If Only in My in Dreams

Note: The seer with invisible eyes, Zura, and the legend of Zura are from Lumley’s Dreamlands series. She is a fascinating and horrific character, I just couldn’t resist bringing her in on this.

If Only in my Dreams Part Four By: boysluvcraft

I. Barharna at last!

After several months of travel the Great Yusuke Urameshi and his partner Ianto, finally arrived at the mighty port city of Barharna, where even the wharves were built of porphyry. Yusuke had come to the shimmering red-purple city to seek out his estranged comrade, Kurama. Yusuke did not expect to actually find Kurama in Barharna, however he hoped to find some clue to his whereabouts. Kurama was last seen playing cards in one of the cities casinos, where he was taking his gambling partners and the house for all that they were worth. It is assumed that he has long since left the city with thousands of gold pieces in his pockets.

It should have only taken four days for Yusuke to reach Barharna from the village of Haven, but the demon fell into a trap and was whisked away to the Upper Dreamlands, a place that was inappropriately named The Enchanted Forest. There he had an unpleasant encounter with the local flora. Somehow reaching the forest only took a few hours, but returning from it took weeks. The rules of space and time, apparently, don’t always make sense in Dreams.

On top of that, Yusuke persistently got sidetracked. He became preoccupied by the mystic pond of Pnok. He was delayed by mystery of the disappearing daughters of Dalshore. He lingered over the legend of the Lothario’s Lagoon. He’d been obstructed by the other worldly occupant of the O’coil Springs. And let’s not forget, how he became held up when the Wizard in White hoodwinked him into assembling his hoard of boxed furniture.

In spite of all the sidetracking and distractions, the two travelers have finally arrived in Barharna. Now their real search may begin, right? They went the place where Kurama had been seen and to other places that the red head may have visited. They asked questions all around town, but alas too much time had passed. There was nobody who would remember the red haired gambler. The trip to Barharna was total bust.

Yusuke sat astride a wooden chair with his chin resting on his forearms which were folded over the backrest. He sighed for probably the hundredth time that hour. A cool hand lightly touched his slumped shoulder; it his blond headed traveling companion, Ianto.

“You going to be okay?” He asked the down trodden demon.

“Yeah,” He sighed, “I didn’t really expect to find much-- or anything at all. Not after all this time. But, you know what they say about hope.” He grinned without humor.

“So, where do we go next?” Ianto asked.

“Next?” Yusuke was clearly taken a back by this question.

“There’s clearly no trace of your friend here, so it stands to reason that we should take our search elsewhere,” said the blond.

The words ‘we’ and ‘our’ did not escape the demon’s notice, “You’re still coming with me?”

To that, the blond flatly replied, “It’s not like I have any place else to be. And to be honest,” he leaned in close like he was telling a secret, “I’ve grown rather fond of your company. I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”

Despite a bland delivery, the sentiment was touching. Yusuke snatched at one of the blond ropes that had fallen onto his shoulder. Lightly tugging at the braid, he said, “Tell me the truth, will ya. Are you an angel?”

“Not that I’m aware of,” Ianto nearly laughed. “Does pulling my hair make you happy, or something?”

“It’s just so pretty, I can’t help it!” Yusuke teased with another tug.

“Cut it out!” Ianto attempted to free his locks from Yusuke’s grasp, only to wind up in a head lock. Ultimately, the battle devolved into a tickle fight.

Yusuke fell out of his chair and took the blond to the ground with him. He pinned Ianto with his arms beneath him and proceeded to attack his unprotected flanks.

“Do you give?”

“Never!” Ianto declared.

It was time to play dirty. Yusuke shifted his weight allowing Ianto to attempt an escape. That’s right were Yusuke wanted him. Yusuke fell on the blond, trapping his both his wrists in one hand. Yusuke forced his arms up. Then, he seized the soft, sensitive flesh under the arm. The blond bucked and howled, desperate for escape.

“Ya give?” Yusuke asked again.

Red faced and tears streaming down his cheeks, Ianto husked out, “Okay… please stop… I give!”

“All right, no more sulking!” Yusuke popped up and put on his jacket. “You get out your maps and I’ll go down to the market and see if I can’t find something for us to eat while we plan our next move.”

“I’m glad to see that you’ve got your spunk back,” Ianto muttered while he tried to smooth the wrinkles out of his shirt.

“Oh, I’ve got plenty pent up spunk. Maybe I’ll pick up a few cucumbers while I‘ll out. You want one, Ianto?”

Ianto looked up from his grooming to give Yusuke a wry smile and eye roll combo.

Yusuke did not actually buy any cucumbers. In fact, he never made it to the market. He had walked only a few yards from the inn when a girl approached him with letter. She ran off after having placed the envelope in his hands.

“Funny, only been in town for a few days and already, I’m getting fan girls,” he joked to himself. “That’s the old Urameshi charm for ya!”

The note was short, it read: “I have been waiting for your arrival. I believe I may have some information that you may find helpful.” Beneath that an address was scrawled. Then almost like an after thought, “Come alone.”

Against his better judgment, Yusuke followed the address. It took awhile since he was not familiar with the city. The address led him to a seedy tavern down by the docks. Not exactly the type of place you’d expect to find help information, or helpful anything for that matter.

Yusuke pulled back the rotten curtain that served as a door and entered the dim and dingy room. Several of the patrons, local fisherman types, looked up taking note of Yusuke’s arrival, but none seemed to care too much, with the exception of a lone, hooded figure seated at a corner table. He stood and beckoned Yusuke to him.

“Okay I’m here. What do you know?” Yusuke sat down opposite the man while skeptically examining him.

The man lowered his hood so that the youth may look on him. For the most part he appeared as normal as any old man. But his eyes; they were… invisible! Yes, invisible; that is the only word to describe the man’s eyes. His eyes could not be seen, but they were not missing either. Yusuke stared into those eyes almost entranced by the deep, black space, and for a moment he thought he could see the glimmer of distant stars reflecting in those eyes.

The man spoke, “I know a lot of things; I See a lot of things. For example almost a year ago, I Saw three very powerful demon’s of the waking world came to Dreams to rescue the Reikei Prince.”

