Nightmare Or Premonition?

Nightmare Or Premonition?

Fandom: Yu Yu Hakusho
Title: Nightmare Or Premonition?
Author: Takhisiss
Theme: 40. It’s Just A Nightmare (Bonus Theme)
Pairing/Characters: Youko Kurama/ Kuronue
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: As much as I may wish otherwise, I do not own any part of Yu Yu Hakusho. It is owned by Yoshihiro Togashi. I only claim ownership of this twisted plot and the muses that created it.
Summary: To what length with Youko go to decipher just what Kuronue's nightmares mean? Will answers be found and just how will the two of them deal with the knowledge of the future?

This is a YAOI fic. If male pairings bother you turn back now. You are warned.


The sun was just coming up over the horizon as the two partners made their way to bed. It had been a long fun filled night, one that had been filled with a huge adrenaline rush as they had narrowly avoided that last contingent of guards from that fool Lord’s castle. Someday they would probably get caught, of that they were both fairly certain, but today hadn’t been that day. Now the many gold chains from the nights heist clinked softly against each other as they were removed from pockets and laid out on the table. Grinning broadly Youko and Kuroune moved easily about inside their lair, getting ready for sleep until the next nights activities.

“Will you be sleeping with me today?” The question was a simple one, asked in a very matter of fact tone of voice but there was a hint of sadness as well as a touch of concern in the violet eyes as Kuronue waited for an answer from his partner who was also his lover. Since this damnable nightmare of his had started plaguing him, it had played hell on their love life and he knew that Youko was getting impatient as well. ‘I’ll be damned if I’m going to tell him about it though.’ He sighed heavily as the silver Kitsune slowly shook his head. ‘Of course I probably already am. It sure feels like it lately somehow.’

“I don’t think so. I rather like having my hair on my head rather then shredded by those claws of yours in your sleep.” He hated saying those words to the bat, almost as much as he hated the idea of sleeping alone once again. He watched as the bat slowly walked down the corridor towards the far bedroom and threw a last comment at his receding back. “If you would just tell me what this nightmare of yours is, we could probably resolve this whole stupid issue.”

There was no answer from Kuronue to that comment and Youko hadn’t really been expecting one. ‘He sure is being a stubborn bastard about this one.’ Shaking his head he turned into the room where he had currently taken up residence and flopped down on his bed to think. ‘Asking what this nightmare is hasn’t worked. Threatening to beat it out of him hasn’t worked either. Hell, even moving to a separate bedroom didn’t do the trick. I like figuring out puzzles but this one isn’t funny. That and it’s going to drive me to distraction.’

While he had been thinking over this latest puzzle his hand had worked its way down to scratch absently at his balls. It was something he did without thinking but once the pleasurable feelings made their way to his brain, he couldn’t help but grin. Maybe this would be a way to get the bat to talk; at the very least it would relieve some of the tension that was eating both of them up from the inside out. Rising from his bed he silently made his way down the hall towards the bedroom where Kuronue had made his bed, his member proudly standing at attention as he walked. Turning the corner his eyes grew wide as the musky smell in the room informed him that Kuronue had already found his own release and had then fallen asleep. Dejected now, he turned and made his way back to his own bedroom. ‘At least he could have invited me to join him.’

~*~*~*~

Youko lifted his head and cocked an ear towards the sound he heard coming from down the corridor. Silently he rose from his bed in the spare bedroom where he had taken up residence since these nightmares began and padded towards the thrashing and snarling that he could so easily hear. The lack of sleep from being awakened very time he laid down was beginning to wear badly on Youko’s nerves and his patience was nearing its breaking point. ‘He’s having that damn nightmare again. Either he is going to tell me what it’s about this time or I swear I’m going to throttle him myself.’ Muttering darkly to himself, he turned the corner and looked into the bedroom where Kuronue was currently residing.

It looked like a war zone. Kuronue was laying on top of sheets that were demolished, no doubt shredded by his long claws that were still tearing at what remained of the fabric Strips of the cloth were flung around the room hanging by threads wherever they had landed. Several strands of his long black hair were also scattered, although not so much that anyone would be able to tell that any was missing when he put it back into that ponytail of his. It seemed almost a miracle that he hadn’t done any serious body damage to himself; although that couldn’t be counted on to continue to be the case with the way he was struggling in his sleep.

