Five hundred years ago, before the kekkai barrier was erected forcing demons into the Makai; there were great lords and legends among the demons that rose up as legends among the humans.
One such demon was the Legendary Kaitoh, Yoko Kurama.
But after four hundred years being a merciless killer and procurer of treasure, Yoko became a Rurouni.
This is his story. The story of Shuichi Minamino.
Or as he came to be known: Rurouni Kurama.
Xxx
Our story begins in the village of Musashi, where a young woman, the Shikon no Miko, Midoriko, held up her legendary blade, Kiboken, against Kurama.
"Yoko Kurama!" Midoriko said. "I have found you at last! I shall exorcise your demonic power from this land! No longer will you shame my jinja with the cursed So'Unga!"
Kurama turned. He had long red hair tied back in a pony tail, and wore a red traditional gi, with a gold belt. At his waist was a sword, but rather then the distinctive cursed blade So'Unga, it was the Tensaiga, the Sword of Heaven. It was also a sword that cannot cut.
He gave Midoriko a good once over with his sharp green eyes.
She was a young miko, wearing a miko's hakama and armor of a samurai over the top. She had bright blue eyes and long dark hair. The sword that she held was one of purification, rather like his own, as he could tell the reiki of the sword she held. Around her neck was a small pink bead—the Shikon.
A time ago, he would have come to steal a treasure such as this. It was coveted by many demons. The Jewel of Four Souls. It was in truth, Midoriko's soul, as well as the Yoki of every demon she had purified, and as she lived and breathed she purified the demons.
"Answer for the murders you have done!" Midoriko said. "Who else would defy the law and walk around with a sword. You are Yoko Kurama!"
"Rurouni." Kurama said finally. "I am a Rurouni, little miko."
"How do you know me?" Midoriko said.
"Everyone knows of the Shikon no Miko." Kurama said.
"Then explain that sword!" Midoriko said. "According to the law only police and miko can—"
Kurama drew Tensaiga.
"The sword...it does not cut!" Midoriko said.
"Precisely. This sword cannot cut ningen." Kurama said.
"I see." Midoriko said. "Well I have to go find the real Yoko."
With that she stormed off, leaving Kurama determined to discover who was using his name and wielding an evil blade such as So'Unga.
Kurama entered a clearing and found a man raising So'Unga.
"DRAGON TWISTER!" He shouted.
The police went flying in a swirl of blood and gore.
"Yoko Kurama!" Midoriko ran forward. "Prepare to be exorcised! Shi—"
"Drago—"
"May I cut in?" Kurama grabbed Midoriko and pulled her out of range. "Must you live dangerously, little miko?
"Hmph!" Midoriko pouted.
The man sheathed So'Unga. "I am Yoko Kurama, wielder of the So'Unga! The great sword of the Hikawa Jinja!"
Midoriko growled, but Kurama covered her mouth.
"Live to fight another day," he warned.
And with that, Kurama carried her back to Hikawa Jinja.
Xxx
Back at the Hikawa Shrine, an older woman was treating Midoriko's injuries.
"We are the shrine known for our purification of many demons through the Shikon technique, passed on by me and mastered by Midoriko here." Kaede said. "That scoundrel broke into our shrine and stole the So'Unga, the Sword of Hell, that was being purified here."
"Rurouni." Midoriko pulled free of her grandmother and growled at him. "Lend me your blade."
"What? Tensaiga?" Kurama said.
"Yes." Midoriko said. "I sensed you, or rather, your sword, drawn here by the call of fate—by So'Unga's destruction."
"It can only be sealed by Tensaiga and Tetsusaiga." Kurama said. "So my sword alone is useless to you. However. There is another way."
"What? Tell me tell me!" Midoriko said eagerly.
"I believe that you could render that sword useless all by yourself, little miko." Kurama said. "Allow me...to be your protector."
Midoriko blushed and muttered something unintelligible.
Xxx
Midoriko was on her way home from the market when she ran smack into Kurama again.
"Wh-What are you doing, Baka!" Midoriko groaned. "Oh no, all the rice..."
"Allow me." Kurama handed her a bag of rice.
"Where did you—?"
"No need to worry about such things." Kurama smiled. "I do not."
He started to walk away but she caught his hand. "You saved me last night. I want to repay you. Besides, the shrine is a sanctuary for wanderers, for innocent people—like you."
"I see...innocent." Kurama said softly, and smiled. "I accept."
"About last night." Midoriko said. "That man...he was possessed by So'Unga. Clearly human. Yoko Kurama is said to be a demon fox, not a human being at all. Also that man looked to be the lord of Castle Setsuna."
"Setsuna?" Kurama said.
"Hm?" Midoriko said. "Yes. But it's just a thought. And I am a miko, not police. I cannot just storm a castle and take back a demonic sword, even if I feel it is my duty."
With that she led Kurama back to the shrine.
Xxx
Later that night, Midoriko got up and brought a blanket to Kurama's room, to find that he was gone.
"I see." Midoriko sighed. "Well. He is a rurouni after all."
She returned to her room to find Kaede shakily holding an ofuda barrier between her and the man wielding So'Unga.
"Takemaru of Setsuna." Kaede said. "It has been twenty years, but you have remained a fool."
"And you have become a hag." Takemaru said, slashing at the ofuda barrier. "But I remained powerful and young. I have come to slay you after dragging your legend through the dirt using the blade you could never seal!"
"All because you could not win my heart." Kaede said. "You know what a miko is. A woman who is not a woman, for she is without a heart. She cannot love. Your quest was forever in vain."
At this moment the blade cut through the barrier and into the old miko's shoulder.
And then the world went dark, cold, and bloody.
Xxx
Midoriko awoke, and her kimono was covered in blood. Blood was in her mouth, and it was not hers. All down her lips, and face as well.
She looked up. Takemaru of Setsuna was dead.
There was a hole in his chest, and in her hand was a bloody heart with a bite torn from it.
Midoriko dropped it with a scream, bringing shaking hands to her lips, and backed off in horror, right into Kurama's arms.
"Calm down." Kurama said. "I see. Believe me. 'You' are innocent of any bloodshed, little miko."
Midoriko shuddered.
"For future reference. The real Yoko Kurama wields Bakusaiga, not So'Unga. And the legendary Kaitoh would have stolen this..." Kurama's hand lingered on her Shikon, now completely black. "Before it had become tainted."
"You are...Kaitoh?" Midoriko woke from her reverie finally.
The shikon flashed, turning pink again, surprising the thief.
After a moment he smiled.
"I like that." Kurama said. "But you may call me Kurama. I apologize that someone used my name and caused you such pain."
Kurama turned and prepared to leave the shrine.
Midoriko picked up So'Unga, and it flashed silver, then the yoki left it, and she placed it in Saya, it's sheath.
"Kurama." Midoriko said. "My Grams is wounded. My spirit is weak. You made me a promise. You called yourself my protector. I do not care that you are Kaitoh. Who am I to judge such things. Stay?"
A small smile graced the legendary thief—no, wanderer— and he replied. "With such a profound case you make, how can I say no?"
