Kingdoms of the Land and Sea
-a YYH and GW alternate universe

Part 3
--------------------------------

Duo's head snapped up, brows drawing together in confusion.  Something was wrong...
something...

<..Kurama...?  Shit, Kurama!!>

Dropping the flowers he'd so carefully picked for his cousin, Duo turned and ran for 
the river.

* * * * *

Kurama paced agitatedly around his room, long red hair whipping around his body, tail
churning up frothy bubbles in his wake.  The young merboy's arms were wrapped tightly
around himself, large green eyes distraught in his pale face.



What his father wanted from him...he clenched his eyes shut, shaking his head 
violently.

No no no....

How could his father even _think_ of--He shuddered.  The very _idea_ was anathema to 
him!



But the memories playing over and over again in his mind could not be denied.  He 
stopped before the dresser, eyes like liquid emeralds staring fixedly at his 
reflection.

"Why?" he asked in a broken whisper.  "Please...tell me why."  Slender fingers 
brushed the cool glass surface.  "Why would Father _do_ this to me?"

The pale youth in the mirror could only stare back, sad eyes offering no answers to
the young prince.

Kurama turned away, curling up into a compact ball of misery.  The sound of the 
king's personal guards positioning themselves outside the room reached his ears, and 
he shuddered, panic clawing at his mind.  He could feel the walls closing in on him, 
and hugged himself tighter.



Desperate eyes locked onto the glass-paned windows.  Maybe...  With trembling hands, 
Kurama pushed aside the filmy drapes, heart rising with burgeoning hope, only to 
fall as he saw the slowly moving figures of wary-eyed guards beyond.  

 he thought, watching the patrolling warriors with sick
fascination.   he straightened his shoulders in 
determination.  

Thoughts of what would befall not only him, but perhaps his cousin as well when the 
other returned, served to further strengthen his resolve.

Ripping a length of silk from the curtains, the slender youth wrapped the dark cloth
around his flame-colored hair and tied it securely in place.  Taking a deep, 
fortifying breath, he eased open the windows and quietly snuck out of the room.



* * * * *

Hiei sulkily blew on his tail, his warm dragon's breath melting the thick layer of ice
encasing the tip.  His heavy brows drew down in a scowl.  Who knew his little sister
could be so violent?



A tiny voice inside his mind cheerfully reminded him that he _had_ been enjoying
himself _way_ too much when he'd held that shrieking human by the scruff of his 
scrawny neck.  He absently crammed that voice back down the hole it'd come from.  
Really, it was all that damn Kuwabara's fault.  Yukina had been such a sweet little
ice dragon before _he'd_ come and ruined everything.

Hiei settled back on his haunches, curling his newly-defrosted tail protectively to
his chest.  It wasn't fair!  Now _he_ was banned from visiting until he'd apologized
to that annoying lout.  He remembered the smugly triumphant look Kuwabara had tossed
his way and snarled, teeth grinding together in absolute frustration.  Over his dead
body would he apologize to that runt!



With a look on his face that would have rivalled that of a pouting five-year-old
at his best, Hiei spread his enormous wings and flew off.

* * * * *

"Kurama!"

Duo nearly cried in relief, darting forward to meet his redhaired cousin.  "Are you
all right, Kurama?" he asked, panting quickly as he regained his breath.  Anxious
eyes ran over the older boy, checking him over for any serious injuries.  The 
distress radiating from the other youth was almost palpable--he shuddered to think
what had caused it.

The pale merboy gave him a weak smile, tossing a nervous look behind his back.  "Aa,"
he managed to gasp out, breathing heavily as well.  "We'd better get out of here 
before somebody sees us," he continued, grabbing Duo's hand and tugging him along.
Though the crown prince was obviously exhausted, there was no mistaking his very real
desire, and determination, to leave the vicinity of the royal seat.



Duo let himself be led, violet eyes trained in increasing worry on the other's slender
back.  This was _so_ not good.

* * * * *

"He told you to do what?!?"

The boy's startled exclamation sent seagulls squawking into the air.

"Shh, not so loud!" Kurama hissed, warily eyeing the surrounding area.  Though he and
Duo were on a small, rocky island in the middle of the ocean, far beyond any prying
eyes, he couldn't help but remain nervous.  The king had far more powers than he let 
on--one couldn't be too careful.

"Kurama, has he totally lost his _mind_?!" Duo asked in a fierce whisper, an incredulous 
look on his face.  "There's no _possible_ way his plan could work!"

