Kingdoms of the Land and Sea

Kingdoms of the Land and Sea: Part 3
-a YYH and GW alternate universe

Author's notes:

Anyways, I wrote part 3 of this series. I'm kinda shocked, since I wrote part 2 like 7 months after I wrote part 1. ^_^;;; I know, I'm bad. So sue me. (I'm just kidding! Don't sue!)

Hope you guys like what I wrote. Some disturbing content here, so minors beware! As always, standard disclaimers apply.

Duo's head snapped up, brows drawing together in confusion. Something was wrong... something...

<..Kurama...? Shit, Kurama!!>

Dropping the flowers he'd so carefully picked for his cousin, Duo turned and ran for the river.

Kurama paced agitatedly around his room, long red hair whipping around his body, tail churning up frothy bubbles in his wake. The young merboy's arms were wrapped tightly around himself, large green eyes distraught in his pale face.

What his father wanted from him...he clenched his eyes shut, shaking his head violently.

No no no....

How could his father even think of--He shuddered. The very idea was anathema to him!

<Kami-sama...please....let this be some horrible nightmare, onegai...>

But the memories playing over and over again in his mind could not be denied. He stopped before the dresser, eyes like liquid emeralds staring fixedly at his reflection.

"Why?" he asked in a broken whisper. "Please...tell me why." Slender fingers brushed the cool glass surface. "Why would Father do this to me?"

The pale youth in the mirror could only stare back, sad eyes offering no answers to the young prince.

Kurama turned away, curling up into a compact ball of misery. The sound of the king's personal guards positioning themselves outside the room reached his ears, and he shuddered, panic clawing at his mind. He could feel the walls closing in on him, and hugged himself tighter.

Desperate eyes locked onto the glass-paned windows. Maybe... With trembling hands, Kurama pushed aside the filmy drapes, heart rising with burgeoning hope, only to fall as he saw the slowly moving figures of wary-eyed guards beyond.

<There's so many of them...> he thought, watching the patrolling warriors with sick fascination. <How will I ever--? ....Iie!> he straightened his shoulders in determination. <I have to try!>

Thoughts of what would befall not only him, but perhaps his cousin as well when the other returned, served to further strengthen his resolve.

Ripping a length of silk from the curtains, the slender youth wrapped the dark cloth around his flame-colored hair and tied it securely in place. Taking a deep, fortifying breath, he eased open the windows and quietly snuck out of the room.

<Please...please...don't let them see me...>

Hiei sulkily blew on his tail, his warm dragon's breath melting the thick layer of ice encasing the tip. His heavy brows drew down in a scowl. Who knew his little sister could be so violent?

<It's not like I was really going to toss that idiot over the cliff...>

A tiny voice inside his mind cheerfully reminded him that he had been enjoying himself way too much when he'd held that shrieking human by the scruff of his scrawny neck. He absently crammed that voice back down the hole it'd come from.

Really, it was all that damn Kuwabara's fault. Yukina had been such a sweet little ice dragon before he'd come and ruined everything.

Hiei settled back on his haunches, curling his newly-defrosted tail protectively to his chest. It wasn't fair! Now he was banned from visiting until he'd apologized to that annoying lout. He remembered the smugly triumphant look Kuwabara had tossed his way and snarled, teeth grinding together in absolute frustration. Over his dead body would he apologize to that runt!

With a look on his face that would have rivalled that of a pouting five-year-old at his best, Hiei spread his enormous wings and flew off.

"Kurama!"

Duo nearly cried in relief, darting forward to meet his redhaired cousin. "Are you all right, Kurama?" he asked, panting quickly as he regained his breath. Anxious eyes ran over the older boy, checking him over for any serious injuries. The distress radiating from the other youth was almost palpable--he shuddered to think what had caused it.

The pale merboy gave him a weak smile, tossing a nervous look behind his back. "Aa," he managed to gasp out, breathing heavily as well. "We'd better get out of here before somebody sees us," he continued, grabbing Duo's hand and tugging him along. Though the crown prince was obviously exhausted, there was no mistaking his very real desire, and determination, to leave the vicinity of the royal seat.

<Kami-sama, what the hell happened?>

Duo let himself be led, violet eyes trained in increasing worry on the other's slender back. This was so not good.

"He told you to do what?!?"

The boy's startled exclamation sent seagulls squawking into the air.

