Disclamer: I don't own Inuyasha and Yu Yu Hakusho. Only this story belongs to me.
War Of The WorldsIY YYH crossover. What happens when a whole lot of demons come after Kagome for the Shikon shards? Kurama falls in love with Kagome while protecting her. Will Kagome remain faithful to Inuyasha or will he risk losing her forever.
Chapter Twenty Six Fear and Death
When there's a will, there's a way
It was getting darker within the confines of the forest, shadows crept along the ground, clawing their way towards the speeding figures. The sky above darkened even though it was only mid day, no longer dazzling with the bright lights, now only clouds that contained more shadows and grim streaks filled the sky.
Kurama and Yusuke were speeding through the trees, heart racing, fearing that they would not make it on time, fearing that they would lose another important person in their life. Fearing that Kuwabara's sacrifice would be nothing, and that they've let him down.
The darkness brought about the fears in them to be more prominent, more alive. Sweat was beading on Yusuke's forehead, he was not tired, and yet, his legs felt like collapsing. A chill surrounded him and he shivered, suddenly very, very afraid.
He turned to look around, wondering if there was anything, anyone that was following them, darkness met his eyes and silence greeted him. He turned to Kurama then, and the paleness of his face unnerved Yusuke. This was not a good place to be in, and he quickened his steps, longing to get out from this darkness, the forest that was too silent, too cold.
'Hurry. We should get out of here fast. I don't like it here.' Youko said urgently, causing Kurama to be even more anxious and his heart beat fast, loud, to his ears.
"I'm trying.' Kurama said back in his mind, irritated as he could not seem to find an exit. And the scent of the forest was wrong. He had been around forests all his life and this place just seemed so wrong. Everything was too silent and dark. Men of shadows seem to crouch behind trees, watching them but disappearing the moment Kurama laid his eyes on them.
"I don't like it here!" Yusuke yelled, echoing what Youko had said earlier and Kurama was a tad bit annoyed. Frowning, he began to scan the trees for a source of light. It was too eerie in this forest, and it would be wise to get out of it fast. What with Youko and Yusuke moaning to get out, Kurama had to find an exit.
Yusuke shivered further as another gust of cold wind blew around him, raising the hairs in the back of his neck. He turned again, he just couldn't shake off the feeling that someone was following them. And in the darkness, he distinctively heard a laugh that chilled him.
He looked beside him, his heart beating fast, and what he saw made him freeze for a millisecond before he carefully turned away and quickened his steps, carefully erasing in his mind what he had seen, categorizing it as a hallucination, and part of his lucid mind's creations.
For what Yusuke saw was an eye.
Yellow, with red pupils, the huge eye was fixed upon the tree, rotating, watching him.
Yusuke swore and quickly jumped elsewhere, carefully avoiding any dark corners in between the trees. More eyes appeared, watching him, rotating silently about the trees, muffled laughter could be heard occasionally and Yusuke had to wonder where it came from.
This was getting to him, he didn't know whether these eyes were real or just a figment of his imagination. Kurama did not seem to notice them.
"Ne, Kurama. Do you, do you see anything weird?" he asked desperately, while he avoided looking at any huge eyes.
Kurama turned to Yusuke and slowly shook his head and Yusuke was struck with a fear of dealing with the unknown. This was not demons, if they were, he would have known by the scent of their jyaki. And Kurama would have noticed, these eyes, these sickly yellow pulps, were just a sick thought from his head.
'Must stay calm, must stay calm.'
The fear of the eye, did things to him. The fear was pressing on to him, squeezing every ounce of his famed bravery and some would call stupidity out of him. The fear was feeding him images of the dead. This fear, was like a demo itself, and it was one Yusuke could not fight with and win.
There was that fight with Toguro, Kuwabara, the idiot just had to sacrifice himself for him. And before, earlier, Genkai, his mentor had died, in his arms. And Sensui, the man with many personalities, he had died in his hands, before realizing that he was a full-fledged demon.
As he resurfaced from the terrible memories of people dying because he could not save them, of blood and more blood, Yusuke lost sight of Kurama, and he panicked, the darkness was closing in to him and he could only hear the sadistic laughter of the eyes, and his own heart beating fast, ba dum, ba dum, ba dum.
The eyes were blinking insistently, yellow and red standing out from the dark, gleaming and turning into slits, watching him, and the laughter or louder and louder until it practically rang in his ears.
