Author's note: This is my first fic ever, although I have been thinking up stories for a couple years . If you find it horrible please don't flame me! This fic may contain shuonen-ai, so if you can't stand gayism then don't read, I don't think it will be that extreme. This fic also takes place some 50? years before Kurama becomes human.

Disclaimer: I (unfortunately) don't own any part of YYH sob. It's a shame that I can't at least own a part of Kurama...(nothing hentai here!). I did get some idea for this fic from a part of another fic (Gift of an Unusual Nature) but im only gonna use that one little part Not gonna tell! U gotta read to find out!

Memories

by: Kitsune

Chap1

It was another typical day in the Makai. Another lesser noble just lost his most prized possession. Yoko Kurama and Kuronue were at their favorite tavern about 20 miles away in Arcadia. The Red Dog was a typical shabby wooden bar, but it was like a second home to the King of Thieves and his band.

"Haha! Another full house! Looks like I get all the booty again!", shouted Kuronue. "Oi, Fox! Wanna take a shot?"

Kurama was at the bar counter having his second glass of beer. And flirting with Zina, the barmaid. Again.

"I'm not much of a card player to tell you the truth..."

"O, c'mon, you're just pissed cuz you never win..."

burned "Yes, I'm a bad player...now will you leave me alone!"

Kuronue shrugged off his snappy remark and went over to sit by him. He noticed that the silver fox has been really grumpy lately, almost the opposite of his usually cool attitude. I hope it isn't serious, we have another robbery planned tomorrow. Ever since Kurama left Kara, he's been sneaking off to gods' knows where and coming back pissed all the time. He would always hide his reasons and try to act normal. Which was quite easy for him to do when he was sober, but when he starts downing the beer, watch out. Everyone noticed, but no one has said a word.

"Soooo...eh, what's the matter with you today?"

"Nothing..."

Hmmm...typical response...

"Ah..."

Kuronue just sat there in silence. Or as silent as can possibly be, the rest of the gang was shouting over the poker game that was going on in the nearby table. Apparently Fedi just won two games in a row. Kuronue looked over at the table and started thinking about what was the matter with Kurama. The gang can't be the problem. Usually Fedi was always pulling stupid pranks on him and Kurama, like that one dead lover in bed thing, that totally freaked me out. But we got used to it...so it can't be him. Arnor, Solof and Ukain usually just sat in the background, not involving themselves in many events. Although they all enjoy poker...and they're pretty good too...but that's not the problem either heh We always joked that since Kurama got all the girls, he doesn't win any of the games in order to balance things out. Yomi? Naw, he's dead, Fox got rid of him good.

The night trailed on, without any answer...

WHY THE HELL WOULD I CARE! WHY SHOULD I GIVE A SHIT, ITS YOUR FAULT TO BEGIN WITH!

uhh...damned bitch...why the hell do I even try...

Kurama woke up and pondered the argument he and Kara had a while ago. Careful not to wake up Kuronue, he stepped outside to get a breath of fresh air, and maybe breakfast. A throbbing headache, mostly due from all the beer he drank, was compelling him to the cold spring on the side of his cave. As Kurama lowered himself to the water, he felt himself get jerked forward and landed face first into the spring. He shook his head and looked up, facing a smiling Kuronue.

"Ohayo, sleeping beauty...feeling better today?"

"I was, until you pushed me in. I'm gonna have to get revenge now!"

Laughing, he wrestled Kuronue into the water and gave him a couple playful punches in his hard stomach. Kuronue retaliatedby biting his shoulder and they went on like this for a couple more minutes, until Kurama finally got tired. They dried themselves off and ran off towards the woods to catch some food.

sigh Why doesn't Kara even care? Her and her dumbass father. Its not just my fault, and it certainly isn't their fault, they don't deserve to be caught up in all this...

"Oi! HEELLLOOOO!"

Kurama jumped at the shout.

"Kuronue! What the hell was that for!"

"I just wanted to see what would happen if I did that"

grumble "Well, now you know that I kill people who do that to me.."

"Heh, just try to kill me Fox"

Kurama ignored that comment and looked toward the horizon. The sun was below, causing the surrounding sky to glow pink and purple, then merge into dark blue. Kurama and Kuronue were sitting on a mountain ledge overlooking the forest, going down towards the never-ending horizon.

