The Aftermath

Scene 4 ---------------------------------------------------- Demon World/ Gandera

* After Kurama had slipped into full hibernation, Yomi had carried the malnourished kitsune into his bedroom and settled him on his large, modern-type bed. This is where the silver fox has spent the remainder of yesterday and through half of today. Lord Yomi is busy in his office, listening to his secretary read an important document from Lord Mukuro.

Shuji-... therefore, I think it wise that you notify me should your Second come into contact with my Second...

* Yomi lifts a hand to stop Shuji**. Before he can say anything another messenger enters. The uniformed demon bows respectfully as he hands Shuji a golden envelope, then quickly leaves.

Yomi- What is it now, Shuji?
Shuji- A golden envelope, M'Lord... It's marked from Lord Koenma, courtesy of King Enki.

* Yomi tilts his head thoughtfully.

Yomi- Read it quickly, Shuji.

* The secretary opens the golden envelope carefully, then reads the Memorial Service invitation to his Lord. When Shuji quietly looks up at the goat, Yomi scowls.

Yomi- Kazuma Kuwabara... He is.. was one of Kurama's teammates from when he'd go off on Lord Koenma's jobs... The big, goofy human...

* Yomi shakes his head.

Yomi- What the h--- has happened? First Lord Mukuro's small Second-In-Command disappears, now I hear that this teammate has perished...?

Shuji- Perhaps it was a devastating mission... You did say that Lord Kurama was exhausted...

* Yomi holds out a hand.

Yomi- Give me those two letters, Shuji.

* The secretary complies.

Yomi- Don't forget that you're not to say anything of Kurama's present condition, Shuji.

* Shuji nods.

Shuji- I value my head, sir.

* Yomi pockets the two letters, then leaves his office. When he enters his personal quarters he's pleasantly surprised to hear rummaging in his kitchen. Kurama, still in his youko form, is taking some food from the refrigerator. Yomi doesn't speak until the kitsune turns to move to the table and sees him.

Kurama- Lord Yomi.
Yomi- I'm glad to see that you're finally awake, my friend.

* Kurama's freshly-washed tail lashes nervously.

Kurama- Why was I in your bed?
Yomi- You expected me to leave you out on my couch?
Kurama- What did you d-do to me?!

* Yomi crosses his arms, but stays calm.

Yomi- I just carried you in and laid you on my bed... I slept in one of my guest rooms.

* Yomi pitches an ear forward when he hears his Second whimper. Kurama looks away from Yomi and continues to the table to sit before his legs give out. Yomi hears him sit heavily.

Yomi- I would never harm you, Kurama. Surely you must sense my concern for you.

* Kurama's hollow gold eyes stare down at the food he's gathered.

Kurama- (Quietly) I... I'm hungry... I must eat.

* Yomi nods and waves his consent.

Yomi- By all means... You do need your nutrition.

* Yomi listens to the kitsune begin to gulp down his meal of ramen and various other items that he's scavenged together.

Yomi- May I sit?

* Kurama, still in a somewhat feral state, looks up at the imposing figure timidly.

Kurama- Don't touch me again...
Yomi- I won't... I'll sit way at this end.

* Lord Yomi moves to sit at the far end of the large rectangular table.

Yomi- You need to relax, friend... I'm not your enemy.

* The fox chews his mouthful of noodles, then swallows it with a slight choke.

Kurama- I (Cough) I know... I just...

* Even though he's blind, Lord Yomi's senses are very highly attuned. He feels the kitsune trying to calm himself down.

Yomi- I can tell that you've had some kind of trauma... Did the Mazoku Urameshi finally lose his mind like his Father did?

* At the mention of Yusuke's name, Kurama looks away.

Kurama- (Quietly) No...

* Yomi studies the fox a moment more before cautiously asking his next question.

Yomi- Is he well?

* Kurama doesn't answer. Yomi takes the two letters out of his coat pocket and lays them on the table as close to Kurama as he dares. Kurama looks at them curiously.

Yomi- One letter is from Mukuro.. Inquiring about the whereabouts of her Second, Lord Hiei...

* Kurama's tail twitches briefly.

Yomi- The other is an invitation for us to attend a Memorial Service for that human teammate of yours...

