False Pretenses - Part 25

Keshiki, Kurai, Fuyu & Minora are mine.

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Fuyu sensed him.  The sweet pulsing ki of a youko was nearby.  Fuyu was always hungry for a youko.  The youkai was vampiric in nature, but he had learned to control his urge for blood.  Fuyu had searched for youkos in the past.  Not only were the creatures so lovely and enticing, they were a rich source of  ki too.  Several of his past lovers were youkos and he had killed them all very slowly, one by one.  His skills at deception had bowed his lovers and they never knew what got them until it was too late.  Then he had met Kurai.  Kurai was a sadistic, violent and malicious youkai.  Fuyu had found his match in Kurai, although he would much prefer the seemingly innocent and gallant twin brother, Keshiki.  The youkai wondered why Kurai had failed to contact him.  Perhaps his lascivious lover was still busy with the redhead, Kurama.  But no matter, he was about to be given a treat too.  Fuyu turned around the bushes and found his prey.  His breath caught in his throat.  He had never seen such a magnificent creature.  He had heard about silver foxes, but thought they were only legendary.  Kurama turned his golden eyes on Fuyu, controlling the amazement from coming out of his face.  The shape shifter was taking his human form again!  What the hell was Fuyu trying to pull?  The youko appraised Fuyu critically.  He had to admit that his human form was most alluring and seductive with Fuyu's maneuvering.  The graceful movements of the human body were more evident, made to catch the interested eye.  Fuyu flicked the red strands sensually and smiled sweetly at Kurama, speaking in that familiar soft alto voice.

"Are you lost?"  The shape shifter asked softly.  Kurama turned fully to the "redhead" and gave him an equally gorgeous smile.

"I'm just... looking around."

The emerald eyes widened.  Kurama swore that Fuyu was sweating under his facade.  Well, two can play the game.  He was bent on seducing Fuyu as Fuyu was on seducing him.  He only wished the shape shifter wasn't using his body.  The thought of seducing "himself' made him want to puke.  The youko organized his thoughts and deliberately played with his long silver hair, purring softly.

"I won't mind a gorgeous redhead for company."  The youko flirted blatantly.

Fuyu grinned widely.  The shape shifter hooked an arm on the youko's and started to lead the way.

"I know a secluded place here."  Fuyu licked his lips.  He couldn't wait to have his way with the kitsune.  Kurama allowed the youkai to lead him.  He couldn't wait to stop Fuyu once and for all. 

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 Hiei sensed a presence watching him.  The youkai disappeared in the blink of an eye.  His stalker was forced to evade the swift attack of a sharp katana, but the fire demon was quicker.  The youkai fell on the ground, the katana pointed at the base of his throat.

"Why are you following me?"  The fire demon asked curtly, kicking the youkai as it tried to sit up.

"It's about Kurama...."  Keshiki said calmly, watching the youkai called Hiei.  Keshiki had pestered the redhead for information about the three makai lords, knowing that Kurama wouldn't remember the very last part of his confession.  No, it wasn't really a confession, it was more like the voice of Kurama's heart.

Hiei's eyes had widened and the hand holding the katana visibly shook.  The fire youkai snorted and re-sheath his katana.

"Talk."

Keshiki sat up slowly and brushed himself.

"I am Keshiki.  I came from a dimensional world hidden within the makai.  My brother's lover abducted Kurama. A shape shifter named Fuyu.  They planned to...."

"Wait a minute.  Kurama?  Abducted by a shape shifter?  When did this happen?"

Keshiki sighed and continued.

"At the time of the death of a makai lord with the name Mukuro."

Hiei gasped and closed his eyes.

Shimatta!  That meant that the Kurama they met at the makai forest was innocent and the REAL Kurama and they had....

Keshiki nodded at Hiei's devastated expression and waited for the fire youkai to come around.

"So all the time, Kurama was in your world?"

"Hai, until the other day.  He just got back yesterday and as I perceived, it was a very rough homecoming."  Keshiki narrowed his eyes.  He just remembered Kurama's bleeding lips.

Hiei looked at him contritely.

Kurama... his Kurama was abducted and he hadn't known?

"I came to you because you WERE Kurama's best and closest friend."  Keshiki smiled a little as the fire demon blinked.

"I love Kurama you know."  Keshiki took a deep ragged breath.  Hiei gave him a withering look.

"But I don't think he loves me that way... yet."  Keshiki waited for the words to sink inside Hiei's skull.

"I know in time I can make him love me."  The youkai murmured softly, watching the fire demon's reactions with hooded eyes.  Hiei turned his back on Keshiki.  Who was he to stop Kurama from falling in love with someone far more better and deserving than him?

"Where is he now?"  Hiei asked softly.

"I left him at the campfire, sleeping.  I'll take you to him."

"Let's go."  Hiei said with a very determined look on his face.

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To be continued ...

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