Prologue: Dying

She was cold and scared, staring at people passing her who completely ignored her, passing through her as if she wasn't there. Through her! Nothing like this had ever happened to her yet bada bing bada boom, it was. Kimari squatted ,pulling herself into a ball and crying over any time lost with her beloved.

Kimari ran through the halls of Genkai's temple, her black hair in pigtails and her priestess robes as neat as she could manage. She stopped a few inches from the tea room and slid the door open, peeking in. She saw Yusuke, Kuwabara, Keiko, Yukina, Koenma, Botan, Shizuru, Atsuko, Genkai and finally, finally, she spotted him. Kurama. The once great Youko Kurama, Thief King, had allowed himself to be trapped in a human body in order to avoid capture. He seemed to remember that day well because he always looked so proud. Kimari loved him for it, among other things. Kurama turned to the door and smiled. Kimari grinned and burst in, flinging herself at Kurama.

"Hello sweety! How was your day!" she squealed.

Kurama calmly wrapped an arm around her waist and sighed.

"Fine," he said.

She heard Hiei scoff from his perch in the window.

That she couldn't see from her peep hole.

"Hello Hiei," she said.

She didn't like the gloomy dressed man who criticized her left and right. But she's rather have him around then the head miko of her temple who had taken to swatting the knuckles of her pupils with a wooden ruler just like many nuns in America. Kimari didn't want to be a priestess but she didn't want to stay at the temple all day with Genkai and Yukina. Kimari dreamed of being a singer and priestess training was just a hobby.

"What are you dreaming about?" Kurama asked.

Kimari kissed his cheek, settling in his lap with her arms wrapped around his neck.

"Not much. Just the date you promised me tomorrow," she said.

"What date?" Kurama asked, looking aghast.

Kimari laughed.

"The one we just planned right now," she said.

Kurama smiled and kissed her lips gently.

"Alright," he relented.

Kimari waited at the corner, especially happy. The sun was out, the breeze was nice and the air smelled like roses. She breathed it in, loving that it smelled like Kurama. But he was late. Kimari checked her cell phone. 12:15. He was supposed to have met her at 12:00. That was the agreement.

"Maybe he isn't coming," she said.

"Who isn't coming?"

Kimari spun around, finding Kurama behind her.

"Kurama!" she cried, jumping into his arms.

"Sorry I was late. Hiei was being difficult," Kurama explained.

"Again," Kimari added, laughing.

She got back on her own feet and took Kurama's hand.

"Take me shopping," she insisted.

Kurama squeezed her hand and accompanied her across the street. Their day was spent shopping for Kuwabara's approaching birthday. At 1:30 they settled for lunch, choosing to sit in the park where Kimari used her power to summon them each a meal. Finally finished with their shopping, the two of them decided to stay in the park, watching parents and their children come and go.

"I wish I had a family," Kimari said absentmindedly.

Kurama clutched her hand.

"You've got me," he said.

"That's a great idea for a song," Kimari said, summoning her songbook.

Half the book was filled with songs she came up with in her spare time, some sad, some happy. Some were about love. Well, more than some. Kimari smiled as she wrote, "You've Got Me" on a blank page. And then her mind was as blank as the page itself.

"Well, anyway," she laughed, snapping the book shut.

Kurama smiled, resting his head on the grass.

"I need a nap. Keeping up with you would exhaust any man," he joked.

Kimari grinned and watched him rest. He must have really been tired because he was asleep instantly. Kimari continued to watch the people pass by, feeling something inside her tighten as if she was holding back tears. Kimari stood.

"I'll be back soon," she whispered to Kurama before walking off.

She crossed the street, went down a few alleys and emerged into one of the most demon infested parts of Tokyo. Demon Alley, as it was called. Demons came, fought each other and all was well. The fights never left the alley and they never interfered with human that's why Koenma had no problem with it. Kimari pulled her hair out of her pigtails, tying it into a high ponytail instead. She always came here to fight but only when she needed to use her holy powers somewhere where no one she cared about would be hurt. Kimari certainly didn't care about the demons in Demon Alley so she fought without mercy, not holding back. And since killing was common amongst demons, she never felt one bit guilty. Somehow, the ruthlessness was instinct, probably from the part of her life she'd suppressed. When she fought, she got a brief glimpse of that life and enjoyed what she'd seen so far. Kimari was looking around for a fight, raising her spiritual energy bit by bit as a challenge. Some demons lumbered off, afraid. When she thought all was hopeless, Kimari finally saw a cloaked figure walking towards her. Not away from her. As soon as the demon reached her, he looked at her with a challenge in his brown eyes.

"I suppose you're manipulating your spiritual pressure in hopes of a fight, so I will step up to the challenge," he declared.

"About time," Kimari muttered.

A ring of demons surrounded them, all silent. The stranger removed his cloak, revealing a black yukata covered by a white jacket of sorts.

"I, Aizen, challenge you," he said, drawing his sword.

Kimari gulped. She could now feel the full force of his spiritual power and it made her knees tremble. Aizen seemed to read her mind and he smiled.

"I seem to have that effect on people," he chuckled, rushing forward.

Kimari ducked, tumbling to the ground and then to her feet. Aizen was at her side in a second, his blade slicing through the air. Kimari feinted left but Aizen's blade came down on her sleeve as she lunged right. The material tore as Kimari leapt back, putting as much distance between Aizen and herself.

"Am I going too fast?" Aizen inquired.

Kimari was scared now. She knew she was no match for this demon, if that was what he really was. Aizen was suddenly gone, appearing in front of her with his blade raised. Kimari's eyes widened in shock.

"No..," she whispered as Aizen brought his sword down.

"KURAMA!" she screamed.

Now Kimari remembered. She'd fought a man named Aizen and he had won, killing her with his sword. Kimari settled on her knees, watching the once perfectly clear sky let loose with rain. "Kurama," she sobbed.

A shadow overtook her and she looked up.

"Who are you?" she demanded of the small boy behind her.

"I am Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya of the 10th Squad of the 13 Court Guard Squad. And I need you to come with me."

End