FYI- love the name I gave her, but with as many times as I've got to do their names in this chapter I'm shortening Yurounari (night howl) to Yuro.
Enjoy, favorites and comments appreciated.
Bold = demon/bijuu
Italics = thoughts
Bold + Italics = demon/bijuu thoughts
-Chapter 10-Reunion and Betrayal-
Yokoma fell into the black abyss and she could feel as she and Yurournari split apart into two. Yuro was almost the exact replica as she was as Yokoma. Her pale white skin contrasted against her black makeup that rimmed her crimson eyes. Her silver moon kissed hair started to turn ravenblack as it passed the threshold into the dark part of the illusion realm. Her clothes turned into a black flowing gown.
Yokoma's hair and eyes returned back to their normal color, as did her tails. And her clothing changed back to her own. Darkness wrapped around her as eyes became accustomed to the darkness a dull eerie light began to piece the darkness. Nibi knew they were the blue flame candles that Yuro loved to keep around their place. Kokuyouseki stayed in her form but two demi wings appeared on her back, like dragon wings with cobwebs instead of the leathery texture. Yuro petted her when they landed and she stalked out to meet her "date" The shinigami waved his hand and a black couch with a bone base rose from the misty depths of the floor.
"Oh forget these theatrics. You are both friends. I don't need all the dread and suspense with you three." The shinigami said.
He clapped his hands and the room suddenly transformed into what looked like a normal room with wooden walls and floor and normal looking black furniture. A table appeared in front of the couch that started to cover with food. Nibi jumped at it as his favorite treat, the cookies that look like fish, and started gobbling them up. (the ones in shogo chara Ikuto's chara went nuts over and ate up almost every one)
"Haven't had these in such a long time. Thank you shinigami san." Nibi said.
*chuckle* "It's not a problem. But I would like to get to business quickly, I want to personally release Jashin to his new eternal home." The shinigami said.
"You know my original request, I want that granted." Yokoma said.
"I apologize Yokoma, I cannot give you a soul that I don't have." The shinigami said.
Oo? "What do you mean?" Yokoma asked.
"I've searched everywhere. You're son isn't dead, but his hourglass has stopped. I don't know the reason and I cannot locate him. I'm sorry Yokoma. I can revive or reincarnate Kiren, but I'm sorry Yoka, your son can't be found. Is there anything else that I can do for you?" the shinigami said.
Yokoma was silent for a while and she closed her eyes. "Yes I have a request but you may not like it, but those two are what I want. I feel guilty for taking them away. I would like them reincarnated as kitsunes, so they'll be able to live a long life. I would love it if you could have their souls implanted into who's souls have left their body. I want to have a contract made with them for my master. I don't think you'll agree, they were a pair bond, I want them both. After all I feel responsible for them." Yokoma said.
"I know exactly which two souls you want. And Yokoma consider it done. I'll find two kitsunes who are willing to become spirits to be reincarnated. I'll try to get them close to their original form as possible. I always regretted taking his soul in order for what he asked, and he had asked to end the pair bond, but as the oath states, the bond can never be broken." The shinigami said.
"Thank you Shinigami-sama. Also may I see Kiren?" Yokoma asked.
"After what you've done, be my guest. Also these reincarnations will not occur until maybe a month or two. I need to find suitable candidates. Either that or have Yuro make them from scratch. We still have Kiren's body, so he won't be that hard. Them, however, if you want them as kitsunes, they will take a while." The shinigami said.
"All right thank you." Yokoma said.
"Now for you to see Kiren, and Nibi could you shift to cat form please, I've got some things I need to read after I deal with Jashin, you know I like a cat in my lap." The shinigami said.
Nibi tried to look happy about it. "As you wish Shinigami sama." He said.
Nibi transformed into his cat form and jumped onto a chair that appeared with paperwork beside it on a desk. The shinigami smiled then turned to Yokoma.
"I'll reincarnate him for you…" the shinigami said.
