Author's Note: Here's my new story! I hope you all like it. I've wanted to write one like this for a very long time. I just got back form a track meet. I raced in the hurdles and didn't trip! Yay! I also got the new Kingdom Hearts. It's so cool! Allrighty, here's the story!
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho.
Noisy havoc reigned in the castle courtyard as the rain began to fall. The water splashed down in warm, fat drops, making large puddles on the flagstones and running in streams toward the walls. Servants rushed about, trying to lead the horses into their stables. Pages and squires dragged bales of hay into shelter before they got too wet. Maids retrieved the clothing they had left outside to dry and carried them inside by the armful, giggling as the rain soaked them.
Outside the castle it was an entirely different story. The city that surrounded the fortress was situated on a sprawling hill that was a mile long, its bottom finally coming to a stop by the banks of the Fuda Tsuki River. The wealthier part was at the top, the houses lining paved streets. The poor section was at the bottom, a messy arrangement of buildings. The dirt streets at had been churned into ankle-deep, sloppy mud. The bricks of the homes were caked with mold and filth. Nobody was on the streets, all of the people having retreated to whatever meager fires they could build inside.
Except for one. A cloaked stranger, not five feet tall, was making their silent way up toward the castle, testing each step for a firm hold, lest they sink into the mud. Occasionally people would peer out of their windows at him, their faces as pale as full moons, but no one dared to invite the person into some shelter.
After about ten minutes of walking, the figure finally set foot on the cobbled streets of the wealthy district. He sped up, boot heels clacking sharply. Sometimes he slipped on the slick stones, but he never fell. Due to the commotion in the castle courtyard, nobody noticed as the stranger let themselves in through a small wicker gate about a hundred yards from the main gate.
The person darted through the castle. After running down a few halls and turning some corners, he opened a door and dashed inside, closing it behind him. With a sigh of relief the stranger discarded their forest-green cloak and sat down in a padded chair by the floor-to-ceiling window, which gave a breathtaking view of the courtyard and city beyond.
"Yukina? Princess Yukina, are you there?"
Yukina jumped up from her seat, snatching the cloak off the floor as she did so. "Yes, Keiko! Come in!"
A pretty servant with short brown hair and eyes came into the room, bowing respectfully. She eyed the cloak in Yukina's shaking hands and grinned. "Been out lately, M'Lady?"
"Hush, Keiko!" Yukina said. "If Hiei ever found out that I'm leaving the castle without an escort…"
She left the sentence hanging there. Prince Hiei was Yukina's twin brother. He was callous, cold, and insensitive, but he had a soft spot in his heart for his sister and always watched out for her. He was a little overprotective, though, and would have a fit if he knew that Yukina was sneaking out on her own.
"Don't worry," Keiko reassured her mistress. "Shiziru and I always distract Prince Hiei when you are…indisposed. We tell him you are in the orchard or sewing with the other noble ladies."
Yukina sighed in relief. She sat down again in the seat by the window, playing with the hem of her turquoise dress. "It's not that I'm rebellious," she told Keiko. "I love my life in the castle and wouldn't want to change it for anything. I wish I was the person everyone thinks I am—quiet, obedient, even a little naïve. But there's so much to see out there, things that I would never be able to visit with an escort around. Is it so wrong to want some adventure?"
Keiko sat down beside the princess of Shino Ori, the most powerful province of the Makai. Yukina often fretted about her wandering, afraid that she was betraying her brother and her parents. "No, it's not wrong," the servant replied. "If I was in your position I would probably do the same thing."
Yukina smiled. "Did you know that today I saw some traveling minstrels? I came upon their camp before it started raining? They told the most wonderful stories, and one of the children taught me how to juggle."
"Sounds wonderful," Keiko said. They would have continued talking, but just then a knock on the door sounded, and Shiziru poked her head in.
"Pardon me, Your Highness," she said, "But King Jaganshi and Queen Hina need to see you and Prince Hiei right away."
"Thank you, Botan," Yukina said. She changed into a lavender dress and went downstairs to her parents' drawing room. She went inside to find Hiei already sitting in one of the lavish chairs that were placed around the room. He nodded to her. She smiled and sat down.
The King and Queen entered a few minutes later. Hina was a soft-spoken, gentle ice apparition who always had a kind smile on her face. Jaganshi (everyone knew the king by his last name; not even Yukina or Hiei knew their father's first name) was a handsome fire demon. He had black, windswept hair with red bangs and crimson eyes.
