Author's note: Okay, I decided to be sorta kinda innovative and create my own forms of address for this story. An Urhad is a king, a Ra is a courtier or an official, and an Ur is an honorable like -san. For women, the honorable is Uri. For now. I might change it.

A Second Author's Note. Jin/Touya. Not canon, never will be canon. Hiei/Kurama. Not canon, but easier to pair together. But this is alternate universe, and this is my story, and I like to experiment, therefore both of these pairings will exist in 'Lands Lost.' There won't be anything graphic, just mild shounen-ai (I stay far away from lemon), but if it offends you, stay away. Or I'm open to a good discussion about it if you're willing.

Enjoy!

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Lands Lost: Prologue

By Soyokaze

The court was neither humble nor in the least bit modest, that much was ascertained immediately as one entered through the great arch, shadowed by tapestries and brocaded curtains that spilled onto the marble floor like waterfalls of blood, obsidian, and jade. The magnificent windows of stained glass, set into the white-washed stone of the walls, depicted scenes of battle and ceremony, myth and legend. Above, a huge spider web of more curtain spilled down and into the walls, forming a giant canopy of silk. Lining each of the side walls were four lords and four ladies, dressed in their best attire, men with hands folded, ladies with open fans hiding their lips demurely.

At the head of the room, a throne lay atop a dais, ornately carved with silver and gold detail, and shining brilliantly in the sunlight colored by the stained glass. Three other seats were on each side of this rich throne, slightly less gilded than the aforementioned, in which were seated those privileged individuals who were the Urhad’s right hand men. They were swathed in robes of deep colors, each with a separate headdress to indicate status and skill; scholar, soldier, philosopher, huntsman, and other such. But no mages, the Urhad’s visitor noticed with a smirk.

This visitor stood in the middle of all this finery, looking none too shabby himself. He wore foreign attire, of a much looser fit and finer pattern, in shades of green and white, that hung on his muscular form handsomely. He was young, barely a man, his stance that of one completely at ease and confident with himself. His short hair was also an almost black shade of glossy green that shone in the light, and his chestnut eyes gazed lazily out on the court, mischief and intelligence sparkling playfully inside them. It was true, he did look out of place among this bland, aristocratic cortege, but the oddest thing about his appearance by far was the long, slender, watery form of a small serpent that trailed behind him in the air, its front claws latched onto the man’s shoulder securely.

“Ur Ameshi,” the man closest to the throne on the left began, “the Urhad has agreed to see you.” The dark-haired man stood, and the visitor bowed as he did so, according to courtesy.

“Thank you, Ra Sarashita,” he replied, his voice echoing in the wide courtroom with an authoritative edge Ra Sarashita’s had not. The Ra noticed this, a slight twisting of his lips indicating his self-important amusement. The visitor stood up straight, and the serpent’s tail twitched as it pulled closer to its master.

“His majesty, Urhad Tarukane!” the Ra proclaimed, and a door hidden behind the throne was opened by an unobtrusive attendant. Through this door entered a man more pompous and gilt than the green-clad man had ever seen. He almost heard the serpent sighing beside him.

Another stupid one. This is going to be boring.

Shh.

The Urhad was a glutton, a huge man with chins covered by gold and jewels. At least a third of his thickness came from his robes, which were even more gaudy than his throne. Long hair, braided and bejeweled, hung from his swollen head. The man made an unpleasant thudding sound with every step he took as he circled the throne to take a seat, and his own tailored chair could not even hold his mass. Even the Urhad’s advisors cringed a bit as he poured himself onto his throne.

After soaking up the requisite awe and adulation from his lords and ladies, the Urhad lifted one pudgy, ringed finger to his round face, gazing down on his visitor with interest. “Ur Ameshi, it is with utmost interest that I receive you.” Urhad Tarukane’s voice carried much more dignity and poise than his subordinate Ra’s had.

At least he speaks with some intelligence.

Shh!

“Your message was most intriguing. Please refresh my memory, Ur, this vein of gold you claim to have come upon, where was it located?”

“Not in this country, my Urhad, but in my own, but conveniently it begins just inside our borders. It would not be a great stretch to send your men for mining. I thought it would greatly interest you.”