"Let me talk with him first, but thank you." Yokoma closed her eyes as the shinigami swept his hand over her chanting one of his spells, when Yokoma opened her eyes she was greeted by familiar sight, amber eyes close to her own shade and hair a deep crimson.
"Hello, Kiren, it's been a while." She said.
"Yokoma, I missed you. I've been wondering how long you were going...' he clenched his teeth and growled ' what is that you're wearing?" he said.
Yokoma stopped confused and then her hands fled to her throat.
'Oh shit'" ..."Um...well...uh..." she stammered.
"Yokoma, I recognize that mongrels crest" His words were a growl.
Oh shit oh shit oh shit what do I tell him? why did I come in here
"Uh, nevermind that, guess what the shinigami is going to reincarnate you. You'll be free" Yokoma said trying to get off the subject.
"Yokoma, what are you hiding, you know better than that. I can sense his magic on u, his scents is all over you. If he tried to do that again I swear ill rip him to shreds." Kiren said.
"Well its not like that, there is a little complication...eh" Yokoma said.
"Spit it out, and what do u mean complication? Did he touch you?" Kiren said.
"No, but ...well... he made antoher challenge." Yokoma said.
Kiren growled he didn't like where this was going. "Enough, you get back there and get that shinigami off his ass and revive me, I'll deal with the pup myself." Kiren said.
"I lost the challenge, it won't help" Yokoma said.
Kiren's growl stopped in a second and he stared as his past mate. Yoka loose? He couldn't believe it. "How?"
"Well you see this collar, a priestess made it at first, and my master , well he bound up my power and it backlashed, Houkou was the one left standing. By law I'm his mate Kiren, you know them as well as I do." Yokoma said.
"And you know then that you can call a champion to your side to deflect a male's unwanted challenge. I'm going to rip him to shreds, I never should have left him alive." Kiren said.
"Kiren I think you're overreacting." Yokoma said.
"Overreacting? Have I been in here so long that it's screwed with your head? Do you remember what that pup tried to do to you?" Kiren growled.
"I'm sorry Kiren, I'm going to go and let you cool down. I shouldn't have come." Yokoma said.
Kiren clenched his fists and grabbed her. "Get the shinigami to revive me Yoka, as soon as possible. I'm not going to let that mongrel even try to touch you after what he did." Kiren said his voice deep and threatening. Yokoma shivered at the look in his eyes. It was true that he was her mate, but they had never really loved each other, he son had became her love, her life, the one joy that had made her happy. Kiren had always been a good friend, and a companion against the loneliness, but all of that had been stripped away from her that night Madara came into her life.
"He won't Kiren, as I said you're overreacting. He's changed, he's sorry for his actions. There is nothing to worry about now." Yokoma said.
"He won't leave it at just friends, he'll make you sleep with him Yoka, you're his mate unless you get me to fight for you, what's stopping him from taking you?" Kiren said.
"He won't Kiren. I'm going to let you calm now. I'm sorry I shouldn't have come and upset you." Yokoma said.
"Yokoma!" He gripped her arm harder only to have it mist and fade beneath his fingers. Her body disappeared leaving him in a raging fit. "That mutt …. SHINIGAMI, GET YOUR ASS DOWN HERE AND REVIVE ME!"
He cursed as her image faded. If they Lady found out she would do worse torture to him than even the shinigami's worst. He knew Yokoma had never gotten over the wolf. The only time life came back into her eyes was when Kaen had been born. He was what the Lady had desired of him, a pureblood kitsune and for Yokoma to stay away from the mongrel. He had succeeded in both, and he was glad after Kaen's death. Death was a mercy compared to the Lady. If she found out that Yokoma was courting with the wolf… he cringed at the thought of running into her. He had failed in both of the missions the Lady had given him.
Yokoma opened her eyes seeing the shinigami in his chair. "He's not happy I can hear him yelling. If he calls me a bastard shinigami one more time I don't think I will revive him." The shinigami said.