"Shh, not so loud!" Kurama hissed, warily eyeing the surrounding area. Though he and Duo were on a small, rocky island in the middle of the ocean, far beyond any prying eyes, he couldn't help but remain nervous. The king had far more powers than he let on--one couldn't be too careful.

"Kurama, has he totally lost his mind?!" Duo asked in a fierce whisper, an incredulous look on his face. "There's no possible way his plan could work!"

Kurama's face flamed, even as his shoulders sagged wearily. "Actually..."

"You don't mean to tell me there's any validity to that crap, is there?" Wide violet eyes stared into large green ones in shock.

The redhaired prince turned to stare out over the ocean, wrapping his arms around his tail. "It's a closely held secret of the royal family, but..." he sighed. "Well, it wouldn't do for the king not to have an heir just because he's...you know."

Duo's face took on a considering look. "Because he goes for guys and not girls? Huh, I see what you mean. Still..." he gave his cousin a penetrating stare. "Why would he tell you of all people to do this? I mean, he did marry your mother, after all, so it's not as if he can't get it up with girls. And it's not like there's a lack of princesses about."

Kurama closed his eyes miserably. "I don't know. I don't understand it at all." He buried his face in his arms. "Why would he do this to me, Duo? He my father!"

Duo winced. Damn, what was he supposed to say now? 'Sorry Kurama, but your father's been off his rocker for a while now so nothing he does really surprises me anymore'?

Ha! Like that would help.

He sighed glumly, staring down at the elegant lines of the older merboy's back. He really couldn't fault the king for wanting his own son. Kurama was far too beautiful for his own good. But still--! The thought of what the blackhaired monarch had planned for his cousin sent shivers down his back.

<Kami-sama, what a sick bastard!>

Kneeling down behind Kurama, he gently drew his cousin into his arms and cuddled him close, offering the only comfort he could. Damn, but what the hell were they going to do now?

Hiei soared through the skies, enjoying the feel of the sun's rays on his back, and letting the cold ocean breeze blow his anger away. The morning's fiasco already felt like a dim memory from long ago. He sighed in contentment, leaving the problem of how to placate his imouto for some other day. Right now, he was going to enjoy himself and forget the carrot-topped loudmouth who'd gotten him into this mess.

Eyes espying a small island a few miles ahead, he shifted his wings and changed course. Who knew? He might actually find something interesting there.

The faint sound of flapping wings jerked Duo out of the sleepy half-doze he had fallen into, eyes blinking open then wincing shut again as they were hit by the blinding afternoon sunlight reflecting off the placid ocean waves. Wearily lifting his eyes, the half-eleven boy scanned the skies, searching for the airborne creature that had disturbed his rest. The rather large black spot on the horizon immediately caught his attention.

"Kurama! Wake up!" he frantically shook his cousin awake, eyes never leaving the rapidly growing figure flying towards them.

"D-Duo?" The voice was laden with confusion. "What--?"

"Later, Kurama," Duo bit out, stumbling to his feet, and cursing as legs that had fallen asleep protested against the movement. "We have to get out of here now!"

The wind, stirred by the dragon's flight, brought with it the crisp smell of mountain pine and the sharper, more pungent smell of sulfur and brimstone.

The redhaired merboy jerked his head up, eyes locking onto the magnificent black dragon heading towards their resting place.

Duo tugged on his arm, already halfway in the water, tail twitching behind him in agitation.

"Let's go Kurama!"

Sharp crimson eyes met startled emerald ones.

For one moment, time seemed to stop.

Hiei cocked his head, staring intently at the small island below. He could've sworn he'd seen--there it was! Contrasting sharply with the pale yellow sand and the darker greys of water-smoothed rocks was a small splash of red. Eyes narrowing, he winged closer, trying to see what had caught his attention. He sighed in disappointment as a previously overlooked figure got up and ran for the water, calling for it's companion to follow it.

<Ch', it's only a human.>

As he readied his wings to take him up higher, the small redhaired figure below raised its head.

Hiei inhaled sharply, all thoughts of leaving forgotten as he stared at the impossibly beautiful creature below. Delicate, fine-boned features, flawless alabaster skin, and the most fascinating green eyes he'd ever seen. He hovered there, stunned, crimson gaze locked on the slender form looking back at him with equal fascination.

Then the spell was shattered as the enchanting creature was dragged by its companion down into the depths of the ocean.

Hiei bit back a curse and dove down, hoping to catch one last glimpse of the fey youth, but it was too late. The redheaded beauty was gone.

<K'so!!>