It was dark, almost pitch black. There wasn't even a speck of light as far as he could see. The only light was in a small sphere around his body. This wasn't the dark brought about because of night nor was this the sort of black one would find inside of a cave. No. This resembled the black of death or the deepest of oceans or perhaps the depths of outer space where no sunlight had ever shined.
'Where am I?' he thought 'What is this place?' Of course no answer came.
With nothing better to do he began to walk. There was nothing except the darkness. He had no idea for how long he drudged in the dark when he suddenly saw a pinpoint of light in the distance. Upon seeing the light he quickened his step but no matter how far he seemed to walk he didn't get any closer to the light. Abruptly he was surrounded by an intense blinding light. After his eyes had adjusted to the sudden brightness he could see a forest glad in the heights of summer. In the glad was a small meadow where all kinds of wild flowers were blooming in splendor. He identified roses, lily of the valleys, lilacs, and violets, among many others.
However, what caught his eye weren't the flowers, but what was sleeping among the flowers. His very fox like smirk appeared on his lips as he gazed upon her lithe form. As he quietly walked to where she lay, his movements graceful, he caught sight of a dark form lounging against a near by tree. Without looking up he knew that it was his dearest friend and one of his partners in crime. Casting a glance in his direction the fox quirked an eyebrow at his friend, the bat grinned understanding. With a powerful trust of his wings he shot into the air as the fox's shadow loomed over the sleeping demoness.
As his hands reached for her, her eyes opened to lazily gaze at him. "So, you were awake the whole time?" he asked.
"No," she replied in a sultry voice she reserved for only two people, "I woke up when Kuronue flew off."
Before he could answer, a scream of pain ripped through the air. Immediately she shot up, eyes wide. "Kuro," she whispered.
Without another word the two foxes ran in the direction that the scream had come from. Both ran in silence, not needing words to communicate, not when the same horror and dread gripped them both. 'Why is this happening?' he thought, 'Please, let us be there in time.'
Neither knew for how long they ran but it seemed an eternity. In reality it was little more than ten minutes since they had heard the scream. He could feel her anxiety for their partner, no their friend and brother. What if they arrived too late to help him? What would they do? NO! He couldn't think like that. They would arrive in time, they would save him.
Ahead of them the forest opened up into another glad. However, instead of a beautiful meadow filled with beauty this one was full of darkness, and the stench of death. As these thought flew from into, and out of, his mind, the fox noticed that a dark shadow had engulfed the forest. It was as if a shadow had been cast on to the light that was life.
Instead of grass the color of sparkling emeralds, the grass was dry and yellowed as if it had not rained in months. The smell of blood hung heavy in the air.
As they burst through the last of the foliage, they could only stop and stare at the state that Kuronue was in. Vines with two inch long thorns were wrapped around his wrists and ankles. The thorns dug themselves in a spiraling pattern around his torso and legs. Blood ran in rivulets down his arms only to join more slowly making their way down his body. The blood, brilliant red against the pallor of his skin, disappeared in to his black vest and trousers only to reappear in the rips in his clothing. His wings, normally held against his back, were limp. Dark burgundy blood, nearly unseen against the black of his leathery wings, dripped little by little from the tips of his wings.
They could only look on in horror at the amount of blood already on the forest floor. As one they jumped, hoping to get to him in time. Hoping that he had not lost too much blood. They both knew that even though her powers were mostly those of a healer her powers were still limited. She could only do so much. Meaning she could heal even the most deadly wounds but she could do nothing if he lost too much blood. He would bleed to death.
Just as she reached him, vines shot out of the ground surrounding her. They writhed in the air for a few moments before binding her in a death grip. Both foxes where so startled, one couldn't do anything other then to let out a short screech of surprise before her air supply was virtually cut off, the other could only stare before snapping out of it. As he reached for the seeds that were braided into his hair, something took hold of his body immobilizing him. While he struggled in vain, the two closest to his heart were being pulled away from him. They were getting further and further away. Seeing this he struggled harder, even when he exhausted himself he continued to struggle. Even when he could feel his muscles screaming in agony he continued to struggle. Only when he heard twin screams of pain and torment did he stop.
Now tears of anguish slipped unchecked down his face. He too screamed in pain, but it wasn't from the pain he could feel in his muscles, he screamed to express the suffering in his heart.
"NNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!"
Kurama bolted up right, his scream still upon his lips. Sweat gleamed on his skin, glistening in the light that came just before dawn. Burying in his head into his hands, he noticed that they were trembling. 'Why did I have that dream? I haven't dreamt of them for so long. No, that was no dream, it was a nightmare.' As he thought this, he was able to stop his hands from trembling but his breathing was another matter. Taking deep, calming breaths, he tried to slow his breathing.
Several minutes later his breathing was still slightly ragged when he heard a little tapping coming from his window. Glancing at it he saw the dark figure crouched on the branch a scant few inches away from his window. Getting up he unlocked and opened it, allowing the shadow to enter.
"Hello, Hiei," he said in his normal voice, so different then the one that had screamed minutes before.
