The Meikai War

Chapter10
The goddess of love knelt by a spring and hummed to herself as she picked wild flowers and wove them into a wreath. She didn’t stop in her work as a shadow fell over her shoulder.

"Why," asked Inari looking down at Aphrodite’s golden head bowed in her work.

"Why is a question for many things, dear Inari," she said.

"Why did you do it? Why does Suoh love me?"

She looked over her shoulder at him then went back to the flowers. "Many creatures love you Inair. Why question me about the love of this one? You never showed any interest in their affections before, why ask about this one‘s heart."

"This one is different," said Inari.

"Is it? Or perhaps you are different." She finished her flower weaving and looked at the prefect crown of petals.

"Don’t play with me Aphrodite. You don’t know what I’ve been through. I want an answer. Why did you make Suoh love me?!"

"I didn’t make him love you," said Aphrodite.

"You did too!" shouted Inari.

"Don’t be silly Inari, gods can not lie." She got up and places the wreath of flowers on his head. "I didn’t make Suoh love you, I gave him a choice and he choose to love."

"Why," whispered Inari.

"Once again with the whys," smiled Aphrodite. "When I first set out to create a ryu like Suoh it wasn’t for you, dear Inari. I wanted to teach the gods what it means to love, I wanted to teach Aresism to love."

"You made Suoh for Aresism," breathed Inari.

"Why are you so shocked? Suoh is very much like Aresism, a warrior at heart. I looked for a Dragon with power and strength and one with wisdom and courage: Suoh and Sunoo’s ryu parents. I wanted to make a ryu that would be prefect for Aresism, one that would teach him to love. But... he only desired Suoh and never loved him." She sat back down and dipped her feet in the spring. "Aresism seems to be incapable of feeling love."

"He was born before you, your powers don’t effect him," said Inari.

Aphrodite laughed and looked back at Inari. "My dear Inari, love has been around far longer then I."

"But you’re the-"

"I know, goddess of love. I only manage it, and not very tightly at that. Love should be unpredictable, it makes it more wonderful that way."

"You mean more frightening," said Inari.

"Perhaps a little of both?" she smiled up at him.

"I don’t understand. Why would you allow, let along give, another a choice to love your betrothed?"

Aphrodite turned her back to him and began picking flowers for another wreath. "Perhaps.... I wanted you to feel love too."

Inari stared long at her back as her slender fingers worked on the flowers. Without another word he turned and left.

* * * * * * * * * *
Inari watched the roof of the Hall of Challenge nervously. Would Suoh appear? It hadn’t been long since he’d last seen the ryu, the night he’d forced him. Had the ryu recovered from the injuries he’d given him?

His eyes remained fixed on the roof, he held his breath as the black ryu clan entered; Suoh was not among them. Inari felt his heart beating madly in his chest. Had he injured Suoh so much the black was unable to attend?

"Inari are you okay?" asked Volcanus noticing his friends distress.

Inari tried to answer, but he couldn’t, his throat seemed to have closed up on him.

A low confused rumble ran through those gathered.

"What is that ryu doing?" asked Volcanus looking over Inari’s shoulder.

Inari turned around and didn’t know if he should be happy or not. Suoh stood in the hall leading to the gathering room. He *walked* in to take his place with the rest of his clan. Inari’s eyes fixed on the ryu’s wing, the one he’d broke, the one that was still broken. Of course, the ryu had been unable to enter from the roof he couldn’t fly with only one good wing. But, why had the ryu come? An injured ryu was allowed not to attend the challenges. It would be unfair to force a ryu to fight at less then 100%.

When the silver fox god managed to tear his eyes off of Suoh’s bandaged wing, he looked down the rest of the ryu. The cuts and bruises were all gone; the only injury to remain from that night was the wing.

Inari couldn’t take his eyes off the little black ryu. He wanted to speak to Suoh, he want to tell him he was... sorry for what he’d done. Inari chewed his lip, he a god, sorry?! To a mortal no less?! What was wrong with him?