‘This has got to stop and it’s got to stop now! He’s going to seriously hurt himself if it doesn’t.’ Youko pulled a few of the seeds from his hair and gently nudged them into growth with his ki. Vines sprouted and with a whispered word from the Kitsune wrapped themselves around the flailing arms and legs of the struggling bat in an effort to constrain his movements. At first it seemed to work and Youko was about to walk over to Kuronue when sharp claws tore the vines to pieces leaving him as unrestrained as before. Obviously that wasn’t going to work so Youko did the next best thing he could think of, yelling out the bats name. “Kuronue! Wake Up!”

Unseeing violet eyes snapped open at the words then gradually cleared as sense returned once again to his mind and he realized he was at home in his own bed. Slowly his struggles ceased although his body continued to shudder violently with the aftermath of the nightmare he had found himself trapped in. Looking around himself at the mess the room was in Kuronue finally looked at Youko and gave him a weak grin. “I guess I’ve got something of a mess to clean up here. Sorry about waking you up again and destroying your plants. But don’t worry, I’m fine now.” He made a move as if to rise but was shoved back down onto the ruined bed.

“Oh no you don’t. I’m tired of being woken up every time we go to sleep. I’m tired of finding ruined sheets in the garbage heap every time I go past it. I’m tired of worrying that you’re going to hurt yourself during these nightmares.” Youko looked at Kuronue with a lonely pained expression “And most of all I’m tired of sleeping alone. I had enough of that before we became partners.” He had a soft side although no one else in the Makai knew about it. But Kuronue had found it long ago, after they had become partners and then lovers. Youko was using that side now, hoping to draw the bat out and find out what it was he wanted to know. “What is troubling you so Kuronue? What is this nightmare that’s keeping us apart now?” Golden eyes stared hard at his partner and lover as if trying to see into his soul and find the secrets buried there.

It’s nothing Youko. Don’t worry, I’ll work this out on my own and I’ll be fine.” Once more he moved to rise from the bed and this time Youko let him go. Slowly he gathered the bed sheets, rolling them into a wad so they would be ready to go into the garbage when he went out. They were a total loss anyway and he would just get more of them with their next heist. ‘Funny how lately when we go out the first thing I end up looking for is more sheets.’ His gaze fell onto his clothes, which had previously been folded at the end of the bed. ‘Maybe I should be looking for a new set of those as well. It wouldn’t hurt to have more anyway.’

“Nothing my ass.” Youko had had enough. “If you won’t tell me about it then fine, but you will tell someone. We will be making a trip to visit that clan of yours tonight, you can talk to the elder there and tell him!” He knew he was taking a chance in saying that, he wasn’t sure that he would be able to force Kuronue to go if he didn’t want to and the bat clan, while they had accepted his presence he knew it was only because of Kuronue. They had never truly forgiven him for taking Kuronue, one of their highest-ranking members, as a partner. Most especially Kuronue’s mother was bitter, having always hoped for some grandchildren from her eldest son. But now that was out of the question. ‘She has a daughter who can have all the grandbabies her heart desires.’

“Don’t be too hard on her Youko.” Kuronue had no trouble knowing what the fox was thinking about, it had been a topic of sore discussion many times. “You know it’s because males are so highly prized in bat society, it’s only natural she would want me to have found a mate among them and have had children.” He walked over and ran a finger along the ridge of Youko’s furry ear sending a shiver of delight down the fox’s spine. “But we both know it isn’t going to happen and so does she. So don’t dwell on it, we both know that I will never willingly leave your side and you will never willingly leave mine.” He graced Youko with a smile that somehow didn’t quite reach his eyes.

Somehow that last sentence didn’t sound quite right to Youko and he looked at Kuronue with an inquiring expression. But seeing the set look on the bats face he decided to let it go for the minute, instead choosing to turn his attention to the watch he carried in his pocket. “It’s coming on nighttime, that clan of yours should be starting to wake up soon. Why don’t we take off now, we can get there just in time for dinner if we hurry.” If he couldn’t get Kuronue to visit his clan one way he would get him to go another and if he got a meal out of it so much the better.