"Can you wait about a month please, shinigami-san. I want him to calm down, the moment you revive him he's probably going to try to kill Houkou. I don't want any fighting between them." Yokoma said.
"Understood, I'll let you know when all of the preparations are ready." The shinigami said.
"Thank you, is there any way I can talk to them I want to explain to them what is going to happen and why." Yokoma said.
The shinigami waved his hand and Yoka found herself in a room with paper lantern lights hanging overhead. Yoka's ears laid back, she could hear a woman crying, and it broke her heart apart. She knew exactly who the woman was and why she was crying. Yoka stepped into the nursery to find a kunai imbedded in the doorway just inches from her neck. She couldn't die here, but that didn't mean that it didn't scare her, but she expected no less from the past Hokage.
"Who are you! State you're business here!" the man said.
"At ease Minato, I bring you news of your son." Yokoma said.
The woman looked up in shock, her red hair bringing out her tear filled emerald eyes.
"Naruto….. where is he how is he, the Kyuubi, has he overtaken him! They warned us that might happen, please tell me! I need to know!" she said.
"It's alright Kushina, I didn't take over your son, and he's grown into a strong ninja. And I'm sorry to the both of you, I never wanted to take lives, I'm so sorry I caused this, caused you to leave your son alone. I want to make it up to you. I know you've lost a lot of years, but I want to give you your lives back, to be with him. The shinigami is allowing me to resurrect you both." Yokoma said.
"Wait you're Kyuubi no Kitsune! But we all thought that you were…." Minato said.
"Yes I've heard the guy thing before, but I want to explain something to you. What I want to do is revive you as kitsunes, that way you're life will be extended, and you can stay with your son at all times as his guardians. I want to give him a summoning contract, you'll be able to protect him any time that he is in danger." Yokoma interrupted.
Minato's face lightened up and Kushina's tears stopped. For the first time since their death they had a happy moment. They would see their son again, to be able to hug him, hold him, talk with him, even take missions with him. It's all that they ever wanted. Moreover their son was doing well and becoming a strong ninja and he wasn't being possessed by a bloodthirsty demon.
"Why would you do this? I'm grateful and so is my wife, but why?" Minato said looking at her wearily.
"To repent for my mistakes. I was being controlled when I attacked the village but it doesn't matter I made so many children orphans, I took the lives of people who were important to someone. When I was sealed inside Naruto I saw the pain he went through, there has not been a day that I regret what my actions caused, whether it was really me or not. He deserves it, and I owe it to you. You saved your village, only to be repaid by death and loss. I want Naruto to be happy. I care about him." Yokoma said.
Kushina's eyes burned holes into Yoka. "You're not teaching my son any of that seductive or perverted crap are you?"
Yoka chuckled. "No I'm like you Kushina, I don't like perverts, just as Jiraiya and his injured balls. And I'm not interested in your son in that way, he's almost like a son to me he reminds me so much of Kaen. Naruto's nice, but I have my own mate." Although not sure what's going on with that at the moment.
Minato looked scared and shivered. Kushina looked at her approvingly.
"Thank you Kyuubi, I would love to take the offer. I want to see my son again." Kushina said.
"And so do I" Minato said.
"Please call me Yoka." Yokoma said.
Houkou was waiting at the Hokage's mansion on the roof watching and growling to himself. He did not have a good feeling about this. He relaxed as he caught her scent, even before she jumped onto the roof a few inches to his right. She settled down next to him and it was an awkward silence between the two. He wanted to respect her privacy, but he wanted to know. She wasn't sure if she should tell him, although he'd probably already guessed what she wanted from the shinigami.
Yokoma sighed. "Kiren isn't happy with me." She said.
Houkou's fist clenched, his voice cold and calm. "You went to see him then? How long do I have till he's revived?"
"I told the shinigami to wait a month. If he's revived now the first thing he's going to do is try to kill you. I don't want that. I really shouldn't have seen him. He's changed, there's so much anger in him. He's ticked that I've waited so long. And now he's angry that you're here, not to mention that I lost the challenge." She said.
