Life Goes On

Scene 79 ------------------------------------------- Two Days Later

* Lord Yomi is relaxing in his personal sauna when a messenger appears behind the shoji screen. Knowing that his Lord has no doubt sensed his presence, the page stays put to wait for the goat to acknowledge him. Yomi moans quietly.


Yomi- What is it, Peiji?

Peiji- Lord Ryuji is here, Sir.. He wishes an audience.


* Yomi scowls as he wiggles a couple of his ears. He must've dozed off in the warmth because he had missed the fire demon's arrival.


Yomi- What in the h--- is Mukuro's current Second doing here without a proper announcement?

Peiji- He did not say, Sir.. But he's not exactly alone.

Yomi- Mukuro isn't in my territory..

Peiji- No, M'Lord.. The fire demon has three babies..


* This news captures Yomi's full attention. After a couple thoughtful moments he stands up out of the warm hotspring and moves to the towel rack.


Yomi- You, of course, showed our guest to my Office.

Peiji- Hai, M'Lord.


* Yomi throws a bathrobe on and sweeps out past the young demon boy.


Yomi- See if he requires any amenities while I make myself presentable, Peiji.


* The boy bows and leaves quickly. Yomi hurries to the bedroom and dresses quickly as he continues scanning his surroundings with his special senses. He is still somewhat puzzled when he still can get no reading on anyone out of the ordinary being in his castle. Yomi then uses his private elevator that takes him down and deposits him in the entryway outside of his main office that he uses for special meetings. As he approaches the large plain, steel door his gifted ears easily pick up the sound of a crying baby, then two. The goat hesitates, then continues on inside. As the door slides back into place behind him Yomi freezes to extrasensorily take in the 'sight' he finds. Ryuji is sitting on the floor beside a basket. He is using one hand to rock it, while using the other arm to gently sway the noisy bundle it's holding. Now Yomi realizes that Ryuji has a formidable barrier up around him and the.. now three noisy babies. Ryuji turns his head to glance up toward the tall Lord when Yomi doesn't move into the room any further.


Ryuji- Please forgive them, M'Lord.. They've just woke up and they're a bit cranky.

Yomi- They're hungry.. All babies make noise when they're hungry.. (Mumbled) Or so I've heard..

Ryuji- Of course..


* Yomi hesitantly moves to sit behind his plain, but good-sized desk. He folds all of his ears down to attempt to block the noise.


Yomi- Are you their..?

Ryuji- I'm their Father.

Yomi- Then.. you cannot.. silence them.. with.. err..


* Ryuji glances down into the basket sadly as he shakes his head.


Ryuji- I..

Yomi- If they need milk I can have it fetched.. Why are you here, Lord Ryuji? What kind of trick is this..?

Ryuji- If you'll permit me, M'Lord.. I'll explain..


* Ryuji settles his whimpering daughter back into the basket with her brothers, then bows low before Yomi.


Yomi- If you come in peace.. lift your barrier.


* Ryuji glances back up at Yomi.


Ryuji- Oh! Forgive me.. I've had it up for two days while travelling here.. I simply forgot that I still had it intact.


* As soon as Ryuji closes his inner jagan Yomi's senses are flooded with a nearly unbearable overload of feelings. He pulls back his special senses and raises a hand to rub his forehead.


Yomi- One of the boys needs changed, as well.. Now, explain.


* Ryuji keeps his eyes low, masking the slight smirk that touches one corner of his mouth, as he explains.


Ryuji- A couple months ago I settled down with a skink demon named Pehjo..

Yomi- You mean mated.. obviously..

Ryuji- Hai.


* Yomi feels the emotion of sadness settle over Ryuji and lifts his face toward him.


Yomi- So you weren't aware that male skinks never survive giving birth?


* Ryuji slowly shakes his head.


Ryuji- No.. Not until after we learned of his pregnancy.. But he still refused to.. take their lives..

Yomi- Typical demon maternal behaviour.. So why are you here.. Your Lord not pleased with your choice for a mate?


* Ryuji takes a deep breath.


Ryuji- I had this past month to consider my next options as I cared for my mate.

Yomi- My condolences, by the way.

Ryuji- Thank you..

Yomi- Your.. options? You are a fire demon,.. full-blooded.. and a clan leader..


* Yomi doesn't need sight to feel Ryuji's surprise at his knowledge of him.


Yomi- Now that your mate has passed on, there's very little.. options.. left to you.. Am I correct?

Ryuji- Indeed.. At present, my most important priority..

Yomi- Besides your hungry children, of course.

Ryuji- Of course.. My most pressing priority is to locate a mate that's more powerful than myself..


* Yomi raises one of his ears.


Yomi- Being a clan leader.. Are you not an Alpha?


* Ryuji sighs, but bows his head again and nods.


Ryuji- I understand the.. position.. that this situation has placed me in..

Yomi- I ask you again, Lord Ryuji.. Why are you here?


* Ryuji swallows.


Ryuji- I can think of no stronger demon.. than yourself,.. Lord Yomi.


* A couple more of Yomi's ears raise, as do both of his eyebrows, until the goat gets his momentary lapse of control back in hand. He feels Ryuji radiate some warmth around his babies to make them drowsy and drift back to sleep slowly as their conversation continues.


Yomi- As.. flattering.. and true.. as I may wish that it were.. I have to admit that you're wrong.. Lord Urameshi is now.. slightly.. stronger than I..


* Again, Ryuji hides his smirk. He decides to continue his planned path of 'shameless' appreciation.