"Kuronue..."

"Hmm?"

"Have you ever...done something that you thought you would regret...but never did?"

Bewildered, Kuronue looked at Kurama, and was startled by his expression. His eyes were all watery and their were faint tear lines down his face.

"Kurama...whats going on?"

Without a word, Kurama threw himself into Kuronue's arms and started sobbing. Not understanding anything, Kuronue just held him in a hug and let him cry himself out.

whistling Ah, what a fine day. Too bad the bloody Fox had to make us go to another noble's castle...gave me nightmares, that one did...

"Uh, Fedi, just what do you think you're doing?"

"Nothin, nothin at all mate! heh.."

"Knowin ya, I'm not so sure..."

Fedi ran off before Solof could give him another lecture. Heh, knowin him the bloody bloke is probably rackin his tiny head tryin to figure out my latest prank. Well he ain't gonna guess, its gonna be too good this time. As Fedi set off to carry out his latest evil-doing Arnor and Ukain stopped him and discussed about what happened in the nearby town.

"Bloody hell! How the hell did that happen?"

Arnor and Ukain just looked at each other. sigh Should I (Arnor) even bother explainin?

(Ukain)"Ya mean you didn't know? Craps man, that was all over the papers.."

Fedi just shook his head.

"So who was the bastard that started this whole thing?"

(Ukain) "Thats the thing, no one has a clue bout who did this...suspect number one is Inar though..."

(Fedi) "Bloody Hell! Kara's father did this! But he's the county governor!"

(Arnor) "That's not the worst of it. It seems that he set fire to his own daughter's house first. Seems he was tryin to get rid of her cuz he disowned her..."

"Bloody Hell! (I bet you all figured out by now he's a British demon) Why the hell did he disown her?"

(Ukain) "She slept with someone else though she was engaged. She's a real slut ya know...what else do you expect from a female youko..."

Ukain continued his explanation of Kara and Inar's relationship until Fedi and Arnor felt like they were related to the youko governor and his daughter.

(Arnor)"Hmm...Kara dated Kurama once right? Does he know about this?

"I highly doubt the bloody bastard would even give a damn. Y'all know how shitty his time with the bitch was..."

Kuronue appeared and ran up to them.

"Oi! Any of you guys seen Kurama?

They all shook their heads.

"Damn! He's gone for two days straight and I can't get a hold of him anywhere!"

He stormed off, leaving the three wondering if "something" was going on with those two.

"Reckon Kurama's tricked him to going in his bed..."

Laughing, Fedi scampered away to avoid Arnor's punches and shouts of him being a pervert.

sobbing uncontrollably Oh Inari...why...they didn't deserve it...they didn't need to die! WHY!...THAT GODDAMN BITCH! ITS ALL HER FAULT!...

All alone by the bank of a secluded spring laid Kurama. Sobbing and covered in blood. And burns.

Kurama woke up the next morning, confused and alone. What am I doing here? What happened to me? The shock from the memory of three nights ago caused tears to form again. Why the hell did it have to happen...why?...Kurama started crying again as he recalled the horrible event that happened during the fire. He was just had a shouting match (again) with Kara and went back to the garden when it started. Smoke was everywhere...I couldn't see a thing except shadows running...running from something...the attackers maybe...then I was grabbed from behind and thrown into a large cage...I was trapped. I could hear their screams...His tears began flowing uncontrollably. I heard their screams...and I couldn't do anything about it! sobbing

Kuronue was just walking through the woods when he heard someone crying nearby. What the hell? He was completely taken aback by the sight of Kurama, sobbing, with burns and blood all over his body and torn clothes.

"Shit, Kurama what the hell happened to you!"

At the sound of Kuronue's voice, Kurama stopped crying and looked up. His usually clean, beautiful face was dirty from smoke and tears. Kurama threw himself into Kuronue's embrace and resumed his task.

"I-I failed...I couldn't save them! They're all dead because of me! Little Yana...Ruki..Rin...they're all dead..."

"Kurama, what are you talking about!"

"The fire...at the village...there was smoke. Lots of smoke...I couldn't see a thing..."

Kurama stopped crying so hard and Kuronue started dressing his wounds. Several moments of silence passed before Kuronue asked that question again.

"Kurama, can you please tell me how you got these burns?"

