If Only in My in Dreams

Note from Brian Lumley Companion: Dreamlanders, (or homo ephemerans as termed by Eldin the Wanderer) are humans native-born to the Dreamlands. They are generally smaller than men of the waking world, and supposedly have less forceful personalities. Often distinguished by the constant glazed-over look in their eyes , as if they are always looking at something very far away.

If Only in My Dreams Part Two By: boysluvcraft

I. Wild at Night

It had been a three weeks since Yusuke Urameshi left the waking-world behind. That is, three weeks in the Dreamland’s time, which passes differently and independently from time in the waking world. Some dreamers will dream all night but only spend a hand full of minutes in the Dreamlands. While others may spend a lifetime in dreams, then wake to find that only a few hours have passed.

There was no way of telling how much time had passed in the waking world since Yusuke, Hiei, and Kurama had descended into dreams, together. Their mission was simple, find Prince Koenma and bring him back. Ah, but things are not always so simple in dreams.

Yusuke had several difficulties since he had arrived in the dreamlands. One being that he had no idea where he was going. And another was that he had no money to get there. But things are often simpler in dreams, thus such petty concerns have a way of resolving themselves.

Money, as it turned out, was no problem at all. As he bounced from one village to another, he could always find some odd job he could do to make money for supplies. Yusuke, also, found that the dreamland natives are very friendly, and generous. The natives were so friendly, in fact, that if there were no openings at the inn, someone would invite him in to their home for a night or two.

Unfortunately, there would be no friendly farmers cottage for the Mazoku tonight. Tonight, his bed would be the cold earth, and his pillow was the rough bark of a tree stump. The only roof over his head, the starry Dreamland sky. He was currently wondering in some of the wilder regions of the Dreamlands. He’d been hoping to find a solution to his other problem. Namely, he had no idea where to go and what to do. He wouldn’t find a solution though. Because this problem was subsequent to a far greater problem, one that he didn‘t like to think about, but there was no avoiding it. He was alone.

He had descended into dreams with two other demons. He could remember it, however vaguely. After they passed Gates of Deeper Slumber, they just sort of washed away, as if by the tides.

Yusuke was not liking his solitude, which as odd because he was a bit of a loner back in the waking-world. Yusuke had vague memories from the waking world. He supposed he should consider him self lucky most dreamers lose their memories completely. Yes, he should consider himself luckily, but those foggy memories just made him feel lonely.

Kurama…. Yusuke’s recollection became confused about this one. His friend was a young, beautiful man at times, other times a he was a fox, and sometimes he was a mixture of the two. The images tend to bend and warp together in Yusuke‘s dream clouded mind. He had silver hair. Maybe it was red. Or was Yusuke’s memories dyeing it red to match the rose scent that was his fox-boy’s constant companion. Yusuke was sure of that, that his Kurama smelt of roses. The fox-boy made him feel warm, comfortable and safe.

Yusuke’s mental image of other man was crystal clear. The man had diminutive, yet powerful, and very sexy body. The thought of him set Yusuke a blaze with desire. Certainly there was something of a burning quality to that boy. Those fierce red eyes, and that jet black spiked hair with a starburst shock of white. A living embodiment of hellfire. Hiei….

If Kurama were here he would have a plan. If Hiei and Kurama were here, at least, Yusuke wouldn’t be alone.

Yusuke was a loner, he was good at it, but now he really wanted to be with his friends. He had heard once, that waking worlders have different personalities in dreams than in waking world. Maybe that’s way he’s suddenly longing for companionship. Or could it be that he had fallen in love with both of them?

Such were the demon boy’s thoughts as he lay, sleepless within sleep, in the wilds of dreams.

“Damn, I hate nature.” Yusuke muttered to himself as he shifted around, looking for a position that wouldn’t leave him sore by morning.

Yusuke steadily became aware that his discomfort had little to do with the lumpy ground. He was being watched. If he were a smart man, he’d lay still and pretend to be asleep. Be patient, see if his watchers lost interest. And if not….

In any case, Yusuke was seldom smart, never patient, and right now he was very grouchy.

