.Chapter 9.
The Fruit of the Previous life was one of the most elusive plants in the Demon Realm.
Most demons didn't even know it existed, and those who did would unlikely be able to identify it, let alone find it. Kurama had the advantage of being a centuries old spirit of the forest. He had devoted his life and energy to the plants that sustain it, and in turn the forest did somewhat the same for him.
Their spirit energies ran through each other at all times, as if they were part of the same living being. The plants around him breathed into him and became a part of his consciousness. The plants could not send words or visual images into his mind necessarily, like a telepath, but they could send their feelings, their emotions. Over hundreds of years Yoko Kurama had learned to comprehend, and do much the same, and there was a constant unspoken connection between him and the nature around him, rivaled by none.
In the Human World the connection was much weaker. The plant life there, though their spirits were as pure and open as anywhere else, had learned over time to fear the destructiveness of the human species.
Thousands of years ago people still loved and respected nature. They gave to, spoke to, and prayed in the wilderness. People believed in the connection. They were part of the connection.
But they were not like Yoko.
They were not born of the forest. They did not have the deep spiritual purity and understanding. Without obvious proof of the connection, people became distracted. They started ripping and razing, building and poisoning. The less they cared about the connection, the less they felt it.
The less they felt it, the less they cared.
Humans came to prefer various exotic potted plants, scientifically manipulating their DNA and injecting colors into their roots. Breeding and cross breeding to create more interesting flowers, the spirits of the plants became confused, losing touch with their 'roots'. The literal roots (now contained in decorative pottery) could not drink from the earth, and instead were sustained by chemical ridden soil by-products. They were shells of what they were in simpler times, domesticated and asleep.
In the Demon World, Kurama felt alive! His mind and body filled with vibrant colors and song! He felt cradled in a soft blanket of natural affection. It was as much through the help of the wise and ancient forest as it was through the rumors of other master herbalists, that Kurama had an idea of where the Fruit of the Previous life might be located.
It was not a very pleasant area to be headed.
It was said that there may still be an oasis in the Dark Valley of the Sakto Territory of the Demon World. This oasis was allegedly the home to the ruins of the once brilliant castle of the kind and powerful Demon, Lord Sakto.
The valley did not always have 'dark' in it's name. In those days it was filled with life. The demons that resided there were loving and fierce. The culture was colorful and dignified.
As fate would have it, this territory was located in the area of the Demon Realm that had the weakest barrier between the Demon World, and the Underworld.
In the early days, the much praised Lord Sakto built a breathtaking castle beside the most heavily trafficked portal creation site, installing an elaborate, majestic courtyard to wrap around it. The demon tribes of Sakto helped to regulate the re-entry of these souls, watching for portals, and trying to send the souls back to the underworld before the portal had a chance to close.
When a soul could not be sent back before the portal closed, a magnificent ritual would be performed by the most revered group of shamans known to all the worlds, to send them back peacefully. If circumstances prevailed against all odds, the Shamans would help to incorporate the escaped souls somehow into the living world again.
It didn't happen often, but the spirits that happened to make it back through the barrier left a sort of spiritual plasma, right beneath the portal. This ethereal residue was made from the very essence of each particular soul. It was of the invisible web that held all of the feelings, memories and character from the previous life, to the detached entity.
Over time, an unknown species of plant started to sprout up in the courtyard. The plants were like little shrub bushes, and bore tiny red fruit. Finally, one of the young Shamans decided to taste the fruit. He was amazed to find that a small handful brought back memories to him of his 6th life previous! So far, through ritual and meditation, he had only been able to gain knowledge of his previous 5.
This was incredible! The Monastery was abuzz over the possibilities this presented!
One dark evening the youngest Shaman, Saku, was alone in the courtyard. As fate would have it he alone would witness the opening of a small portal from the Realm of the Dead.
The portal shone with a panicked, innocent type of energy, and he squinted against the sensory overload. To his shock and unending distress, moments later through this portal came a woman he had once (and now, still) dearly cared for. If he had been born to a life that had allowed him the choice to marry, it would have been to this perfect, and delicate woman. They had shared many sacred moments together throughout their entire young lives, and he had an unspoken connection with her like he knew with no one else. He loved her with everything he had.
He had almost left the service to join his life to hers, but she would not accept it. She begged him to pursue this path, and herself became a healer to the fallen.
She had passed some 2 years ago, a result of a fatal disease that swept briefly through the territory, claiming the lives of 34 others.
Little did he know, she had a little devil of a past that would haunt them both into the future.
The night she passed through the portal, her soul cried out to him for sanctuary. He did not know what else to do! He couldn't send her back, he couldn't bear it! He gave her the Fruit. In an incredible burst of smoke and light, the fruit re materialized her body, and with it, her previous life.
So it was that the First Lieutenant of the Underworld, upon her admittance, had desperately wanted her for his own. He was consumed with his desire to have her. He went absolutely mad, and could think of nothing else.
Enraged, he used all his power, and the power of his subordinates to send an army crashing through the portal, destroying the castle, and within hours drowning all life from the entire Sakto valley.
The ruler of the Underworld was initially annoyed with his underling, but put his full support behind him. He was bored, and enjoyed the drama that immediately ensued. He also saw straight away the possibility of claiming the Demon Realm as his own territory, adding another level to his already vast Kingdom. He had designs to invade the other worlds anyway, he just hadn't felt it was quite the time to commence yet.
Over the following year a terrible war raged between the Demon, Spirit and Underworld.
Eventually, King Yama of the Spirit World was able to overthrow the soldiers from the land of the dead and send them back to the Underworld. King Yama strengthened the barrier, and ever since, significantly fewer souls had been able to achieve the journey, if any at all.
Few people had learned of the Fruit, but those who had, had assumed them to be destroyed in the melee. The Dark Valley was a lifeless graveyard still.
Kurama explained to his friends the history of The Fruit of the Previous Life, and the trio continued in a contemplative silence. They all understood the implications. This was most likely the worst place in the Demon World for the vulnerable fox to be traveling into, whether Karasu was alive or dead.
There was simply no other choice.
A/N-
A short chapter, but I'm lacking right now.
Kurama is pretty determined to throw off his invasive admirer,
but to what end? Is there really any point?
Let him try.
Whose will is stronger? Any suggestions? I'm writing this as I go, readers.
Dun dun DUN!
