"Well, well…look at this...Team Kurama!"
Yusuke beamed at his friend, former opponents turned friends, and two rather strange fighters he could only assume were from the semi-finals of the Dark Tournament. One looked like an impish form of that prettyboy front man of theirs, but he was sure he had never seen the taller one with blond hair and blue eyes. Jin hovered about two feet off the ground, giddy smile on his face. Touya stood behind him, looking aloof and cold as always. Chu stumbled along behind them with Rinku bouncing along beside him, a spring in his step. Kurama was in the middle of the group, looking slightly distant but pleased nonetheless to see him. Wearing a purple battle tunic, crimson hair gleaming in the equally red sunlight, green eyes the same color of all the lush plant life he created, he looked much the same as ever. He had a vague smile on his face, but his eyes looked weary.
Touya turned his icy glare on Yusuke at his light-hearted statement. "I would refrain from referring to us as that, Yusuke, considering that we were meant to be 'Team Yomi'."
"Oh…" Yusuke faltered, his good cheer diminishing.
"Have you any idea what Kurama has risked for your sake? Yomi would have destroyed you had he not intervened. Yomi gave him the order to assassinate you!" Touya's voice was like his Shards of Winter—cold and cutting.
"That's quite all right, Touya," Kurama whispered, eyes looking as if they were closed behind dull green shutters.
"No it's not. Do you truly believe he won't punish you for this?" Touya demanded of Kurama, turning his chilling gaze on him. All eight of them fell silent. Touya stared defiantly up at Kurama, and Kurama refused to meet his eyes. Yusuke looked from one to the other in horror. Jin came to land hard on the ground, Suzuki and Shishi exchanged worried glances. Rinku frowned deeply, and even Chu looked sober upon hearing this.
Touya knew Kurama too well by now to not see what he was doing to himself. He could easily avoid this situation by fleeing Gandera, but he would never do such a cowardly thing. He felt misplaced guilt over what he had done, and he would not flee, tail firmly between his legs. He would face Yomi, at the height of his anger, and he would stare into the face of the personification of every wrong he had ever committed, and accept whatever punishment fate had in store for him.
"Is this true?" Yusuke gulped.
Kurama shook his head, but still refrained from eye contact. "Touya is overacting. I knew the moment I stepped foot in Gandera the risk I was taking. I told you that my loyalty belonged to you alone, Yusuke, yet I swore it to a demon who wanted you dead, regardless." He sighed deeply at this, voice filled with self loathing.
"I knew that a clash between our forces would inevitably occur, and I knew I would never find it within myself to bring harm upon you or Hiei. That put me in an awkward position. I deemed my ties to Yomi to be the least bonding and acted with that knowledge," he continued emotionlessly.
The six fighters behind him stared at their leader. They were loyal to him, alone. They had agreed to "work" for Yomi because he had asked it of them. They were all touched that he believed in and trusted them all enough to train them and take them into this war. He had made their purpose clear from the beginning. They were to fight hard for the good of all three worlds. They believed in this cause as Touya had said, but they also wished to see Yusuke once more. They would never have been able to hurt the former spirit detective, either.
"Hey, if you need an escape, buddy, you're welcome to come over to Raizen's old territory with me. The bald monks may not be eloquent conversationalists like I'm sure you're used to here, but at least you won't be asked to kill any of your friends," Yusuke offered sincerely. He hated the thought that something horrible would befall Kurama because he had been stupid enough to anger a king of Demon World.
"That's a very generous offer, Yusuke, but I am no coward. I will accept the consequences of my actions…but you six are more than free to go. It was my decision to do this; you shouldn't have to suffer with me…"
"No ca' do, pal," Jin admonished cheerily, becoming airborne once again. He crossed his arms and legs in defiance.
"Yeah, much as I love ta tap kegs with ya ,Urameshi…" Chu grumbled ruefully. Then turning to Kurama added, "We're here with ya, Drungo!" he slurred, looking at the empty space about a foot to Kurama's left.
"We agreed to fight with you, Kurama. We will be at your side until the bitter end!" Suzuki exaggerated, displaying his flair for the dramatic.
Kurama smiled tightly at his rag-tag team. He hadn't been optimistic about their chances to make a difference. None of these fighters were anywhere near powerful enough before their training to even make a dent in an S-Class demon. Now they were all mid-level S-Class, but still they were not strong enough for this war. He had relied heavily on his wits to make it this far, but as always, all the carefully laid plans in the world could not contend with Yusuke's rashness.
"Thank you," Kurama said, heartfelt and truly grateful for their support. Yomi did not realize how wrong he was. These demons were not his tools; he truly did have friends now.
Kurama sighed, feeling a strong gust of wind whip mercilessly at his long crimson locks. He tucked an errant strand irritably behind his ear, marveling at how much his usual cool demeanor had slipped since he arrived in this city. It was a cold place, Gandera. As bitter and aloof as the demon who ruled it. It was sterile really, almost dead. No plants grew in this place, a conscious decision made by the king, no doubt, in an effort to banish anything that reminded him of his capricious once friend.
"I don't feel right leaving you here…It's my fault…I don't understand why you would be so stupid!" Yusuke began. He had acted without thinking, not realizing that Yomi would be so unwilling to cooperate. He had thought, of course, about Kurama being there, but he knew that he was uncomfortable with his king. Yusuke had thought he was providing him an easy out. He didn't consider the fact that he might be betraying an oath. But he didn't understand why he was being so stubborn about this now. The only thing staying here would earn him was an execution…
Yusuke was startled out of his guilty musings by a strong, warm hand clapping his shoulder in a familiar gesture of confort. He looked up into sparkling emerald eyes, eyes alight with fondness and gratitude.
"I will be fine, Yusuke…I owe Yomi a great debt. I must remain as loyal as I can. I can give him the opportunity to save face, and I owe him as much. Besides, even if I wanted to leave, I doubt the sentries at the gate would allow me to simply stroll past. And you cannot begin to understand how little of this is your fault. I've had this coming for a thousand years…" Kurama's eyes grew dark at these words, and Yusuke looked up in concern, but he knew better than to ask. Rinku, however, was not so wise.
"Huh, did I miss something?"
Kurama smiled tightly at him again, shaking his head, "I'm sorry. I trust you all with my life but not my past. There are things in it of which I wish never to speak aloud."
They all seemed to accept this answer; Touya even nodded his understanding with knowing eyes. Yusuke vaguely recalled Kurama and he had had a rather emotional conversation on regrets when they had fought in the Dark Tournament. It was clear to Yusuke that Kurama had done something unspeakable to that blind demon in his past for him to drop everything in his life and come to his aid. Kurama had only ever before shown such devotion to him….
"Just promise me you aren't walking to your death…" Yusuke begged, desolate.
If he hadn't known him so well, Yusuke might not have recognized the lie for what it was.
"I promise."