The seer now had Yusuke’s undivided attention. He cast his stones on the table and examined them. Nodding he said, “Things are going as they should, you have nothing to worry about.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean!” Yusuke came to his feet shouting. “Are you stupid or something? I’ve gotten nowhere. Not only do I have no clue where pacifier breath is; I’ve lost the other members of my team; my sixth sense is MIA; my spirit gun is shot; and I wasted the last friggen year dragging my ass all around this stupid world trying to get here and for what? Nothing!”

“It was not for nothing. Now that you have experienced dreams you are better prepared for what is to come. No, I get ahead of myself.” He held up a hand silencing the demon before he could go off on another rant. “Things have a proper order. Lend me your hand and listen”

Then seer spent several long minutes staring at the demon’s palm. He spoke, “Things have a way of working out for you. Why, some would say you have the devil’s luck! You also have good instincts; follow them. But, be wary which of your instincts you are following, for while they all be true, only one will take you to journeys’ end.”

“I ever tell you how I feel about cryptic messages?” Yusuke ground out.

“I will speak plainly then. Be as you are and do not worry about the details. Seek Koenma and only Koenma and all else shall fall into place,” the seer told him.

“But, I don’t even know where to start looking!” The Yusuke said. “Do you know where he is? If you do and you aren’t telling me I swear I’ll shove my foot so far--”

“I do not,” the seer interrupted Yusuke’s tirade. “I look, but all visions concerning the prince’s location seem... veiled. But I do have an observation for what it is worth. He is a death god is he not? Therefore souls of the dead are naturally drawn to him. If you follow the dead,--”

“I’ll find Koenma!” Yusuke got it

“Yes. And you WILL find him,” The seer told him. “However, and I alluded to this earlier, once you find him, I believe there will be confrontation, of sorts.”

“That’s just fine,” Yusuke grinned. “Confrontation is my specialty.”

“That is good,” the seer nodded. “There is another thing, too.”

“There always is. Out with it old man.”

The old man pointed, “Beware. I see a…thing; it is strange, alien, and it is nearby. It seems to follow you. I do not know what form it takes, but it is close!”

After saying his thanks and farewells to the seer, Yusuke trotted back to the inn while thinking on the things that the man had told him. That waning he gave Yusuke, about the ‘strange thing’ wasn‘t much help. There are a lot of weird things in Dreams. The man had also said. “You WILL find him.” That was nearly a promise. Yusuke wasn’t sure how much that promise was worth, but hell, you now what they say about hope. The old seer had given him a good clue, “Follow the dead….” It made sense. Yusuke intended have word about this with his yellow haired traveling companion.

Yusuke’s stomach grumbled, reminding him that he forgot to get diner, which was his original purpose for going out. So, before going up to the room, he slipped a few coppers to a young, freckled maid to bring some food up to room.

Ianto was sitting at the table behind a pile of maps, when Yusuke walked in. The blond dryly said, “Took you a while… And you forgot the food, too.”

In spite of the greeting, Yusuke could see relief on the cherubim face. He’d made the boy worry over him. Well, not without reason, Yusuke had a habit of getting himself into trouble. It may have been a little inconsiderate to take off to meet that seer without telling him first. Oh well, I’ll make it up to him, Yusuke thought to himself.

Yusuke told Ianto about this meeting with the seer with invisible eyes. When Yusuke got to the “follow the dead” part, Ianto looked very confused. It was time for Yusuke to come clean. While Ianto knew that Yusuke was a demon and his two missing comrades were demons, he did not know about Koenma. Yusuke had actually avoided that subject, because the first rule of Spirit World is that you do not take about Spirit World.

There was no avoiding it now that they would be actively looking for Koenma, himself. Yusuke spilled everything about Spirit World, Koenma, and his rescue mission into Dreams. The blond suddenly looked pale, like a man who thought that he was in swimming pool only to find out that he was, in fact, in the middle of the ocean. And these be shark infested waters, too!

Yusuke shook the stunned blond, “Okay, this is your department now. Come on, Ianto, you can do this. Tell me, where do the dreamland’s dead go?”

Taking a deep breath, Ianto tried to answer the best he could, “There are many paths dead may take. Some roam as ghosts or are reborn in another form. Some transcend into other worlds. Some just cease to exist. It’s all very random. There is nobody who oversees the souls in dreams. There is no ruler of the dead, well, unless you count--” Ianto stopped, realizing he’d said too much.

“What is it?” Yusuke was agitated.

“No, never mind. Forget I said anything.” Ianto stood signaling that this conversation was finished.

Yusuke wasn’t going to let it go at that. “Ianto if you don’t finish that sentence, I am going to do something very unpleasant to you.”

“It was bad idea and I should never have brought it up,” the blond protested as he backed away from the fuming demon.”

Yusuke tackled the retreating dreamer. They tumbled head over heels landing on the on one of the beds. Yusuke wrestled with the small blond until he managed to pin the other’s arms down over his head. There he could attack the other’s most vulnerable area, the underarm.

“NO! NO! Please STOP!” Ianto fitted and laughed. “Okay! It’s Zura!”

Yusuke released Ianto. Catching his breath Ianto continued. “All those in Dreams who die violent death go to Zura. Where they become the undead servants to the Princess Zura.”

“You think this Zura lady, might know something?”

“It’s not entirely impossible.”

“Damn it, Ianto, this could be the brake we’ve been looking for. Why didn’t you want to tell me about it?”

“Because she’s an evil bitch!”

At that moment, the maid that Yusuke had bribed to bring them food slipped into the room, to find two very attractive young men in one bed. The blond was flushed and panting, and the brunette was on top of the other holding his hands captive above his head.

“Oh my, I’m so sorry to disturb,” she giggled “I’ll just put the food down here.” Then she left the supposed love-birds to themselves.

Yusuke started laughing. He pointed to the tray the girl had brought, it held: a bottle of wine, some oil and vinegar, a loaf of bread, some cold cuts, a bowl of lettuce and a CUCUMBER!

