Life Goes On

Major warning for this scene!! If you're squeamish, please read cautiously!!

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Scene 11 ------------------------------------------- Kurai's Hideout

* For the past couple days Ryuji has managed to keep Yukina and Kasaba well cared for, having 'convinced' Kurai that keeping the ice maiden happy encourages her to produce her jewels. The plan has worked well up until earlier this morning when the blood demon had been contacted by the one who hired him to capture yukina in the first place. When Ryuji is summoned into Kurai's dark living quarters today, he finds the rogue leader alone and relaxing on his daybed. Kurrai is clothed in his 'feeding' yukata. Ryuji sighs silently, conflictingly anticipating and dreading the reason for him being summoned. Kurai looks toward the fire demon calmly.


Kurai- Relax, Ryuji.. Please come.


* Ryuji forces himself to stay calm as he goes over to stand before Kurai. The blood demon takes a last, long drag on whatever he's smoking, then hands the joint up to Ryuji.


Ryuji- You know I don't...

Kurai- Dispose of it for me.


* Ryuji takes the joint. He watches Kurai's lip curl to show his fangs excitedly as he disposes of the joint with a quick flash of fire. Ryuji smirks.


Ryuji- Was it good for you, Master?


* The blood demon gives a hissing chuckle as he scoots up to sit on the edge of the daybed, placing his legs on each side of Ryuji's legs.


Kurai- Tell me, Ryuji..


* Kurai begins to move one of his clawed hands calmly up one of Ryuji's legs, working it up under the hem of the longer, black robe that Ryuji's wearing. Kurai gets lost in the contact until Ryuji speaks up.


Ryuji- What do you wish me to tell you, Kurai?

Kurai- Did I win you to my side.. through deceit?


* Ryuji hesitantly looks back down at the handsome demon.


Ryuji- No, you did not.


* The fire demon barely flinches when Kurai suddenly clenches his hand, digging his claws into his upper thigh. The blood demon's look of lust turns to one of controlled anger.


Kurai- Then why have you deceived me?!


* Ryuji feels the trickle of blood begin to roll down his leg.


Ryuji- How have I done this?


* Kurai lowers his eyes as his nostrils catch the enticing scent of Ryuji's blood.


Kurai- Because you came to me of your own will..


* Ryuji lifts one of his hands, distracting the lusty blood demon, to calmly seperate the velcro that holds his robe shut . Kurai's dark eyes follow the hand that slowly reveals Ryuji's toned body to his view until he sees one of the rivulets of blood. He raises his piercing black eyes once more to meet Ryuji's intense, red ones. Ryuji watches the vampiric demon lean to lap up the thin stream of his blood.


Kurai- Because you came to my side so.. willingly.. I left your will intact..

Ryuji- What makes you doubt my loyalty now, Master?


* Many such 'missions' have given the fire demon much experience in keeping his cool in situations that begin to get 'tight' such as this. Kurai eases his grip and slowly laps up the rest of Ryuji's blood until the wounds he'd caused quickly heal once more.


Kurai- It's come to my.. knowledge,.. Ryuji.. that you have lied to me..

Ryuji- Concerning?


* Kurai moves his hand up to cup Ryuji's balls.


Kurai- Concerning.. our koorime b----..


* Ryuji closes his eyes as Kurai inserts his thumb's claw into his scrotum slowly, just enough to draw a bead of blood there.


Ryuji- H-how.. have I..?

Kurai- Well, for one.. A koorime's tears make those jewels we've been stockpiling..


* Ryuji swallows, bracing himself, then looks back down at Kurai.


Ryuji- Why should it matter how..?

Kurai- (Quietly) Tell me,.. my friend..


* Kurai slowly laps his tongue over the fire demon's jewels. Ryuji allows himself to shiver visibly in another attempt to distract the blood feaster. Kurai grins.


Kurai- Tell me what you do to.. make the pretty girl cry.. while I have kept her safe and protected.


* Ryuji closes his eyes to think about his answer when Kurai uses his hand to return the distraction tactics on him with more slow fondling. When Ryuji is sufficiently lost in thought Kurai strikes quickly, sinking his fangs right into Ryuji's fermeral artery. Almost immediately, the fire demon's hidden jagan begins to react in defense, but Ryuji regains control of it. He doesn't want Kurai to become aware of its existance just yet. Ryuji feels the third eye relax, but stay open. 'Wait, jagan.. monitor him and.. snap me loose once he is sure he has me..' Slowly, Ryuji allows the blood demon to take control of him, confident in the strength and loyalty of his hidden protector. At Kurai's mental order, Ryuji's knees buckle and he collapses into the blood demon's arms. Kurai situates him down on the daybed beside him, then straddles his lithe form. He grins when he sees that Ryuji's eyes are clouded over.


Kurai- Umm.. Playing possom, are we?


* Kurai licks the trace of blood from his fangs. Ryuji doesn't move.


Kurai- You've seen what I can do to my.. meals..


* Kurai leans to look down at Ryuji.


Kurai- Come on, Ryu.. We both know that I'm not strong enough to take you completely like I do others.


* Now Ryuji slowly grins and shakes his head to clear it. He then raises his head to glare at Kurai.


Ryuji- Do you really want to play this game with me, Kurai?


* The blood demon chuckles lustfully as he relaxes onto one hip.