The Urhad nodded, his beady eyes suspicious. “That is convenient, isn’t it?” he remarked, and his visitor only smiled beatifically, showing no signs of flustering. “Well, I am interested, but I cannot help but wonder why your own Urhad would not be interested as well?”

Does he think he’s being clever?

Would you shut up?

“Urhad Enma felt that it would be put to better use in this country. Reikai’s economy is run by gold and jewel mines, as I am sure you know, and the Urhad explained to me kindly that he thought our land was rich enough. Thus, I traveled here to you, Urhad Tarukane.”

Nice lie.

It wasn’t all a lie. Reikai is run by gold and stuff, and Enma’s a hell of a lot better than him.

Tarukane appeared less than satisfied, but unwilling in his greed to give up the opportunity. His eyes narrowed, little slits in the jelly-like bulge of his face, and he rubbed one of his many chins. His several polished rings glinted in the light brightly during the moment of silence before Tarukane spoke again.

“I suppose this travel has wearied you, yes?” The young man below him nodded, attempting to reign in his eagerness. This was what he had been waiting for. “Well, I’m sure we can offer you a room here until our business is settled. Would you have brought a map along indicating this vein’s position?”

The youth patted a small satchel at his waist. “Yes, Urhad.”

“Excellent. We will begin the subject of payment over a dinner tonight, after you have rested yourself.”

The visitor bowed, as was expected of him, a secret smile on his hidden face. “Thank you, my Urhad. I appreciate your generosity.”

“I appreciate your offer.” The Urhad, turned (with much difficulty) to one of the men who lined the walls, displaying his finery. “Ur Hirue, please show Ur Ameshi to his rooms.” His attention was back towards his visitor. “I will send someone to retrieve you when dinner is served. And...” the Urhad paused as Hirue came forward to stand beside the youth, whose pet fluttered his slender body in disapproval. The Urhad cast dark eyes on the creature with interest. “...while we are discussing business, Ur Ameshi, I must inquire about creature at your shoulder.”

The youth grinned, raising a hand to pat the animal’s brow, on which were not two but three piercing red eyes. The dragon’s scales were pure black, shiny and hard as obsidian crystal. “It’s known as a Shadow Dragon, your highness. Healthy and well-trained.” At this remark, the serpent let loose a great black and violet flame from between its sharp ivory teeth. “His name is Midnight.”

Oh, that’s creative.

Shh!

“Magnificent creature,” the Urhad remarked. The whole length of the serpent, whiskers to tail, was that same gorgeous deep black, and when the light hit its body, it appeared as stars shining in the dead of night. The value of the creature was not lost on the ruler upon his rich throne. “One might say the rarest reptile in our lands. Might you be willing to part with him for the right price?”

“I don’t know, my ruler, he has been with me a very long time,” the youth remarked, still stroking the obsidian scales of the animal. He pursed his lips. “What would the right price be?”

The dragon sank its sharp teeth into its master’s fingers at those words. The youth cringed, yanking his finger from the serpent’s jaws as ‘Midnight’ wrapped its long tail around his arm. The young man looked at his bloody finger in disdain.

The Urhad looked amused. “Well-trained, eh?”

The visitor sucked on his injured finger. “Yes, well, he’s got a bit of a mean streak in him,” he explained, frowning at the creature. “I’m deeply sorry, your highness, but I don’t believe I could part with him, and it’s evident parting with me does not sit well with him.”

“Very well. There is never harm in asking. I am a great fan of reptiles. Many rumors have been circulating about the Shadow Dragon, that it can control weather, that it can take a human form. A lot of rubbish, of course, though I must admit that I never thought I’d lay eyes upon one.” It was clear the Urhad was fascinated by the serpent, and he fidgeted in his throne. The young man half expected him to rise and ask to hold it or pet it.

If you let him touch me, I’ll bite his hand off and then kill you. The youth was surprised that his companion reacted to his thoughts like that, but had to contain his smile at the remark. The Urhad continued, not noticing his change of countenance. “I have accumulated quite a collection of serpents, Ur Ameshi. I must show you during your stay.”

Fighting the urge to cringe at the thought of going anywhere with this repulsive man, the visitor replied, “Thank you, Urhad, I would be very interested in seeing them.”

