COME HOME by Danielle Winters
700 Hundred Years Ago
Cunning, ruthless and beautiful; those were but a few words to describe the famous Makai thief Youko Kurama. His silver mane framed his beautiful, chiselled face. His eyes, the colour of gold; the colour of the treasures he steals. His white tunic, pristine and elegant, just like the clothes that will fit a god. In short, Youko Kurama embodies perfection; he is highly intelligent and he is very handsome. But the irony of thing, though Kurama can be considered as perfect, his imperfection is his chosen profession and his lust for material possession. But, the famous Makai thief had set his sights for a treasure he considered as the crown of his possessions.
It was the night of the full moon, he and his band of thieves were resting in their lair. Kuronue, Yomi and Kurama were finalizing the strategy they laid out for their next steal. Being the leader of the band of thieves, Kurama always had the final say on any strategy or plan they were to use. Yomi and Kuronue were arguing with each other, obviously trying to impress their leader in hopes that one of them could become his right-hand man, Not in the mood to listen to his two friends and trusted associates biker at each other, Kurama quietly left the lair, unnoticed by his comrades. Kurama decided to take a quiet stroll towards the lake that was part of his territory. The lake gave him peace of mind and a place of solitude when he wanted to be alone. Kuronue and Yomi knew of the place but they did not dare disturb their enigmatic leader whenever he was in that place.
Kurama's lake (as what Yomi and Kuronue called it) was situated in the eastern side of their territory. The lake can be considered a sanctuary, covered by trees, grass and flowers. It can be considered a mystery that such a beautiful place exists in Makai. Kurama would always take refuge in this place when he wanted to be alone and that night, the famous Makai thief wanted to be alone. Upon arriving at the place of his solitude, he was disappointed and outraged at the same time that someone was there, trespassing in his territory. He quietly walked towards the lake, masking his youki as he planned his move on how to kill the youkai who dared cross his territory. Preparing for the kill, Kurama quietly approached his target but stopped mid-way as he noticed that the trespasser was not a youkai. As if the being he was about to attacked sensed him, it looked up to him and fell because of surprise and fear.
"I'm sorry! I did not mean to intrude. I just had a long day of ferrying souls from here and I just wanted something to drink."
Kurama's eyes widened. The creature before him is a shinigami. There was no doubt that she is a shinigami. She was wearing a pink kimono, her oar placed beside her on the grass. She has a pale blue hair tied in a pony tail and her eyes…Kurama was captivated by her eyes. Her eyes are the shade of the brilliant amethyst.
"You are not supposed to be here." He said coolly.
"I know." She said softly. "I just wanted to rest for a few minutes and I plan to go back to reikai." She added.
"Then leave at once. There is no telling what other youkai will do to you if they find you here. They will show no mercy." Kurama ordered. The shinigami nodded and picked up her oar. She mounted it and hovered a few feet above ground.
"Thank you for your kindness." She said and then she flew away. She disappeared into the night and Kurama found himself staring at the full moon. He let out a deep breath he did not know that he was holding. Kurama smirked. She was a sight to behold after all. Who would have thought that a shinigami would literally resemble a goddess?
"I'm getting soft." He mumbled to himself. He was quite pleased though that he came to his place of solitude. From that night on, he had more reason to return to that place. "She will return." He said to no one as he made his way back to his lair.
And true enough, the shinigami returned just as he predicted. Two nights after their first encounter, the shinigami returned. He was already there, sitting casually on a rock under the shade of a tree. He quietly observed her and was amused that she appeared to be searching for someone…for him. She looked around and when she was unable to see him, she sighed and was about to fly off. Kurama was intrigued by her and so he made his presence known.
"Were you looking for me?" He said in amusement. She was caught by surprised and almost jumped. But then she relaxed when she saw him. A sigh of relief came off her and she smiled at him.
"Yes!" She cheerfully answered as she made her way towards him. "I wanted to properly thank you for letting me stay the other night even if it's just for a few minutes." She said.
"I told you not to return to this place. Why return then?" He inquired.
"I just had a feeling I'd find you here again." She simply answered. "And I was right." She added as if celebrating the fact that her guess was indeed true.
"Aren't you afraid of me shinigami?" He asked.
"Aren't you afraid of me?" She returned the question which stunned Kurama. "After all, I am a reaper. They call me the deity of death."
Kurama smirked. She did have a point. She can take his soul if she wanted to; however, Kurama deduced that she would not do such a thing. Innocence radiated from her and she appeared to be someone who's genuinely dedicated in guiding souls across the river Styx.