* * * * * * * * * *
Rouin landed on the cold aqua blue floor and at once was greeted by Chi, his mate. His mate! He still couldn’t believe it, she’d expected. It had been so easy! She’d returned his love almost at once, of course, she still liked to give him a few good whacks every now and then. He didn’t mind, he considered then love-bashes. Although, some times he did wish Chi would show her affection in a different way.

"I missed you," said Rouin hooking an arm around her waist. One hand sneaked down to grab her butt.

Slap!

Rouin rubbed the red hand print on his cheek. "Good to see you missed me too."

"Later," she hissed at him.

Rouin smiled. "You promise?"

Chi snorted and rubbed her forehead as if she was developing a headache. Rouin smiled and pulled her back against him, this time it was only a tender embrace. Rouin was very hopeful that they would have a cub soon. Of course, most ryu partners were together several hundred years before they produced offspring, but Rouin just wasn’t that patient. Chi was pretty eager to have one as well.

A low whisper ran through the crowd and Rouin’s eyes widened as he saw Suoh walk through the ground entrance. His eyes landed on the still broken wing. Stupid! What are you doing Suoh?

The smaller ryu took his place among his clan. Rouin moved to stand next to him.

"Suoh, what are you doing here? You’re not fully healed yet," said Ruoin in a low growl.

"I am healed enough to fight, I have no excuse not to come."

"Heal enough to fight?! Suoh you couldn’t even fly here. You’re going to get hurt even more. Is that want you want? Do you want to die Suoh?!"

Chi placed a hand on his shoulder and tried to calm him down, she had a worried look on her face.

"What does it matter," said Suoh turning and looking way from Rouin. "Dragons are only mortal, we’ll all die some day."

Rouin was blown away by the ryu’s answer. He followed the smaller ryu’s eyes and spotted Inari. Rouin saw red. This was all that spoiled brat of a god’s fault! He’d hurt the little ryu so deeply that Suoh no longer valued his own life was taking stupid risks! It seemed that the silver fox held some kind of power over Suoh.

‘Because I... love him,’ echoed Rouin’s memory. Rouin’s hands tightened into fists at his sides. How dares he? How dare he?! How dare he play with Suoh’s feelings! Uncaring, unfeeling bastard!

Rouin couldn’t concentrate on the fights or what was being said. All he could see was Inari looking at Suoh with what in his eyes? Desire? No doubt the bastard was think of all the things he’d done to Suoh, making him bleed, whimper... cry.

Rouin’s eyes reflected his own desire, desire for Inari’s blood. No one hurt a member of the black ryu clan and just walks away.

Enma called for another challenge and to everyone’s surprise it was Rouin Ryu that stepped forward; a ryu issuing a challenge, it was unheard of.

"Inari! I challenge you!" roared the ryu no longer able to hide his rage.

"Rouin! What are you doing?!" hissed Suoh at him.

"I’m defending your honor," said Rouin stepping out.

"No! No Rouin! I didn’t ask you to. Rouin!" shouted Suoh, but his words fell on deaf ears. To Rouin there was only he and Inari now, nothing else mattered.

Inari snapped his gaze up from looking at Suoh as his name was called out in challenge. Challenge? A dragon was challenging him; and it wasn’t even Suoh. Inari looked into the angry eyes of a black dragon, Rouin, the one that had found Suoh that night. The black’s brown eyes were so intense that Inari thought he would drown in him. This ryu was enraged beyond words.

Inari stepped forward. He couldn’t turn down a fight he was honor bond to except just as the ryus were.

"What do you want from me Rouin Ryu," said Inari in a calm voice.

Rouin growled. "To make you pay!"

Inari crouched down and reached for his swords. His hands landed on their hilts as Ruoin’s fist connected with his jaw. The fox god went flying back to crash on the ground. He winced at the electric pain that ran down his spine, what a powerful ryu!

"Get up!" snarled Rouin.