Kurama looked at him and sighed. This was going to be a hard topic to discuss. He didn't want to revisit that moment. He wanted to forget it. Forever.

"You were at the village, weren't you?"

Kurama nodded.

"What! What the hell were you doing over there! Were you over there because of Kara?"

Kurama remained silent. He refused to look into Kuronue's eyes.

"Kurama! Answer me! KURAMA!"

Kurama stood up and started walking away, ignoring Kuronue's orders.

"That's it, I've had it with your fucking attitude the past couple days! If you're not gonna answer me willingly then I have no choice!"

Kuronue jumped in front of Kurama to block him and then lunged, pushing Kurama into the moist soil. Kurama tried to push him off but he was too weak. Kuronue pinned his arms to the ground and delivered a crushing blow to Kurama's head. As he laid unconscious on the ground Kuronue picked him up and carried him to a nearby cave.

Kuronue placed the limp Kurama onto a futon in a dark cave by the springs. He walked over to the entrance and started a fire. Then he walked back to Kurama and looked into his face. What are you trying to hide? It must have something to do with Kara. Kuronue took out his pendent and placed it onto Kurama's forehead. Then Kuronue went inside Kurama's memories and slowly learned about the truth behind that fateful day. And what he found was beyond anything he could imagine.

Kurama was running through a forest. It was before sunrise and he was carrying several fat rabbits. After a while the forest began to thin out until he came to the entrance of the village. Quietly, so as to not wake the villagers, he walked down the foggy main street until he came to a large hut on the right. He went around to the back and unlocked the door. After getting the rusty lock to open he went into the kitchen and placed the rabbits on the table. Then he went upstairs to the bedrooms and went into the second door on the right. Inside were 7 small beds, each holding a small lump covered with bedsheets. Kurama went to the bed by the sole window and shook its occupant.

rubs eyes Huh? Daddy? You're back! hugs Kurama

chuckles softly Of course Yana. You know I wouldn't leave you alone forever with your nasty mother.

As sunbeams started streaming into the window, the other bed occupants stirred awake and yawned. When they saw Kurama, they ran to his outstretched arms. thump thump thump

Grr...great, here comes the bitch...

A female fox youkai open the door to the children's room. She was tall and slender, with willowy legs. Her long, thick, dark brown hair fell over her shoulders and down her back. Her large eyes were dark brown, which were clouded by tiredness and disgust.

sigh so you're here...great, just don't try to piss me off today...

Yoko glared at her.

Well, I don't think I can make that promise now can I? Considering how incompetent you are as a mother...

Kara merely glared back at him with her lips pressed together. She told the children to get dressed and get started on the chores. Then she turned away and went back into her room.

thinking what a bitch...makes her kids work all day while she sleeps and never let them do their own thing...makes me want to throw up...

Kurama helped them get dressed quick and he went downstairs to the kitchen. He put the already prepared rabbits into the oven and cooked them for 40 minutes. After Yana and the others finished their breakfast, they went throughout the house to gather laundry and wash them.

Hey, how about we just skip the chores and go out to the fields? I'll teach you how to hunt...

Ruki looked at him with a mixture of fear and uncertainty.

B-but...mother will get mad...and she's real mean when she's mad...

Kurama chuckled.

What did I say earlier? I'm not gonna leave you alone with her, don't worry, she won't lay a finger on you as long as I'm around. C'mon, lets go!

Meanwhile, Kara was watching them from her bedroom window. Seeing them head towards the fields, she sent a mind link to Inar.

It's time.

Hahahaha! You can't catch me!

Yana and the kits were all chasing Kurama around the field. His long legs kept them just slightly out of their reach, just enough to keep encouraging them to run more. His bushy tail kept bobbing up and down, carefully avoiding their little hands. Finally getting tired, Kurama slowed down and allowed them to "attack" him.

Oh! Ow! Hey, pick on somebody your own size!

The kits were giggling and kept jumping on him until he became "unconscious".

looks at him Daddy? You're not dead...are you?

Kurama stayed as still as a rock.

starting to become worried Daddy?

RAHH! Hahahaha...

They all attacked him again, but they didn't hurt him so badly.

laughing You guys are so mean...

Nuh-uh!jumps on him again

OW! Ok ok, I get it...