"Yukina, Hiei," he greeted. Hina kissed each of her children on the cheek, smiling when Hiei grimaced. "We have important matters to speak of."
"What is it, Otousan?" Yukina asked. The king looked grave.
"Spies," he said. "You both know of the impending war between Shino Ori and the country to the West, Sainiko. Word has reached us that they are sending spies and assassins into the country, trying to infiltrate our ranks and kill the important people here…mainly, us."
Hiei sat up in his chair. "Isn't there anything we can do?" he asked gruffly.
"Yes," Hina said. "Watch. Wait. We just wanted you two to be aware of the dangers. Now, go get ready for dinner."
Yukina bowed and left the drawing room, her mind spinning with these new revelations. Spies? Assassins? Why now? Does that mean I can't go out anymore? The blue-haired beauty shook her head firmly.
"No," she said aloud. "I won't hole up in this castle and hide."
"Talking to yourself?"
Yukina spun to see Hiei leaning against the wall, smirking. She blushed furiously.
"Don't scare me like that!" she scolded. "I'm jumpy enough as it is without you playing hide-in-the-shadows, thank you very much."
Hiei's smirk grew wider. "Hide-in-the-shadows?" he asked. "I believe I haven't played that game since we were children."
"Well, in a way, we still are," his sister replied. "I hardly think sixteen year olds can be considered adults."
"What did you mean, 'hole up and hide?' " Hiei asked. Yukina gulped. She hated it when her brother changed the subject so abruptly on her.
"I mean, I don't want to be afraid just because of the rumors," she covered quickly. "It's not rational."
Hiei shook his head, that smirk still on his face. But to Yukina's trained eye, it was more of an actual smile. "I'll never understand you," he teased.
"Too bad for you," Yukina teased back. "I'll see you at dinner, ok?"
Hiei nodded. With a little wave, he headed towards his rooms. Yukina sighed with relief and nearly ran toward her rooms, which were on the second story of the castle.
After changing yet again into a more formal, dove gray gown with pearls sewn onto the bodice, the ice maiden went down to dinner. The dining hall was a magnificent room with tapestries on the stone walls and torches that danced merrily in their sconces. Vast oaken tables stretched from one end of the hall to the other, with one for the royal family at its head.
Yukina took her customary seat between Hiei and her best friend, Botan. Botan was the daughter of King Jaganshi's cousin, Lord Sakyo. The girl smiled sunnily at Yukina as she sat down.
"Well hello, Princess," she greeted. "Hasn't it been a dreary day, all rainy and the like?"
"Oh, it wasn't so bad," Yukina replied, recalling with a smile the memory of the traveling minstrels.
"Did you hear?" Botan asked. Yukina leaned forward. Botan always had the latest news, and it was usually very good.
"What?" Yukina asked.
"Due to the war between us and Sainiko, the province to the North, Tyoki, has sent us a small army as a symbol of their loyalty. Why, I believe that's them, over at the right-hand table!"
Yukina looked over curiously. Indeed, a regent of about fifty people was sitting at the guest table, all of them dressed in the Tyoki soldier's uniform of silver and green. All except one. The person who Yukina's gaze froze on also wore the black cloak of the Captain of the Guard. The hand in which she held her fork stopped half-way to her mouth when the captain turned and gazed back at her. He was the most handsome man Yukina had ever seen.
"W-who is that?" Yukina asked Botan, motioning with a slight jerk of her hand toward the man, who had turned back to his dinner.
"Oh, him?" Botan said, a sparkle in her eyes. "That's Kurama. He's the Captain of the Guards in Tyoki. I've heard a lot of strange rumors about him. They say he used to be a thief by the name of Yoko, but one day he just appeared out of the blue at the Tyokian castle with some papers which traced his bloodline to the King's brother. Since it couldn't actually be proven that he was royalty he never became a noble, but they let him join the ranks of the army. He was so amazing with a blade that he became captain in a month. He's handsome, isn't he?"
But Yukina wasn't listening. She stared at her plate, her heart pounding as she remembered the brightness of those emerald eyes as they had looked directly into her crimson ones.
Kurama.
To Be Continued…
Author's Note: Well, how'd ya like it? I hope you did. Please review! Tell me your thoughts! Milky Ways are good! Sorry, random. Until next time!