"You told him?" he asked.
"I had to explain the necklace and the combined crest." She said.
"I see. Well then I'd better make the time I have with you count." He said.
He grabbed her lightly and brought his face close to hers, she could easily pull away if she wanted to. When she didn't pull back he laid his lips on hers and did a small short kiss leaving his lips a short distance from hers. She closed her eyes and kisses him. He wrapped his arms around her and she wrapped hers around his neck as they deepened the kiss. She couldn't explain it something just felt right being there with him. She barely noticed when He stepped on the roof.
"Yo…co…ma…. you have some explaining to do. And I suggest you let go of her mutt." A voice growled.
Yokoma jumped in Houkou's embrace as she recognized the voice. A growl rose in Houkou's throat as his lips left hers to crouch his head down near her neck. He bared his fangs and snarled, clutching Yokoma to his chest. The passion fled out of her leaving a guilty despair behind. She didn't want to admit that she had never let Houkou go out of her heart. She only wanted Kiren revived out of guilt.
"Why did you tell the shinigami to wait about a month before he restored me to life? And why are you with this mongrel? I don't give a damn about the fight. You know full and well that I could fight for your freedom, WHY THE HELL DIDN'T YOU YOKA!" Kiren said.
"Speaking of which how are you out now?" Yokoma said.
"Yuro, now answer my question." Kiren growled.
Yokoma cringed. Kiren was a sweet and lovable person, but if he got mad, he was the last person you wanted to be around.
"So it is a fight you want Kiren?" Houkou asked.
Houkou let go of Yoka and stood up and crossed his arms.
"What the hell do you think mongrel? She is mine, always has been since the day I won." Kiren said.
"Now who is the jealous madman? I have a question Kiren. Despite her being so called yours, was that mate mark ever conceived?" Houkou asked.
Kiren's stance shifted to one of confusion. And he looked away. "No."
"Then you two weren't meant to be. It may not be the way of all clans, but ours is a search for the others soul mate. Please I felt the pull since the day I met her, and the shock of recognition between our magic when I combined our crests. Please Kiren, I realize my mistakes, but I love her. I'm willing to wait, for as long as it takes her to get used to me, to love me again. I will fight you Kiren, but not to win a trophy or her heart, but to protect her power of choice to be taken away from her. I want her to choose." Houkou said.
"And what if she doesn't choose you? I doubt that you'll leave her alone." Kiren said.
"You're right I won't…..' Houkou said before Kiren interrupted him. …..'You see what I said mutt, a mongrel…' Kiren said before Houkou rose his voice above him.
…"I WON'T LEAVE HER ALONE, but it wouldn't be to keep pressing her to mate. I would stay by her side to protect her, to at least stay near her. Even if she outright refuses to be my mate….. I still want to be with her. Even as a protector, at least I'll be able to see her and be a part of her life." Houkou said.
"Houkou…." Yoka whispered. She looked at Kiren, he looked shocked and angered at the same time.
"Please Kiren. For my sake please don't fight. Maybe it was a mistake to even ask the shinigami to bring you to life. I should have left you alone completely, to let you rest in peace." Yokoma said.
"Yoka, how can you….." Kiren said.
Yoka stood up tears starting to well in her eyes. "I'm the one who killed you Kiren, I don't care if I was possessed, I still killed you. I failed you as the mother of our child. We never even conceived the mark. Please Kiren, He hasn't tried to press me into anything. I'm sorry but please, I want to try to be with Houkou, like I always have. He scared me that night, but it was understandable, I knew he loved me and yet I was trying to make it so we'd never see each other again. What about you Kiren, can you really say that you're not different right now? I don't belong with you. Please I don't want any fighting." Yokoma said.
"Kiren lets take this away from her. She needs to be by herself and think. I'll fight you if you want to. But I'm not going down easily this time." Houkou said.
