Intro
I remember it like it was yesterday. The events played back in my head like a black and white movie, one that could never be forgotten, even if placed somewhere in the back of my mind, completely forbidden from access.
The cold rain pounded on my face and trailed down my icy cheeks. My soaked hair flapped in the strong wind and spread a chill through my body. My body ached as the wound in the middle of my ribs gushed blood, staining my clothes crimson and making me feel colder. I looked below as I hung from the cliff over dark water. I could smell the salt from it, and imagined it on a more peaceful day, with sparkling blue water and the sun shining down on it. The salt would be painful on my wounds; I just knew it. The river was moving fast. The only thing that kept me from falling was a hand clamped over mine.
I looked up and saw that he was holding on to the cliff's edge with his other hand. His long silver hair and foxtail blew all around him. His legs were dangling; one was injured badly and the blood from it dripped down my face as I looked up at him. This was my fault, someone I had trusted had betrayed me and now the person I cared for most was entangled in it. I saw his face set in a determined look that caused shivers to go down my spine and linger.
"Hold on, Persian!" he yelled, his voice - strained and tired. I knew that he couldn't hold on much longer, that he couldn't pull me up with him. He was far too weak now, and even strong men like him had their limit. I loosened my grip slightly and was met with his glare. He was apparently furious that I would even think of doing such a thing. "Don't you dare, you hear me?" he ordered. I smiled at him.
"You can't pull me up too, Yoko, you have to let me go..." I said, my voice trailing off as he shook his head. I could see the sadness in his eyes; his heartbreak so evident that my heart started to acheas well.
I knew this was hard, how incredibly much we meant to each other, so much that there is no way to measure it, but this was the only way. "No, I can't! I just can't," he yelled, his voice full of pain. I looked at him, tears running down my face. He knew instantly what I was going to do. "Persian, don't! Please!" he begged. I smiled again, and he stiffened.
"I'm sorry," I said slowly and looked at him one last time taking in his horrified expression. His whiskey colored eyes that told unspoken words.
I took a deep breath. "I truly am. I love you Kurama."
With that, I let go and started to fall into the black abyss. The last thing I heard before I hit the cold, rushing water was him screaming my name.
Chapter One:
The Meeting
I heard my alarm go off; the loud voices of a man bickering echoing through my ears started the day. I groaned and pushed the gray button on the radio, not even bothering to open my eyes. I had gone through the same routine enough that I didn't need to.
I lay there for a moment and rubbed my eyes with the back of my hand. I usually wasn't this tired but I only got four hours of sleep. My eyes were crusted and icky, and I could feel the disgusted look on my face.
Getting out of bed, I sighed and stretched out my arms. I walked into the bathroom and let the cold from the shower run down my back and ease my muscles. A fresh breeze hit me as I left the confines of the bathroom and back into my room. I picked up my school uniform, which was a shade of red, and got dressed. "I'm glad the boys get the pink ones" I mused, brushing out my dried blond hair that was dried. I glanced in the mirror before I left my bedroom, glaring at my human form. It looked like my sister, but that was in the past.
"At least it's Saturday" I said, obviously annoyed. "School's so stupid!" I muttered, walking down the stairs to the first floor. I went into my kitchen, where I was instantly surrounded by black and blue tile and silver appliances. I made my way to the fridge, opened the door and grabbed an apple, ignoring the slight chill I got from the cold air coming from inside. I pushed the refrigerator door shut feeling the warmth enter my body once more.
I had always been able to tell if someone was looking at me. It was this creepy feeling that you get, that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up in warning. And right now was a perfect example. I turned and saw that it was only Shiori; my demon cat companion that had just woken up from which I could tell. She stood at 14 hands (the size of a small horse), if you were wondering, and was now glaring at me with her light blue eyes. Rolling my own dark blue eyes in return, I opened the refrigerator door again. "I know, I know. You want your food," I said, taking out a piece of meat and held it in front of Shiori. She was quite happy to take it with her saber tooth-like teeth; I smiled, walked over to the desk and unplugged my Walkman. I ate the apple while getting my books in my backpack. Sighing, I looked at the clock and on seeing the time I freaked, a normal reaction to noticing that you're late for school.