"Hn. What's the matter, fox?" was the reply. Kurama smiled; trust Hiei to get straight to the point.
"Just a bad dream. It isn't like you to be so worried, Hiei. Do you actually care?" the last part was said in a teasing voice accompanied with a tilt of the head.
The only reply Kurama received was a glare that would have made most people soiling their pants, if they were wearing pants. Then again, Kurama wasn't just anyone. Once his glare would have sent most demons running to their mothers. His thought were interrupted when he sense his mother making her way down the hall. He glanced at Hiei only to find the smaller demon already gone.
Looking at the clock, he realized it was time he started to get ready for school. He would try to ignore the dream for the rest of the day, at least until he got home and could lock himself into his bedroom.
Fear. Blood pounding in her ears, blocking out the world around her. Gasps ripped from her chest. A small hand clutched desperately in hers. Branches, bushes tearing at her clothes. Darkness. The sound of pursuers. The scent of freshly spilled blood clogging her nose, making it hard to breath. A shimmer appearing before her eyes. Shoving the younger girl into the portal, yelling for her to run. Exploding pain, then nothing.
Lost control. Blood stained hands. Fighting her so-called "master". Pain exploding in her head after another failed escape attempt. Black and blue bruises, dripping blood dotting her too pale skin. A collar to make sure she never tried again. Deaths in the dark of the night. Brutal training sessions to make her into a ruthless killer.
Running through the forest. Fighting for her freedom. Hounds snapping at her heals. Plunging into icy water. Darkness.
Warmth. Security. Bodies pressed against her skin. Limbs entwined with her own. Gentle caresses. A baby nestled in her arms. A roaring fire to chase the chill of winter away. Plants offering her flowers and fruits. Jokes and teasing traded back and forth, rich laughter filling the air.
Pain like a knife twisting in her heart. Blood roaring in her head. 'He's dead!' repeating over and over in a never-ending circle. Cries of sorrow and shared grief. Comforting arms supporting her limp body.
Dizziness. Limbs refusing to respond to her commands. A voice thick with sorrow. Arms supporting a nearly lifeless body. Warm wetness against her hand. Then, darkness engulfing everything.
The light of predawn leaked between the sudare (1), disturbing the sleep of the teenaged girl sleeping on a traditional futon (2) bed. Ebony eyes squinted then fluttered for a moment before opening fully. Kasumi blinked a few times before raising a hand to rub the sleepiness from her eyes.
She sighed as she tried to remember her dream. 'What was my dream? I can hardly remember it now. It's all disjointed and fragmented,' she thought. Yawning, she pushed herself on to her elbows as she stared at the grayish silver light filtering into her room from her window.
Her room faced the faced the training yards and the forest a little ways beyond. Her room looked like something out of a history book. Shoji doors led to the hallway, a carefully painted screen graced the wall opposite her bed, elegant wall scrolls hung in stradgic places, a low table sat in the middle of the room with fat sitting pillows at each side. A sliding door to her right bearing the image of two graceful butterflies led to her closet while the dresser and two chests bore images of regal tigers stood against the wall immediately to her left. Directly across from her closet was another section of wall imprinted with a picture of a sakura tree, this was a passage that would take her directly to the baths.
Kasumi loved her room. Her room looked just as it had when she was eight. The only things that had changed where the clothes and the occupant. She, her mother and her grandmother had choosen the furneture and the screens together the week before the accident that had taken her mother, father and brother from her. It often severed as her refuge when her family, although well-meaning, became overbearing.
After stretching out her back, Kasumi got out of bed and began to prepare for her day. Today was a Sunday, which meant training. Kasumi sighed, wishing (not for the first time) that she was allowed to enjoy her one free day.
Kai streched his lean body this way and that to loosen his muscles and to rid his body of the knots that had developed during this morning excercise. He loved the quiet and the solitude it provided him. He liked company as well as the next person but when you lived in a fairly large family that tended to butt into each other's business, it was nice to get away once in a while. Finishing his streaches, he walked along the path that led to one of the enterences to the Zumeraki clan's mansion (3). 'Maybe Kasumi's awake by now. I don't like the fact that we'll be leaving for Tokyo in a few days. I mean, I understand obaa-sama's reasons for the move but couldn't she get the rest of her training here?' Kai mused as he deposited his shoes by the steps to the verenda and leasurely walked in to his room. "What's so special about Tokyo?"
SudareĀ- bamboo blinds found in traditional Japanese houses
Futon- a traditional Japanese bed, often used as a couch/fold-out bed in the West. Although it is still used in its traditional form in Japan.
Mansion- When I say mansion, I mean one of those really, really big traditional houses found in Japan. Not the condominiums. Think the Hyuuga mansion from Naruto. (Yes, I watch/read way too much anime/manga.)
AN: -sigh- I should probably rewrite this thing again. -shifty eyes- My writing style seems to have changed yet again. VV -bows- I apolagize for the major delay in getting this out. There's really no excsuse for not up-dating in in nearly two years. I plan to actually write an outline for this. XD Hopefully I'll up-date before next year this time.
