Chapter 1: The Messenger and the Hero
Kurama looked out the window. He seemed disturbed for some reason or another. Something in the air didn't seem right. Being a former thief in the Spirit World he could tell when something was going on in the world around him. He finally decided to ignore it. If nothing of dire importance had happened at this point then he obviously had an overactive imagination. He did sense, however, that he had a little visitor outside his window. He went to the window, opened it slowly and looked up into the tree just a few feet from his window.
"Good morning, Hiei." He said in his usual tone. " How long have you been out here?"
" Long enough." Hiei replied, jumping down from one of the higher limbs. " Is something troubling you Kurama?"
" No," Kurama said, trying to hide the fact that he felt a little uneasy about his surroundings, " I thought something was amiss around the neighborhood. I'm probably a little jumpy after the Dark Tournament. I'm positive it's nothing."
" Very well," Hiei stated, doubting his words, but not letting it show, " I'll see you later."
Hiei was gone in an instant, leaving Kurama to ponder the situation. He could not help but think that something was going to happen, something big. He decided to ponder it elsewhere. He grabbed his coat and ice skates, told his mother goodbye, and started to walk off towards the lake. It was a cold, crisp morning. The snow was fresh on the ground. He felt much better as he strolled through the woods on his way to the lake. As he walked he began to hum one of his favorite Christmas carols. Soon he began to sing aloud since no one was around.
"Gone away is the new bird, here to stay is the new bird." He sang to himself. " He sings a love a song as we go along."
".Walking in a winter wonderland." Finished a cheery voice behind him. He smiled to himself as he turned to see Botan, riding on her oar, with her usual smile.
" How long have you been following me?" he asked.
" Only about a minute or two." Botan responded. " Koenma has a new case for Yusuke and friends so naturally I came to inform you."
" Indeed," Kurama said, wearing his usual smile, " So what's the mission this time? Anything life threatening involved?"
"Hopefully not," Botan answered. " Just a little search and rescue. No big deal."
" Very well, I'll find Hiei and inform him." Kurama told her before turning to walk the opposite direction. But Botan's voice stopped him in his tracks.
" Kurama," said the blue-haired Deity, " Be careful"
Kurama just gave her his usual rye smile. He then turned and walked off into the snowy wilderness, glad to be playing the hero for the first time in a while.
Kurama looked out the window. He seemed disturbed for some reason or another. Something in the air didn't seem right. Being a former thief in the Spirit World he could tell when something was going on in the world around him. He finally decided to ignore it. If nothing of dire importance had happened at this point then he obviously had an overactive imagination. He did sense, however, that he had a little visitor outside his window. He went to the window, opened it slowly and looked up into the tree just a few feet from his window.
"Good morning, Hiei." He said in his usual tone. " How long have you been out here?"
" Long enough." Hiei replied, jumping down from one of the higher limbs. " Is something troubling you Kurama?"
" No," Kurama said, trying to hide the fact that he felt a little uneasy about his surroundings, " I thought something was amiss around the neighborhood. I'm probably a little jumpy after the Dark Tournament. I'm positive it's nothing."
" Very well," Hiei stated, doubting his words, but not letting it show, " I'll see you later."
Hiei was gone in an instant, leaving Kurama to ponder the situation. He could not help but think that something was going to happen, something big. He decided to ponder it elsewhere. He grabbed his coat and ice skates, told his mother goodbye, and started to walk off towards the lake. It was a cold, crisp morning. The snow was fresh on the ground. He felt much better as he strolled through the woods on his way to the lake. As he walked he began to hum one of his favorite Christmas carols. Soon he began to sing aloud since no one was around.
"Gone away is the new bird, here to stay is the new bird." He sang to himself. " He sings a love a song as we go along."
".Walking in a winter wonderland." Finished a cheery voice behind him. He smiled to himself as he turned to see Botan, riding on her oar, with her usual smile.
" How long have you been following me?" he asked.
" Only about a minute or two." Botan responded. " Koenma has a new case for Yusuke and friends so naturally I came to inform you."
" Indeed," Kurama said, wearing his usual smile, " So what's the mission this time? Anything life threatening involved?"
"Hopefully not," Botan answered. " Just a little search and rescue. No big deal."
" Very well, I'll find Hiei and inform him." Kurama told her before turning to walk the opposite direction. But Botan's voice stopped him in his tracks.
" Kurama," said the blue-haired Deity, " Be careful"
Kurama just gave her his usual rye smile. He then turned and walked off into the snowy wilderness, glad to be playing the hero for the first time in a while.