A Dark Future : Death of Koenma
A/N: This was inspired by the movie V for Vendetta, I recommend it for all. This is going to be a different kind of story, sure, there will be HB, as always, but it will be slightly darker in order to get the message across. Read, Review, and enjoy
I
It was raining red in Ningenkai. Black clouds thundered overhead and humans ran into their homes, or drove away. That was just the beginning. Rivers overflowed, volcanoes erupted, hurricanes raged and tsunamis destroyed cities.
It was the beginning of the end. Enma had died, leaving his son in charge. For a while, it was good. All was peaceful, for the most part, and the Three Worlds coexisted in harmony. As you can see, this is not true anymore.
That is because, Koenma died just a short few minutes ago.
A man, a powerful spiritual being had poisoned him. He was deeply set on religion and its impact on the nigen community. He gained followers. He gained support. And he gained the trust of Koenma. I knew that he shouldn't have. I told him myself, but he told me that I was being ridiculous.
Now, I wish I had pressed my boss further. Makai and Ningenkai are enslaved to Rekai. Anyone who protests are "taken". Of course, the Rekai government do not use the word "enslave". It's just the way it is. Rekai is superior and everyone else is beneath them.
Nigens have it good compared to the demons. Demons are looked at as deformed monsters. Most of them haven't survived the Rekai cleansing. Nigens are just viewed as brainless, pathetic creatures that are either for amusement or labor.
Life the way I knew it is over. Everything has changed now that Koenma is dead. We are standing on the brink of insanity, each world about to strike out and kill something else. Sometimes I have dreams of what life was once like. Rescuing Yukina. Being Yusuke's assistant. Working under the charge of Koenma. Being friends with the Rekai Tentei. They all seem so surreal compared to the world I must endure every day. A world of hate. Death. Darkness. Pain.
May the spirit of Koenma had mercy on our souls.
II
(Botan's POV)
I was working in Rekai. Many things have changed. The hustle and bustle was lost along with color since Koenma... died. We all have to wear new uniforms. Grey dresses or shirt and pants. It wasn't like that before. It used to be different color kimonos, and we even had the privilege of dressing in what we wanted when we got off of work.
Not anymore. I was demoted to a soul accountant. So was Ayame. Ever since He came into power. He walked past me. He was short, old, and not all that attractive. His hair was pepper grey and he wore a black suit with nice shoes. He was always surrounded by big and strong demons. The only demons that have a decent way of life.
Every day is the same. Deaths were regulated, and souls were judged based upon what religion they believed in. That was another thing that Koenma or Enma never did. Religion is an opinion and it is not justice to condemn a soul based upon a mere belief.
When work was over, I had to scan a card I was given under a machine, telling them that Botan had left the building and was going home. I sighed as I opened the door to my apartment. Over the many years of this takeover I had lost all happiness.
Many nights I cried myself to sleep, but I have to do it quietly because of the bugs in my room. By bugs I mean listening devices that listen to make sure that nothing unusual goes on. I changed out of my grey dress and put on my flannel pajamas. During the modification to everyday life, we were allowed to keep one thing. I chose my pajamas.
I pulled back the covers when I felt something. A tug at the back of my mind, like someone else was in my thoughts. For a moment, my mind flashed with many memories. Yusuke, Kurama, Kuwabara, and Hiei. Being threatened to keep my mouth shut about Yukina being Hiei's sister. I smiled at the thought.
I would give anything to get threatened like that again. But, soon I bit down tears as my dreams were crushed by the reality that consumes my life. The Rekai Tentei is probably dead. I ran my fingers through my blue hair, trying to blink my tears away.
When it failed to work, I threw on my dress and a darker grey coat over it, walking down the stairs. Screw the curfew, I need to be outside! My steps were fast as I walked down the wet and dreary street.
I wasn't thinking as I ran into someone. It was a demon comber. A comber is a person, usually a hired demon by our new ruler, who searched for anyone who was up past curfew.
"Hey there, beautiful, what are you doing up so late at night?"
My heart hammered in my chest.