"Damn, I'm going to be late for school! Bye Shiori!" I called, picking up my backpack and running out the door.
'No need to worry. It's only my 10th time being late to school!' I thought, practically screaming in my mind, as I ran down the street, the dead leaves being crushed underneath my feet. Running into the school, I heard the first bell ring. Moments later, I came bounding though the classroom door, earning a nice long stare from everyone. I didn't know why they were staring. This had happened many times before and you'd think they'd get over it.
Mr. Moro, my science teacher, was not pleased. At all. His foot was tapping against the tiled floor as he glared at me. "Miss Yomi, I'm sad to say you're late again. I'd like to speak with you after class, if that's okay " Mr. Moro said. Heavily sighing, which was my way of showing my irritation, I nodded. "Good, now take your seat," he said and I nodded again.
'Stupid bastard. I should rip off your head,' I thought as I walked towards my seat and noted that the desk that had been empty since I came to this school three months ago was taken. The boy, at least I was pretty sure it was a boy, that was sitting in it had long red hair and emerald green eyes. I thought nothing of it and sat down. The teacher kept talking.
"Now you see class, that's what a slacker is like, and believe me you don't want to be like that."
The class started to laugh a bit, a taunting snicker that made me want to beat Mr. Moro's head in even more. I hissed lowly, not wanting to draw any more attention to me. The only person not laughing was the boy in front of me. No, he thought it was better to stare at me instead. I stared into those pools of green before groaning and putting my head on the desk, my hand over my face and tried to not listen to the taunting.
'Stupid Koenma... If I didn't work for him I would kill every single person in this class room, starting with that moron of a teacher,' I thought, remembering how I became a detective for that baby.
Five minutes later, every thing was back to normal. I was just another face again, and the idea pleased me a little. Everyone was working on the project on the board. I read it slowly.
'Pick a partner and come up with an interesting poster about an animal of your choice.' Sighing I looked around and walked up to a girl that I sort of knew. "Want to be partners?" I asked cautiously. She just frowned with a scowl plastered on her face.
"Sorry I already have a partner. Besides you know if I'm with you, the teacher will probably lower my grade," She pointed out. I sighed, knowing that she was right. She walked over to her friends who almost instantly started laughing. I blinked, and glared at her before turning around and walking away. The word 'bitch' came to mind as I sat back down at my desk. Looking at the board again I began to think.
'I hate this. I would rather just take my chances with all the demons that want my head. Not like they can beat me anyway...'
A moment later I felt a hand on my shoulder. I jumped slightly, the daydreams of beating in someone's head drifting away. I turned around to see that boy looking at me.
"You look sad... are you all right?" he asked. I was absolutely sure now that he was a boy; his voice was soft, but male.
'Well… let me see here,' I thought. 'I'm a demon that is pretending to be human and I have an awfully bad urge to kill something. But I'm just dandy,' I thought. But I merely nodded.
"Just having a bad day" I murmured.
"My name is Shuichi," He said with a smile. "You're Karon right? I don't have a partner yet, so, if you want, you can be my partner." Shuichi said. Shock set in as I looked at him. No one ever wanted to be my partner here, not ever.
"I wouldn't do that, Shuichi, she's such a later bloomer… get it, late?" a boy yelled from across the room. I glared at him, clearly ticked off. The words 'Better watch your self, boy,' ran though my head. I rested my chin on my hand.
"Well?" Shuichi asked again, prompting me to answer. I looked up at him and raised an eyebrow.
"What, you still want to work with me?" I asked flatly. He nodded. "Well... sure, why not?" I say after a moment. It didn't make any sense to me. Why was he doing this? Now that I had heard his name a few times, it sort of clicked; he was the smartest person in his grade, a regular straight 'A' student. So why was he going to willingly pairing up with me, his complete polar opposite?