“Oh, you are such a child!” Ianto said, however, he was starting to laugh, too. When the joke had passed, Ianto sighed, “We’re going to Zura, aren’t we?”

Yusuke patted him on the back. “Yep. Now how do we get there?”

* * *

II. The Legend of Zura

It is not wise to travel from Oriab to Zura as the crow flies. First you would have to cross Southern Sea to the shores Thalarion. Then from there, you would track through Thalarion into Zura’s Charnel Gardens. The Southern sea is hospitable enough, and crossing her would not be a problem. What would be dangerous would be crossing Thalarion, or worse crossing her queen, the Eidolon Lathi, who is rumored to be just as bad a Zura. And a traveler certainly wouldn’t want to walk into Zura, woman or place, both are a nightmare!

Best idea for venturing into Zura, if one liberal enough to call going to Zura a good idea, would be to fly there via sky-yacht. That way if need be, the traveler may beat a fast retreat. Where do you find a sky-yacht? Why, in Serannian, of course, the vast utopian city that floated high in the dreamland sky above the Cerenerian Sea. If any place were a place of dreams Serannian was it.

Yusuke leaned against railing facing the ships deck. “So after we find a one of these sky-yacht thingies, we can go to Zura, right?”

“If we can find one,” Ianto clarified. “It will be a trick to find a man either brave or fool enough to sail into Zura.”

“Tell me more about this Zura lady.” Yusuke requested.

“For one I would hardy call Zura a ‘lady’.” Ianto began, “The land of Zura is also as Charnel Gardens, or The Land of Pleasures Unattained. The legend begins when the Dreamlands were young, with a sorcerer’s love for a girl. Before this sorcerer could make his love known, the poor girl was met by a horrible accident and died. The sorcerer, unable to coupe, used the black arts to reanimate his would-be lover. I must stress the word ‘reanimate’, not ‘brought back to life.’ A powerful sorcerer he may have been, but still just a mortal man, he had not the power to grant life.

“To put it bluntly she was dead and decaying, but the sorcerer could not see the state of her body. He was that blinded by love and certainly by no small amount of madness. Then one day, as if by magic, he glimpsed pass his veil of madness and saw the truth. His once beautiful lover had become a bloated mass of worm eaten corruption. Upon seeing her, he released his mystic hold on her, allowing her body to melt way into liquid corruption.”

After it seemed Ianto had finished with his gruesome tale, Yusuke declared, “Well, that’s just the most disgusting story I’ve ever heard.”

Ianto smiled, “Thank you.”

“So,” Yusuke pressed, “what’s all that got to do with this lady, Zura?”

“Ah,” Ianto picked up. “After the sorcerer banished his lover, he then saw himself and what having loved her had done to his own body. His madness returned tenfold. He cursed the land where their tent had stood. From that day forward that land would be the home for all those of dreams who have died a horrible, loathing death. Nothing wholesome or living would ever live in Zura, save for Zura herself, who is as equally cursed as the land that bares her name.

“Yes, she is living, but hardly wholesome! And could she be such when constantly surrounded by the walking dead? Surely, any woman would die from such conditions? Ah, you see that mad sorcerer was very precise with his spell. She was cursed to immortally mistress over and even love the dead. However on occasion she may renew herself by loving one of the living.

“Considering her usual fare, you may image that things would not bode well of said living lover.”

All Yusuke could say was, “Sick.”

Ianto shrugged, “You asked.”

“I may never get a boner again.” Yusuke muttered.

Ianto gave the demon a playful nudge. “Oh isn‘t that a shame, all of Dream’s cucumbers will moan your loss.”

* * *

III. The Sea-Sky Captain

Serannian was as impressive of a city as one could ever hope to see. It was home to some of Dreams most elaborate and decadent halls and manses, with expansive, meticulously maintained grounds. Not all dwellings were for the rich, though, more common folk lived in comfortable town houses and apartment rises. Of course, there the business districts, the markets, and all sorts of entertaining diversion. Everything from soaring spires to the cobbled roads were veneered in pink and white marble that almost blended in seamlessly with the clouds that billowed around the city.

The two adventures had no intention on settling in once they arrived in the floating city; they wished set off to Zura ASAP. They did not even bother looking for a room to check into for the night.

Ianto claimed he had something he needed to do. So, he left Yusuke to go down to the docks alone to find a ship for hire. There was little chance of finding someone brave or fool enough to venture into Zura, but perhaps there was someone greedy enough. Yusuke was carrying enough gold in his pockets to ground a flying night gaunt.

Yusuke located the Wharf Master’s office, which really was an office. In most places the Wharf Master’s office was more properly a shack near the docks. Yusuke told the man that he was looking to hire someone for “a dangerous undertaking”. He told him that money was not an issue, and then slipped the man a few coins to prove it. The Wharf Master graciously accepted the coin, and directed Yusuke to Pier No. 802, where “Red” docks.

It didn’t take very long for Yusuke to find Pier No. 802. Yusuke saw ship resting in its wood and iron cradle alongside the pier. When the floatation engines were started the ship would lift from its cradle, then it could sail on the winds just as a ship sails on the water. The sky-yacht was light, wooden, and sleek, obviously designed for speed rather than cargo capacity. The only unattractive feature on the ship was the figure head, which resembled one of those gnorri man-fish wearing tutu. On the ship’s prow, painted in simple black lettering, read the legend: “OLD GREG”. It was a fine looking ship, and would suit their purposes nicely.

Yusuke’s attention was diverted from the ship when he spotted something else fine. A sailor was on deck inspecting the rigging; his back was turned toward Yusuke. The sailor was barefoot. He wore a clean white tank and loose cream colored breaches that showed off his long slender legs, which culminated into a sweet ass. Yusuke could presume, from the tuffs of crimson hair that escaped confinement under a yellow bandana, this was “Red”.

Yusuke had to swallow a few times before he could work his suddenly parched throat. He hailed the sailor, “Um, ahoy there! Are you--” As the sailor turned, Yusuke’s words became stuck in his mouth. At first, Yusuke couldn’t move, he couldn’t speak, afraid that the vision before him disappear like some cruel dream within Dreams.