"I-I was just heading home. I was feeling sick and I–"
The demon's tongue flickered out.
"Feeling sick, eh? So am I."
He reached for me, but I dodged back, fear coursing through me.
"Look, I'm sorry, please, just let me go home and I swear–"
"You swear? I bet you do. But, spare the punishment," he raised his clawed hand to strike her, "spoil the child!"
I put my hands up in front of my face when I heard a cold voice. It seemed so familiar, and it was almost like it came from everywhere.
"Let the onna go, demon."
The demon lowered his claws and looked around, hesitation on his face.
"Who is that?"
A short figure emerged from the shadows.
"The last thing you'll ever see."
I gasped and stepped backward as I saw a flash of metal and heard the wet sound of blood hitting the pavement. My limbs were shaking violently as I sank to the ground, not caring if it was wet or not. The figure, a man since his voice was deep, a low tenor, turned to me. I winced and closed my eyes.
"P-please! Please don't kill me!"
I heard a sound. A guttural sound of annoyance, and once again, I got the odd feeling of deja vu. He reached his one had toward me.
"Quiet, onna. I'm not going to kill you."
I sat there, wide eyed, trying to gaze into the face of my savior.
"Who are you?"
The man stepped about three inches forward and I saw his face. Such a handsome face. His soft features but a stone cold mask that covered them. Those haunting red eyes that made you shiver. He smirked.
"Funny how baka's forget people so easily."
My eyes widened and for the first time in over forty years, I grinned. Not caring about just who I was grinning and crying to, I leaped and wrapped my arms around the Koorime.
"Hiei! I thought I'd never see you again!"
III
(Hiei's POV)
I was surprised, to say the least, when the onna hugged me. Then again, I thought she had died. If she had protested against the man who was responsible for the death of Koenma, then she wouldn't be alive.
At first, when I heard her voice, I didn't recognize it. It lacked the luster that made it annoyingly unique. When I saw her, for a moment I thought that she was merely a hallucination. But, no, she was very real. And her tears were very real as they soaked into my cloak.
"Onna. Stop crying."
She released me, and she blinked her tears away. Something told me that she had done that many times before because it only took her a few second to clear her face of her despair. She sniffed and looked around.
"What are you doing here, Hiei?" She lowered her voice. "You have to leave right away, it isn't safe!"
I knew that. But, I had business to finish.
"If I show you, you will not be able to go back to Rekai."
She would have to choose her fate. I had no control over what she did.
I watched her pink eyes narrow but then relax as she smiled sadly.
"Show me."
I felt my eyes widen, but soon I wiped my face clean of any emotion. Fine. If the baka onna wants to ruin her life, then so be it. I walked and took her hand when I had to jump to the top of a building. It over looked the Rekai Library, stock full of records. My body was not feeling the rush of the hunt. But I did want to do what I was about to do.
Before the blue haired onna could say anything, I raised my right hand. Staring directly at the building, I focused all my demon energy at it. My hand was shaking, and finally, I snapped my fingers.
The onna covered her mouth when the noise of the blast reached us. A series of explosions destroyed the building. Fire engulfed it, and I smirked. My job was done. I turned to her, and she looked at me in horror. Without thinking twice, I grabbed her and vanished.
When we reappeared, we were out of Rekai and in Ningenkai. More specifically, the remains of Genkai's temple. As soon as the onna's feet were on solid ground, she pulled away from me. That was when it happened. Her hand pulled back and then launched itself at my face.
"Why did you do that? It was the Rekai Library!"
I glared at her, not bothering to threaten her.
"Look, onna, it needed to be destroyed."
She trembled and was about to yell at me again when she heard the four pairs of footsteps behind her.
"Shorty, did you bring back a girlfriend?"
The onna paled. It was like she was reliving a dream. She turned slowly and stared. There stood Yusuke Urameshi, Kurama, Keiko, and Jin. Her friends. Friends she hadn't seen in about half a century. They looked the same since she last saw them. Yusuke blinked.
"Botan?"