Yusuke leapt to his feet. He shouted into the night, “Whoever the hell you are, you’d better show yourself! I swear, if I gotta friggen come looking for you--”

His rant was cut short, as a mass of black fur and legs sprang out from the darkness, toppling the detective. Yusuke quickly brought up his feet, and kicked the beast from off his person. Yusuke regained his feet. Unfortunately, the beast also regain it’s feet, all eight of them.

The creature before Yusuke, looked no different than a common spider. Except, it was the size of a Labrador. And it had six inch, needle fangs, which dripped a foul green fluid that bubbled and sizzled where it hit the ground.

“Great, and me without my bug spray,” Yusuke grinded out. “Well I guess this will have to do. Spirit-Gun!”

Nothing happened. “Damn it!” He cursed, then cursed again, the minute he heard scudded movement in the dark. Four more giant spiders emerged from the shadows.

“And he’s got friends, too.” They had him surrounded.

II. Met in the Morning.

The dawn found Yusuke stumbling into a small, remote township whose sign displayed the legend, “Haven”. But for what the boy had been though the night before, it may well have read, “Heaven”. Haven had only one main road, it was not paved. It hosted a modest row of shops and stalls, an inn, and a tavern. The last was Yusuke’s destination.

Before Yusuke even sat down, the barrel shaped Dreamlander behind the bar exclaimed, “Oi, what happened to you!” He was referring to Yusuke’s state of dishevel.
He was covered in dirt. His shredded clothes barely held onto his body. And his body was as mass bruises and shallow cuts.

“Huge friggen spiders,” Yusuke replied.

It took a moment before the man process that. Then, “Spider-hounds! My goodness, you were attacked by spider-hounds!” The man became a flurry of activity.

“Martha! Woman come out here!” He shouted.

Soon a small, round woman emerged from a door, grousing, “What you hollering for?” She saw Yusuke where he slumped at the bar. “My, goodness what happened here!” Her hands fluttered in the air, like wounded birds as she rushed over to the boy.

“Spider-hounds,” the man told her.

“Oh, goodness! Was he bit?”

“If he were bit, he wouldn’t have made it this far, now would he,” the man chided her.

“Suppose not,” she admitted. “Even without their bite, they’re still right nasty creatures.” She addressed Yusuke, “Oh, you poor dear. How in dreams did you get escape?”

“Escape?” Yusuke replied dully. “I just kept punching until they stopped coming.” There was no trace of his usual cockiness, he was far to tired for that.

The two dreamlanders stared at him for a long moment, before the man burst out in roaring laughter. “ Boy, you’re lucky to be alive, you know that. Wife, take this one upstairs and see to him.”

Yusuke held up his hands up in protest. “I’m fine, really.”

“You’re nearly naked, is what you are,” Mrs. Martha pointed out. “Now come along. Upstairs with you. We’ll have you fixed up in a jiff.”

Yusuke looked down at himself. He was nearly naked. Only his boots and wide leather belt remained intact. He allowed himself to be lead upstairs, where the round woman fused over him for the next hour or so. In short order, he had been cleaned and clothed.

Martha gave him a pair of black leather pants that fit like a glove. And a Forest Green shirt that fit him like a tent. It actually looked pretty stylish with the addition of his belt. They were hand-me-downs, but they looked great on him.

“Yusuke,” she had gotten his name out of him earlier, “I hate to ask this, but, um, when the spider-hounds came, were you alone?”

“Uh, yeah,” Yusuke wasn’t sure why the woman was asking him that.

She looked thoughtful, well as thoughtful as a Dreamlander can look. “These lands are dangerous, you know. The roads are haunted by ghasts, ghouls, and, gugs. All of which are terrible creatures that pray on the lone travelers. A boy like yourself should not be wandering around on his own.”

Great, this is just what a need, a lecture. Yusuke thought. I wonder what she’d say if I told her I was a demon.

As though she’d read his thoughts, “I’m not trying to lecture you. I know how you young, waking-worlders can be. You roam. You like to adventure. I’m just saying that you shouldn’t do it alone.”