Ryuji- At present, I doubt that.. He is exhausting himself in his duties to his new family.


* Yomi relaxes back in his chair, refusing to acknowledge the obvious ploy.


Yomi- You should be there eleviating some of that pressure, not here propositioning me.. I'm not interested in taking a mate.. Lord Mukuro is desirous of an heir, is she not?


* Ryuji's smirks fades into a slight scowl, not caring that Yomi will sense it.


Ryuji- She terminated my position the night my babies were born.


* Yomi hesitantly leans forward curiously.


Yomi- If this is some kind of a scheme that her diseased brain has concocted..


* Ryuji shakes his head, then suddenly remembers that Yomi is blind.


Ryuji- No, M'Lord.. This is no scheme of hers.. When my only daughter was born my dying mate named her Hotaru..

Yomi- Hmm.. That starts with an H.

Ryuji- Then you are aware of her.. idiotic.. naming rule.

Yomi- I'm aware of a lot of things, Lord Ryuji.

Ryuji- But apparently not.. everything.. Seeings as how my arrival here had flustered you so.


* Now Yomi scowls a moment before lowering his face to chuckle.


Yomi- You are indeed the little spitfire's brother.


* Ryuji smirks again, not hiding it either.


Ryuji- Hn.. I'm as close as you'll ever get to.. having him.


* Ryuji knows that he has hit a nerve by the way Yomi reacts. The goat sits up straighter and folds his ears back against his dark hair.


Ryuji- I know that your.. friendship.. with Lord Urameshi won't allow you to go take my brother.. or the kitsune from him.

Yomi- I will appreciate it if you would close your hidden jagan, Mr. Ryuji.


* Yomi feels the fire demon obey him.


Yomi- What will you do if I refuse you?


* Ryuji lowers his eyes back down to the basket.


Ryuji- (Quietly) I.. We will die.


* Slowly, Yomi stands and goes over to look down into the basket at the three sleeping babies, also. He can't help but notice how much cuter they are when they're quiet and asleep.


Yomi- And what will you do if I accept you.. but not these..?


* For a couple moments Ryuji stiffens and his hands curl into fists in his lap. Yomi's senses monitor the internal struggle that he's now placed on Ryuji. Finally the fire demon bows his head and answers tensely.


Ryuji- (Quietly) Then I.. will live,.. b-but they.. (swallows) they will die.. at your hand..


* Ryuji looks back up at Yomi. The goat keeps his face blank and guarded.


Ryuji- As you stated.. I am an Alpha clan leader.. I know the.. instinct that you speak of.. I have thought this decision through from every angle.. I have a brother that I must go help.. In order to do that I must be.. alive when he is ready to give birth..


* Ryuji looks back down at his babies.


Ryuji- Make no mistake,.. Lord Yomi.. I care for them deeply.. My coming here.. risking this very situation.. was a risk I deemed.. necessary.. My only option at this moment.. is to place myself.. and them.. at your mercy, M'Lord.

Yomi- Why can you not go to Hiei now and accept your fate?

Ryuji- Right now he stays in a near hibernation constantly..

Yomi- Hai.

Ryuji- While this state renders a demon physically.. vulnerable.. The mind remains aware on a diff-..

Yomi- I am a demon, I know about the mechanics of hibernation.. vaguely..


* Yomi raises his face and turns it away to regain his aloofness, as he was getting too dangerously close to reaching down and touching the slumbering babies.


Ryuji- Yes, of course.. Well, in Hiei's current.. state.. he wouldn't be able to understand that I'm no longer under that b---- Mukuro's threat of harm.. Subconsciously, he would still reject my help.. The best time that I will be able to give him the transfer he needs would be when they knock him completely out to extract his baby.


* Now Yomi slowly nods.


Yomi- Hai.. They had explained that to me the last time I was there to visit.. They will have to cut Hiei open as he'll be too weak by then to birth the baby naturally.


* Ryuji nods. Yomi moves back to his chair and sits down again. Ryuji watches the goat lift a hand to rub his chin thoughtfully.


Ryuji- I know that you are a great and mighty territory Lord.. You are respected for your ruthlessness.. But you are also honored for your mercy and sense of..


* Yomi raises the hand to silence Ryuji.


Yomi- Enough, enough, already with the placation..

Ryuji- My words are sincere.. You may be blind, Yomi.. But I know that you understand where I have.. placed myself.. I'm not asking to be your equal.. or even your Second.. I only ask that you claim me so that I may live long enough to help my brother.. I don't want Lord Urameshi to go through the same pain of loss that I have just gone through..


* Ryuji bows low before Yomi again.


Ryuji- If you will spare me.. and my children.. we will serve you faithfully.

Yomi- This has been presented to me very suddenly..

Ryuji- I understand that, M'Lord.

Yomi- Will you allow me time to consider all of this?

Ryuji- All the time you need, Sir.. I'll return to the cave we stayed in last night.. You may send for me..


* Yomi stands and goes over to look back down at the babies.


Yomi- I won't hear of that.. I'll have you shown to a guest quarters where milk will be provided for these.. babies.. I won't have them staying in an old, damp cave.

Ryuji- You are most gracious..

Yomi- If I do accept,.. Mr. Ryuji.. I will not tolerate no mate of groveling around on the floor.


* Almost immediately Ryuji stands up to his full height, which is still just about a head and a half shorter than the tall goat, in his current form. Yomi nods, looks back down into the basket, then straightens and moves back to his desk to touch the intercom and relay his orders.