Inari looked with wide eyes at Rouin, the ryu didn’t even have any weapons he fought with his fists! In a flash Rouin was next to him and then Inari was in the air again as the ryu kicked him in the side. Rouin grabbed him before gravity had even kicked in and slammed him face first into the ground.

"Did you enjoy it?" growled Rouin.

Inari huffed in pain and once again his hands went to his swords. He cried out in pain as the ryu stomped on his back.

Rouin reached down and grabbed Inari by the leg he spun the fox god in a circle then let him go to tumble across the floor. Inari finally got his grip on his swords and drew them. He charged Rouin with precise swings of his blades. Rouin wasn’t as fast as Suoh, but he dodged with a skill that was unbelievable for someone his size. The ryu spread his wings and spun in a circle. One of Inari’s blades was ripped from his grip; a wing hit him painfully on the shoulder.

Rouin catch Inari by the front of his armor and raked his claws cross it, cutting clean through the armor like tin fold. He let go of Inari who fell back on the ground. Rouin was on top of him in an instant.

"Did you enjoy Suoh? His body?" snarled Rouin in a rough whisper inches away from his face. "Did you enjoy striking him?" Inari gasped as the Rouin began to rain down blows while sitting on his arms. The Rouin stopped and Inari turned his head to the side, his chest, shoulders, and face hurt all over. A trail of blood ran down the corner of his mouth. "Did you enjoy cutting him?!" asked Rouin holding his sharp claws up to Inari face.

The god’s eyes widened as the Rouin ran a nail lightly over his cheek, then drew back his hand, and whipped it across the god’s face. A thin red line opened on the fox god’s cheek and blood ran down his smooth skin.

The ryu snarled and raised up his hand again. Inari shut his eyes and braced himself for another assault.

"Rouin!"

The fox god opened his eyes as the pressure on his chest disappeared. He looked up to see Suoh standing over him.
"Su-Suoh?" he said in disbelief. The small black ryu ignored him.

"Suoh! What are you doing?!" said Rouin climbing back to his feet rubbing the side of his face.

"Back down Rouin, this isn’t your problem," said Suoh in an emotionless voice.

"Have you gone nuts Suoh! Why are you protecting him?! Any damage I inflict on that bastard will heal up with out a trace, which is less than what I can say for you. You have scars!"

"Back down Rouin or I will make you," said Suoh not moving from standing over Inari.

"No! I’m going to break whatever hold he has over you! Don’t get in my way Suoh!"

The smaller ryu growled and in a flash was in front of Rouin. He drew back his fist with a snarl and struck Rouin in the chest. The bigger black took a step back, shock written on his face before it hardened.

"Suoh, don’t make me fight you," said Rouin in a serious voice.

"Back down and you won’t have to," said Suoh in an equally serious voice.

"No," said Rouin. "Not till I’ve paid him back for every thing he did to you."

"It’s not your fight!" screamed Suoh.

"Yes it is! I care about you Suoh and if I have to go through you to free you I will!"

Inari watched as both ryus screamed: dark fire sparked around Suoh and black lightening flashed around Rouin. He’d never seen Suoh in the full glory of his fire before; it danced about him, caressing his slender form. However, it was easy to see that Rouin was the stronger by the sheer size of his aura. To make matters worse Inari was fairly sure the larger black was holding back a lot of his strength.

With a roar the two clashed. They were so fast that Inari almost couldn’t see them. Their auras mixed and hide them in waves of black. Some times Inari could only catch a brief glimpse of them as they fought.

Why? What was Suoh fighting for him? Why was he protection him?! It didn’t make sense; none of this made sense!

Blood dripped from the two as they backed off a moment breathing hard. They both had bloody claw marks all up and down their bodies.

Both ryus tensed and Inari knew they were going to continue.

"Stop it!" screamed the fox god, but both ryus seemed not to hear; the blood rage had taken them.

There was a flash of gold and the fight stopped dead.