She was right. That fact pissed Yusuke off to no end, but he could not deny that she was right. Even if he was a demon, this mission would be a lot easier if he had some help. His powers were shorted out and he knew next to nothing about this world. In the waking world those friggen spiders would have been toast, but here….

The barman broke into Yusuke’s thoughts as he came noisily into the room, calling his wife. “Martha, woman, if your done fussing over that boy, I could use a hand down here. It is the breakfast crowd, you know.”

Then as an after thought, he said to Yusuke, “Oh, by the way, another traveler came in a few minutes ago. If your looking for a little company, he seemed right friendly enough.”

“Now that’s convenient,” Martha said, “Me and Yusuke, here, were just talking about how he needs a little company.”

“You meddling woman?” Her husband accused.

“No more than you are,” The couple bickered the whole way down.

Downstairs, the barman handed Yusuke a tray holding two breakfasts and a bottle of wine, then nodded toward a figure seated at the far end of the room. Yusuke couldn’t help but feel like he was being sent out on a blind date. He still hadn’t decided whether or not he wanted traveling companion. It would be handy to have someone with more experience around, yes. But, Yusuke wanted to find his old friends, not make new ones.

From a distance Yusuke could see that the traveler was a dainty, young man. About a head shorter, then Yusuke. A native? He wore a blue overcoat loosely belted over a long, grey shirt that fell down to mid-thigh, and lighter grey trousers, tucked into calf high suede boots. His clothes were a little dusty from the road. He had yellow hair.

Yusuke sat down across from with the blond and proceeded to pore their drinks. The traveler accepted the offered beverage with his head cocked to one side, in silent question. He was wondering why Yusuke had sat down with him.

This close, Yusuke had a better view of the man. His yellow hair fell in long ropes around a heart shaped face. He had a small strait nose and a mouth that looked prone to smiling a lot. And his round, Atlanta Green eyes were fixed very intently on Yusuke.

It was then that Yusuke noticed how sharp and focused those eyes were. “ Your not a native!” Yusuke blurted out.

“I’m not,” the traveler confirmed. His voice was clear as a brass bell. “Is that a problem?”

“No! Of course not. It’s just that from over there, I thought you were, because of your size--not that your size is a problem. I like small men-- I mean… um…. Look I‘m not trying to pick you up! Well, I guess I kind of am, but….” This conversation was going the wrong way, fast.

Yusuke was becoming more flustered by the moment. “Those people over there wanted me to try and make nice with you. Because I’m all alone. And they were real nice, so, I’m humoring them. And….”

Yusuke stopped talking when the man across from him burst out laughing. Yusuke could feel the blood rising to his cheeks. “Hey! Cut it out, it’s not that funny!” He protested.

“Okay, okay,” the traveler reigned in his merriment. “I think I see the situation, now. Your not very good at meeting new people are you?”

“Not like this, I guess. In the past, I’ve met most of my friends over a fist fight.”

“Well, I don’t think our hosts would appreciate that.”

“I think your right,” Yusuke agreed. Then he offered the traveler his hand, “Hi, I’m Yusuke Urameshi.”

Accepting the hand shake, the other replied, “I’m Ianto.”

Yusuke and Ianto talked for a long time. Ianto had apparently traveled the Dreamlands for many, many years. He was able to explain a lot of things that had Yusuke baffled. He also knew several legends and stories that rebuffed the demon-boy.

“Man, you sure know a lot about the dreamlands.” Yusuke said.

“Yes, I have been traveling the dreamlands for long and long.” Ianto nodded.

“Have you always been alone?” Yusuke was suddenly very serious.

“I suppose….” the other shrugged. “I know a lot of people, but I don’t really stay close to anyone.”

“Why?” Yusuke asked a little too intrusively.

Ianto snapped back, “Why are YOU alone?”

Yusuke slumped down into himself, “I had friends, but we got separated.”

Ianto looked thoughtful before leaning in close to Yusuke. He whispered, “Are they demons, too?”

Yusuke shot up, wide eyed with surprise.

“Come now,” Ianto admonished, “Did you think you are the only talented person in Dreamland?”