* The fox lowers his eyes sadly.

Kurama- (Quietly) Kuwabara.
Yomi- Yes. He was killed on a mission I suppose...
Kurama- N-no... It wasn't a mission... (Quietly) It was a... nightmare...

* Kurama stands suddenly and turns away crossing his arms.

Kurama- I don't want to talk about it.

* Yomi sighs, but he decides to delve on.

Yomi- Were you there when he was killed?

* Kurama only growls lowly in response. Yomi scowls.

Yomi- I understand that this human was no ordinary one... He wielded an energy sword, did he not?
Kurama- Yes.
Yomi- You must tell me, Kurama. Is Lord Hiei dead as well?

* The kitsune's tail betrays his attempt of hiding his spike of anger at the name.

Kurama- No! He... he was still alive the last time I... B-before I.. abandoned...

* Yomi's question forces Kurama to remember how he'd took off. How he ran away from his friend and lover. Father of his kits. Yomi's senses pick up on Kurama's deep feelings toward his litter.

Yomi- The longer you bottle it in, the more stress you'll bring on your kits.

* Kurama stiffens then slowly lifts a hand to his midsection.

Yomi- (Quietly) While you slept... I heard 4 tiny heartbeats.

* Kurama swallows.

Yomi- Will they ever meet their sire?

* Kurama slowly looks back at the goat.

Yomi- Please tell me that the human's murderer and their sire aren't the same.

* Now the kitsune snarls viciously as he takes a step toward Yomi. In habitual reaction Yomi stands on full alert.

Kurama- If they were... spawned by that.. b------ Satjiyu they would not still be alive!!

* All of Yomi's ears pitch forward at that name.

Yomi- Satjiyu? -- That son of a b---- had the nerve to put his paws on you?! - Wait..
How could that C-Class rogue even get...?

* For a moment Kurama doesn't react, then he moves back and turns away, lowering his eyes shamefully.

Yomi- He used the human...
Kurama- Enough! Please...

* Yomi moves closer to Kurama as calmly as he can. Kurama still spooks a bit.

Kurama- Don't touch me...
Yomi- Satjiyu had better pray that he's dead...
Kurama- (Quietly) I.. don't know... As soon as we were freed I... I ran... Th-the captivity.. was maddening...

* In the next moment Yomi feels the displacement of air as the kitsune dashes out of the room. Worried that his friend is going to flee Yomi follows.

Yomi- Kurama, do not leave!

* When he enters the livingroom he hears a whimper. Using his spiritual senses the goat gets the mental image of his Second-In-Command scrunched into a corner of the room.

Yomi- Kurama, you are safe here... If that a-- hole isn't dead he very soon will be... I'm going to contact Lord Koenma and...
Kurama- (Whimpered) I can't... face him...

* Yomi's ear rotates as he considers Kurama's words.

Yomi- Koenma?
Kurama- N-no... Him... Y-Yusuke...

* Yomi is quiet a moment, but his mind calculates what he feels.

Yomi- (Quietly) He's their sire.

* Kurama covers his head with his arms.

Yomi- These were forced on you.

* The fox looks up at Yomi quickly, frightened.

Kurama- He didn't rape me! You don't understand, Yomi...!
Yomi- Then help me to do so, Kurama.

* Kurama lowers his eyes again. After he takes a few moments to gather himself, he lets himself slip into a trance-like state as he recounts everything that had happened to him and the others. By the time he is done the goat has had to seat himself on the couch. When Kurama finishes silence hangs heavy in the room.

Yomi- So... Lord Hiei was also...?
Kurama- (Quietly) Yes.
Yomi- Do you think that he's still with Lord Urameshi?

* Kurama doesn't answer. The kitsune struggles everytime he hears Yusuke's name not to take off and return to him. But in his mind, he can't. He's the one that left. He ran from the sire of his kits. Yomi feels his friend's renewed weariness.

Yomi- You need to go rest again. We'll talk more later.

* Yomi mentally narrows his eyes when Kurama stands obediently and moves back into his bedroom. After some more serious contemplation, the blind Lord stands and leaves his quarters.

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** means "manager, director, secretary", according to the website I use for English/Japanese translation. ;o)