IV
(Kurama's POV)
It was startling, to say the least, to see the ferry girl they all knew. She was different. Her body had thinned and her dress was now grey. Her eyes looked at them, not believing that they were real. Then her arms started to shake.
She sank to her knees, and Yusuke was by her side in an instant. Tears were running down her cheeks as her breath came in short gasps. Her cheeks were red and her eyes darted around to her friends.
"I-I'm... dizzy..."
And with that, the once bright and cheery ferry girl fainted into Yusuke's arms. While the ex detective brought her to a room, Jin, Hiei, Keiko and I were discussing the situation.
"Hiei, how did you find her?"
Hiei frowned, remembering the incident.
"I was on my way to the Rekai Library. A comber demon had stopped her, and I thought she was just another nigen spirit." He rolled his eyes and ran his clawed fingers through his hair. "But then I saw it was her. Didn't recognize her at first."
Keiko nodded, but then got back to business.
"Did you complete your mission involving the Rekai Library?"
Hiei glared at her and nodded curtly. Kurama and Jin looked at each other and then looked back at Hiei. It was Jin who started the string of statements.
"Well, now that this happened, you know what we have to do."
The team nodded. A year will have to pass before they do it.
"In order to do that, we'll have to stir up the three worlds."
Jin smiled at Keiko, winking playfully.
"Lass, I've got that taken care of."
V
(Botan's POV)
Warm blankets... and stuffy head. My eyes fluttered open. I was staring at a white ceiling, and the sheets were smooth.
"Botan, oh I'm glad to see you!"
I found myself in a tight embrace. I blinked through the strands of aqua colored hair and I felt round solid things running down the front of my dress. My voice was hoarse and I felt like I was dreaming.
"Y-Yukina?" The woman pulled back, and I saw the tear gems rolling down her cheeks. My breath caught. Just like I last saw her... I pulled her into a fierce hug. "Thank Koenma you're alive!"
She was smiling and she led me out of the room, where I saw Keiko and Kurama smiling at me. I bit my lip as I laughed. For the first time in over forty years, I laughed. Keiko ran to me, hugging me and Kurama patted me on the shoulder, smiling at me warmly. Yusuke threw his arms around me, lifting me off the ground in a ferocious bear hug. Even Hiei smirked in my direction before looking away.
My breaths were coming fast, and that was when I realized something.
"Where are Genkai and Kuwabara?"
Judging by the silence that followed my eager question, I felt my happiness dim. Yukina's face darkened with suppressed depression and Yusuke became somber.
"They were killed by the Rekai police."
I didn't have to ask as to why. Their powers were too high, and they were close to Prince Koenma. They could have been a threat. But if they killed Genkai and Kuwabara... then...
"Then... then why are you still alive?"
Yusuke was about to answer, but a grunt of amusement came from Hiei, cutting him off. I looked at the fire demon whose red eyes locked with mine as he smirked dangerously, his fangs showing.
"Onna, did you think that a few weak spirits could bring us down?"
I bit my lip. Well... to be honest I wasn't exactly sure. Yusuke gave a painful smile.
"Hiei's exaggerating. We hid. Pure and simple. He got to Genkai and Kuwabara too late, so he killed the entire squad and joined us underground."
I nodded in understanding and bowed my head in a silent mourn for the death of my two friends. Koenma, if you can find a way to forgive my soul for not trying to persuade you sooner, could you please look after the souls of Genkai and Kuwabara? Help them past the new way of judgement in Rekai, please.
"So, what's the plan? Why did you blow up the Rekai Library?"
Kurama stepped forward, his red hair and green eyes still giving him that majestic look.
"For a few reasons, Botan. One, we needed all helpful records of our existence erased." He looked around, and when he caught Hiei's gaze, he held it. Then, clearing his throat, he continued. "Two, we are going to send a message." A pause. "A message to the people of Makai, Ningenkai, and Rekai. We're going to destroy the Gates of Rekai and the entire main building."
VI
A/N: What do you think? Please... please tell me! I really want to know! Review! Now! Hahahha just kidding.
-mia