"This lake is part of my territory." He said to her. She looked at him inquisitively and smiled.
"I guess I am still trespassing then." She retorted. "Don't worry I'll leave in a while. I just wanted to give you this as my sign of gratitude for letting me rest here the other night." She handed him a small glass pendant and inside is a preserved snow flake. Kurama remained stoic and devoid of emotion as he received the gift from the deity but inside, he felt unexplainable emotions erupting from his gut. The shinigami smiled at him and then she mounted her oar.
"Shinigami." He called. The deity paused and looked at him. "I give you permission to rest here if ever you find yourself in Makai again." The deity's eyes widened upon hearing this and she gave him the sweetest smile he could ever remember.
"Thank you!" She said back and then she flew away.
"I'll be looking forward for your return shinigami." He said to himself as he looked at the glass pendant that he received from her.
After a fortnight, Kurama found the deity flying near his lake. In fact, she was on her way to the lake. He watched him as her oar descended and she dismounted it, She walked towards the lake and took some water in her palms to drink. Unbeknownst to the deity, Kurama had been watching her, delighted by the fact that she returned.
"So you're in Makai again." Kurama said as he approached the deity.
"Oh hello!" She greeted cheerfully. "Yes, I am here again to ferry the souls of humans who got lost here." She explained.
"There are a lot of human souls here." He said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Indeed. Poor souls but I am glad I can assist them to pass over reikai after being lost here." She said. Kurama had already seated himself in front of the deity. The deity decided to sit in front of him. A comfortable silence fell between them.
"You know, I was not able to catch your name. I hope you don't mind me asking your name?" She asked. "By the way, my name is Botan." She added as she bowed and then smiled at him. Kurama was a bit surprised that she showed formality which he was not accustomed to.
"Kurama…my name is Kurama."
"Now where did I hear that name?" She asked herself. And then, she let it go and just smiled at him.
It was the start of their rendezvous. The notoriously famous thief would always wait for the shinigami to visit his lake every night even if she did not show up. The deity on the other hand made it a habit to visit the lake and her new found friend whenever she is in Makai. There were times that when the deity and the thief were together, they would just talk about random things. From the most miniscule details of how their day went to philosophy and their own view about their respective realms.
And it was around the time when their closeness began to grow; when the thief realized that he wanted the deity for himself. He wanted her to stay in Makai with him and to never let her go. He wanted to make a home for the deity in their lake. Yes, it's no longer "his" lake but it's "theirs". Every time he was not with the deity, he grew concerned of her well-being. Every time the deity was in Makai to ferry the lost human souls, he became wary and worried that other youkai would hurt her. He was possessed by an unknown feeling that drove him mad for his need for the deity. And this need was more than lust; his rendezvous with female youkai who threw themselves on his feet did not satiate his longing for the deity. Just being near her was enough to Kurama. His longing gazes on the sky, as if waiting for someone to pass by, did not go unnoticed by Kurnonue and Yomi. Kuronue was just glad that his best friend and leader may have found a suitable mate while Yomi was disgusted and thought of this woman as a distraction for their ruthless leader. Yomi believed that because Kurama was distracted; he had lost his touch as a thief.
And so, one fateful night, Yomi chose to stay behind and volunteered to man their lair as Kurama, Kuronue and their cohorts left to steal. Upon making sure that Kurama and his companions had left the territory, he went to Kurama's sanctuary where he knew the deity would be waiting for his return. True enough, when he arrived at the lake, the deity had just arrived. Shocked that it wasn't the friendly kitsune, she became scared.
"I do not want to get in the bad side of my leader but you are a distraction. I will spare your life if you promise never to return to this place." He said sternly.
"Leader? Kurama is your leader?" She inquired. She was backing away from the youkai in front of her.
"You didn't know? He is the most notorious thief of Makai, Youko Kurama." Yomi answered. Botan's eyes widened upon realizing why the name sounds so familiar to her. Youko Kurama is wanted by reikai because of theft and multiple murder both in Makai and Ningenkai. He is also wanted in Reikai for he attempted to break-in and steal the Quill of Life; the symbol of power of Koenma, the judge of both Makai and Ningenkai souls. Yomi had a satisfied smirk as he watched Botan finally realized that he was spending time with the one of the most wanted youkai of Reikai.
"You're lying!" She shouted. "Kurama is far too kind for your accusation." The deity defended her friend.