That last remark did earn a small laugh from Kuronue as he looked into Youko’s eager eyes. ‘Who would have ever thought that a fox could be so in love with his stomach. Of course it doesn’t hurt that he gets his meals served to him rather then having to work for them.’ Kuronue pulled his hair back up into its customary high ponytail, grimacing in distaste when a few more strands of hair came out in his fingers. Throwing his remaining clothes on and pulling on his hat he turned to his partner. “Shall we go?”

Both of them were quiet as they made their way to the bat demons home cave, each of them lost in their own thoughts. The night was quiet, the insects had not yet started their nightly music and the birds in the area had already settled in for their nights rest. Lightening flickered brightly across the sky in an eerie dance of it’s own, but the rumble of the thunder was still far off in the distance. Youko sniffed the air, relaxing when he determined that they would arrive at the cave before the threatened rain broke lose. He glanced over at Kuronue, about to make the comment that they would most likely be staying for a longer visit then intended but stopped short at the dark look on the bats face.

Kuronue had come to the same conclusion but he wasn’t necessarily pleased with the idea. It would possibly mean subjecting the rest of his clan to his recurring nightmare and the idea didn’t appeal to him. At the very least it would subject him to questions that he didn’t want to answer and at worst it could possibly influence the dreams of the others, causing them to be pulled into his nightmare as well. It wasn’t something he would wish on any of them and he was suddenly determined that it wouldn’t happen. He stopped moving and looked stubbornly at Youko. “I’ve changed my mind. I’m not going!”

“Oh yes you are!” Youko was beyond frustrated with his partner now and was determined that they were going even if he had to bind him with the strongest vines in his possession and carry him the rest of the way. “We did not come all this way just to turn back now. I have a feeling that the answer to your nightmare is there and I, for one, want to know what it is so this can end.” Youko looked over his shoulder at the feel of approaching Youkai, then back at Kuronue. “Besides we have company. Are you going to tell your mother that you don’t want to see her when we’re so close?”

It was true, standing a short distance from them and waiting for their approach stood his mother. Behind her stood the clan elder, a look of concern etched on both of their faces but they said nothing, choosing to simply wait instead. The slight breeze had carried the words that had been exchanged to their sensitive ears and so they waited, concerned but not wanting to intrude on what appeared to be some sort of private argument. Time seemed to drag out but finally Kuronue gave in and moved forward, earning him a slight smile on his mother’s face that disappeared with his next muttered words. “Fine, but I refuse to stay long enough to have to sleep over here.”

“You know your way to the eating area?” The elder looked at Youko, knowing full well that the Kitsune knew his way. It was clearly meant as a dismissal and he took it as one, nodding his head and moving off in the general direction of the dining area. Kuronue’s mother took a close look at her son’s haggard features, then moved to follow Youko, not needing to be told that the clan elder wanted a few words in private with her son. Once they were alone he turned to Kuronue. “You will come with me my son.” Together they turned and disappeared into the elder’s private chambers where they could talk without any fear of being overheard.

Dinner was long since over when Kuronue and the elder finally emerged from the chambers. His mother had made a plate for him and kept it warm while he had been busy. Now she brought it to him and moved off, waiting to talk to him until he had finished his meal. The look on his face wasn’t conducive to conversation, if anything it seemed a pall of sorrow and resignation had settled over him. He looked more defeated then ever. The proud bat was gone and in his place was someone that his mother and Youko had never seen before.

“What the hell happened in there?” Youko was even more upset then he had been when Kuronue’s latest nightmare had awakened him and had led to the decision to come here in the first place. Kuronue had chosen to ignore the outburst, which made Youko even angrier. “If you’re going to ignore me and not tell me what the hell is going on I know someone who will tell me. Even if I have to use a death tree and he tells me with his dying breath!” Spinning on his heel he stalked out of the room in the direction that Kuronue had come from, resolve in every step.

“What is it that you wish to know Kitsune?” The elder calmly stood his ground in front of the irate fox. “Do you wish to know the cause of Kuronue’s nightmare and the part you play in it? Or is it your own eventual demise that you wish to know about I wonder? How much do you value Kuronue’s life, would you be willing to put your thieving life behind you for him? How much are you willing to give up for him? Think carefully Kitsune, your answers will determine the future for the both of you.”

“What do all these questions have to do with what's wrong with my partner? Why are you asking me?” While Youko was still irritated, he had the feeling that this once at least the elder would tell him what it was that would have to be done to help Kuronue. As the silence drew out though he just couldn’t resist the snide little comment. “You should be doing something to help him.”