Ryuujin now stood between the two. One massive hand wrapped completely around Suoh holding him off the ground and firmly pinning his arms down, the other hand pressed against Rouin’s chest holding him back.

"Stop both of you. There is no reason for you two to fight each other. Rouin go back to your mate," said Ryuujin. There was no anger in his voice; he even smiled at the taller black ryu.

Rouin backed away, his eyes wandered to Suoh held tight in Ryuujin’s grip.

"Don’t worry," said the Golden Ryu.

Trust the Golden Ryu Rouin bowed and did as he was told, going back over to Chi who licked at a cut on his neck in sympathy for his injuries.

Suoh hung limply in Ryuujin’s hand unwilling to fight the Golden Ryu. Ryuujin turned still holding Suoh and looked straight at Inari. The fox god’s breath caught and held in his throat as he locked gazes with the King ryu’s twin golden orbs. He felt like the ryu was looking right through him, burning holes in him with that piercing gaze. There were no secrets he could hide, no truths the gold dragon couldn’t steal from him with a mere look. Inari didn’t even realize he was shaking still Ryuujin looked away.

"Suoh," said the Golden Ryu moving the small ryu to perch on his arm like a pet bird, still keeping hold of Suoh’s arms with the same hand the ryu perched on. Ryuujin smiled fondly at the ryu who seemed too ashamed to look him in the face.

The Golden Ryu took hold of Suoh’s chin and forced the ryu’s head up. "Suoh, I can see that you will play an important rule in the future. I can not, however, see how things will end, it is unclear to me. You must always follow your heart, listen to it no matter what happens."

The Golden Ryu lifted his wings and wrapped them around them, shielding them from the eyes of all present. There was a flicker of movement as Suoh’s good wing snapped up, as if the black ryu was struggling. Ryuujin dropped his wings, Inari’s eyes widen, several gasps sounded for those gathered. Ryuujin was kissing Suoh, and it wasn’t an innocent peek on the cheek. Ryuujins still held Suoh’s arms pinned, this other hand held the ryu’s chin tight as he kissed him deeply. For a moment, Inari thought the ryu’s black scales glittered gold, but he couldn’t be sure it wasn‘t simply a trick of the light.

Finally Ryuujin pulled slowly away and as he did golden vapor seemed to drift from both ryus’ lips. Ryuujin pushed Suoh’s chin up stopping the flow of golden mist from escaping the young ryu‘s lips.

"Swallow," commanded Ryuujin so low Inari doubted any one but he and Suoh heard it. Suoh obediently did. The cuts that marred Suoh glimmer gold and faded as if vanished from by the Golden Ryu. Ryuujin reached up, tore the bandages off the ryu’s wing, and lowered him to the ground. Suoh hopped down and looked back at Ryuujin, there was a look of fear in his ruby eyes.

"Don’t worry Suoh," said Ryuujin patting the ryu’s spiky hair. "I’ll let you two work it out," with that Ryuujin turned and walked back to the ryu’s side to stand by himself, after a moment of hesitation Suoh Ryu walked back to stand next to Rouin.

Inari slowly got up and walked back to stand next to Aphrodite and Volcanus. What had Ryuujin just done to Suoh?

* * * * * * * * * *
Suoh sat by himself leaning his back up against a bolder.

"Suoh," called a deep male voice. Suoh closed his eyes as a pair of strong arms pulled him away from the rock to lean against a powerful chest.

"Why? Why did you stop me? Do you hate me now?" asked Rouin.

"Never hate you Rouin," said Suoh not opening his eyes. "Never."

"You know he’s just using you. You said so yourself that you could never be more to him then a plaything."

"I know," said Suoh.

"Then why, why do you care about him?"

"I don’t know. I just do," said the smaller ryu.

"But, he hurt you," whispered Rouin.

"I know, but I still feel the same." The smaller ryu shivered and pressed tighter to Rouin’s chest. "I’m scared."
"Suoh if you stay with me and Chi at our territory then Inari can’t-"

"No! I’m not afraid of Inari, at least not in the same way. It’s Ryuujin. When he kissed me I felt something strange."