"Woman, he is Youko Kurama. Did it ever occur to you that he was just using you to gather pertinent information so he can break inside Reikai and steal the Quill of Life. He doesn't need you. He has a swarm of attractive youkai women, far more attractive than you, that he can use when he needs to satisfy his physical needs. Do not misconstrue his kindness to you as form of affection. Youko Kurama is not capable to have emotions or feelings. You are merely a tool being used by Kurama. He is trying to woo you, get information from you and discard you after he gets what he needs from you." Yomi further explained.
"You are LYING!" Botan insisted. She covered her hears to try prevent herself from hearing more unpleasant things from Yomi.
"Here" Yomi threw in front of her a piece of mirror. Botan picked it up and looked at Yomi, waiting for an explanation. "That is a piece of mirror that contains a memory. Look at it." He instructed which Botan hesitantly did. A soft glow came from the mirror and Botan's eyes widened when she saw Kurama and another youkai female doing something very intimate. Botan dropped the shard of mirror.
"Was it too much for you innocent eyes?" He mocked. "Leave and never return deity." He threw another piece of mirror in front of the deity. "If it will help you, you can place all your memories of him, including what you have seen in that shard and you will no longer remember him neither nor this place." Yomi explained. Botan hesitantly picked it up. "It will eventually save you as well if Reikai conducts an investigation about our atrocities for you will not remember any of us, Kurama more importantly."
Kurama came to the lake every night and he began to wonder why his deity hasn't shown herself for almost a month already. Nonetheless, the famous thief would diligently return to the lake every night and would wait for the deity to descend from heaven. Months became years and years became decades and decades became centuries. His deity did not show up, not even once and he became worried, anxious and afraid of what the deity's fate had become.
One fateful evening, when he and his cohorts were having a feast for successfully ransacking the treasure throve of one of Makai's powerful youkai. Kurama withdrew early from the feast accompanied by two female youkai. They passed by the treasure room for Kurama wanted to show to his companions his vast treasures. It was then that the thief noticed two mirror shards. A few decades ago, he and his cohorts stole the Shard of Memories, it's shards of mirrors that can store anyone's memory and in return, the owner will no longer remember the memory unless he looks at the shard. The shard also allows another person to show the memory stored in it. Kurama knew that he kept the shards at the inner most part of his treasure room. He took the two shards and looked into it, one of the shards contained a memory of him engaged in physical intimacy with a female youkai. He did not remember using the Shard of Memories to store such as shallow memory so he assumed that it belonged to someone. He looked at the other shard and dropped it afterwards. It contained memories of his meeting with the deity and the deity's conversation with Yomi.
"Yomi…" he muttered angrily. Now he understood why the deity didn't come back. One was because of Yomi and the other was because of the fact that the deity does not remember him anymore for she stored those memories in the Shard of Memories. Kuronue was on his way to his private quarters as well accompanied by a female youkai when he saw Kurama in the treasure room, one of the Shard of Memories was on the floor.
"Kuronue…it's time!" Kurama said. His tone was laced with malice and hatred. Kuronue knew that his best friend had been driven to the brink of his patience. Kuronue did not ask any questions and instead, he just nodded despite the fact that Kurama's back was facing him. Kurama's female companions stood confused as the famous thief left the treasure room and the lair without saying anything. Kuronue just watched him and shook his head. Whatever it was that Kurama saw in the shard truly made the kitsune mad.
On their next mission, Kurama laid a trap for Yomi. He hired an assassin to kill Yomi. The plan went well and he was able to dispose of Yomi. A few months later, Kuronue was killed in one of the stealing sprees. Kuronue tried to retrieve his watch which he told Kurama he could not live without it. Because of that, Kuronue fell in a trap built by some youkai. Kurama tried to save him but the Kuronue insisted that he should save himself.
20 years before the end of the First Makai Tournament, Youko Kurama was badly injured when he was shot by a hunter. He escaped to the human world and merged his soul in the body of Minamino, Shuuichi.
Present Day, Tokyo
Five Years after the First Makai Tournament
Kurama has been invited again by Yomi to compete in the second Makai Tournament. The Tournament is held every three years to decide on the next ruler of Makai. The present ruler, the benevolent Enki, would be stepping down from his post within one year. He and his constituents were preparing for the Makai Tournament and has made necessary security protocols for the presence of Reikai representatives.
Like Kurama, Yusuke had returned to Makai to begin his training in his ancestor's kingdom. Close friends of his ancestor had joined him in the training as well. Hiei and Mukuro left Mukuro's territory to begin their special training. Everyone in Makai is excited for next year's tournament, save for Kurama.
Kurama was looking outside the window of Yomi's conference room. He was again tasked by his old partner to train new fighters for the Makai Tournament. For some reason, he was not in the mood to listen to one of Yomi's strategic meeting with his board of advisors. Perhaps, this was an influence of Youko he had a bad habit of not paying attention to meetings that he believes do not concern him. His inattentiveness did not go unnoticed by Yomi.