Ianto continued, “I only bring it up because your kind are not often found in these parts of the Dreamlands, yet you are the second that I’ve seen this week. I thought it was coincidence, but now….” he let the sentence hang.

“You’ve seen another--” Ianto covered Yusuke’s mouth before he could shout word demon.

“Keep your voice down, you don’t want to spook locals,” he told Yusuke.

Yusuke went on, but quieter, “The demon you saw, tell me what you know.”

The blond rested his chin in his hands and took a deep breath before he started. “Four days ago, I was passing through Barharna on Isle of Oriab. Barharna is a strong port city, you see. It is ripe with, bars, casinos, and well, other places where travelers and sailors may find pleasure.

I was staying at an inn that happened to host a small casino on it’s first floor. I’ve tried gambling before and found it rather boring. So, normally, I would not have gone into the casino. Remember what I said before, that your kind is rare in these parts of dreams. I’d caught a trace of his demonic aura. Out of curiosity, I peeked in.

That’s where I spotted him. He was playing poker at one of the tables. And by the looks of it he was taking his opponents for all they were worth!

But, here I see you are more interested in the person than then place, right? I didn’t approach him, didn’t see the need to. So, I’m afraid I can’t give you much more than a description.”

“Well, come on, out with it,” Yusuke urged.

“He looked clever. He was tall, lithe, and graceful in his movements. He had a face pretty enough that he could be mistaken for a girl. Perhaps, even pretty enough that it wouldn’t matter one way or the other to a smitten onlooker. His hair was long, and as red as roses.”

“That’s Kurama!” Yusuke seized the blond, lifting him off the ground into a bear hug. “Ianto, can you take me to Barharna?”

“I could,” he answered, a little thrown off by this sudden attention. “But, I doubt your friend is still there.”

“Why wouldn’t he be there?”

“He won a lot of money in a sort amount of time. There are bound to hard feelings and sore losers. Only a fool would have stuck around.”

“Kurama’s no fool. Damn it. He woulda gotten out of there in a big hurry. He could be anywhere by now…”

Ianto called for his attention, “Umm, I hate to interrupt your thought process, but….” Yusuke was still holding the blond so that his toes dangled several inches above the floor. The two were also attaching a lot of curious looks from other patrons and their hosts.

Yusuke made his decision, then. He hosted the small blond up onto his shoulder, waved farewell to Martha and her husband, and set off into the dreamlands with his new partner in tow.
* * *

III. Total Mayhem by Noon

“It’s would be pointless to go to Barharna,” Ianto told Yusuke. “Your friend is, no doubt, long gone from there.”

“I know, but it’s the only lead we have,” Yusuke shrugged.

“We? Since when am I part of this venture? And don‘t you even think to threaten me into helping you. I know that your powers are shorted out.” Then, blond added, “ And for Gods’ sake put me down!”

For the past mile and a half, the poor blond had been subjected to riding slung over the demon’s shoulder. Admittedly the demon’s strength and endurance was impressive. But, the ride was rough, his stomach was getting sore, and not to mention that it was embarrassing as hell.

“If I put you down you might run away,” Yusuke said with a cheeky grin.

“I doubt I could escape you,” Ianto mused half to himself.

Yusuke stopped and put the yellow haired man back on his feet, yet his grip on the other’s shoulders remained unbreakable. “You should know, I’m not good with cryptic statements.“ Yusuke warned.

The other shook his blond head, “I am not being cryptic. I was thinking….” He shook his head again. “In any case, if you have your ‘lead’, what do you need me for?”

“Well, for one, I could use your sixth sense to locate my friends. You already noticed that mine ain’t working to well.”

“That’s because the Dreamland’s psychic ether runs on a different frequency, than the waking worlds,” Ianto told him. “Eventually your body will adjust and your abilities will return.”

“That’s another thing,” Yusuke pointed, “Your like a waking encyclopedia of the Dreamlands.”

Yusuke’s voice was a lonely whisper. “Listen, I don’t know what I can say or offer to get you to help me. But… I really need to find them.”

