The Aftermath

Scene 5 ------------------------------------------------------- Yomi's Office

* When Yomi enters, he dismisses Shuji with a wave of his hand, locks the main door, then moves to the communication station. Knowing the layout of his station thoroughly, the goat Lord opens the frequency to Alaric. The face of one of Lord Mukuro's soldiers soon appears on the monitor.

Sabotchi- Greetings, Lord Yomi.
Yomi- Connect me with Lord Mukuro on her private line.
Sabotchi- Hai, Sir.

* Yomi scratches one of his ears as he waits patiently to hear the female Lord's voice. Since the Royal Tournament, the lines of communication between the three territory leaders has not been as strained or as unaccessible. When Lord Mukuro's half concealed face appears on the monitor she takes a few moments to study the blind Lord before speaking.

Mukuro- Lord Yomi.

* Yomi quickly drops his hand and looks up toward the monitor habitually.

Yomi- Lord Mukuro, I have news concerning your Second, Lord Hiei.
Mukuro- If you've harmed him...
Yomi- Not I, of course. I would never make such a breech of our current trust unnecessarily.
Mukuro- Then tell me what you know.

* Yomi chuckles to himself. Even when they were rivals he had always admired the fiesty woman's straightforward manner. He then grows serious once more.

Yomi- Are you familiar with a tiger named Satjiyu?

* Immediately Mukuro scowls at the mention of the name.

Mukuro- What of him?

* Yomi chooses his words carefully, not wanting to reveal everything he knows.

Yomi- My Second, Kurama, has shown up in a very bad state... He has told me a quite... harrowing account...
Mukuro- That swine had Kurama?
Yomi- It seems the.. swine.. had all... of Lord Koenma's team...
Mukuro- It's not news to me that Hiei still associates with them... He has the somewhat irritating habit of being gone for days while he's off with them. I tolerate it since it keeps myself on... beneficial.. terms with that baby prince.

* Yomi nods.

Yomi- As do I, with Kurama.
Mukuro- But he always returns or at least reports back to me... I gave his current absence little thought until I received the news of his teammate's death. That human named Kuwa-whatever.
Yomi- Kazuma Kuwabara. Yes, I received my invitation to the Memorial, as well.
Mukuro- So what does Satjiyu have to do with all of this?
Yomi- I know of the cruelty Satjiyu is capable of... I won't go into detail of how...
Mukuro- Lord Hiei was sold to that monster when he was very young. I know of all of my Second's memories, I don't wish to reveal everything...
Yomi- Of course. Your wisdom matches my own, Lord Mukuro.

* Mukuro rolls her one good eye at the goat's "patronization".

Mukuro- If Satjiyu had his paws on Hiei...
Yomi- Kurama says that Lord Hiei was alive the last time he seen him.
Mukuro- When was that?! I have no patience for this bantering habit of yours, Lord Yomi!
Yomi- When Lord Koenma freed them from Satjiyu's fortress.

* Again Mukuro scowls angrily.

Mukuro- How long did the b------ have them??!
Yomi- I haven't yet been able to determine every detail, Mukuro. My Second was nearly mad because of the captivity. So I can only assume that it was longer than a day...
Mukuro- Yes. Kurama is a silver Youko...

*The female territory Lord lowers her eyes and sits in quiet thoughtfulness for a couple moments.

Mukuro- Will you and Lord Kurama be attending this Memorial?
Yomi- I will go, of course. As for Kurama,... only he can make that decision. I won't force it upon him, but certain... circumstances... may make it necessary for him to do so.
Mukuro- I can understand your guarded response concerning your Second. I do hope that he is well. I, however, can give no such report concerning mine...
Yomi- Perhaps if you contact Lord Koenma,... as I planned on doing,... you may find out more.
Mukuro- Yes. I will do that immediately.
Yomi- Very well then.

* When Mukuro doesn't speak for a few moments Yomi reaches to cut the connection.

Mukuro- Lord Yomi.

* Yomi hesitantly pulls his hand back when he hears the change in her tone.

Mukuro- We were once rivals. But since the Royal Tournament we have learned... to trust each other... in some ways...

* She watches Yomi lower his eyes and tilt his head away some as he attempts to guard his apprehension.

Mukuro- If there is something more that I need to know... It will stay between us. On my honor.

* Yomi contemplates her words carefully, then decides that it is best that she hears this from him, personally.

Yomi- Kurama... is pregnant.

* The lady Lord processes this information, then stiffens perceptibly.

Mukuro- I know that Satjiyu's biggest profit.. most recently... has been the breeding of half-breeds... Human half-breeds... He sells the hybrids for food...
Yomi- Kurama is not pregnant to the human that was killed.

* Mukuro relaxes some.

Mukuro- That is good...
Yomi- I've yet to fully determine the validity of that, Lord Mukuro. He is pregnant to the Mazoku Urameshi.

* Mukuro leans back in her chair at the impact of this news. Yomi's ears twitch slightly.

Yomi- But that will not just be my situation to deal with, it seems.
Mukuro- What do you...?
Yomi- Kurama has told me that Satjiyu had forced your Second into heat and bred him to Lord Urameshi, also.

* Yomi doesn't have to be able to sense the woman through the monitor. Common sense tells him how she is reacting to this "development".

Yomi- It seems that Satjiyu was developing dreams of power, to go along with his vast wealth.

* Mukuro's face reddens, but she manages to hold off any outbursts.

Mukuro- I'm going to go. I must contact Lord Koenma.

* Mukuro now cuts their connection rather forcefully. Lord Yomi sighs, powers down the station, then leaves his office to return to his quarters.