Rescuing Hiei

Scene 14 ------------------------------------------- Tourin

* When Kurama steps out of the portal he finds the kits' "nursemaid" on the couch bouncing Yurama on a knee, making him laugh as Rozeme plays tug o'war with one of his feet. Raienma and Kazuma are mock fighting in the middle of the floor as usual.

Kurama- Goshinin, where is Yusuke?
Goshinin- He said he had to go do some Ruler stuff.

* Kurama nods. Rai and Kaz stop fussing with each other to sit and yip up at their Hogosha.

Kurama- You two fight nice, now... Oh, it doesn't matter who started it, Kaz. I know that you start enough of them as well...

* Rozeme forgets Goshinin's foot and hurries over to stand before Kurama in her kitsune form. Kurama squats down to look at her with a smile.

Kurama- Okay, Sweetie. Show Hogosha quickly...

* When the little girl holds one of her hands out, palm up, and forms a tiny ball of swirling blue energy Kurama's eyebrows shoot up. The redhead quickly grasps the hand and makes her gently release the energy.

Kurama- That is very good, Rozie... But you mustn't do that inside? Okay?

* Kurama shakes his head with a chuckle.

Kurama- No, you can't use it to burn your brothers... Okay, you go back and play with Goshinin.

* Kurama straightens back up to look at the babysitter.

Kurama- Has she done that before?
Goshinin- She showed me when I got here. I told her to show you when you came back... Most Toushin children begin experimenting around their age, M'Lord. It's nothing to be alarmed about.
Kurama- Considering who their Father is, I consider it a lot to be concerned about... Speaking of which, I need to go find him

* Goshinin nods as Kurama moves to tickle Yurama's belly a moment. The kitsune then leaves the personal quarters. After pausing outside the door with his eyes closed a moment, he knows where to find his mate. As he makes his way through the castle tower toward the throneroom he is greeted and respected by whatever staff, monk, or soldier he passes. When he enters the large open throneroom he finds Yusuke sitting in a very relaxed manner on the throne, listening to a couple of his subjects argue in front of him. Kurama knows his place and stays to the side, but he does raise his hand to hide an amused smile when Yusuke looks toward him and rolls his eyes. Finally he raises a hand and the two men immediately shut up.

Yusuke- Alright, I've heard enough from the two of you... You really wanna know what I think about all these d--- petty things between you two?

* Both men nod.

Yusuke- I think the two of you oughta go find a cave and screw each other silly... You're already fighting like an old married couple.

* Kurama looks away trying not to laugh. Both the Toushins blush beet red and glance timidly at each other.

Yusuke- Look, I'm serious... You two are in here like this in front of me every week now. Juda took my axe, Lugo won't give it back... Stupid petty stuff... You want my judgement, here it is... I now pronounce you officially a couple... Now get out of here.

* For a couple moments the two men look at each other. Finally the oldest one looks back up at Yusuke.

Juda- But... we are brothers, Sire.

* Now Kurama almost laughs out loud.

Yusuke- And this is a problem?

* Now the two demons look at each other again. After a couple moments they both shake their heads and dash out. Yusuke shakes his head and looks up at Hokushin.

Yusuke- Was I right or what??
Hokushin- I believe you were very correct, Sir.
Yusuke- Alright, I've heard enough today. reschedule the rest...
Hokushin- They were the last oneds for today anyway, Mr. Urameshi.
Yusuke- Okay. I'll spend some time with my own mate, now. Dismissed.

* Hokushin bows his head to Kurama as he passes him in leaving. When Yusuke motions Kurama goes over to sit on his lap.

Yusuke- Now, what can I do for you.. to you.. with you?
Kurama- Did you know that Rozie can form energy balls?
Yusuke- Sure. Who do you think showed the sprout how to do it?

* Kurama chuckles and lowers his eyes.

Yusuke- You didn't wander in here just to tell me that...
Kurama- I went up to see how the meeting went with Hiei and Shishi.
Yusuke- I hope there was lots of yelling and screaming and dragon feeding.

* Kurama raises his eyes to look at Yusuke again. What really bothers Kurama is that he can feel his mate's sincerity through their bond.

Kurama- Are you angry at Hiei, Shishi,.. or both?
Yusuke- Does it matter?

* Kurama looks away again.