“Mind your manners youngling.” The elder looked at Youko as if weighing whether to continue talking to him. “I am more then twice your age, if you want answers you will keep a civil tongue in your head.” Shaking his head he turned and muttered something about incorrigible youth, before turning back with a wave of his hand. “Come with me, as you answer the questions, you will come to know the dilemma that Kuronue faces in his nightmares.”

The richly embroidered cushions that Youko found himself were sitting on were a treasure in their own right as were the tapestries hanging on the walls around the room. The sight of them was enough to take his breathe away as he ran his fingers gently over the ages old threads. The idea of possessing them for his own was quickly forming in his head, only to be cut short as the elder seemed to read his thoughts. “Don’t even think it Kitsune. We are here to talk about Kuronue and yourself, not so you can try to figure out how to steal the clans belongings.”

The chastisement in the old demon’s voice washed over Youko like a face full of ice cold water and succeeded in bringing his attention back to the matter that they had come to discuss. It was obvious to him now that the man sitting before him was not only wise but very sneaky as well and used to interrogating others. There was something else about the old demon that was bothering Youko, something that he couldn’t immediately put his finger on. It was playing with him, nagging at the edges of his attention like he was missing something important here. The slight smile on the old mans face was adding to that nagging feeling making it extremely difficult to concentrate on the questions the old man had asked. ‘Just like when Kuronue is trying to play that stupid I know something that you don’t game that I hate so much.’

“So now answer the questions Kitsune. After all I’m sure you didn’t come and seek me out simply to compliment me on our clans possessions, nor was it to declare your undying love and affection for me.” The old mans eyes crinkled at the corners, as his smile grew broader and more feral. “No, I suspect you reserve that sentiment for yourself alone. So, now to answer my questions. How much do you value Kuronue’s life? Would you be willing to die for him?”

Youko was highly irritated by the questions and the answers that he was being forced to pull from the very fiber of his being. “Just what kind of questions are these? What do they have to do with Kuronue’s nightmares? Answer me that old man, and tell me why I should even bother to answer you.”

Slowly the old man stood, his eyes beginning to glow a vivid violet. The air surrounding Youko began to thin as if the oxygen was being sucked out of it, making it more then a little uncomfortable and hard to breath. “You will listen to me Kitsune and you will listen well. I have warned you once about minding your manners, now I shall force it if I have to.” Slowly some of the oxygen returned as the violet eyes lost some of their glow. “You will answer my question so I may determine how strong your love is for my son and if you are worthy of his affection. If I decide you are not, I promise you shall be forever separated. It is because of his feelings for you that his nightmares have occurred after all.”

“Your son??” Youko sat back, his mind suddenly reeling with shock as the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. At the old man’s nod, he realized why his answers were so important to the old man. He not only had the answers Youko wanted but he was also a protective parent watching over his son’s wellbeing. The thought was mind-boggling. Finally though, he pulled his thoughts together enough to grouse out answers to the old man’s questions. “Someone should have had the courtesy to have told me who you were. But in answer to your question, I will kill anyone that tries to harm him. He is my partner and no one screws with anyone or anything that belongs to me with impunity. Does that answer your questions?”

The answer seemed to satisfy the old man for the moment. “It is your death that he is seeing during his nightly terrors.” He stopped his explanation for a moment to gauge the reaction of the fox sitting in front of him. “Or rather I should say, a possible death. Kuronue is fighting a ningen looking fool and trying to save your life. Tell me, do you know anyone who would fit the description of tall, thin, blue hair, gold earring? Very arrogant and snotty looking?” After a moments thought he added, “Kuronue also told me that he hears someone mentioning the SDF. You do know what that means, do you not?”

“It means that fool King Enma and his toadies. Of course I know what that means.” Youko fairly ground out his answer between his gritted teeth as the hair on his tail bristled and his fists clenched and unclenched until the knuckles turned white with suppressed rage. The growl in his throat made the words come out reverberating with the deadly rage that Youko was famous for. “Any fool worth his demon heritage knows what that means. It means a pain in the ass for whoever has earned his attention.” He rose to his feet and the old man rose with him. “One last question old man, can you give him some relief from these nightmares?”