“Kurama!!” Yusuke could see his own shock mirrored in the other’s eyes.

“Yusuke?!”

Kurama jumped down from his ship and rushed to Yusuke’s awaiting arms. He ran his hands over Yusuke’s chest and shoulders, checking that he was real. He pushed and pulled at the boy as though he were unsure whither he wanted to look at Yusuke or just hold him close. Yusuke made the decision for him, wrapping his arms firmly around the red head.

Kurama showed Yusuke around the OLD GREG as the two caught up with one another. Yusuke told Kurama about his travels, tactfully leaving out some of the more unsavorily bits. He finished with his encounter with the seer in Barharna, and his current quest to Zura.

Kurama told his story. “You learn a lot when you have lived as long as I have, but you also forget a lot. For instance, I have forgotten what it as like to be in a place that is strange and new. I forgot how exciting it feels, how frightening. I realized, of course, that this was not the time for swanning about Dreams; I came on a mission. But where to start? In the end, I determined to familiarize myself with the land before coming up with a plan of action.

“The greatest problem was that the Dreamlands are so vast, and my legs can only carry me so fast and so far. I came to a breakthrough in Barharna, when I first saw a sky-vessel from Serannian. They could sail on the sea as normal ships do, or you can activate the floatation engines and fly it over the land. There is virtually no place outside of your reach. And certainly it is much faster that walking. It occurred to me that sky-ships must be the best mode of conveyance in all of Dreams. Also, they were the most practical to my needs.

“As you may have guessed, such fine vessels do not come at a small price. But, as fortune would have it, I was in Barharna, which provided me with the answer to the money issue. That is, I made the money by gambling. However, I suppose the word ‘gamble’ is misleading, because it implies the element of chance and the possibility of losing. There was none. I employed simple card counting, that’s all. Higher mathematics are nearly nonexistent in Dreams, so the casino regulators had no way of knowing that I was cheating.

“Once I gained sufficient funds, I left Barharna for Serannian were I hoped to negotiate the purchase of a sky-yacht. I bought this beauty off of man named Howard Moon. I wasn’t too fond of the figure head at first. I had considered taking it down, but it has its use. You see, it has a rather powerful spotlight built into its nether regions. It has come in handy on many a dark and foggy nights.

“Anyway, since I purchased OLD GREG, I’ve been sailing hither and yon in search of any sign of Koenma, Hiei, or yourself. Until today, I‘ve found nothing but false leads and dead ends.”

“I still can’t believe it, Kurama,” Yusuke stroked the red heads cheek, “You’re really here.”

Kurama closed the space between them as he claimed Yusuke’s mouth. Kurama slipped his tongue past Yusuke’s lips only to be blocked by the others tongue, which pushed back into Kurama’s mouth. Back and forth the boy’s played to concur the other’s mouth. Eventually the need for air broke the kiss.

Yusuke took the opportunity to look at Kurama, really look at him. Damn it, he was beautiful. Was it oxygen deprivation or just plain arousal that caused his cheeks to flush and his lips to plump, red, and tempting. And those eyes, oh, those eyes would be his undoing. A man could fall into those eyes and become lost forever. Yusuke wanted kiss him again. His desire did not stop there. Kurama looked so perfect. Everything was perfect; a beautiful lover, so warm and waiting; the smell of the sea; the pink tinged light that filtered past the curtains. The sun must be setting.

Alarms suddenly went off in Yusuke’s head. The sun was setting!

“Crap!” He exclaimed, “I forgot about Ianto.”

“Ianto?” Kurama queried.

“The guy I’ve told you about. The one that’s been helping me.”

“Oh yes, the walking Encyclopedia Ephemeras.”

“Yeah,” Yusuke explained, “I was supposed to be meeting with him at the Dive n’ Dine at noon. Shit, what time is it? Shit, it’s nearly 4:30!”

Yusuke wanted Kurama to accompany him to the Dive ‘n Dine to meet Ianto. Kurama declined saying that he had work on the ship that needed to be done, if they were to set sail for Zura by dawn. Yusuke felt a certain reluctance to leave the man that he had so desperately sought after. Nonetheless he could not just forget about Ianto.

Yusuke ran all the way to the Dive n’ Dine, and was surprised to see the fuming blond still waiting for him. Then again, where else would he go? Without a word Yusuke retrieved the blond and practically dragged him as he ran back to the docks. Ianto was beginning to grow annoyed, but when they arrive at the OLD GREG, the reason for the demon agitation was made apparent. He sensed the demonic aura just before the redhead came into view.

“You found him!“ Ianto’s smile could have blinded a man.

“Yep,” Yusuke affirmed. “And guess what, he owns this sky-ship, here. It’s just like the old seer said, trust my instincts and everything will fall into place.”

Ianto countered, “Your instincts, indeed. Ha! You didn‘t want to come to Serannian. If not for my advice, you would have walked to Zura.”

“Okay, Serannian was your idea, but it was my instincts that told me to trust your advice.” Yusuke smirked while Ianto feigned a pout.

While the two conversed, Kurama scrutinized this new comer called Ianto. Yusuke hadn’t told him much about this man, only that he had vast knowledge of Dreams, a modest sixth sense, and he had been traveling with Yusuke for the past year. This Ianto person wasn’t particularly tall, in fact, the word “dainty” may have been invented just to describe him. He could easily be mistaken for a native. He dressed in the manner of a young man of Ilek-Vad with close fitted trousers and large shirt loosely belted at the hip, and he wore his yellow hair in the fashion of Celephais, all tied back in ropes that fell well past his waist. He seemed mild, friendly, and not at all obtrusive.

Yusuke introduced Kurama to Ianto. Kurama was civil to Ianto. Why shouldn’t he be? Kurama may even have felt grateful to the blond for taking such good care of his Yusuke, but there was something about the boy that didn’t sit well with Kurama. He couldn’t put his finger on it, though, so for now he would remain silent.

“We can set sail by dawn,” Kurama told them. “We can come up with a plan on the way, that is, unless you already have a plan.” Kurama didn’t think they would have a plan, not if Yusuke was in charge. He was sure Yusuke didn’t have a plan, unless you call walking up to Zura’s doorstep and yelling at her a plan.

