Hiei's Harem - Pt. 14 - Changing

This sequel is for all of you that have been wondering…

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Scene 1 -------------- Gandara


* Yomi is eating lunch with Kurama as they discuss random Territory business. The blind Lord quiets, though, when a guard enters the room.


Guard- There is a.. Boar demon requesting to speak with you, M’Lord.

Yomi- Boar..? Oh, yes. It’s about time he got back here. Send him in, Zethros.


* Yomi looks toward Kurama as the guard leaves.


Yomi- I heard that there was an uprising of a particularly strong demon in the Barren Lands.


* Kurama looks up at Yomi.


Kurama- The Barren Lands? Isn’t that region in Mukuro’s Territory?

Yomi- It touches several miles of our border.


* The Kitsune nods.


Yomi- I know you’ve been.. preoccupied with your pack.. But surely you realize that the three years are just about up.

Kurama- Three..? Oh. You’re referring to the Royal Tournament.

Yomi- Yes. It’s scheduled to take place in a few months.

Kurama- So naturally, when you hear about powerful demons gathering attention it garners yours.

Yomi- Naturally.

Kurama- Am I to assume that Mukuro knows of your spying?


* Yomi scowls.


Yomi- All of my attempts to reach her these past couple months have been hampered by that guard Kirin.


* Kurama’s fox ears pitch forward curiously.


Kurama- Hampered?


* Before Yomi can answer the short, chubby Boar demon is shown in.


Yomi- Dismissed, Zethros.


* Again the guard bows and leaves. Yomi sniffs toward the new arrival who seems surprised to see Kurama in the room.


Yomi- Please, Shura. Your cover is offending my nostrils.


* Kurama quirks an eyebrow when the ‘Boar’ shifts shapes back into Yomi’s young son. The Goat Lord chuckles at Kurama’s sensed reaction.


Yomi- Did I fail to mention that Shura has picked up a new talent recently?

Kurama- Indeed.

Yomi- What have you learned, Shura?


* Shura moves to sit in one of the empty chairs at the table.


Shura- I don’t think I should be giving my report in front of..

Yomi- Shura, I hide very little from my Second.


* Kurama just looks passively at the younger demon. The boy glares back at him a moment.


Shura- Fine. I’ll tell you what I’ve learned.. Then you can decide what to do with your.. Second.


* Yomi glances toward Kurama calmly.


Kurama- Your son continues to cast these aspersions toward me, Yomi. I haven’t been anywhere near the Barren Lands in hundreds of years.. Barring the brief time we spent there recently. But you already know of that unpleasant experience.

Yomi- I remember what you told me.. Shura, just speak what you know.

Shura- There’s a demon that has managed to become what the locals there call the Ultimate Alpha.

Yomi- Yes. I’m well aware of the struggles that have been waged over that position for decades.

Kurama- Most of the feral native demons in that region are fairly evenly matched in power. I know of that struggle, as well.

Shura- But the new guy in charge there now isn’t a native.


* A couple of Yomi’s ears wiggle.


Shura- In fact, he’s not even an Earth-based demon.. He’s an Elemental.

Yomi- You’re demonstrating your more annoying talent of trying my patience, son.

Shura- It’s Lord Hiei, Father.


* When the information sinks in Yomi scowls and leans forward on his steepled fingers. Kurama keeps his guarded gaze on Shura.


Kurama- Hiei?

Shura- Yes. Mukuro’s Second. Your dark, little friend and.. so-called former teammate.

Kurama- My friendship with Hiei has never..

Yomi- She’s up to something.. Making her own plans.


* Kurama looks at Yomi quickly.


Kurama- What?

Yomi- Are you telling me that you had no idea..?

Kurama- When I visit with Hiei we never discuss Territory matters.. His or mine. We both agreed to those terms, along with Yusuke, not long after the last Tournament, Yomi.

Shura- Do you plan to take part in the next one?


* Kurama turns his cold, golden eyes back on the boy that’s beginning to irritate him. Mentally, Kurama realizes that all of this information is coming at a very bad time. A time when he’s already on edge because of his overdue mate, Shishi.


Kurama- Do you?


* The question has the desired affect on Shura and he stands from the table nervously.


Shura- I’ve given you my report, Father. I’m going to go now..


* Shura turns to leave.