“I have done what I can, any further nightmares that he experiences he will see as if they were once removed. It will be like watching instead of actually doing the fighting himself. But it won’t remove the pain of what he is seeing.” The old man sighed. “It was the best I could do without doing a total mind block, which I would have done if you had answered incorrectly. That way he would have forgotten he had ever known you at all.” He gave Youko a hard stare. “Don’t make me regret that decision, it is still an option. Remember that.”

“Nice threat but it wasn’t needed.” Youko looked to his side as he walked down the hallway but the man had disappeared as completely into the shadows as if he had never been there at all. ‘Huh, now I know where Kuronue got that little talent from.’ He turned into the kitchen, not entirely sure what he planned to say to his partner but it was empty. ‘Now what the hell am I supposed to do?’

~*~*~*~

Off in the distance Youko could see the dejected form of his partner leaning against a tree. Even from here the slumped shoulders and the hanging head spoke volumes. As he got closer he could see the bat move as if preparing to disappear once again. ‘I can’t let that happen, at least not until he hears what I have to say.’ Keeping his voice even, he called out softly knowing that Kuronue would hear him. “I know what the nightmare is about now, please don’t go.” He held his breath as the bat seemed to waver in his decision to stay or go, then breathed a sigh of relief as Kuronue settled down to wait.

Strong arms wrapped around the thin frame as Youko sought to bring a small measure of comfort to his badly shaken partner. Words had never come easy for him but he knew in this instance he had to try or he would lose the one person that had brought love into his life forever. Once again the old mans words rang in his head. ‘I can make him forget.’ With uncharacteristic gentleness he pulled Kuronue down to sit in the grass, then sat heavily beside him. The silence stretched between them like strings wound far too tight while Kuronue waited to hear what he had to say.

“I wish you would have told me yourself what this nightmare of yours was about but I understand why you didn’t.” Youko struggled with himself to put his feelings into words and just hoped that Kuronue would understand everything he was trying to say. “If I knew that you were going to die, I don’t know that I would have the strength to tell you either.” He reached up and took Kuronue’s face in his hand, forcing the bat to face him directly. “But that’s only one possible scenario, your nightmare doesn’t mean that it’s written in stone.” At the look of doubt on Kuronue’s face he forced himself to continue. “Even if it does come to pass the way your dream is showing you, would you trade our time together? I know I wouldn’t. So we are careful, we watch out for toadies and we live our life happy, making the most of all that we have together. We already have more happiness then most demons ever find in their lifetime”

“What you say is true enough Youko. But it kills me a little more inside each time I have to watch you die. That’s why I fight so damned hard, hoping that against all odds you will live. I would give my life for you, if it only meant that you would continue to live and be happy.”

The moonlight illuminated Kuronue’s despondent features making Youko’s gut wrench with the unhappiness that he could feel rolling off of the bat. There had to be a way to make this right or at least lift the pall that had settled over his lover. His words had failed somehow and failed miserably. As they sat there together, each of them lost in their own thoughts an unbidden voice whispered in Youko’s mind. ‘There are times when actions can convince a heart where words cannot.’

Hesitantly Youko reached over and pulled Kuronue into an embrace. He somehow wasn’t surprised when the bat stiffened slightly and pulled back to look into his eyes. What he was surprised by was the question that followed.

“Do you really want to do this? You’ve been taking care of your own needs lately; you haven’t come to me at all. I’ve assumed that you were no longer interested, that you didn’t want me anymore.”

A lip-bruising kiss was Youko’s answer to the question. He had missed the intimacy that they had shared together for so long and now he was certain how to answer the doubt that had taken hold in Kuronue. His words came out as a husky whisper as he nuzzled along the tips of Kuronue’s sensitive ears. “Never doubt that I want you, it has driven me crazy to have you so near but not to be touching you.” He gave a low chuckle. “That bed gets awfully lonely in there by myself.”

It wasn’t enough. Almost but not quite. Kuronue shivered, doing his best to ignore the flames of desire that the fox was sending down his spine. He had to know the answer even if the possibility was there of getting his heart forever broken. “You say you want me Youko, but do you love me? Do you love me as much as I love you?” He held his breath and waited for the answer that would either make or break the rest of his life.