"The tongue?" asked Rouin.

Suoh snapped his burning gaze up and grabbed Rouin around the throat giving him a few good shakes. "Baka! That’s not what I’m talking about."

"Wah! I get enough of this from Chi, Suoh!" protested Rouin as his head flopped back and forth.

Suoh glared at him.

"Well, what was it then if it wasn’t the tongue?"

Suoh blushed. "I think I swallowed part of him."

Rouin raised an eyebrow his face was easy to read.

"Stop thinking perverted thoughts! It felt like he breathed a part of himself inside of me! And, it’s scaring the crap out of me because I have no idea why he would do that!"

"Didn’t he do it to heal you?" asked Rouin. He touched one of the slash on his arms, it had long ago closed and was already healing cleanly.

Suoh shook his head. "No, Ryuujin’s powers are far too advanced for him to have to breath his life force in me to heal my wounds. Obviously part of it do go to healing my injuries, but the other part... hell I don’t know what the other part did. I think it’s still sitting in my stomach."

"Stomach?" said Rouin. He smiled widely. "Maybe Ryuujin’s got a thing for little black ryus?" he nudged Suoh in the ribs. "I don't know a dragon alive that wouldn't kill for a golden cub."

"Oh grow up!" growled Suoh.

Rouin!" growled Chi walking over to them with Sunoo following. "There you are! What’s the idea of going off and just leaving me like that?! Oh-" she said spotting Suoh. "Are we interrupting something?"

"No," said Suoh before Rouin could speak. "He was just leaving to go find you."

"I was?" said Rouin.

"Really?" asked Chi.

"Um- yah!" said Rouin getting up and going over to her. "I was just about to go find you."

Chi glared at him not so sure he was telling the truth. She looked back at Suoh. "Will you be okay?"

"I’ll be fine," said Suoh.

"Don’t worry I’ll stay with him," said Sunoo.

"I said I’d be fine," said Suoh. "I don’t need a babysitter," he grumbled under his breath.

"Do you want me to leave?" asked Sunoo in a slightly hurt voice.

"NO!" shouted Suoh. "No stay, please," he said. The Golden Ryu forbid he should ever hurt his sweet twin's feelings.

"Well you two have fun. Me and Chi are going to have some fun of our own," grinned Rouin. Without another word he grabbed Chi and flung her over his shoulder.

"Rouin no baka! You put me down right now!" shouted Chi from his shoulder.

Rouin laughed and walked away with the still struggling Chi over his shoulder.

Both dragon twins had blank looks on their faces as they watched the pair go.

Once they could no longer hear Chi’s voice yelling at Rouin, Sunoo giggled into her hand.

"He better not walk by Chi’s clan like that or they’ll toast him," said Suoh.

Sunoo pulled off her sea green and white robs and when finshied tugged on Suoh’s black and white ones. "You’ve still got blood all over you. Come wash it off."

Suoh sighed and began undoing the ties of his clothing.

* * * * * * * * * *
Inari pushed Volcanus’s hands way as the fire god tried to help him.

"Inari, don’t be stubborn. You many be immortal, but you can still feel pain."

"I do not need your help," said the fox god rubbing a nasty bruise on his arm. The fox god got up and started walking away.

"Wait Inari! I can get someone to heal you," said Volcanus.

The fox god shook his head. "These wounds are nothing," nothing compared to what I did to Suoh, add the god silently to himself. He left the fire god and entered Dragon Springs.

Why? Why did Suoh care about him? And, just what did he feel for Suoh? True he still wanted the ryu sexually, but now.... Now he never wanted to see the ryu in pain again. Never wanted to see the fire die in those flaming red eyes. Never wanted the ryu to lose that little smirk, that confident air about him. Never wanted to see Suoh tamed.