Kiren was still standing there dumbfounded. He clenched his teeth and fist, his knuckles turning white and his claws drawing blood. "Fine, keep the unloyal slut! I think you two would make a perfect match mongrel." He regretted those words as soon as they came out of his mouth. Yoka's face clenched in pain as her tears started to fall faster, she covered her face and ran as her sobs became audible. Houkou growled and his eyes blazed as he turned to Kiren. He noticed the regret in his face, but he frankly didn't care.
"HOW DARE YOU CALL HER THAT!" Houkou snarled.
Kiren's regret flashed to anger in an instant. "I don't care if I was dead, she knew she could revive me, and yet she's here with you."
"You've had your chance. You two don't belong together, find another girl, try and find your life partner. Let her find hers." Houkou said.
"Oh, and I'm guessing that is you mutt? And what if you take her and there's no mark? I know in your wolf society your barbarians will take any and every girl you find till you find that mate, in our society it's different, if a girl chooses a mate and she's not his soul mate they either stay together or she's disgraced unless for some impossible reason she is able to find her mate. Yoka is choosing to betray me, if you aren't hers then the kitsune society will never accept her." Kiren said.
"More of a reason I don't like you kitsune's. You're too proper. Despite by your people's laws and stupidity you still had no right to call her that, and you will pay for it." Houkou said.
"Bring it mutt. I don't care what you or those wolves say, you're nothing but a halfbreed. There is no other way you could be multitailed like us. Wolves don't have that ability, even the so called 'Great Fenris' has only one tail." Kiren said.
"The fact that I'm not is enough to make me think that Yokoma and I are a match. And as much as I want to rip you to shreds right now, you aren't worth my time." Houkou said.
Houkou clenched his teeth, he didn't like feeling like he was running away but he could feel Yoka's chakra signature fading quickly. If he didn't start following her now, he'd loose her for he didn't know how long. He shifted to her wolf form and started to sniff the ground, whining as he was trying to pick up her scent. He found it and headed in her direction. Her chakra signature had disappeared, and it almost was like her scent went with it.
Kiren watched as the wolf circled the clearing trying to pick up her scent. He sniffed the air and it was like something was bothering his nose. Yokoma's scent was fading quickly for what seemed like no reason. She didn't want to be followed. And she was trying to use one of her old spells to make sure that she wasn't. Houkou finally caught a whiff of her scent and sped off in search of her, completely dismissing the fact that Kiren was still there, or his anger towards him. Kiren gave him a head start and then shifted to his fox form and followed after him.
Houkou finally caught up with her after half an hour, he knew she must be exhausted. She was still crying when he found her, her tears staining her already wet fur. She had dozens of cuts from the underbrush, mud caked on her paws and her fur was wet and messy. He stepped cautiously towards her and she stopped crying only to snarl at him. He stopped for a moment then took small cautious steps towards her. Soon her growls stopped and she laid there lifelessly. He laid beside her and lay his head on her shoulder.
Kiren watched from the hill that overlooked them both, his tails twitching in annoyance. He wanted to grab that mongrel by the scruff of the next and drag him away from her. Seeing him curl up to her like that really pissed him off. Yoka had been his mate for over 50 years, after not even 20 she was already starting to turn tail to another male. He didn't care if he had been dead, Yoka knew he could be revived. She promised that they would live together like it was before his death, but it seemed like she was already starting to break that promise. Kiren looked back on the first few days, Yoka had been scared and maybe that's why she clung to him so desperately. He had them move to the human realm, the wolves nor Houkou were allowed to be mentioned. He was a fool to think that she truly forgot. The Lady had briefed him that Yoka was seeing a wolf and by the reports of her scouts the kiss they stole a few nights before was more than one of friendship. Kiren had been asked to keep the two apart, to keep them from mating and birthing more halfbreeds. Although it seemed that he had disappointed his mistress yet another time. He wanted to intervene, to try to complete his mission but he couldn't go through with it. It had pissed him off that night when Houkou stated that he would prove that he belonged with her, but now that he knew the pup was older, and that he realized his mistakes and was trying to correct them, that took someone that truly cared. If she wished it he would leave, and the only thing that strong was love. Kirin whined and laid his head on his paws.
