Chapter 7 – Dreams vs. Reality
It was a black place, where very few stars were seen, mainly only the full moon. Kiyoko's body lay under it, her silvery hair matted with her crimson red blood. Her eyes were closed, and her breathing shallow, but she was alive, very much alive. Many a pairs of eyes watched her still body in the darkness, colors ranging from crimson red, to teal, to green, blue, brown, black, and even to all white, with no iris or pupil.
"Dear, Kiyoko, please wake up," boomed a voice. Kiyoko opened her eyes painfully to gaze into silver eyes.
"I am still alive?" she asked, her voice filled with pain.
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Kurama wept over Kiyoko's motionless body. A couple words came from her mouth, and he stopped instantly, letting small tear droplets to fall from her face. "I am still alive?" she asked.
"Yes!" Kurama yelled, smiling. Kiyoko began to get up, her eyes still weak, her legs limp. Kurama grabbed her before she fell. "Hey, don't get up, you'll reopen her wound!"
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"Yes, child, you are still alive, and be careful, you'll reopen your wound," said the owner of the eyes. Kiyoko nodded slightly and winced in pain. She sat back down, as ordered, and looked over the owner. Her hair was long, about to her shoulders, and it was rose red, like Kurama's. On her head, was a pair of silver wolf ears, and her eyes were ocean blue, oh, such a beautiful shade.
"Who are you?" Kiyoko whispered.
"Why, Kiyoko, I am your mother, Tamara," said the woman. A man walked next to her. His hair was long and silver, that went to the arch in his back. His eyes were the same teal color as hers. He also held a pair of silver ears on the top of his head.
"And I am your father, Kiyoko darling, Kei," his voice boomed. It sounded like thunder in Kiyoko's ears. He turned to his mate, whose name was Tamara, Kiyoko's mother. "We cannot talk long, Tamara, he is waiting for her, and he is quite worried for her. Just give her the spell, and we can talk to her later on."
"What spell?" Kiyoko asked. Her mother walked over to her and placed her hand in between Kiyoko's ears. "What…spell…" her voice trailed off. She was getting tired. She tried to face off the weariness, but, it kept catching up with her, kept bringing her eyelids down. "Mother?"
"Be quiet, Kiyoko, just let the power flood through you…" her mother's voice trailed off. Howling of wolves came to her senses, and she quickly opened her eyes. She was in Demon World, by the aura of it. It was full of hostility, like Koenma had described it to be.
A tree and a girl became a vision in front of her. The girl had blue hair, short it the back, with two long strips hanging down her front on the back. Bandages covered a bit of her legs and arms. She was asleep, leaning against the tree in pleasant dream. On the girl's lap, sat a ferret, with the colors of gray, white, and silver on its matted fur, the colors blending perfectly into its surroundings, so it could protect its guardian carefully, but this was no ordinary girl Kiyoko was looking at. It was her.
"What am I supposed to do?" Kiyoko asked. The voice wasn't a verbal question that Kiyoko could hear with her ears. She heard her father's voice in her head, and it boomed louder than thunder in her head. Go here, in Demon World. You'll find out more here, my darling, Kiyoko. Be careful, stay safe. Let the power of your lover course through your veins. Protect him and yourself. Remember this; I love you more than any life itself. I will see you soon…
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Kiyoko jolted out from the couch. A pile of blankets lay on top of her, and she noticed that the bandage around her waist was newly bound to her. Her hair was back to its human color, light blue. She reached back and felt it shoulder short in the back; yet, it was still long up in the front. Two long strands fell down her shoulders. The thunderous voice of her father still rang in her head. Go here, in Demon World. You'll find out more there. Kiyoko let the voice ring in her head. Go here…Go here…Go here…
"Kiyoko?" a voice rang behind her. She looked behind her and saw Kurama standing there, with tears flowing down his flushed face. His green eyes were filled with pain. "Kiyoko!" he yelled, as he ran to her side. He hugged her tightly, holding her body tight against his. "I thought I lost you!"
"I thought I lost you too, Kurama," she whispered. Kurama smiled. He let the tears run down his face. Kiyoko couldn't hold them back any more. Tears flowed down her face like a mighty flowing river, like the river Styx that Botan patrolled. After a few moments of touch, Kiyoko pulled away gently. She was reluctant to do that.
"Kurama, I know where to go next," she whispered, tears still flowing down her face. He looked completely confused. He tried to speak, but Kiyoko put two fingers on his lips. "No, let me speak. When I was unconscious, I was able to speak with my parents. My biological parents: Tamara and Kei. I got a vision of them, and they told me where to go: Demon World. They showed me the sacred relic to the Salantan. I have to go there, and sleep on the tree." The last part, about the sacred relic, slipped out of her mouth easily, like she knew it all along.
"When do you want to leave?" Kurama asked a smile on his face. Kiyoko's eyes lit up. She gently placed her lips on his, and wrapped her hands around his neck. Kurama closed his eyes and let the kiss continue. Their lips felt warm on the others' and they enjoyed it, trying to savor the moment for all of time. Let the power of your lover flow through your veins, Kei's voice repeated itself in Kiyoko's mind. Yes, she thought to herself, bringing herself from Kurama's face, gazing into his beautiful green eyes. I will protect my lover. I will protect you, Kurama………