Yomi- Relax, Shura. I already know that you’ve sent your name in.


* Yomi stands from the table to pace away thoughtfully. Unconcerned about the rising tension he feels.


Shura- Then you know why I don’t trust this Fox!


* Being distracted by his anger Kurama growls his response before fully thinking it through.


Kurama- The last thing I heard about Hiei was that he..!


* The Kitsune catches himself and clamps his mouth shut. Yomi turns to look at him.


Yomi- Finish it.


* Kurama drops his eyes, mentally cursing his stressed control.


Yomi- That is an order, Kurama.

Kurama- The word I received.. was that Hiei denounced Mukuro’s position.. Before he disappeared.


* Yomi tilts his head considering this new information.


Yomi- If this is true,.. it could explain why Mukuro is so.. unavailable.


* Shura crosses his arms.


Shura- Perhaps Hiei took her out and they’re just covering..

Kurama- Hiei would never..!

Yomi- Lord Hiei is just as dangerously ambitious as any other demon right now.. Including yourself, Kurama.


* Kurama looks back up at Yomi, his emotions once more carefully guarded.


Kurama- I’m not competing this time. I’ll have my pack and their young to be more occupied with.


* Kurama pushes his unfinished meal away.


Yomi- Then perhaps it’s just the Jaganshi who is making his move early.

Kurama- You’re assuming too much, Yomi.. I’m certain that Hiei has no asperations for leadership.

Yomi. Yes. That’s why he’s become the Ultimate Alpha of the Barren Lands.

Kurama- I’m sure there’s another explanation.

Shura- Sure there is.. The new rules that the Tournament Committee came up with.


* Kurama folds his arms and looks at Shura again.


Kurama- Since I have no desire to compete I didn’t bother reading that five-inch-thick manual.

Yomi- To qualify for entering, a demon must currently hold a Leadership position of some sort. Or be closely related to a leader.. They made this rule to keep the inexperienced rabble from entering like the last time.

Kurama- Hiei already would have met those qualifications as Mukuro’s Second. Everyone in Demon World knew of the position Hiei.. held with her.


* *Now Yomi lifts a hand to rub his chin.


Yomi- Valid point.. But you say he left her.. Perhaps he’s pursuing his own agenda.


* Kurama stands.


Kurama- If you’ll excuse me, Yomi. I need to return to my mates.


* Yomi scowls as Kurama starts toward the door before waiting for the proper dismissal.


Yomi- Kurama,.. I suggest that you not discuss anything spoken in this room with anyone else.. Anyone. Including your mates. And certainly no one.. outside..


* Kurama half turns to look back at Yomi.


Kurama- Yusuke is just as concerned about our friend as I was.

Yomi- My order stands, General.


* Kurama tenses, balling his fists, a bit surprised that Yomi has pulled rank on him in such a manner. He gathers himself, though, and bows stiffly.


Kurama- As you wish,.. sir. May I be dismissed?

Yomi- Yes.


* Kurama takes a moment to study Yomi intensly, then looks down at the boy. Shura sticks his tongue out at the Kitsune and Kurama decides he’d best go quickly. Shura looks back up at Yomi.


Shura- Do you trust him, Father? You know how attached he is to both of those..

Yomi- Shura, as strong as you are.. And I am proud of you in that respect.. You are still an impetulant, immature child.

Shura- That doesn’t answer my question!

Yomi- If I had one I would give it to you.. In a lot of things, I trust that Fox with my life.. But when it comes to Urameshi and that little halfbreed.. All bets are off.. Now, please. Go take a long bath. You still smell like a mudhole.


* Shura rolls his eyes and leaves. As soon as he closes the door behind him he pauses to think, then takes off in a different direction than the one leading to his own personal suite. Back inside the councilroom, the blind Goat twitches a couple of his ears.


Yomi- An impetulant child, indeed.. Vindictive, as well.


* Yomi chuckles as he moves to sit in his larger chair, ‘He is my son for certain’. Yomi then scowls at the implications of his thoughtful words. Remembering his own younger self and the mistakes he made.

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Maybe I’ll add more scenes later today. Depends on how I feel, though. All the remaining scenes of this sequel are quite closely related with very little time lapse between them. Thus, it won’t be a very long one. But trust me, it will be intense.. I hope. :o?