Kurama- Yusuke,... There's something that Hiei said during the meeting... It bothers me... I think Koenma knew what it was that he meant...
Yusuke- I've heard enough half stories today, 'Rama. Lay it out for me.
Kurama- Hiei knows that he has.. 'wronged you', to put it in his words. It's something that has to do with the twins... Some Fire Demon custom...
Yusuke- You know that I've been studying both Fire and Ice cultures. Prreparing myself to know how to properly claim Hiei when the time came...
Kurama- Yes, Yusuke.. But I don't think you'll be needing those studies.

* Yusuke lifts Kurama from his lap as he stands. Kurama watches him move away to look out over his territory. Mentally the kitsune informs his mate about Hiei's claim mark on Shishi. For several moments, the silence in the throneroom is deafening. Kurama lowers his eyes.

Kurama- I'm sorry, Yusuke... I just don't know where we go from here... I wanted Hiei here with us as much as you did... But I don't think I'm willing to take Shishi out to do so.

* Now Yusuke half turns to look at Kurama.

Yusuke- It wouldn't be your place to do that.
Kurama- If you do that... you kill the innocent child, also... Do you think Hiei would accept that? Would you be willing to assert your dominance over him? Put him under the same thumb he's been under nearly his whole...
Yusuke- No!!

* Yusuke turns to glare at Kurama a couple moments. The kitsune knows that he won't hurt him, though, so he just stands his ground. Finally Yusuke turns away and slams a fist against the stone wall near the window, denting it.

Kurama- Hiei already sounds as if he's preparing himself to make a hard enough decision concerning the twins, as it is...

* Kurama goes quiet as he watches Yusuke begin to pace around the large empty room. He feels Yusuke's mind going a mile a minute on trying to figure out what information he's learned that would concern this situation. When he can't come up with anything he yanks out his compact communicator to page Koenma. The look on the Toddler's face in the mirror is unsurprised.

Koenma- Yusuke.
Yusuke- I need to know what this custom is that Hiei's referring to, Junior.
Koenma- I figured Kurama would tell you...
Yusuke- You know what he's talking about.

* Koenma slowly nods.

Koenma- It's my job to know these things, Yusuke!
Yusuke- Then can your hissy fit and tell me.
Koenma- Do you realize what a busy baby I am, Yusuke?!
Yusuke- I get the baby part... Don't make me come up there and ground your a--!

* Koenma whimpers a moment.

Yusuke- It concerns my boys, Koenma. I need to know. If he's going to kill them or some s--- like that I...
Koenma- No. It's nothing like that, Yusuke.

* Koenma sighs deeply.

Koenma- I won't go into all the details of the custom. Briefly it simply states that if a mated demon leaves his first and has... an affair, if you will, with another... There are two stipulations... First, if no children are involved between the mated pair, then the Alpha has the right to anul the mating... If children were produced by the mated pair, then the affair took place, then the Alpha has the right to take the unfaithful mate's life... and he must take the children to raise himself.

* For several moments Yusuke stares at the mirror.

Yusuke- And how the h--- does that drabble have anything to do with this mess??! Hiei and I weren't properly mated...
Koenma- Yusuke, at this point our little friend's thoughts are so jumbled... I think he's just trying to grasp at anything to try to... attone for things he was made to do... I think Shishi was able to get through to him a little... Right now, all we can do is be patient and try to just help him as best we can.
Yusuke- So you're telling me.. that in his mind he thinks we were mated?
Koenma- I think you two need to talk... But I'm not sure if Hiei's ready for it... I was just getting ready to go visit him again. I'll let you know more after I figure out what's in his mind.
Yusuke- Yeah. You do that.

* Yusuke slams the mirror shut, then turns to glance back at Kurama.

Yusuke- I.. I think there's only one way to get Hiei out of that mindset. I have to convince him somehow that we were never properly mated.
Kurama- If you do that... it will leave him free to better accept his situation with Shishi.

* Yusuke shakes his head.

Yusuke- I'm not ready to accept the fact that we've lost Hiei altogether, yet... There has to be a way to fix this mess.

* Kurama watches Yusuke start toward the door.

Kurama- (Quietly) Am I not a good enough mate for you?

* Yusuke freezes. When he turns back and sees how Kurama avoids his eyes he blurs back to embrace Kurama tightly. Words don't need to be spoken as Kurama feels the deepness of their bond surging around them. Yusuke feels Kurama's regret for the words he spoke and catches him with a deep kiss to let him know he's forgiven.