“Well, once we got there, I was just gonna play it by ear.” Yusuke scratched the back of his head.

Kurama smiled internally, he knew his Yusuke. That audacious personality was one of the traits that made Kurama fall in love with the young man. He hadn’t realized how much he’d missed it. Kurama’s glee turned to irritation when Ianto interjected.

“I was afraid of that.” He was referring to Yusuke’s lack of a plan. “That’s why I picked this up. It’s not a plan, but it may be useful in forming one.” He reached into his satchel, putted out a notebook. He handed it to Kurama.

The fox looked through the note book. It was a compilation of maps, geological reports, land surveys, testimonies, and things of that sort. All very mundane except for one fact, all of these articles were on the land of Zura!

“Where did you get this?” Kurama demanded.

“I found it in King Kuranes’s archives,” Ianto told him.

“I sort of surprised that such a document exists,” Kurama carefully said, “A convenient find.”

Ianto shrugged. “This notebook is actually fairly new; it was compiled shortly after the Battle at the Moon. Some of the reports are resent and there are also historical ones dating back to antiquity. I‘m sure we can find something useful in it.”

“That’s great!” Yusuke cheered as he strung one arm over each boy‘s shoulders. “With the both of you around, I may never have to think again.”

A convenient find, indeed, Kurama thought. It was a little too convenient.

Later that night, Kurama watched Yusuke strip down to his underclothes as he prepared to lie down to bed. Kurama was pleased to see that Yusuke, like himself, had adopted the customary undergarments of Dreams, which was akin to the string bikini. Oh yes, Kurama was one happy fox.

Yusuke talked as he disrobed. “By the way, Kurama, I forgot to ask ya about something.”

“Hmm?” Kurama barely registered what Yusuke was saying, he was so entranced by the other’s body.

“The thing is, since I got to Dreams, I’ve been having trouble with my awareness and spirit energy. It’s gotten a little better over the past year. I can feel it, just under the surface, but…I just can’t get it up. Ianto said my body just needs to adjust and stuff.”

Kurama was a little miffed to hear reference to Yusuke’s body and the blonds name in the same sentence. “Ianto is correct, your powers will return as your body adjusts to the Dreamlands. I myself, had problems accessing my spirit energy when I first arrived.”

“Yeah? How are it working now?”

“My awareness works but only at close range. As a matter of fact I didn’t sense you until you right behind me.”

“Ianto’s the same way, and me, I got nothing. What about your energy?”

“I’ve managed to gain access to my energy, it’s not nearly as strong as it was in the waking world, but I can summon plants now.” Kurama told him this as though it was nothing. In fact, it had been a trail on the fox. Kurama had to study and experiment with countless dream-plants before he found ones that could be of use. Needles to say, his bag of tricks is far more limited than it used to be.

As Yusuke slid into bed next to Kurama he said, “Really? You’ve gotten that far so fast?”

“Well,” Kurama responded, “I suppose it all has to do with control and discipline.”

I would love to teach him a few things about control and discipline, the primal part of Kurama’s brain growled. It was becoming increasingly difficult for Kurama to carry on a conversation. Yusuke was in his bed, and they were both nearly naked. They should be all over each other! Or at the very least they should be flirting, not talking about power levels. That topic isn’t very conductive to romance. Let’s just change the subject, then.

Abruptly Kurama asked, “Have ever been with a man?”

Yusuke flinched, “What…what do you mean?”

“You know exactly what I mean, Yusuke. I already know that you’re attracted to males, but have you ever had sex with a man?” The soft spoken man was never this forthright with Yusuke before, least not regarding things of such an intimate nature.

Yusuke was stunned, but eventually he managed to answer, “I’ve never, um, you know, gone all the way, if that‘s what your asking.”

“Would you like to?” Kurama pressed up close to Yusuke, rubbing his bare thigh against the boy‘s growing arousal.

“Kuramaaa?” Yusuke half moaned.

“ Just leave it to me,” Kurama hushed.

Kurama petted Yusuke’s back with one hand, while the other slid down boy’s side to come to rest over his hip. Kurama was overstepping his boundaries, he knew that, but he just couldn’t care right now. He stroked a path from the hip, down the thigh, then back up again. Kurama could smell Yusuke‘s arousal. He could see it, too, were it strained against the boy’s underclothes. Kurama moved his hand down from Yusuke’s hip to cup that lovely erection.

Yusuke gasped when Kurama’s skilled hand grasped his length, then groaned his approval as Kurama stroked his cock. Kurama’s other hand found its way to Yusuke’s chest where his clever fingers teased a soothed the boy’s chest. He found a nipple and tweaked it hard, causing Yusuke to cry out. Kurama soothed the poor abused nub, then moved to give some attention to its twin.

Meanwhile the fox’s mouth was far from idle. He nipped along Yusuke’s jaw line moving toward his ear.

“Hmmm, Yusuke, you taste good,” Kurama breathed into his ear. Then, he sucked Yusuke’s earlobe into his mouth. He bit at the captive flesh causing its owner to jump. Then he licked at it, until the boy started to whine.

Yusuke panted, “ Kur… rama….” Yusuke stared to ungulate his hips in sync with Kurama’s long, slow pulls. The boy was going to come in his panties at this pace.

No, can’t let it end like that. Not now that I finally have him grasp, Kurama thought. He wanted take his time to torment the boy, then give him ultimate pleasure. He took hand his away from Yusuke’s length.

“Teasing bastard,” Yusuke whined for the lost contact, Kurama ignored it. He would make it up to him soon.

“Tell me, Yusuke, what you want?” He asked in his second most sensual voice. His MOST sensual voice might be too much for the poor boy. “Tell me what you want me to do to you.”

“Everything,” Yusuke moaned. “I want you touching me. I want…want you inside me.”

It drove Kurama crazy, hearing those words come from Yusuke’s mouth. Kurama flipped the boy over on to his stomach, then he plastering himself against the other’s backside, Kurama proceeded to grind his arousal into Yusuke’s ass.

“You like that?” Kurama growled into his ear, “You want more?”