They laid in the tall grass, watching the clouds go slowly by. Kurama felt himself getting drowsy. He soon drift off to sleep.

ugh...ow, why does my head hurt?...hm..everything's foggy...and where's the smoke coming from?...

While Kurama was trying to wake himself up he heard screams coming from nearby.

What the...Holy Shit! Where are the kits!

Kurama tried to get up but he soon discovered that he was locked in a strong metal cage. Frantically, he looked around for the source of the screams and saw fires burning most of the village. People were running everywhere from what seemed to be police officers attacking the villagers. Kurama couldn't find a sign of Yana or the others anywhere.

Yana! Rin! Where are you!

He shook the bars of his cage violently but they wouldn't budge. He couldn't find any of his seeds in his hair and he still didn't see any sign of his kits.

growls Yana! Where are you!

Hearing a squeal from his right he turned and saw three kits on the ground. With their bodies cut into pieces. Kurama couldn't move. Inar was above the dead kits, drowning the other three. He was laughing as he mercilessly held the last kit under the water, until she stopped thrashing and became still.

Wha...what...no...NO!

Kurama found himself laying in a field. The air was still and everything was quiet. Rubble laid

everywhere. Traces of smoke still flowed in the air, and it was dawning.

ohh...why is my body so sore...where am I...

Then the memory of last night seized him. Kurama sat up with some difficulty and looked around. It wasn't a nightmare. Seeing the dead kits Kurama crawled over to their corpses and wept.

No...no...Inari...why...why did this happen...they didn't do anything...why didn't they kill me instead...why!

He remembered how he just exploded and destroyed everything in his sight. Plants everywhere began attacking people, villagers and police. Kurama gently picked up his dead children and carried them to the forest, to a place where they went to play, to hunt. A place of memories. There Kurama buried them under a beautiful rose bush. Then his plants formed a permanent wall around the area, so that they may never be disturbed. Kurama walked away, never to return to this place of nightmares.

Inar: damn, he destroyed everything, how the hell did he get so powerful all of a sudden?

Inar managed to escape Kurama's sudden attack, with serious injuries. Kara was healing him at the Cariama Manor (Inar's palace, so to speak)

Inar: Ow! Dammit, that stings!

Kara: Hmph, it was your idea in the first place, not mine.

Heh, well now we got those bastard kits out of the way, you can marry the Lord of the Western Lands without a problem.

But what about Kurama? Won't he try to attack? Or at least tell what happened?

Don't you worry, its gonna hurt so bad, he ain't gonna wanna talk about it, he's gonna want to forget. Now after your done with the bandaging, go get me the papers. We're gonna arrange this marriage properly.

Kuronue jerked himself out of the youko's subconsience and was panting. He couldn't

believe what had happened to his best friend so recently. His face seemed so peaceful now, when he was asleep. When he saw Kurama just blow up like that...that scared him the most. I've never seen him get so angry all of a sudden. Even in the worst situations I've been on with him, he always kept his cool. He must have loved them, those children. The word love felt a strange way to describe the youko's feelings. He never seen or heard him love anyone before. I'm so sorry Kurama. Kuronue looked at Kurama's face, so beautiful in the firelight. He kept looking at him, and his sensual lips. They kept coming closer, until Kuronue leaned over him, and closed the gap between their faces.

Hmmm...wait...wha...where am I?...

Kurama woke up to two sky blue eyes right above him.

"Kuro? Where am I?"

"We're in a cave. Kurama...I know what happened...I'm so sorry.."

Kurama didn't give an answer. He attempted to stand up, and noticed that his wounds were healed. Kuronue helped him stand though. Kurama didn't look at him. He didn't want Kuronue to know what happened, he didn't want him to ever know. He didn't want to answer any questions, he didn't want to do anything that could bring him back to that horrible day.

Kurama walked out of the cave, leaving Kuronue behind.

"Fox? Hey, Fox...look, I know you're mad at me. I'm sorry, but I had to find out why you were acting so depressed. I was worried about you"

Kurama stopped. He turned around to face Kuronue.

"I don't want to say another word about it. Don't talk to me right now"

He then resumed walking away. Kuronue went up to him and grabbed his arm to stop him. Kurama, becoming pissed, tried pushing Kuronue away, but Kuronue just blocked him and seized him in a desperate kiss.

"K..Kuro...what are you doing.."