The Urhad nodded and waved a hand, dismissing them. Ur Hirue, a self-important smirk on his face, led them out through the graceful arch, seeming insulted to have to escort a foreigner, or be associated with one at all. They strode through the corridors of the castle, Hirue treading heavily in front of them with his nose high in the air. It was no use talking to this pompous man, so the youth did not even waste his energy. Ur Hirue’s posture was so straight that his charge was fighting the urge to poke him in the ribs and see him squirm. If his finger had not been bleeding, he might have.

Sucking at his injury, he turned to give the serpent a dirty look. The Shadow Dragon remained silent, contentedly wrapped around his arm with its head resting on his shoulder. He resisted the urge to smack it and followed his escort silently.

The rest of the palace was decorated just as lavishly as the throne room, with tapestries, paintings in pretentious frames, even glass-encased pots and jewelry. The youth felt like he was in a museum for a moment.

Hirue left them in front of a door with gold knob and knocker. Behind it was a room gilded and silken, two things of which the master and pet were growing tired. There was a huge canopied bed draped with blue silk, a polished wooden door behind which was a bathing basin, the two were sure, a shining cherry-wood bureau and desk, all the luxuries imaginable, in addition to more works of art.

“This place really is too much,” the young man remarked as the Shadow Dragon slid off his arm. “But it’ll be a great steal, I think.”

The dragon hovered about the ground at about his chest level, turning to face his ‘master.’ His fangs were bared.

If you don’t act so stupid anymore.

He held out his finger in protest. “You’re the one who bit me!”

You were acting stupid. You’re just lucky I didn’t use any venom. Throw me something.

The young man frowned, his injury still throbbing, and reached lazily over to the bed. A blanket was folded at the end of the bed, and the youth took hold of it, pulling it off and tossing it over his Shadow Dragon friend.

The serpent fell to the ground, the blanket settling around it, and was still for a moment. Then, as the young man had seen many times before, the shape began to lengthen and widen. The terrible sound of bones, flesh, and cartilage melding and twisting filled the room as the serpent became a bulkier figure. A slight moan came from under the blanket as the figure curled underneath it and gathered the fabric around it, and suddenly a head emerged from under the blanket.

The Shadow Dragon had become a second young man, bantam and slender, his deep black hair, a stark contrast with his white-pale complexion, standing on end like fire and his three huge red eyes narrowed wearily. Although he was several years older than his green-haired friend, his appearance was several years younger. The boy dug his fingers into his thick hair, scratching at his scalp. After gathering the blanket around his naked form, he cast a disdainful look up at his partner.

“Ur Ameshi? That’s clever of you.” His voice was deep and rich; the age not evident in his countenance was clearly heard in his voice. ‘Ur Ameshi’ smiled crookedly in agreement.

“I know,” he replied, disregarding the sarcasm in the former’s voice. The serpent-human pursed his lips, his tired eyes narrowing.

“You’re an idiot, Yusuke,” the boy remarked as his companion plopped down on the bed.

“And you’re awfully nice, Hiei,” Yusuke retorted, his cheerful demeanor never fading. He lifted his wounded index finger for inspection. “You really got me, you bastard.”

“You deserved it,” Hiei shot back. “Giving him even the smallest notion the you would sell your pet, as demeaning as that is to me already. I don’t want that Midas monstrosity anywhere near me. And ‘healthy and well-trained?’ ‘Midnight?’ How slow-witted are you?” A yawn rose from his throat. “Damn, I’m tired.”

“Well, he sent us here to have a good rest. I’ve got plenty of energy, so take the bed.”

Hiei stood, intent on taking him up on his offer, when he suddenly remembered the absent part of their team. He stilled, his eyes falling closed, and he reached out to his other half. Yusuke would have thought something was wrong, had he not been used to the demons’ way of communication.

Kurama?

A voice like warm honey filled the fire youkai’s mind. Yes, Hiei?

What do you have for us?

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YAY! A new story! This one's been in the works for quite some time, folks. My other Yu Yu Hakusho tale is on hiatus, currently, but I hope all the reviewers from 'Bloodlines' decide to check this one out in the meantime. My huge Pretear fic is almost over, and so this fic becomes my newest project. I'll never stop writing, NEVER! AHAHAHA!

Ahem. Okay, so, anyways, tell me what you think about it thus far!