Yusuke nodded, “Yes… more…please.

Kurama’s figures once again found Yusuke’s nipples. In desperate need of release, Yusuke reached down and started to rub his own clothed erection.

Immediately Kurama snatched Yusuke’s hand. “Don’t touch that,” he growled, “That’s mine”

Yusuke groaned at Kurama’s possessive tone. Then, he cried out when Kurama plunged his hand down into his underpants to stroke his rod.

Kurama loved the sounds Yusuke was making and feel of Yusuke in his hand. The boy’s flesh was so hot, full, and ready to pop. He encouraged Yusuke to lift his hips higher. Kurama sat back for a second to admire is handiwork. Yusuke Urameshi was practically glowing with sweat and desire, kneeling on his hands and knees with his bottom up in the air, and a pleading erection straining against the small piece of fabric that served as underwear.

Kurama took hold of the tie on the undergarment, with a quick tug it came undone and material wafted away. Kurama examined the newly exposed flesh, the firm muscular orbs and that sweat rosy center. Kurama blew a hot breath across the exposed flesh.

“This is mine too.” he told the boy as he ghosted a finger over the orifice.

Yusuke was visibly shaking and his breath came out in ragged gasps. He looked so vulnerable, so cute. Kurama decided to stop teasing the poor boy before he dies from need. He coated his fingers in spit in order to prepare his new lover. The first finger went in easy and the second took only a little effort.

Kurama frowned, “Your body seems very cooperative. I thought you said you were a virgin.”

“I, uh, kinda…ah…. experimented on my own.”

Kurama groaned, imaging Yusuke pleasuring himself. Still moving his fingers in and out of the boy’s body, lecherously he asked, “Tell me, Yusuke, how much have you taken up your ass?”

“ My own fingers, two of them,” then a little embarrassed, “once, I used a taper candle.”

“Well I am a bit bigger than a taper candle.” Kurama thrust in a third figure. “You think you’re ready for it?”

“AH!… Yes… please, Kurama.”

“Please what, Yusuke?” The fox teased.

“AH! GOD DAMN IT, FOX-BOY, JUST FUCK ME ALREADY!!!!”

How could Kurama refuse a request like that? Kurama unfastened his own drawers and lined himself up to Yusuke’s eager entrance. Carefully he pushed his way in, stopping only when he was fully sheathed in the boy. Kurama paused allowing his lover to adjust to the intrusion; and to allow himself to adjust to the immense pressure. Yusuke was so hot and tight, he could have come immediately.

After a time, Yusuke began to get antsy, wiggling his hips in pursuit of greater friction. Kurama slowly pulled out until only the head of his penis was still embedded in Yusuke, then he thrust forward filling him again.

Yusuke cried out,“ Ah! Kurama…more!”

Kurama obliged him, wrapping his arms around the other’s waist as he pumped into his lover faster and harder.

“Like that?” He panted.

“Yes…YES!” Yusuke was about to burst.

Kurama reached down to pump his lover’s weeping cock. A few strokes latter, Yusuke came into Kurama’s hand. Kurama followed soon after, allowing his partner’s orgasm to milk him dry.

The following morning they set off for Zura. The voyage was as uneventful as anyone could hope. Ianto had busied himself significantly with the Zura Notebook. Kurama, Yusuke, and Ianto spent the days preparing a plan for when the arrived in Charnel Gardens , that is, whenever the two former mentioned weren’t locked away exercising their passions on one and other.

On the fifth day, the skies turned to a sick grey, and the land below became barren. They’d be in Zura within the hour.

* * *

IV. Zura

Yusuke and Kurama stood on deck looking down at the gray wasteland which lay afore Zura. The creak of steps announced Ianto as he joined the other two on deck. He had gone down moments before to fetch a set of three scarves that he had soaked in linseed oil and allowed to dry. He offered them to Yusuke and Kurama.

“For the smell,” he told them. “It‘s said to be a trifle unpleasant.”

Both declined. They were amused by the consideration, both demons have lived in Makai, so of course, they were very used to the smell of decay. Ianto tied on his scarf; he kept the other two on hand, just in case the demons changed their minds. They were close. The Charnel Gardens were rearing up on the horizon and smell rotting meat wafted up on the breeze. Yusuke nearly gagged and he grabbed the aforementioned fabric from the blond. Kurama kept his repulsion in check, nonetheless he accepted an oil soaked cloth.

“This Zura,” Kurama asked, “She’s some sort of necromancer?”

“She’s a necro-something!” Yusuke spat.

Zura was no less than a vast graveyard that stretched as far as the eye can see. Grave markers stood like rows of corn in the fields of loose grainy soil. The occasional tree whose branches were twisted, deformed, and devoid of leaves. Next a dead mockery of a city came into view, Zura’s city. It was no, shiny well keep memorial park. It was old and crumbing, some of the vaults looked fire blackened. The cobbled streets where cracked and over nourished vegetation blanketed the ground and crept up the walls.

It was the biggest cemetery ever. The lichen covered mausoleums lined up like city blocks and at the center of this necropolis Zura’s palace loomed like great, grey and brooding gargoyle.

With the help of the notebook Ianto had brought from Serannian, the three had come up with a plan to get to Princess Zura, get the information they required, and get out alive. The plan was simple in essence; however they would need all the luck they could get to pull it off. First, they would sail in low and hide the ship in the lee of a hummock. Then, while avoiding Zura’s undead legions, they would enter the catacombs. From there they would steal into the palace, where they hoped to find the lady.

The three entered the catacombs through an opening that was created naturally when part of the rotted earth fell in. Once they had descended into the open ground Kurama fished in his shirt and pulled out a small plant. Its roots wrap around his arm like familiar snakes. With a little burst of energy, he encouraged it to bloom, and a blue-green light filled the space.

“Hey that’s great, you found a dreamland version of your lamp-weeds,” Yusuke praised.

“Actually its not, Kurama confessed. “This is just a common carnivorous plant. I fed it grow worms until it took on their phosphorous quality. I suppose it’s a little bit of a cheat, but it works. Besides I’d hate to light a touch down here, there’s bound to be methane.”