Kurai- It worked long enough to get you where I wanted you.


* Ryuji lifts one of his hands to run it through Kurai's long, straight, reddish-black strands.


Ryuji- (Quietly) You know you only had to ask me to.. lay down..


* Kurai sighs as he looks away from those intense red eyes he was falling into.


Kurai- I was a little upset when I learned that you lied to me..

Ryuji- I never lied to you.


* Kurai's obsidian eyes flash as he meets Ryuji's gaze again.


Kurai- You said I had to keep that b---- and the halfbreed safe...!

Ryuji- Yes.. And you still do.

Kurai- Look, Ryu, I understand that you're new to this rogue-for-hire business so let me give you a tip.. Never fall for the projects you're paid to catch for someone else..

Ryuji- I got a tip for you, too, Kurai..


* Ryuji uses his renewed strength to flip the blood demon onto his back and pins him to the daybed easily. Kurai actually chuckles.


Kurai- Umm, now who's playing games?

Ryuji- This is serious, Kurai.. I need to know who hired you to catch this ice maiden.

Kurai- What? Why should that matter to you?


* Ryuji glowers down into Kurai's dark eyes, contemplating how much he should reveal to him. While Kurai is a notorious blood demon, a species not renowned for even temperament or plentious mercy, Ryuji has come to respect the abilities of this particular one in the past two months since being sent to infiltrate this group.


Kurai- Something I need to know, Ryu?


* Kurai's tone of concern returns Ryuji's attentions to him.


Ryuji- Kurai, do you even have a clue about who that ice maiden is?

Kurai- I know only that she is going to be turned over to the guy that hired us to catch her for a h--- of a lot of money..

Ryuji- Is money worth more to you than your own life?


* Kurai scrunches his brow.


Kurai- Are you.. threatening me?

Ryuji- I happen to know Yukina's twin brother.. If you think I'm a pain in the a-- to handle when I'm angry.. you wouldn't last a couple seconds against Lord Hiei..

Kurai- L-Lord.. Hiei?


* Kurai shoves Ryuji back and raises up onto an elbow.


Kurai- Lord M-Mukuro's.. B-b-but how do you..?!

Ryuji- Yes. How do I know him?! That's not important..

Kurai- The h--- it ain't!


* Ryuji smirks with smile as an idea blossoms in his calculating mind.


Ryuji- I'll make a deal with you.. If you give up the name of the b------ that hired you to catch her, I just might be able to talk Lord Hiei into sparing you when he gets here.


* Kurai swallows as he grows a couple shades paler than he already was.


Kurai- Ah, s---.. I'm toast on a spit, Ryu.. I don't have any idea what his name is.. A guy called me while I was having a drink over at the bar.. He told me I'd be paid very well by.. his boss.. if I caught that demoness..

Ryuji- Anything about why he wanted this particular one? Or was he just wanting any demon in general?

Kurai- He gave me her name and told me she was a koorime.. Oh, he did say his boss needed her to lure somepne else back into his region...


* Ryuji sits up away from Kurai, remembering what all he can about his half brother's ordeal a couple years ago. Kurai jerks upright beside him with a hiss and Ryuji closes his eyes. He'd momentarily forgotten about the blood's ability to read minds.


Kurai- Your half brother?! Lord Hiei?!!

Ryuji- (Sighs) Yes.

Kurai- Then the koorime b----...!


* Ryuji glances a growl at his partner.


Ryuji- Hn! She's my half sister. Her and Lord Hiei are the result of my d--- father's.. lack of control and.. indescretion..

Kurai- Oh h---, Ryu! Why didn't you say something before?!


* Ryuji looks at Kurai again.


Ryuji- D--- it, Kurai.. I can't tell you every little thing.. You're the one that's supposed to be the brains around here!

Kurai- Then you think Lord Hiei is on his way here?


* Ryuji lowers his eyes, then raises a hand to rub his forehead that's beginning to thump.


Ryuji- His jagan will find Yukina.. We need to move her and the boy away from here, though.. You can't let.. your client.. have her.

Kurai- Ryu, I've already been paid..


* Ryuji turns to look into the blood demon's obsidian eyes seriously.


Ryuji- Kurai, your life is in serious danger here.. If you will forget about this.. mystery guy.. and do what I say I can go and reason with Hiei.. Or you can follow the guy's directions and forfeit your life..

Kurai- Now, I like half of that idea..

Ryuji- Half?

Kurai- Yeah.. You go and head your nuisance brother off..

Ryuji- I preferred the whole plan. So do you.

Kurai- I do? I thought you were giving me options.

Ryuji- I was being sarcastic.


* Kurai shrugs.


Kurai- Everything you say sounds sarcastic.


* Ryuji rolls his eyes and stands.


Ryuji- Get some stuff together for travelling.. I'll go get Yukina and Kasaba.


* Kurai watches Ryuji head for the door.


Kurai- I thought you said I was the leader and the brains here.


* Ryuji pauses then turns to look back at Kurai. After a moment, the blood demon gives a quiet, growly snarl.


Kurai- Fine! I just got one last question.. If Lord Hiei is that boy's grandfather.. does that make him our grand nephew?


* Ryuji stares incredulously at Kurai then leaves with an exasperated grunt followed by Kurai's chuckling laughter.