"Alright then, I'll meet you after school, right in front and we'll start working say, at your place?" he suggested. I nodded, still somewhat shocked. He smiled at me and then went back to his desk. I stared at his back as he walked away. 'If only I was in my demon form... I could read his mind and find out what he was thinking...' Shortly after, my thoughts came to an end and the bell ring and I got up.
Next period would be easy enough; after all, out of all the human classes, art was my favorite.
The rest of the day I couldn't seem to concentrate. Shuichi was stuck in my mind, and damn it I felt like a one of his fangirls I had heard about! I was losing my mind! It was no wonder though, being around all of those human girls, it was bound to affect me sooner or later.
Anyway, it's not like I needed to pay attention. I got A's on all my tests and essays. I already knew what we were learning. After all, I'm a demon that has lived for about… oh, 815 years, so I've picked up a few things along the way.
The next class was math, which I hated. It went by fast enough, and near the end of class my teacher handed back my test, a big red B marked on the top. 'Man not again! I actually tried this time!' I thought as the bell rang. Even though it was a good grade by anyone else's standards, I really wasn't that bad at math. I just hated that humans and demons were so different when it came to how math was done, so, of course I didn't get an A.
Sighing, I put the test in my bag and walked outside. Trudging across the grass to sit under a tree, I watched the people pass by and pretend I wasn't there. It was fine with me. I didn't need human friends. Most humans were so weak and idiotic it made me wonder why Koenma needed so many people and demons to protect them.
I sighed again and took out a sketchpad and a pencil, flipping to a new page; that seemed to be the story of my life; new job, new look, new home. A new life. A completely new page. Even though it was all an act, my old life could never be erased. Those memories were burned in to my mind for life.
I started to sketch out a panther. I guess you could call it a self portrait. After all I am a panther demon. Not that any one else knows. Well ok, so there is one other human that knows, but that's not important for now. I focused on my sketch; I always did this. It helped me calm down and just made me happy.
Humming, I finished the rough outline, but I stopped before I got any further because I felt a presence close by. Even in my human form I had the sense of a cat and spiritual awareness. I looked up. A boy, about five foot nine, with black hair and brown eyes was walking up to me. I blinked and smiled at him. He must be thinking I was normal.
"Can I help you?" I asked, trying my best to sound friendly, even if I didn't need friends, I wouldn't mind having some one to talk to.
He smirked "Yeah, I was just wondering if you liked being alone?" he asked. I glared at him
"Yes," I said coldly and gathered up my things to leave. I stood up and turned, but he took my shoulder and turned me back.
"I'm sorry, it's just that you're so beautiful, I'm wondering something else. Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?" he asked in a cocky tone. Of all the nerve! This guy first insults me and then asks me that? I looked at him with an evil smile.
Ok, did he really think I was that gullible? So I thought about it for a moment before coming up with a comeback. "No not really; but I have a question for you though," I said sweetly, I loved being a girl!
"Yes?" he said smirking I laughed on the inside because I had just figured out what to say.
"Did it hurt when you were kicked out of hell? (5)" I said smiling, he looked stunned… score! Hah, that is what you get for messing with me, buster! I started to turn away when he surprised me. He ripped my sketchpad from my hands, now I was really pissed off!
I stood there glaring at the young boy, he didn't know what I could do to him so very easily. No I couldn't, I didn't want to serve any more years than I had to. 'Self control Persian,' I thought as the tattoo on my shoulder that I got as a member of Yoko's group started to glow. It was a heart with a knife though it with blood dripping down the blade. A rose vine was wrapped around the handle and the roses were black. Around every thing was a blue sash.
I closed my eyes to calm down and the mark disappeared. Sighing in relief I returned to the boy's endless talking; he was so irritating!
"Don't you want it Karon? Or should I just throw it away?" He said, and I just wanted to use my speed to take it but I couldn't use my powers to affect humans in any way. I look down and clench my hands.
"Damn you…" I said in a shallow voice. The boy glared at me and moved his hand fast towards my face. I could have easily avoided it but I couldn't risk using my demon power. So I got ready to feel the sting pain of a slap. But… it didn't happen? Why, I don't know because I had closed my eyes, so I opened them to see that Shuichi had his hand holding the boy's and was right in front of me. I blinked from the shock; he always seemed to be there.