Moving on, Yusuke asked, “Hey, are you guys sure we won’t run into any zombies down here?”

“We shouldn’t,” Ianto replied, “These tunnels are supposedly not used by her subjects, nor are they attached to the common tunnels, just the palace.”

“Regardless, I think we should stay on our toes,” Kurama said as he pulled down his scarf to sniff at the air. The stench of rot is significantly less here; there was more mold than anything.

The catacombs were stone-work system of tubes, styled much like older sewers of London. The stones were slick and pitted from where moisture had built up and dripped down the walls. The thing that set these caverns apart from a common sewer tunnel , were the rows upon rows of shallow niches carved into the walls each of which was habited by small clay jar.

“Rumor has it, this tunnel is exclusively reserved for the Princess’s lovers whom have, um, fallen into disrepair,” Ianto said tactfully.

“Then these jars are her….Yusuke let his sentence trail off. He eyed the unnerving vessels, doubly disturbing under the blue-green glow of their light. “There are so many of them,” he whispered.

Down the tubes, the trio marched until they came to an open space where several tunnels joined at a hub. All passages were open like the one they had come through, save one which was clotted by what looked like a titan sized stone stopper. Kurama ran his expert fingers around the edges of the plug in search of an opening mechanism; he found it and released the switch. The door swung open with a resounding hiss and grating of sand on stone.

They emerged into a large empty room where the wind moaned between the crumbling pillars, and the brave invader’s footsteps echoed off of the decaying stone floor and half fallen walls supported by ancient timbers. At first glance it looked like a the remains of an abandoned church, with its looming windows that at one may have held stained glass, but now stood open, and the rows of long, stout stone benches. On farther inspection those were not benches at all, but sarcophagi! The whole place, like the rest of Zura, was nothing less than a vast neglected crypt.

“We are here.” Ianto indicated on the map.

Kurama tapped his finger on another spot. “This is Zura will be, on the upper most floor, near the center.”

As they drew closer to the aforementioned area, the palaces interior changed, becoming more luxuriant, more like a palace should be. The lichen grown walls had been covered by silk drapes and bright tapestries woven from Ulthar wool. The floors were piled thick with fur rugs. The rooms were furnished with couches and tables made of the finest textiles from Hatheg and dark, exotic woods cut from the Enchanted Forest, and decorated with gold urns set atop marble pedestals.

“I wonder who she keeps in those,” Yusuke mused.

“Perhaps that is where she keeps trespassers,” a sweet bell of a woman’s voice rang from behind.

The three young men whipped about to behold a sight that would cause most men to beg on their knees. She was tall with long shapely legs made even more prominent thanks to the lift provided by gold high heeled sandals. The rest of her outfit was composed of single garment that covered only her arms, back, belly, and thighs, but left all else exposed. She had oiled her body so that her flesh shone like white porcelain. In stark contrast, her hair, that fell over her shoulders like serpentine ropes, were lacquer black, as where her eyes, huge, black, and slanting. They were eyes that could stare right into a man’s soul and then possibly devour it! An amused smile was painted onto her blood red lips. She was Zura.

The boys did not drop to their knees; rather they held themselves utterly motionless as if they were in the presence of a viper that could strike at any moment. Well maybe she was; and maybe she will! Her hypnotic gaze fastened on the boys was a strange combination fascination, lust and veiled fury.

“Now I must ask what three strange men would be doing sneaking into my Charnel Palace. Thieves? Sight seers? Or perhaps you are spies for Kuranes?” Zura accused them.

Kurama had planned on being the group’s spokes person, because if the rumors were true this Zura creature was even more ancient then himself. She must devious to have lived so long, thus she must be handled with great caution. Unfortunately Yusuke spoke first.

“Look lady, we don’t know nothing about this Crane guy. We dragged our asses out here because we got some stuff we want to talk to you about.”

“You came to see me?” Zura said with a mockery of sweetness, “I don’t often get visitors. But tell me, if you came here to see me, why did you sneak in?”

Yusuke answered with a sardonic grin, “Well we would have called ahead but we didn’t have your number, so we decided to just drop by, ya know, since we were in the neighborhood and all.”

“Hmmm, you’re cute, so I’ll indulge you. Come let’s get ourselves more comfortable.” With a perfectly formed a ruby painted fingers she beckoned them to follow.
She led them down the hall to a room where two cowled hulks awaited, Zura’s guards.

“You two wait here,” she indicated Kurama and Ianto, “And I will speak with you in here,” she purred to Yusuke.

At this time Kurama politely interjected, “If you would, madam, we would prefer to stay together.”

“What? Three of you and only one of little old me all alone,” the half naked women feigned offence, “For all I know you could be assassins sent by my enemies. I must think of my own safety.”

“I understand, Lady Zura, but I would greatly like to be present for the conversation, there are things that I would like to hear with my own ears.” Kurama was not about to leave this woman alone with his Yusuke. “However if it will ease her highness’s mind, your guards may keep this one as collateral.” He indicated Ianto.

“Hmmm. You are pretty,” she ogled the fox. “Very well I will speak with you as well. Let it not be said that Zura is without generosity. Guards, keep eye on the little one will you.”

Leaving the bewildered blond behind, the two demons followed Zura into yet another lushly furnished room.

“Now we may converse,” she stalked the men swaying her ample hips. “Ah but how am I to speak with you if I can not even see your faces? Take those things off.”

Wishing for her cooperation, they indulged her by removing their masks. They had prepared themselves for a reached odor, but were pleasantly disappointed when a sweet heady perfume washed over them. Yusuke thought the smell was familiar, but he couldn’t place it. That is until Kurama said:

“Lady Zura we are required to remember the thing you tell us, so with all due respect may we move to a room that is not dowsed with opium and oil of Aphrodite’s Flytrap.”

“That’s it, the Fucking Plant, that’s where a smelled that before!”

“Excuse me?” Kurama’s attention was stolen away by Yusuke.