Yokoma felt warm with Houkou's fur against hers. His head on her shoulder felt comforting. She started to cry again and he pulled her into a half hug. She could feel him on her leg and he wasn't hard or unsheathed. It relieved her all that he wanted to do was comfort her. Her tears started to fall harder. She transformed into her human form and turned around facing him, clutching him in an embrace. Her fingers curled in his fur as his head lay on her shoulder, her tears soaking his fur.
She's so fragile now. She's not the same fighter I remember. Houkou thought. He transformed into his anthro state, fearing that a full human transformation would scare her and turn her away from him. He embraced her as she cried into his chest. He stroked her hair, and held her close, his tails wrapping around them.
"Shhhusshhh, it's alright my beautiful hime. It's ok, just let it out, but it will be ok." Houkou whispered.
He kept whispering and stroking her until her tears finally stopped, she stayed curled up into his arms and after a few minutes he found himself holding her sleeping form. He smiled and kissed her forehead. He held her there in his arms, shifting into his human form. He didn't want to wake her so he put a hand on the ground and rocks started to rise and form around them. They formed beneath him and softened, creating a chair for him to relax and recline in. He held her close and fell asleep with her. The traps already set around them.
Kiren watched as both of their bodies relaxed in an embrace. He growled at the sight of her body on top of his. She was basically sitting on his lap snuggled on his chest. He jumped down, his fur bristled as he stalked towards them, he was going to rip that mutt's throat out. Despite caring for her, his rage wouldn't go away. He remembered his duty and he didn't want to think about Yoka with anyone else the Lady would not allow someone of the royal family be labeled a whore.
"I'd stop there Kiren unless you want to be caught in one of my traps. Those crystals won't release you till I make them, and making them do that for you isn't something I'm in the mood to do." Houkou said.
"Let her go." Kiren growled
"You've been following me since I left, if you cared so much why didn't you come to her and comfort her first. Don't get ticked at me just because I'm doing something you wanted to do. I'm not harming her." Houkou said.
"SHUT UP AND LET HER GO!" Kiren snarled.
"Don't yell you'll wake her up. How you can be such an insensitive jerk to someone you cared for is beyond me. You never conceived the mark with her Kiren, she has been away from the kitsunes almost 100 years now. Why do you think she cares about whether or not they'll take her back." Houkou said.
"She is the Lady's daughter. She is the role model for all kitsunes. If she breaks the rules then what does that say about the royal family?" Kiren said.
"If she finds love why should status matter?" Houkou said.
"You insolent pup!" Kiren snarled.
"We come from different worlds. I'm not like you cold collected kitsunes. Let her choose, but you, leave her alone." Houkou said.
Kiren growled then smiled. "Why don't we let the Lady choose for her, after all she is under her laws. Considering she's the one who asked me to separate you too, she even asked for your banishment, almost your head. She won't stand for this, but the kitsune's follow the lady's order absolute. To disobey is to reject yourself from the kitsune's society. Death is usually the punishment if the crime is severe enough. The Lady won't stand for you mating with her daughter, or allowing Yoka to disgrace herself. Disgracing the name of the Lady is one of the things punishable by death" Kiren said.
Houkou bit back a growl. "You should have stayed dead. I don't like you kitsunes. No wonder we don't like associating with you that much." He laid Yoka down onto his seat still asleep. He used the traps to form a protective and soundproof crystal cage around her and stood in front of it. Kiren smiled, he would finally get his fight. "State which form, human or animal. A final challenge, winner chooses her fate mutt. You win we leave it to the Lady, if I win then I never want to see your face near her again." Houkou growled "I told you if I fight it won't be for a trophy, nor to win her heart, it was to protect her choice. Animal prepare yourself Kiren, I won't fail her again." Houkou pounced at Kiren, his human form shifting to his wolf as he came down onto Kiren's throat.
:P cliffhanger