"Now is this really necessary? I would leave before a teacher finds you like this." He said, taking the sketchbook out of his hand. The boy glared, but knew better and walked off.
Shuichi turned to me, and with out a word took my hand. He walked me out of school. I walked down the street in silence with him. 'Why is he doing this? He's a human and they're normally a very selfish race.' I thought. I looked at him for a moment and saw that he was looking at my sketches. I felt my face get warm, this was embarrassing. Then, just like that, he handed it back to me.
"You're good Karon, but why do you let every one push you around?" Shuichi asked softly, I looked up at him but not in the eyes. The truth was I had never been asked that. Then again that had never happened, so I told him the truth. I just sugar-coated it a little bit.
"Let's just say that I've done something that I regret and I'm trying to make up for it," I said. I looked up at him and smiled slightly, he seemed to understand for some reason and asked nothing further into the subject. A few minutes later, we arrived at my house.
I opened the door to my house and turned on the lights in the hallway. Of course I didn't really need the light, I hardly ever used them. Being a cat, I could see perfectly in the dark. I set my bag down and walked into the kitchen "Come on in, put your stuff wherever." I said. I could care less, as if I should care about a human. I hummed to myself and walked to the refrigerator. I knew I should contact Shiori, because she was the size of a horse after all. I didn't want Shuichi to freak out; it would be a bit hard to explain as well.
"Shiori, can you hear me?" I said telepathically, yet another of my powers. I tried to act normally taking out a can of soda. I chose to be nice today and poked my head out so see Shuichi scanning the room. I found it odd, but quickly shrugged it off. I cleared my throat and he jumped and snapped his head in my direction. "Do you want anything to eat or drink?" I asked Shuichi, who was looking around again, but he just shook his head.
"No, thank you," he replied, I nodded and closed the door to the refrigerator, and only blinked as Shiori answered my message.
"Yeah, I can hear you Persian. What is it?" she sounded quite irritated by my question. I glared at the floor and went to the cupboard, taking out a glass cup.
"Well excuse me, Miss Grump, but I thought you might want to know that there's a human in the house." I responded in my mind as I opened the can and poured some into a cup.
"And I care why?" she said in a huff. I felt my eye twitch in frustration, I was losing my patience. Not that I had much to start off with! So I simply smiled on the outside walking out of the kitchen with the cup in hand.
"Listen and listen good, I don't know why you're so snippy today and I couldn't care less. Remember, I could end your life easily and I've been in the mood to shed blood all day! So you will shrink down to your cat size form and be good or else! Do I make myself clear?" I commanded harshly in my mind as I lead Shuichi into the living room.
"Yes, sorry… I'll be good and I'll be down in a minute," she almost whispered. I did not reply and cut the mind link. Shuichi was looking around again, but it's not like my living room was wonderful or anything, it was a normal one in the colors of black, blue and silver.
"Do you live alone Karon?" he asked after a moment. I looked at him and nodded, thankfully I had been asked this so I knew my lie well. I hated lying but I had no choice in the matter and so I just lived with the building guilt and after awhile you didn't even notice it.
I waved my hand, "Yes, my parents live in Kyoto and they are sending me money. Plus, I work so don't worry about me," 'Not that I'm working by choice' I thought, right after I realized that Shuichi had found Shiori. Thankfully, she had listened and shrunk down to a house cat size. This made her look like a cream colored Siamese and Shuichi was now petting her.
"So you aren't from around here?" he said in a kind of sad tone. This only made me a little confused, I mean, why in the world would he care? No one was supposed to care about me, no one ever did! I sighed.
"No, but I'm pretty sure that I'm not going back any time soon if that's what your asking." I said sitting sit down on my couch "Now let's get to work, okay?" He nodded and sat next to me getting straight to work.
as very proud of it. nd i g on one side and being the darkest part of it.byness of my shirt, but sadly i nd hair.