Tamed, if I no longer wanted to tame Suoh then just what do I want from the dragon? He’ll never willingly be my mount, not without some kind of pact. That is, if Suoh ever lets me never him again. But, if I want the ryu to remain as he is, wild and untamed, then how can I make him mine? Collaring Suoh would surely break him, strangly I no longer wanted the ryu submit. I wanted a partner, not a servant.

"I’m thinking of him as an equal when he is not," whispered Inari. Or was Suoh? Inari’s an immortal, Suoh’s not. Inari is worshiped and revered as a powerful entity, Suoh, although powerful, is his own creature, belonging to no one and no one belonging to him. Inari’s power’s were given to him by birth, Suoh has to work and toil for his. Suoh had a warm heart that felt love and Inari... was he even capable of love? Aphrodite had said Aresism was incapable of love, but she hadn’t said if he was. Did he- could he possible love Suoh in return?

No! That isn’t possible! I’m a god, Suoh is a ryu. It could never happen, what would the other gods think of him loving a mortal?! What do I care about what they think? Inari asked himself. He shouldn’t care, what could they possible do to hurt him? He was one of them, a true god; he could do as he pleased. With that in mind Inari walked towards that one spring near the edge of Dragon springs, the one Suoh and his twin always went to.

His breath caught in his throat as he saw them there as they always had been before: Sunoo and Suoh. His eyes locked on the lean black ryu with longing.

Oh, how he wanted to speak to Suoh. Wanted to tell him everything, wanted to applause, wanted to tell him just how he felt about the ryu, wanted to tell him he loved him back. Inari couldn’t take it he had to tell the ryu. The silver fox god stood up and walked into view of the two ryus.

The look of shock on their faces was priceless. Sunoo hurried over and embrace her dragon twin, looking over her shoulder at him with a mixture of fear and determination to protect her kin.

"Inari," spoke Suoh in a dull voice with an emotionless mask and eyes that didn’t burn with their normal red fire.

No, thought Inari. I don’t want you to hurt, don’t look at me with lifeless eyes Suoh. Curse me, hate me, but don’t lose your spirit because of me.

"Suoh can I speak to you, alone," he glanced at the petite white ryu hugging him.

"Sunoo," said Suoh pushing her off of him.

"No!" protested the white ryu. "I’m staying."

"You have nothing to fear, he can’t do anything because of the agreement.”

“But-”

“ This is the best time to speak openly and freely to him. Please Sunoo… please go."

The white ryu hesitated for a moment then bowed her glossy black head. "Are you sure?" she whispered.

"Yes."

"Very well." Sunoo got up and left glancing back over her shoulder once before disappearing from sight.

"What do you want, fox god," said Suoh turning his head so he didn’t have to look Inari in the face.

Inari was silent for a very long time, now that he was here he couldn’t say it! He just could say those simple words; couldn’t tell the ryu just how much he meant to him. "Suoh...." whispered Inari. The black ryu turned his head and looked at him with those dull red eyes. Inari felt his legs moving forward before his mind registered the move. He didn’t even care as he stepped into the shallow part of the spring and walked over to the black ryu. "Suoh," he repeated touching the ryu’s face and moving his own closer. His lips found the ryu’s in a tender light kiss. "I’m sorry, Suoh," he breathed against the ryu’s mouth moving down to kiss him again. Inari pulled back to look at the ryu’s face, there! He could see it again that red fire, burning in Suoh’s eyes. Just as quickly the fire faded and Suoh turned his head to the side.

"Don’t Inari, don’t play with me like that," said the ryu in a low voice.

"I’m not playing with you Suoh." Inari’s eyes raked down the ryu, Rouin had said Suoh still had scars, but he couldn’t see any on the ryu’s flawless scales. His hand moved up to the only article the ryu wore a simple, yet beautiful, cord of silver; his silver mane that the ryu had take so many years ago. Inari’s breath caught in his throat as the cord shifted about the ryu’s neck and he saw it; bit marks on the ryu’s white throat, two small puncture holes where his teeth had sunk in. Inari’s hand moved up to touch the scars. "I’m so sorry Suoh," said the fox god leaning down to kiss the scars. "I swear to you, that I shall never raise a hand to harm you ever again."

