Reiki walked down the beaten paths that ran through the underground city, her normal activity when she thought about the past and grew sad. This morning she woke up from a nightmare that left her feeling hopeless. She pondered on the dream a great deal and was displeased with herself for putting so much time and thought into it. She wore an over-sized white, sleeveless shirt and a rather tattered black skirt that went down to just past her knees. She had a very intricate, deep blue necklace that didn't exactly match the rest of the jewelry; two thick silver bands with emeralds and sapphires embedded into them around her wrists and many small, hooped earrings made of the same materials. There was also a head piece draped across her forehead that hid behind her hair, it matched up exactly with the bands around her wrists and her earrings. Her hair was a deep auburn and her skin was as white as the dead.
She did not stop or look up as she started to hear children playing around the corner. The sounds made her coil deeper into her thoughts. She felt stuck in time, watching the people of the city create families, grow old, die, and do it all over again as she stood like a stone statue throughout the test of time. She had been brought to the city at the age of twenty, a captive who was forced to unlock her powers or die. The late ruler had brought her there to be the city's eternal doctor. Only humans can posses such a power and in doing so, the power's side affect makes the human immortal. She had been with the underground city for about seven hundred years, never aging and unable to die, regardless of the assault inflicted upon her.
Though, she's rarely been hurt; the residents of the city had worshiped her since the first time she used her powers. They would do anything and everything to protect her. As she turned the corner, one of the children started to cry. This brought Reiki out of her mind and back to reality as she looked for the source of the crying. She found one of the children huddled over his knee and making quite a scene. The child was wearing poorly made clothes that were very torn and dirty. His hair was down to his rear and a shade of dirty blonde. On top of his head, there were two perky, dog-like ears of the same shade, and a wimpy tail curled around him. Reiki didn't say a word as she discretely went over to the boy and gently placed her hand on his scraped knee. The boy's skin started to glow under Reiki's hand and the boy calmed down, and then the glow faded away and Reiki stood back up. The boy wiped away his tears and thanked her. She patted the boy between his odd ears and smiled before walking away.
These strange features were not odd at all though, everyone in the city had dog-like, perky ears and tails except for Reiki. As she made her way back to the biggest residence in the city that sat against the back wall of the cavern, she watched a man with silver hair dash past her. This color among the people of the city was rare and meant that they had the blood of royalty. Reiki sighed as she recalled what real royalty looked like. The man who had just past by her had only about one-forth royal blood in him; but royalty and blood no longer mattered to the city. Their king had walked out on them and left them completely guide-less. He had no heir and left the people nothing but the gift that is Reiki.
As Reiki entered the mansion, a band of young men awaited her eagerly. Reiki paused for a second to look at them, but before they could speak she waved them off, "Do what you must," and she started up the grand staircase.
"But, Reiki!" the head of the band began, "We wouldn't feel confident in the quest without your blessing!" His hair was long and black and his clothes were just as worn as everyone else's.
Reiki stopped and turned to him and gave a weak smile, "Then you have my blessing," and she turned and continued up the stairs and around the corner to the right. She listened to the excited men's voices as they faded out of the mansion and she was alone in the quiet again. "Why do they always have to steal shit," she sighed to herself as she entered a room that appeared to function as an office.
"Because it's a part of their genetics," a vaguely familiar voice replied.
Reiki couldn't hide the fact that she had been startled as she turned around to face a man who was said to be dead centuries ago, "Yomi…" she could barely speak. The last time she saw him he was a scrawny thing with two pointy ears and two small horns growing out of his head. Now he stood before her, buffed out, six ears that were all pointy, and a few more horns. His eyes were closed and showed no sign of opening. "How…?" she trailed off in awe.
Yomi gave way to a small chuckle and motioned for her to sit down. Reiki ignored the gesture and gathered herself enough to ask, "how did you get into the city?"
He had a small, contempt smile on his face, "I've known this city's deepest secrets for a very long time now," he answered simply.
Reiki stared at him, "We thought you were dead… how—"
"I was merely blinded, but this had nothing to do with why I am here," he cut her off.
"I see that," were the only words she could come up with, "What brings you back here after all this time?" she sat down on a faded chair.
Yomi followed suite, folding his hands in front of him, "I have quite a bit of news for you, my dear," he paused as he planned to build suspense. Reiki did nothing but blink. "Your heart has no pulse," Yomi commented on the side, his ears twitched slightly.
"I'm aware," Reiki's tone changed to a more serious one, "What is it that you wish to tell me?"
Yomi decided it might be in his best interest to get on with it, "Well, from my observations, you have no idea that Kurama was announced dead almost two decades ago—"
"What?" Reiki stood up, her face was mortified.
"Calm down, that's just the beginning." Reiki slowly sat back down as Yomi continued, "He is now cavorting around as a red-headed human and is in alliance with the Spirit World." He paused, knowing this news would be even harder to take in.
"That's total bullshit, Yomi; you and I both know he'd never do something like helping the Spirit World," Reiki was now carrying yet another tone, an annoyed one.
"I have to admit, I didn't believe it either, but then I did some research. The Spirit World had set him up with a false trinket to steal and the SDF ambushed him. They planned to kill him, but he used the last of his energy to transform into his spirit animal and escaped. He apparently settled in a human embryo to regroup. This human version of Kurama has taken quite a toll on his thoughts and actions; and the real reason he is working with the Spirit World is to erase his lengthy criminal record." Yomi bowed his head slightly to cue that he was finished, for the moment.
For a minute they were both silent.
"Why are you telling me this?" Reiki finally replied.
Yomi sighed, almost straining to explain himself, "Because I would hate to see this city continue to believe he had abandoned them," he paused for a second, struggling to find words, "I know Kurama more than anyone in this world or the next, and I know that even though he'd never be able to admit it, these people are his kin and he would do anything for them. That's why when he was ambushed he didn't come back here for you to heal him. It would have given the city away to the Spirit World and the SDF would have a field day."
Reiki fell back against the chair as if she had just been assaulted. She sighed and stared at the ceiling, forcing her emotions away, "Why… are you telling me all of this?"
Yomi's smile grew large, "Because he's coming back," he paused for a brief second, "To help me take over Demon World."
"Oh, god," Reiki whispered while rolling her eyes, "Haven't you two tortured the world enough?"
Yomi's smile faded, "This world is a vast glory of unintelligent ogres and anarchy, and with, or without, Kurama I'm going to bring this world together."
"Have fun," Reiki said lazily as she got up, "Don't get us involved," and motioned out the window that viewed over the entire city before she left the room.