Hiei's Harem: Pt. 6 - Expanding

Wow, my first review is in already! Thank you for the nice words, Shibu. Glad you're still with me, just don't get ahead of me, lol. ;o)

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Scene 2 -------------- The Village


* As they'd travelled the rest of the way Hiei had used his jagan again to scan the taller male. He'd become somewhat suspecious of his all-too-eager attitude. His instincts had niggled him to the fact that the feline could be leading him into a trap. Cat demons are notorious for ambushing, after all. But the Koorime had only felt pure honesty from the lanky Lynx demon concerning this situation. Hiei also catches onto the myriad of other feelings cycling through the male: anxieity, guilt, shame, even hopeful expectations. When Hiei could take the wide gambit of emotions no longer he had closed his jagan once more. Still, he keeps his guard up as they approach the village. Hiei stops when another pair of similar demons materialize before him. The Koorime had felt the telltale tingle as he'd just stepped through a barrier of some sort. Habataro steps forward and raises his left hand toward the pair of alert younger males.


Habataro- Stand down, brothers..


* Hiei half notices when one of the males pulls the hood of the cloak he's wearing down over his face a bit more.


Habataro- This is our new Alpha.. Master Hiei.


* The two brothers glance at each other, obviously surprised. Habataro turns to look back down at Hiei.


Habataro- Th-these are.. my brothers.. This pack is made up mostly of my family.. Nephews, nieces, cousins..

Hiei- I know what a family is, Cat.

Habataro- I became the Alpha when my Father grew old and left to die.. a few years ago..


* One of the brothers looks back at Habataro.


Coutaro- Hab,.. this is..

Habataro- I thought he was the rogue that's been raiding our pack, but.. I was wrong.. I challenged him, but.. well.. Show them, Master.


* Hiei sighs with annoyance and flares out his full energy again. He watches the hooded brother raise a hand to rub his forehead, the other stumbles backward and collapses to his knees. Habataro hangs his head.


Habataro- I'm so sorry, brothers! I had the choice of either conceding or following through with the challenge.. I chickened out.. I begged him to spare us..


* Hiei drops his energy. Now that he can move, the hooded brother moves forward to grasp Habataro's shoulders.


Coutaro- Brother, listen to me..

Kumataro- We understand now, Hab. You made the right choice..

Habataro- No! I should've fought and made him kill me.. Now I'll have to sit by and watch him.. kill you both if he decides to..to..


* Habataro collapses to his hands and knees sobbing suddenly. Hiei tilts his head.


Hiei- What the h--- is he blubbering about?!


* The hooded brother slowly lowers his hood as he faces Hiei, then bows.


Coutaro- Please, Master Hiei, my brother has made a mistake..

Hiei- I've already told him that!


* Habataro turns to face Hiei, but remains bowed to show his submission.


Habataro- Please, spare them.. Take my life instead.. They are honorable as I am, they will serve you..

Hiei- Look you..


* Coutaro rolls his eyes. Habataro glances up at Hiei.


Habataro- Habataro.

Hiei- Whatever.. I'm not going to kill anyone.

Coutaro- Hab, he's just come for me..

Habataro- No, Cou! Stay back.. He defeated me..


* The other brother looks back up at Hiei who is now studying the cloaked demon with his head tilted.


Kumataro- Perhaps he just wants to claim our females.. He'll kill all the males..

Hiei- Are all of you deaf?! I'm not here to kill anyone..! It's not my fault this babbling idiot mistook me for some d--- rogue..!

Coutaro- Master,..

Hiei- Look, I'll make this as simple as I can for you Cats! I'm not here to claim your whole pack..

Habataro- Then you do just want our..?

Hiei- All I want is new clothes for my own pack.


* The Lynx demons just stare up at him for several moments.


Coutaro- Clothes?

Kumataro- You.. are already an Alpha?


* Habataro looks at his brothers.


Habataro- He's new.. He don't fully understand the mechanics of claiming quite yet.

Kumataro- If he just wants clothes, then lets just give him what he wants and he'll go away.

Hiei- Finally one of you shows some brains.

Habataro- Anything in this village is his now, Kuma.. I've already conceded to him.. You know what that means.


* For some reason Habataro's words trigger a memory in Hiei's mind. The Koorime zones out of their argument as he vaguely recalls a time, not long after he was taken in by the gang of thieves that raised him. They'd come across a similar village and his leader had easily defeated the owner of the village. Hiei narrows his eyes as he remembers watching what he didn't understand was taking place at the time. The plundering, bloodshed, and raping of the various younger demons that resided in that village. Hiei shakes his head to clear it of the horrific scenes and refocuses on the three brothers in time to hear one of them murmur to the others.


Kumataro (Murmurred) Be ready, guys.. I think this guy's mad.. He could flip out any..

Hiei- Hn.. I could.. If you three don't stop acting like such idiots..!


* Kumataro and Habataro both plant their faces against the dirt. Habataro reaches back to yank Coutaro down, also.


Habataro- Please, I'll do anything you want if you'll spare us!


* Hiei growls, partly from frustration, but mostly from the desire their positions stir inside him.


Habataro- Please, please have mercy on my brothers, the rest of my pack.. Take my life..

Hiei- Will you shut up and listen to me?!


* Habataro nods quickly.


Habataro- Yes, Master.

Hiei- You accept that I'm stronger than you..

Habataro- Yes. Much..


* Hiei reaches down and snatches the oldest brother up to meet his eyes.


Hiei- Do I have your attention now?

Habataro- Hai, Master.

Hiei- Then listen carefully.. All I want.. is clothes for the pack I already own.. I do not want you or your pack..


* Hiei watches the two brothers raise up and glance at each other then lower their eyes. Habataro swallows.


Habataro- Th-then.. I am not worthy to be claimed..?


* Hiei growls and releases Habataro. The cloaked brother stands and meets Hiei's eyes.


Coutaro- Sir,.. I understand that this has been a misunderstanding, but.. you can't do this to him.. Please..

Hiei- Do what? Return his pack and dignity back to..?

Kumataro- You really are new, aren't you?

Coutaro- Look, why don't we all just calm down! Master Hiei, it's getting dark. Why don't you allow me to show you to a hut for the night and we can discuss this.


* Hiei gets a quick flashback of another village he'd been to recently, but quickly dismisses it.


Hiei- What's to discuss? I just need some new..

Kumataro- It'll take time for these clothes to be made. Please accept our offer to be our guest tonight. Perhaps Coutaro can help you to understand the.. gravity.. of your words.


* Kumataro looks toward his older brother. Habataro has zoned out, though. Hiei notes the deeply anguished look on the elder Lynx demon's face.


Hiei- Hn..

Coutaro- Please, follow me.. Kuma, will you strengthen the barrier and get Hab back to his hut?

Hiei- Barrier?

Coutaro- I'll explain everything, Sir.


* Hiei nods and starts off after Coutaro. Kumataro touches Habataro's shoulder.


Kumataro- Come on, Hab..

Habataro- I'm.. unworthy..


* Hiei pauses to glance back at them. Kumataro gets Habataro to his feet, then raises one of his hands to swing it from left to right. Hiei feels that same tingle again as the barrier is re-established.


Hiei- Hn.. Interesting.


* Hiei glances up at Coutaro, then continues following him away.