It was so cold, and all Yusuke wanted was to fall and sleep, he did not realize that at some point, he had stop running and was merely now, standing on the ground, swaying. The eyes, were still watching him and he raised his hand to use his spiritual powers, but it was in vain, e couldn't even lift his hand.
The wind blew colder and someone called his name. Calling to him. Shadows rose from the ground, each reaching out to him with hands of claws. One touched him, cold and yet alluring. The darkness surrounded him, the laughter rang in his ears, it was so, so cold. And then, a flash of pain.
Yusuke screamed.
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Kurama stopped when he realized when he realized that Yusuke wasn't following him any longer. He turned and in the overwhelming darkness, he couldn't see nor feel Yusuke anywhere. This scared Kurama as he was all alone now, and it was dangerous to live Yusuke alone.
'Where is that loud-mouthed kid?' Youko asked, serious. This was not a laughing matter. 'It's dangerous to be alone in this enchantment we're in. And we should leave immediately.'
Kurama agreed, and placed his feet blindly, one in front of another. The darkness was obscuring is view, and as he was a demon, e should have excellent night vision, but this was no ordinary darkness, and Kurama was not used to groping blindly in the dark, he decided that walking on the ground was much safer and proceeded to do so.
Kurama was now very afraid, as his sensitive ears could not hear anything, not even the faint rustle of is own clothes. This enchantment was a strong one, and when he placed his hands in front of him, he could not see, at all. He lost all his senses, he couldn't see, couldn't hear and when he spoke, only silence met his ears.
'Oi! Get a grip on yourself!'
Kurama swayed a little, stumbling, but he was extremely grateful that Youko had brought him out of his panicked mode, as he called it.
A person could go mad in this enchantment, and Kurama kept himself from going back to that mode only by conversing with Youko, but even Youko was not that responsive.
'What to do now?' 'I don't know. This spell is strong and I do not have the knowledge to undo it.' 'So, it's obvious, we're in deep shit.' 'That's putting it mildly.'
But as he walked further, his sense of direction terrible, without his senses, Kurama could have sworn that it got darker with every step that he took. Youko was not responding now and Kurama had no help from him. He felt as if he was totally alone now. With nothing but the silence and with a sudden start, voices started to dance around him, whispering, touching him with fingers of chill, like the wind.
'Do you remember how he died? You caused his death…'
'Kuronue died because of you didn't he? He didn't want you to run, all he wanted was his best friend to save him. But you ran. Ran far away, your mind processing the wrong information just to save your own hide.'
'How could you? How could you? He trusted you. He was your best friend. Your friend.'
The voices twirled faster and faster around him, leaving Kurama gasping for breath, stumbling, nearly falling to his knees.
'You should die. Should die for your sins.'
'Die!'
'Die!! Die!!'
The memories came now, racing through his mind. He wasn't just Shuuichi Minamino now, he was also Youko Kurama, and they were one, relieving their past memories together. Of the time he had first met Kuronue, the day they swore to be brothers, the day they stole together, their drinking sessions, their games, their jokes, and the day Kuronue died.
"Run! Kurama! Leave me!" Instead of the words that he had thought came from Kuronue, another came.
"Save me! Kurama! Help me!" The chilling truth hit him. Was this how it truly went? Did he pretend that he did not hear it, to ease his guilt, all this years, he had only pretended, fixing another in his mind.
Kurama clutched his head, screaming now, the anguish, the pain all rolled into one, there was laughter now, and it was mocking him. The darkness closed in, and in Kurama's mind, there was only blood and screams as the bamboo sticks tore down Kuronue's flesh, killing him instantly because he wasn't there to save him.
And he screams and screams and it tears at his throat and he can feel blood dripping where his nails dug into his head.
'Shuuichi-kun" Her voice slices through his thickening memories and as clear as day, he can now see, and he looks up to see her standing in front of him, a smile upon her beautiful face. Watching him intensely and he wonders if this is just a dream.
"Shuuichi-kun." She says again, her voice melodious, beautiful, like her, her scent of roses, and spices floats over to him, and he wonders again if she's here just to taunt him on his failure, or she's real. He doesn't remember her name, and she seems to be his imagination, and yet bordering on reality.