After what seemed like an eternity of silence, Yusuke felt the tension go out of the other man’s body.

“I won’t run away,” Ianto promised. “And I’ll take you to Barharna.”

After nearly being crushed by the demons hug, Ianto pointed toward horizon. “Barharna is southeast of here on the Isle of Oriab. It will take at least two days to reach the coast, where the ferry takes goes out to Barharna. Oh, and I’m afraid there are no more villages until we reach to coast.”

“Great more camping,” Yusuke groused.

The two walked in silence toward the southeast. Nether where aware of the furtive figures that followed from the shade. Yusuke suddenly stopped and scanned the surrounding terrain.

Ianto looked around worriedly. “What is it?” he whispered.

“Gotta take a leak.” Yusuke told him, “Hold my stuff while find a bush over there.”

Ianto huffed, and took Yusuke’s satchel. “Don’t take too long!” he yelled at the demon’s retreating backside.

Yusuke finished his business and was about to return to his new partner. When he noticed the strange fog that suddenly lapped around his ankles. An astringent odor waffled off of the fog. The smell made Yusuke dizzy. The next thing he knew the ground was rushing up towards him.

Yusuke saw inordinately small, square feet come up level with his eyes and he heard several sets of guttural laughter, before he lost consciousness.

When Yusuke opened his eyes he was laying on his back, and a pair of very familiar crimson eyes staring down at him.

“Hiei!?”

When did Hiei get here? Where was here? Yusuke’s fogged brain forgot the questions almost as soon as they were formed.

Hiei made no response, but swooped down to brush his lips against Yusuke‘s. Hiei’s lips moved gently over Yusuke’s top lip, then the bottom. It was anything but forceful. Still, Yusuke surrendered. He opened his mouth allowing his love to probe inside.

Hiei’s kiss was so sweet, literary! The small demon’s lips tasted as though he had been eating honey. As the flavor started to become unbearable, Hiei moved from Yusuke’s mouth to his chin, and then he made his way back along Yusuke’s jaw. Each kiss was just as soft as the last.

Who knew Hiei was suck a tender lover? Yusuke had always pegged him as the rough, throw you down and have his way with you, type.

Hiei’s lips played over the contours of Yusuke’s ear as his slick tongue slid in and out the canal, imitating-- and perhaps promising-- a far more intimate act.

Yusuke cry out, “OH! Hiei!” He tried to reach for Hiei. He wanted to hold his lover. He needed to feel the other’s body pressed against his. He couldn’t. Somehow his arms were too heavy to lift.

Yusuke soon forgot his struggle with gravity. Hiei’s mouth was on his neck now. He ever so slowly made his way down Yusuke’s body. Yusuke shivered from butterfly kisses that Hiei left in his wake. And he gasped each time the other’s clever tongue lapped at his sensitized flesh. Hiei lingered for a moment, trusting his tongue into Yusuke’s navel, the same as he’d done with his ear, before he moved down once more.

Yusuke felt his legs spread open on their own. Hiei somehow managed to settle between the muscular thighs without actually touching them. Hiei, oh so slowly, lowered his lips toward Yusuke’s eagerly awaiting member.

Yusuke cried out loud when Hiei’s lips finally ghosted across the head. Hiei moved along the shaft with his light kisses and lapping tongue.

“Hiei…ohhhh… please…. Hiei…,” Yusuke begged. . “Please…please…touch me…suck me… please!!”

Hiei didn’t seem to hear the other’s pleads, but continued his erotic torture. Yusuke was half mad from pleasure. He was only half aware that his knees were being pulled up and his hips lifted.

Yusuke felt that wet muscle circle his entrance, ready to push in--

“Yusuke,” a voice called to him. It wasn’t Hiei’s sexy baritone. It was a clear, brassy voice that Yusuke had only recently became acquainted with.

“YUSUKE!!!” The voice shrilled alarm.

That cry sent a chill wind blowing across Yusuke’s brain and, fog that muddled Yusuke’s senses cleared. Now, he could see clearly he wished he could not see at all. Fore the vision that awaited him was seer horror.

