Hiei's Harem: - Pt. 5 - Searching

Scene 3 ----------- Genkai's Shrine


* Yusuke enters the kitchen where Kuwabara and Yukina are sharing a kiss. They seperate when he leans in the doorway and clears his throat. Yukina half glances toward Yusuke blushing, then finishes setting Kuwabara's plate down in front of him. Yukina moves back to the stove as Kuwabara motions Yusuke on in.


Kuwabara- Come on in. We made plenty to eat this morning.


* Yusuke sits down at the table beside Kuwa.


Yusuke- I didn't mean to just barge in.


* Kuwabara waves one of his hands dismissively with a hmph.


Kuwabara- You know you're always welcome here. 'Kina and I have nothing to hide anyways.. Do we, Babe?


* Yukina shakes her head quietly as she sets Yusuke's plate down in front of him.


Yusuke- Thanks. Kurama and his pack should be showing up pretty soon.

Kuwabara- Do you really think they'll come with him?


* Yusuke half watches Yukina sit in her chair on the other side of Kuwabara.


Yusuke- Of course they'll come. They're his pack, Kuwa.. If we accept Kurama with his renewed demon nature, we'll have to accept them.

Kuwabara- I just can't wrap my brain around any of that, yet.


* Yukina looks up at Kuwabara.


Yukina- Because Kurama is really a demon, Kazuma. Since he's fully accepted his youko side his instincts have become stronger.


* Kuwabara's mouth twitches into a slight grin as he meets Yusuke's eyes. Then he looks at Yukina plastering a look of pure curiousity on his face. These are the most words she's spoken since Hiei left.


Yusuke- You better explain it to him like you did to me.


* Yukina nods and looks up at Kuwabara.


Yukina- Here in Human World foxes are pretty much solitary.

Kuwabara- Yeah.. Except during.. mating season..

Yukina- Yes. Well, in Demon World youkos.. or demon Foxes like Kurama.. are different.. Youkos are pack demons.

Kuwabara- Like wolves?

Yukina- Yes.

Kuwabara- But.. those guys aren't foxes or wolves.

Yukina- An Alpha Youko's pack doesn't have to consist only of other youkos.. He can claim anyone he chooses to be part of his pack.


* Now Yukina glances between the two guys, then lowers her eyes to continue eating.


Kuwabara- Ahhh.. Okay.. I think I get it now.. But still.. They're all guys.. Don't Alpha males only reside over females?

Yusuke- And that, my friend, is why you would never survive in Demon World.


* Kuwabara scowls at Yusuke a moment, then glances toward the doorway.


Kuwabara- They're coming up the stairs.


* Yukina stands.


Yukina- I'll go show them in.


* She leaves to go to the front door. Yusuke looks at his burly friend again.


Yusuke- I'll make it simple enough for you. Genders don't matter to most demons.. Depending on species, of course.

Kuwabara- So they have a lot of different moral codes other than just the usual murder, stealing, and stuff?

Yusuke- Yeah.. This'll really blow your mind, Kuwa, but some male demons of certain species can even carry babies.


* Kuwabara nearly chokes on the bite he was swallowing.


Yusuke- Not really sure what all of them are, but they're not as common as females carrying, of course.


* They hear Yukina greet their visitors and leave the kitchen. Kuwabara continues choking as Yusuke greets Kurama and his 'pack'.


Yusuke- Morning, guys.

Kurama- Yusuke.


* Kurama looks toward Kuwabara with obvious concern.


Kurama- Are you okay, Kazuma?

Yusuke- Yeah. He'll live. I just told him how some male demons can carry babies.


* Suzuka and Touya look over their shoulders toward Shishi. Neither Yusuke nor Kuwabara fail to notice the samurai demon blush and look away.


Yusuke- Come on. Let's relax in the livingroom while I fill you all in.


* Kuwabara stays put watching them go toward the wide doorway that leads to the large common room. He swallows then moves to the doorway. He watches Suzuka, Touya, and Shishiwakamaru wait until Kurama seats himself in the middle of the couch. Then they seat themselves with Shishi on Kurama's right, Touya on his left, and Suzuka on the floor near his right leg. Yusuke flops into the armchair across from them and looks up toward Kuwabara.


Yusuke- Are you gonna sit down, Big Guy?

Kuwabara- Uh.. W-where should I..?


* Kurama smirks up at him with a bit of foxy mischieviousness.


Kurama- You can sit down here by my left leg.


* Yusuke watches Kurama's three males look at him.


Yusuke- Kurama,..

Kurama- Sorry.. I'll try to control myself.

Kuwabara- I'll just stand here.. It's not like I'm going with you or anything.


* Kurama looks at Yusuke again.


Kurama- You've forbidden him..?