Inari felt the ryu go stiff and looked up into the ryu’s wide eyes, no longer dull, the fire was returning once again. "What new game are you playing now, fox god?"

"No game, you are no longer a game to me Suoh. I want you, but I want you to want me back. I want you to be mine by your own choice. I want you to choose me, Suoh."

"What are you saying Inari?" asked Suoh touching the fox god’s pale cheek.

Inari leaned into the ryu’s hand. "Be my partner, and I swear I shall never harm you, nor shall any collar grace your throat by my hand."

"A partnership," said Suoh. "I keep my freedom, but follow your orders?" asked Suoh narrowing his eyes at Inari.

"No, you keep your freedom and your right to choose, but we work together, we stay together."

Suoh looked up at the sky. "Your kind will never allow it. What would you do when faced with them?"

"I will fight them if I have to. I will do whatever it takes, Suoh, just stay with me."

The ryu looked at him, the corner of his mouth turned in an almost smile, and once more red fire danced in his burning glaze. "Very well then Inari, a partnership, but I can leave whenever I want as can you."

Inari smiled and pulled the ryu against him. "The Meikai has much to fear now that we are working together." He buried his face in the ryu’s soft black hair and breathed in his scent. "Will you come to me tonight and stay? Stay with me for the night and after?"

"No," said Suoh.

"No," repeated Inari his heart sinking a little.

Suoh pushed Inari away to look him in the eye. "No, because I am in heat. And, I don’t think you’d want to take responsibility for what would come from it."

"Oh," said Inari. "Are you very different when you’re in heat?" asked Inari eyes running up and down the dragon.

"I wouldn’t leave you alone till neither of us could move, ryu’s are known to breed for several days straight."

Inari shivered and pulled Suoh back to him. "It might be worth it," said the fox god stroking the ryu’s back.

"No," said Suoh simply, pulling away. "I will come to you after I leave Dragon Springs. Then we can discuss our partnership. Where shall I meet you?" Inari could tell that this discussion would include their professional and private relationship. He swallowed wondering if Suoh was thinking about permanently terminating the private.

"Come to my temple in the Reikai. I will be there."

"Very well, now go Inari. Before I change my mind," said Suoh.

Inari got up felling lost that Suoh had not yet forgiven him, but hopeful that they could work it out. "I look forward to our next meeting Suoh." Inari grabbed Suoh’s hand and kissed it. "Please do not keep me waiting too long."

Suoh nodded and pulled his hand away.

* * * * * * * * * *
Kuwabara shifted Kurama on his back. "I wonder if something is different. He was never out this long before."

Inari glanced back at the carrot top that carried the silver youko in human disguise.

Could Kurama be him? After so many years, would he reappear? Just what would that mean to him? Would things go back to the way they had once been? No, they couldn’t; never again could things be as they once were. He was no longer a kit nor Kaoru a cub. He was Inari now, the true fox god. But, what Inari really wonder was if he could ever forgive 'him'.

"Um.... Inari," said Yusuke. "Is it just me or have we been here before?"

The fox god frowned and cleared his throat. "Well...."

"We’re lost aren’t we!" shouted Yusuke."

The fox god sighed and nodded his head. "I must have taken a wrong turn some where. I haven’t visited these caves since I was a kit."

"But, we haven’t got time to be lost!" protested Botan. "Hiei’s kokuryuha attack is still loose in the Reikai."

"I know that ferry girl!" snapped Inari. "You mortal greatly misjudge us gods. We have special powers and cannot be killed, but we can make mistakes. We have made mistakes," whispered Inari more to himself then any one else. He shifted Hiei in his arms and started down another tunnel.

The others exchanged glances and hurried after the golden god.

TBC