Youko was forced to confront himself honestly once again with the question. Spirit Kitsune were like all Kitsune, once they took a mate, they mated for life. But his kind tended to take things several steps farther, the jealousy with which they bound their mates to themselves was as legendary as the Spirit Kitsune themselves were. Was he truly ready to make that final commitment to the demon that was sitting next to him and waiting for his answer? The words replayed in his mind that Kuronue had said to him. ‘I would give my life for you.’ If the bat was willing could he be willing to give any less? The answer was no. Youko finally admitted to himself that yes, he did love Kuronue. Now it was time to convince the bat.

“You know I’m not great with words Kuronue, so don’t expect to hear this very often. But the answer to your question is yes I do love you. Now are we finished talking for the moment?” Playfully he knocked his lover over, rolling him flat onto the grass and laying on top of him to pin him down. A mock growl rose in his throat as he nipped the ear tips that were so close and inviting. A surprised yelp greeted the action and he gave a feral grin. It had been so long since they had been together and now he intended to rectify the situation immediately. Long fingers slid slowly down Kuronue’s neck as the bat squirmed in pleasure. He could feel the beginnings of an erection pushing against his trousers and Kuronue’s hands moving to push them off of his waist.

“Let me help you with those.” Youko rose and the pants dropped around his ankles as his erection sprang free from it’s confines. He looked down at his slightly moist member proudly, then at Kuronue who was studying his body with open admiration. “Do you have any more doubts about my wanting to be with you?”

Kuronue didn’t answer him, instead choosing to hurriedly push his own pants off and out of the way. Kneeling then in the grass he wrapped his hands around Youko’s cheeks, pulling the fox towards him and wrapped his lips around the object of his affection that he had been missing so much. The slightly salty taste heightened his own arousal as several sweet drops appeared on the rounded head in his mouth only to slide down his eagerly awaiting throat. Soon the whole length disappeared as Kuronue subjected his lover to a rare treat, that of having his entire member totally engulfed in the bats throat. Tight muscles spasmed around the length causing uncontrollable waves of pleasure to course through both of their bodies.

Youko pulled himself free from Kuronue’s mouth before he reached a point where he would be unable to stop his own orgasm. Sinking down onto the grass beside his lover, he brought Kuronue down to lie beside him. “Not yet, we have all night and I have no intentions of ruining it by getting off in the first five minutes. Besides, tonight you’re going to get as good as you give.” Sliding around he was soon in the position he wanted, Kuronue’s swollen member was within easy reach as well as his own being in a position to continue to receive the attention his lover was so eager to bestow upon it. He gave a gasp of pleasure as the hot mouth once again encircled his member sending his balls into spasms of ecstasy.

Leaning forward he ignored the pulsing erection for the moment, choosing instead to turn his attention to the sack that was hanging so full and heavy in front of his face. The musky smell of arousal grew stronger in the air as Youko grasped one of the balls and slid it into his mouth sucking on it eagerly. Running his tongue over and around it, tickling the hairs that surrounded his nose he felt Kuronue tighten the sucking grip that he had on his own member. He let lose of the sack in his mouth only to replace it with Kuronue’s weeping erection while at the same time taking a finger and running it along the sensitive area of skin between his lovers sack and love hole. The bucking motion that action elicited was all the proof that Youko needed that he was succeeding in driving Kuronue crazy. Encouraged with his success, he made full use of his tongue on the throbbing organ in front of him while continuing to run his finger teasingly around the rim of the hole that held the promise of so much future pleasure.

Kuronue didn’t know how much longer he would be able to hold off his impending orgasm. It wasn’t often that the fox went down on him and the fact that he was doing so now told Kuronue more then any words could have how much Youko valued and loved him. It was a heady combination of feelings that totally overwhelmed his mind as his body reached it’s aching climax. He couldn’t help it; he sucked even harder on Youko, wanting to draw the sweet essence from the fox’s body at the same time as his own impending orgasm. His back arched and the strangled moan that came from his throat was the final push that Youko needed to reach his own climax moments later.

Moments later as he lay there catching his breath, Youko caught sight of a blurred movement not too far off in the distance. Reaching out with his youki he quickly identified the source, and then turned to look at his exhausted partner. “I want you to know I think your father is a sneaky old bastard.”

A/N: If you’ve made it to the end of my little story I thank you for taking the time to read it. Please be kind and take an extra 30 seconds to leave a review and let me know what you thought. Concrit is welcome, flames will not be tolerated.