"This meeting truly bores you to death. Some things never change do they?" Yomi commented.
"I guess you're right about that." Kurama said in agreement.
"There's something I've been meaning to show you Kurama." Yomi said in a serious tone.
"If you plan on letting me see the assassin I sent after you, then I must decline. I'm not in the mood to wallow in one of your psychological tortures." Kurama retorted.
Yomi placed in front of Kurama two mirror shards. Kurama's eyes widened and he quickly recognized those two shards.
"The Shard of Memories…" Kurama smirked but Yomi noticed the sadness in his eyes as well.
"The memory in one of the shards was mine and the other was…"
"Botan's memory of me." Kurama cut him off. Yomi just nodded.
"Back then, I already knew that you were growing listless of my aggressive ways, it was ruining your stealthy approach and that I left too many casualties. At that time, I looked up to you as a powerful leader and that the woman you were seeing was just a distraction. That you can further your reputation with blood bath and carnage and seal your legacy as a ruthless Makai thief. I knew that I would get at your bad side but I still proceeded with my plan to push her away from you. I never regretted doing it." Yomi explained.
"There's no use going back to the past Yomi. You said you learned from what had happened and that you are looking forward for the future." Kurama interjected.
"I was hoping to make amends to what I did to you. It is clear to me that you truly cared for that woman. Even after all those years, the way you looked at her the last time she was here was clear evidence to me that she truly meant something to you."
"I do not plan on letting her know that we have met before. It is better this way. There is no use bringing back a memory that can only strain whatever relationship we have right now." Kurama said. He stood from his chair and was about to leave the room. He decided to stop by the door, gave Yomi a deathly glance and said "Do not meddle with my personal affairs. Do not lay a finger to my human family and to her Yomi."
"Keiko you look wonderful!" Botan exclaimed as Keiko modelled for her, Yukina and Shizuru her wedding gown. She and Yusuke are to wed this year. Yusuke will be taking a break from his training at Makai so he can go back to Ningenkai in time for his wedding with Keiko.
"Thank you Botan!" Keiko said cheerfully.
"Yusuke-san will be delighted to see you in that gown Keiko-san." Yukina complimented.
"Well if he makes it in time though." Shizuru commented. This elicited laughter to the other girls.
"Knowing Yusuke, he'll try to act manly and pretend not to blush!" Botan added. Another bout of laughter came from the girls.
"Kazuma-san will definitely tease him" Yukina added. "He most certainly will!" Shizuru seconded.
After Keiko's fitting of her wedding gown, the ladies decided to stroll by the park and enjoy the warm spring sun. The ladies bought some snacks on their way to the park so they can do a picnic. Yukina chose a spot near the man-made lake. Despite the fact that there were a lot of people near the man-made lake, the place offered some peace and quiet to the group. Shizuru stretched her hand and yawned while Keiko and Yukina were unpacking their snacks. Botan on the other had stood a few feet away from her friends. She was admiring the sight before her. But aside from admiring the view, Botan had a nagging feeling that somewhere, sometime in her past, she also stood in a majestic lake with a silver-haired being clothed in pristine white clothes.
"The moon is beautiful tonight!" Botan said to her companion.
"Indeed it is. The moon is very essential to Makai. It sets control over our actions." He said in return.
"I believe you. Koenma-sama does not allow us to come to Makai on the night of the new moon. He said that a moonless night in Makai means a night of chaos and havoc." Botan added.
"As long as I can smell your scent here in Makai, rest assured that I will come to your rescue." He assured her as he took one of her hands and kissed it tenderly. Botan blushed but she felt an unexplainable positive sensation from her companion's action.
"Botan!" Yelled Keiko. Botan snapped out of her trance and was surprised that she still stood in front of the man-made lake. "What the heck happened to me?" She asked herself. She then felt Keiko's hand on her shoulder.
"Botan is everything alright?" Keiko asked. Worry was evident in her voice. Botan showed her cat-like expression and assured her friend that she is indeed fine. She and Keiko then joined Shizuru and Yukina on their spot where the two waited.
At the back of Botan's mind, she was wondering who she was with and where did that memory came from. She felt that the being she was with was someone very familiar but she could not name neither nor remember how he looked like.
To be continued
Author's Note: This is my first attempt for a multi-chapter fic for YYH. Hope that you like reading the first chapter :D I'm very sorry for the errors you will see. Hope you can refer a beta-reader to me