Yusuke found himself in an ancient forest. The great trees were twisted and their molted bark pulsated with strange life. The ground was carpeted with dark exotic ferns, toxic looking flowers, and vines that wriggled along the ground like snakes.

The ground was also littered with he corpses of enormous insects. Siphoned tipped vines pierced their shells and sucked out their juices. In the peripheral of his mind, Yusuke could register the beating wings of yet living insects.

Yusuke lay naked on a massive, furred leaf. Equally fuzzy vines held his arms down and his legs open. His beloved was nowhere in sight. Instead, one of those serpentine vines snaked up from between Yusuke’s thighs. The tip of the vine had a flower with thick, dull colored petals. The petals opened up to reveal a stout, wriggling filament that dripped blue sap.

Yusuke looked down at himself to find sticky blue trails that marked his body where Hiei had pleasured him with his mouth and tongue.

Galvanized by his horror, Yusuke ripped his arms free were they had been bound. He evaded the fur covered vines that tired to re-ensnare him, while he scrabbled away from the that flowerer that, even now, was trying to molest him.

He sighted Ianto a few yards away, where he attempted to fend off the hostile vines with a shining black machete. In a flash of wild buzzing, a man sized hornet swooped down from the tree tops, and flattened Ianto to the ground. He dropped his weapon as he fell. The blond tossed beneath the insect, scarcely avoiding it’s stinger.

Half in panic Yusuke posed himself to attack, “SPIRIT GUN!” Nothing. “Damn it!!!” The demon cursed.

He quickly snacked up Ianto’s fallen weapon and hacked down the bug. He hauled the blond up off the ground.

“Which way?” Yusuke shouted as he grabbed the blond by the arm.

Ianto pointed. Yusuke cut through the persistent vegetation as he hauled the other off in that diction. In due time, the pair broke out onto a vast barren plane of crumbling dead soil. Yusuke relinquished his hold on the blond, once he was sure that they were out of reach from those groping vines.

Red faced, Ianto produced a bundle from his coat. He handed it to Yusuke.

“What the hell was that?” Yusuke panted.

“These are your clothes,” Ianto told him flatly.

“Not that!” Yusuke snatched the bundle. “That…thing in there. That fucking plant!”

“Well, I suppose that is it what it was. It was a Fucking Plant. I believe it’s proper name is Aphrodite’s Flytrap.” Ianto pedantically explained as Yusuke dressed. “It’s not too dissimilar from it’s waking world cousin, the Venus Flytrap. It’s a vampire plant that feeds on insects. Of course, as you saw, both the plant an it’s prey are much larger than their waking-world relatives.

The plant hunts by, first, ensnaring an animal, using an aphrodisiacal hallucinogen. The animal is bait to draw in the insects. And, well, you saw the rest.

Illegal traders harvest the plants’ hallucinogen to sale on the black market, you see….”

“Yeah, think I get it,” Yusuke cut him off. “Last thing I remember before I passed out was hearing some nut job’s stupid laughing.”
Yusuke cursed.

“I’m sorry,” the other hung his blond head, “I didn’t get there fast enough to stop all this from happening.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Yusuke told him. Then, he grinned, “Hey, it wouldn’t be the first time I was pleasured by a vegetable. Back home, I’d buy a bag of cucumbers every week, but I never ate a single one, if ya get my drift.”

The blond gaped. This caused Yusuke to laugh uncontrolled. Ianto soon realized the demon was having fun with him and joined in the laughter.

When their mirth finally died away, Yusuke asked, “So, what now? We going to Barharna or what?””

“What ever you want.” Ianto smiled.

“Alright!” Yusuke jumped up. “To Barharna!”

TBC

A/N: I can’t believe I finished this part so quickly. We had a hurricane in Illinois, isn’t that crazy! A giant oak tree fell on my house. The entire town is in shambles. Any way, I finally got to bring in some Lumley-like horror. The spider hounds are from the books. I made up the Fucking Plant. I hope you all liked it and it wasn’t too disturbing. Review! It makes me write faster. Make suggestions, if I know what you want, your more likely to get it.