A/N: I fear to count the days/weeks/months since I last updated this, and I realize this chapter is pitifully short, but I've grown insanely busy and this is all I could produce I'm sorry to everyone, and I doubt anyone will read this now, as it's been too long. Sigh I was depressed when I wrote some of this, so yeah… that fed into it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho, nor any character contained therein. I do own the plot (well, the bunnies do…), and the poem lines I keep inserting. That's it.
Enjoy?
Chapter Seven: MEMORIES
I find you in the past in broken memories
shattered like glass
Picture imperfect misread and deluded
Is it really you I see? or is it only me…
It was the smallest of sounds, causing no echo against the smooth, damp stone of the cave walls. Indeed, it was barely noticeable, but the short, sensitive hairs lining his ears picked up the slight vibration of sound waves quite well. He noted the noise, resisting the natural urge to allow his ear to swivel around towards the sound, which would have given away his awareness. No, he must act as if he had heard nothing; keep to his task of sorting baubles and trinkets on the shaky wooden table. He let the small pieces clink together at times, covering any accidental noises made behind him. He enjoyed this game.
This was his favorite, actually, though he preferred to practice the opposing side to the one on which he now played. The sound came again, this time from the opposite side of the cave, catching his other ear, which he was forced, once again, to control. He plucked a small vase from the table, enjoying the smooth, round feel of the silver sides, and the way the jewels caught the flickering candlelight that was the only illumination in the space. It was one of the shiniest pieces they had collected. He adored shiny things. He almost lost himself in the texture, the refracted light driven to prisms by the crystals imbedded in the metal. Almost forgot that to which he was supposed to be paying attention… almost.
He smiled a self-satisfied smile. There was no sound, yet he was fully aware and would win the game. Yes… he just had to wait… just a few… more… In an instant, he whirled around, robes splaying outwards with the sudden motion, and saw exactly what he knew he'd see, exactly where he knew he'd see it, and at the precise moment he'd predicted. There was one problem, however, with his perfect knowledge and perfect execution of the plan.
The other player knew his moves all too well.
Youko Kurama found himself pinned to the floor before he could blurt out any word of exclamation at his victory. The winged form tackled him on a pile of leaves and straw, grinning from pointed ear to pointed ear. Powerful hands held his shoulders flat to the soft mat, as the grinning mouth loosed a victorious laugh. "I almost had you…" said the fox to the bat.
Kuronue just smiled indulgently, as one would to a child convinced he was right when obviously wrong. "Of course you did," he replied, his tone carrying much more sarcasm than his expression, "you always 'almost' have me… I'm simply better than you are." The bat demon accompanied his claim with a haughty raising of his chin.
With a dismissive grunt, Youko grabbed the other's shoulders and rolled the two of them, reversing the holds. He growled in annoyance when his partner in crime only smirked up at him. He hated that he was so easily taunted, but every day it was the same. He was about to lecture the bat on his overconfidence when he saw the glimmer near Kuronue's vest pocket. It was more than just the glint of the crimson-jeweled amulet that he always wore; he knew the shine of Kuronue's family heirloom well. This was a prize brought back…
Youko's eyes gleamed with desire. "What did you find, Kuronue?" he asked, voice soft in reverence for the new addition to their trove.
Kuronue could barely contain his amusement with how controlled Youko always was by treasure. Surely enough, after several more moments of watching the fox's wide, questioning, expectant eyes, the older youkai erupted into good-natured laughter. "You are priceless, fox…" With a glance at the pitiful expression, though still chuckling, he took pity on the youko and reached into the inside pocket of his vest. Watching the round, yellow eyes grow wider with each slow inch he pulled back out, Kuronue paused before letting the shimmering gold chain lift free of its hold. The quiet, reverent gasp told him he'd done well to please the youko's need.
"It's… so shiny…" Youko breathed softly, carefully taking the chain into his hand and moving the prize in the candlelight to let every cut display its glint of glory. He sat up then, studying the gold and forgetting about Kuronue completely. Completely, that is, until the chain was lifted from his hands. He started to cry out in protest, but long fingers set the chain around his neck, turning a nearby mirror so he could see himself in it. There was always a mirror about their lair; Youko adored mirrors especially. The vain fox admired his own reflection, still adjusting the gold so that it set forth the most shine as physically possible. The things Kuronue stole for him always enhanced his beauty. He was perfectly capable of obtaining his own baubles, but the bounty was sweeter if it was also a present.
Kuronue moved behind his friend with a grin. "Happy, my fox?" His smile widened as Youko nodded and absently affirmed that he was. Their reflections were so different, Kuronue's hair a dark shadow behind the other's silvery locks. That hair and his bright golden eyes made Youko a piece of treasure himself.
Staring into the mirror, Youko's attentions were focused solely on his gift, fingering each link with loving care. Again, he felt the cool metal on his skin, even as his own reflection was all that the mirror displayed. Beautiful gold, now tarnished, did not glimmer the same, fading as the memory of his past left him; so cold. His gaze never left the glass, hoping for one more image, another apparition, no matter how brief it lasted. His heart ached at other memories, frozen in time and mind, which he could not shake.
For the mirror's part, it chose not to display more painful images from the fox's memories. Just as well. No amount of thinking could bring his friend back to life. Youko finally turned from the mirror, letting the chain clatter to the floor as he gazed into the emptiness more profound than the blackness of the physical cave around him. The bamboo trap that caught Kuronue had forever ensnared a piece of his heart; it would never allow him to fully heal. Closing his eyes once more against the void around and inside of him, he sat down on the bed of leaves and straw that, though thinned with age and matted from wear, still existed on the floor. With a shiver against his chilled heart, Youko curled into a ball, pulling a blanket of fur over his lithe form as he desperately tried to banish any memories from his mind in trade for a few hours of peaceful sleep. He knew at least the rum he'd had earlier would soon take hold, if nothing else. He just needed a rest.
-Draith