Yusuke- H--- no.. But I'm not gonna force him to, either.. We'll be going pretty deep into Demon World.

Kurama- Then you have an idea where Hiei is?

Yusuke- I went back to talk to Mukuro again. She said something about Hiei taking off to chase a scent during one of his routine scouting patrols.. She says he hasn't been acting the same since.

Touya- A scent?

Yusuke- She says he covered whatever it was with a story about it turning out to be some human-smelling plant.


* Kurama scowls.


Kurama- Probably the Caranosa plant..

Yusuke- Yeah. That sounds like it.

Kurama- But that plant only blooms in the summer.

Shishi- It's just starting the Spring season in Demon World.

Kuwabara- (Murmurred) That explains a lot.


* Everyone looks up at the murmurring human.


Kuwabara- Did I say that out loud? Sorry.

Yusuke- Well, whatever caught his nose she gave me a map of the area where it happened.


* Yusuke takes the folded map out from under his white tee shirt where it was tucked in the front of his jeans. He doesn't fail to notice the Kitsune's eyes flare briefly.


Yusuke- Control, Fox. Remember?

Kurama- Indeed.

Yusuke- Should we wait until mating season is over?

Kurama- Just show us the map, Yusuke.


* Yusuke moves down to kneel beside the coffeetable. He lays the map out. The other demons barely need to glance at it.


Suzuka- D---, it'll take about a week of travelling to get there.

Touya- It's not a very.. hospitable region.

Kurama- I've been through there a few times back in my thieving days.. It's as Touya says. A very rough region..

Yusuke- It looks like it touches Yomi's border, but it's mostly in Mukuro's Territory.

Kurama- It's nickname is actually The Unclaimed Barrens.

Yusuke- So what makes it so rough?

Kurama- It is one of Demon World's more ancient regions.. A lot of Enki's laws haven't even gained much support there, yet.

Shishi- It's also an area where there's a lot of established packs.

Kuwabara- So other demons do the 'pack' thing, too?

Touya- At one time, all of Demon World was governed by this practice.. Slowly they went more towards clans that consisted mostly of the same family or species.

Yusuke- Look, we don't have time to chat about Demon World History or Biology right now.. If Hiei's in that region..

Kurama- Hiei was actually raised by a gang very close to that area.

Yusuke- If he reverts back to his old ways..

Kurama- Why do you suspect that he would?

Yusuke- Because he was.. 'rejected'.. by Yukina and he's renounced his position with Mukuro.

Kurama- Hmm. I see.. So you're suggesting that he's more vulnerable to that pull again?


* Yusuke shakes his head thoughtfully.


Yusuke- No.. It won't be because of vulnerability this time.


* Kurama looks down at the map again for several moments, then stands.


Kurama- My guys and I will go find him.


* Yusuke stands.


Yusuke- And I'll be doing what?

Kurama- Staying here continuing Kuwabara's demon education.

Yusuke- Like h--- I will.

Kurama- The only way we can go into that region this time of year is if we travel together.

Yusuke- Am I missing the problem in that?

Kurama- One pack can't have two alpha males.

Yusuke- We're not a pack.. Fine, I can go in from this side.


* He starts to motion toward the map.


Touya- You can't travel alone there.

Suzuka- You'll be gangraped quicker than the prettiest demon at the party.

Yusuke- I'm not exactly a wimp, Pretty Boy. We either go after Hiei together or I go in by myself.


* Kurama studies Yusuke a moment, as if appraising him. Finally he shrugs.


Kurama- Fine.. We go in together.


* Shishi, Touya, and Suzuka look at him, but hold their peace when he raises his hand.


Kurama- It just might be.. fun.

Yusuke- Right. Like old times.


* Kuwabara looks back and forth between the two males. The tension becomes so thick that even he can feel it.


Kuwabara- Shouldn't you guys get going then?


* Kurama looks toward Kuwabara when Yusuke nods and turns toward the door that leads to the backyard.


Kurama- Sure you won't come, Kazuma?

Kuwabara- Uh.. No.

Kurama- Too bad.. Another time, perhaps.


* Kuwabara blinks at a vision of Kurama waving his fox tail toward him seductively before the Kitsune and his pack turn to follow Yusuke. Kuwabara looks down at Yukina when she peers around him.


Yukina- I think you were just.. propositioned.

Kuwabara- Not for all the tea in China, Babydoll.. I already have the one I'm happy with.


* Yukina smiles up at him, then turns to leave.


Kuwabara- Do Fire or Ice demons collect packs?


* Yukina pauses and tilts her head in thought.


Yukina- Hmm.. I believe Fire demons do.. I know Hiei has the attitude to be an Alpha male.


* She glances up at him, sighs sadly, then continues on her way toward the kitchen to clean up from breakfast. Kuwabara shakes his head and follows to help.