Kurama's face flamed, even as his shoulders sagged wearily.  "Actually..."

"You don't mean to tell me there's any _validity_ to that crap, is there?"  Wide
violet eyes stared into large green ones in shock.

The redhaired prince turned to stare out over the ocean, wrapping his arms around his 
tail.  "It's a closely held secret of the royal family, but..." he sighed.  "Well, it 
wouldn't do for the king not to have an heir just because he's...you know."

Duo's face took on a considering look.  "Because he goes for guys and not girls?  
Huh, I see what you mean.  Still..." he gave his cousin a penetrating stare.  "Why 
would he tell _you_ of all people to do this?  I mean, he _did_ marry your mother, after 
all, so it's not as if he can't get it up with girls.  And it's not like there's a lack 
of princesses about."

Kurama closed his eyes miserably.  "I don't know.  I don't understand it at all."
He buried his face in his arms.  "Why would he do this to me, Duo?  He my _father_!"

Duo winced.  Damn, what was he supposed to say now?  'Sorry Kurama, but your father's 
been off his rocker for a while now so nothing he does really surprises me anymore'?  

Ha!  Like that would help.

He sighed glumly, staring down at the elegant lines of the older merboy's back.  He
really couldn't fault the king for wanting his own son.  Kurama was far too beautiful
for his own good.  But still--!  The thought of what the blackhaired monarch had
planned for his cousin sent shivers down his back.



Kneeling down behind Kurama, he gently drew his cousin into his arms and cuddled him
close, offering the only comfort he could.  Damn, but what the hell were they going
to do now?

* * * * *

Hiei soared through the skies, enjoying the feel of the sun's rays on his back, and 
letting the cold ocean breeze blow his anger away.  The morning's fiasco already felt
like a dim memory from long ago.  He sighed in contentment, leaving the problem of how 
to placate his imouto for some other day.  Right now, he was going to enjoy himself and
forget the carrot-topped loudmouth who'd gotten him into this mess.

Eyes espying a small island a few miles ahead, he shifted his wings and changed course.
Who knew?  He might actually find something interesting there.

* * * * *

The faint sound of flapping wings jerked Duo out of the sleepy half-doze he had fallen 
into, eyes blinking open then wincing shut again as they were hit by the blinding
afternoon sunlight reflecting off the placid ocean waves.  Wearily lifting his eyes, 
the half-eleven boy scanned the skies, searching for the airborne creature that had 
disturbed his rest.  The rather large black spot on the horizon immediately caught his
attention.



"Kurama!  Wake up!" he frantically shook his cousin awake, eyes never leaving the 
rapidly growing figure flying towards them.



"D-Duo?"  The voice was laden with confusion.  "What--?"

"Later, Kurama," Duo bit out, stumbling to his feet, and cursing as legs that had fallen 
asleep protested against the movement.  "We have to get out of here now!"

The wind, stirred by the dragon's flight, brought with it the crisp smell of mountain pine 
and the sharper, more pungent smell of sulfur and brimstone.

The redhaired merboy jerked his head up, eyes locking onto the magnificent black dragon
heading towards their resting place.

Duo tugged on his arm, already halfway in the water, tail twitching behind him in
agitation.

"Let's _go_ Kurama!"

Sharp crimson eyes met startled emerald ones.

For one moment, time seemed to stop.

* * * * *

Hiei cocked his head, staring intently at the small island below.  He could've sworn he'd
seen--there it was!  Contrasting sharply with the pale yellow sand and the darker greys 
of water-smoothed rocks was a small splash of red.  Eyes narrowing, he winged closer,
trying to see what had caught his attention.  He sighed in disappointment as a previously
overlooked figure got up and ran for the water, calling for it's companion to follow it.



As he readied his wings to take him up higher, the small redhaired figure below raised
its head.

Hiei inhaled sharply, all thoughts of leaving forgotten as he stared at the impossibly
beautiful creature below.  Delicate, fine-boned features, flawless alabaster skin, and
the most fascinating green eyes he'd ever seen.  He hovered there, stunned, crimson gaze
locked on the slender form looking back at him with equal fascination.

Then the spell was shattered as the enchanting creature was dragged by its companion 
down into the depths of the ocean.

Hiei bit back a curse and dove down, hoping to catch one last glimpse of the fey youth,
but it was too late.  The redheaded beauty was gone.



* * * * *

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