Zura also took note. “You’ve encountered an Aphrodite’s Flytrap and lived? My, you must be a very strong and virile young man.” Zura eyed Yusuke like he was the choicest cut of beef she had ever seen. Who could blame her? Yusuke Urameshi was one sexy demon with his boyish innocent, but not so innocent face, he had perfectly muscled chest set on display under an open necked shirt and his slim hips and firm rump encased in tight black leather.

“Yeah….” Yusuke awkwardly scratched the back of his head. “But, we’re not here to talk about me; we’re here to talk about you, well, not so much you but your people, um, zombie things.”

“What about my ‘people-zombie-things’?” she cooed, scarcely listening to what Yusuke was saying.

Yusuke came right out with it, “Have you noticed if any of them have gone missing?”

Upon hearing that Zura sobered and screeched with fury, “What do you know of that?!”

It was not how Kurama had planned to broach the subject, but it was effective. He asked Zura, “May we take that as a ‘yes’ then, your-- um, subjects have gone missing?”

“They have,” she spat the words like acid.

“If you tell us about it, you may be able to assist you in the matter,” Kurama told her.

She squinted her hateful eyes at him, “Very well, I suppose if could not hurt.” She paused to gather her thoughts before she began. “As you undoubtedly know, all those who die a fearful death in the Dreamlands are fated to come to my Charnel Gardens so where they my serve me, Princess Zura. It has been so since time immemorial. There was once I time when my city was a thriving necropsies, it was time that most Dreamlanders refer to as “The Bad Times”. Ah, but those were very good times for me! There were monstrosities galore that would rage and destroy, and all who fell in their path would belong to me.

“Alas, like all good things even the Bad Times came to an end. Since then, things have slowed down. As you can see, I haven’t enough fresh and strong subjects for maintaining my great mausoleum. But now it is worse! Now, they hardly come at all. I know it is not for lack of death. While monsters are fewer these days there are still accidents, murders, dangerous animals, and natural disasters. They die sure enough, but they do not come to me who should be their queen.”

“And when did they stop coming?” Kurama asked.

“Around a year ago, I think,” Zura shook her pretty head.

“DING DING DING I think we have a winner!” Yusuke excitedly pressed her, Do you have any idea where the stiffs ARE going?”

“Yes,” the venom was back in her tone. “A few months ago those Lengite dogs came a calling; they wanted to make a trade with me. I have had dealings with those crooks before, and I had sworn never again, but then they showed me what they had; members of the walking undead! I had accused them of stealing from me. They did not steal them, however. The Lengites leader told me where they had found them. They had picked up dead out of their own backyards, that is, in Leng. He said that for the past months the walking dead have been wondering northwards into Leng. Now the only way to procure what is rightfully mine, is to pay those scoundrels to bring them to me.”

“North to Leng, sounds like a plan to me,” Yusuke cheered.

“That’s not a plan, Yusuke, it’s a direction,” Kurama smiled at the other, “But it may well be the right direction.”

“Cool, let’s go then, we’ll work on a plan on the way.” Yusuke took Kurama by the wrist and hauled him out of the sweet smelling room, leaving a flabbergasted Zura in their wake.

They found their blond companion sitting around a table and playing cards with the two ghouls whom had been left in charge of him.

“What are you doing?!” Yusuke couldn’t believe it.

Ianto replied a-matter-of-factly, “I’m playing Old Maid with two corpses, and I’m losing.”

The Lady of the Dead interrupted the taboo with her shill outrage, “Who said you could leave!? Guards seize them!”

The two shambling corpses made a grab for Ianto, since he was the closest. But the petite blond easily slipped past their awkward groping. “Sorry about this,” he said as he pulled two vials from his pocket, shook them, and then plunged them into the zombies’ dry rotted guts. In seconds the mummified cadavers exploded into a great cloud of putrid dust. Princess Zura’s shouts and coughs faded into the distance as the boys escaped.

When they made it back to ship, Yusuke attacked Kurama’s mouth with his own.

“Man, Kurama, I’m so horny right now,” Yusuke proved it by rubbing his hard on against Kurama’s thigh.

“That would be the effect of Zura’s oils, it’s derived from Aphrodite’s Flytrap, a potent aphrodisiac,” Kurama pressed back against Yusuke’s arousal.

“Hey!” The beat red blond broke in on the couple. “If you two are done canoodling, I would like to get the hell out of Zura now.”

“Okay,” Yusuke moved away from his lover, “But before we go there’s just one thing I want to do.”

“What’s that?”

“Well, we forgot to give our hostess a proper thank you for her hospitality. Kurama, how close can you get this thing to her palace?”

Moments latter the OLD GREG was hovering a stones throw from the great mausoleum.

Yusuke was screaming at the top of his lungs, “HEY ZURA! ZURA, GET YOUR ASS OUT HERE!”

The princess emerged onto the nearby balcony, rage radiated off of her.

“I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANKS FOR THE INFO. OH! AND I GOT YOU A PRESENT, TOO!” Hurled an object down at her feet before giving Kurama the signal to fly away.

“Where to now?” Ianto inquired.

“Leng,” Yusuke told him.

“Leng?!” Ianto paled.

“Well, first we need to make dock at Serannian,” Kurama corrected. “For repairs, stock, maintenance, and all. Then we will sail Leng.”

“You in Ianto,” Yusuke smiled hopefully at the blond, “To Leng?”

Ianto sighed and nodded the affirmative, “To Leng.”

Thus the three sped aboard dream winds to their next adventure. Meanwhile, princess Zura stood on her balcony glaring the peculiar oblong object the young man had thrown at her, the thing mocked her; it was a cucumber.

* * *
TBC
A/N: The word ‘cucumber’ is funny, especially in a yaoi; it has the word ‘cum’ right in it!
Any way this part is like twice as long as the first three. I was going to deliver this part in two sections but I daren‘t not. Nobody TBC’s Zura! So I hope you liked this…OH DEAR GOD HELP esdrfyguh;kl’////////////////////……….

ZURA’S/N: Yes, I too hope you enjoyed this section of the story. Hah, of course you did, after all I, Zura, was the star. I’m looking forward to reading in the reviews how much you love me. So, review-- or the little fanfic writer gets it!

A/N: Please don’t let the crazy corpse women kill me. *_*