw the golden youko they met at the entrance. He was coming by, trying to open a way among the other youko, too interested in getting near to Kurama.

He elbowed the others with decision, and Hiei stood on the tip of his toes, a little apart from Kurama now, free from his embrace for a moment while he was too busy shaking too many hands. Hiei observed the golden Youko very attentively, ready to pull his katana from beneath his cloak to defend his lover of any ambush.

He stood in guard, his hand on his back, almost grasping the handle of his katana, when he noticed the whole crowd suddenly giving passage to the golden Youko. They ostracized him openly,  and just pulled themselves away as he passed, acting as if he were an untouchable, a kind of social pariah, extremely bothered and annoyed by his presence.

A clearing was created in the middle of the crowd which formed a compact circle around Kurama and the golden youko. Hiei heard the hustle of rumours being murmured here and there, as the youngster stood right before Kurama, showing a smile and friendly open arms...

"Oh, no.. You again?" Kurama mumbled, with aversion, almost decided to whip the boy outta there for good...

"Daddy!  It's me! Kinno! I'm your son!"
 
 

To Be Continued...