Her raven locks are swishing along with the wind, her eyes of grey and blue are watching him, and there is a sad half-smile upon her face. He inhales her scent deeply, calming down, lowering his hands, the images in his head stops spinning. And suddenly, he remembers and her name forms on his lips. "Ka.. go.. me.." He whispers and she smiles a little. He walks towards her.
She stops him with a little shake of her head, and looks at him. Kurama wonders why she looks so grim and frightened.
She parts her lips again and says "Gomen ne, Shuuichi-kun, but I have to do this."
And suddenly, he sees the bow and arrow in her hands, and he wonders why he did not notice before. She notches the arrow, and aims towards him. Kurama stands numb, and he watched the arrow flies towards him with astounding accuracy. Not moving, not breathing and he sees in her eyes a chilling cold.
He closes his eyes, and the steady swoosh of the arrow is coming closer. He wonders if it is finally over.
'Kuronue, when we meet again, I want to apologize and I want to die in your hands a second time.'
Twack.
The arrow strikes and the resonating sound vibrated through the still forest.
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End. Kurama is dead, there is no need to continue the story. And Inuyasha gets the girl
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Just kidding!! XD
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Kurama opens his eyes and sees the robin blue colour of the sky, it is clear, and he wonders if this is heaven.
Suddenly, there are cool hands upon his face and he looks into her eyes, of grey and blue and wisdom beyond her years.
She hugs him, and there are whispers of sorry in his shirt and Kurama stiffens at the sudden contact, he looks to his back and he sees the arrow embedded on the tree, pinning a struggling thing onto it and he realizes that she had never intended to kill him, and as she pulls back, he stares at her in shock. Wondering who she was and how she came upon such enormous powers. And in the corner of his bewildered mind, Kurama knows that he has seen her before, he just doesn't remember when.
She stood up and Kurama followed suit, and he could not get his mind to work intelligently.
"That creature behind you, is neither a demon nor a shikigami, but a combination of both, and is very hard to detect." Kagome says, blushing a little at her bold move of hugging him. "They absorb the energy and power of demons and humans alike by engulfing them in fears." Like the moth demon, she added silently to herself.
He was still gapping, as if unsure that she was real and she stifled a giggle at the incredulous look upon his face.
He snapped up suddenly and yells out the name of his friend, and Kagome was a little shocked, Shuuichi-kun walked past her as if in a daze, his head in the air, trying to detect a scent and Kagome knew at once that he was searching for his friend.
"Thank you. For saving my life." Shuuichi-kun said as he turned and placed a chaste kiss upon her cheek that only caused her to blush further, and swiftly, he started towards north, towards his friend. Not more than five steps, Kurama stumbled, falling upon the ground with a thud, out of exhaustion.
She quickly ran towards him, the arrows upon her back jiggling and she could also feel the pull of fatigue upon herself due to the incident earlier, as she supported him, she scolded him.
"I have to find, Yusuke.." Shuuichi-kun mumbled, out of breath and Kagome reprimanded him. "You're still slightly affected but you don't have to worry about your friend. Miroku, Sango and Inuyasha helped him as his condition was worst than yours. But he's alright now and he'll live." Barely.
Inuyasha dashes through the trees as she supports Kurama, having a knack for appearing at thoroughly inappropriate times, and she sees the frown upon his face and Kagome glares at him, daring Inuyasha to say something that will cause her to sit him until his bone breaks.
Kurama looks at the hanyou, feeling Kagome stiffen, and there is a fierce glare on her face, and he inwardly dances victoriously as he realizes that Kagome does not really like that hanyou.
Youko is silent and Kurama wonders why, he attempts to prod the silent youkai in his subconscious, but comes away with nothing but emptiness. And then there is a sudden image of Kuronue swinging his red pendant and Kurama freezes momentarily, the events before causing him to wonder what really happen the night that Youko Kurama died.
Yusuke is supported by the hanyou, and Kurama tries to get up to see him. Miroku and Sango appeared moments later, sitting upon a fire demon cat and Kurama was shocked to see such a rare creature, hardly found in Makai, here in the Ningenkai. This was really strange indeed.
Yusuke's breathing was labored, and his hair, usually streaked up, was falling from it's usual do, and he was really, really pale. Kurama rushed towards him and supported his friend as Inuyasha moved to stand beside Kagome. Yusuke felt clammy and Kurama blamed himself for this mishap. How could he not realize that those demon things were following them? How could he not sensed them? If Kagome and her friends had not arrived.. Kurama shuddered to finish that thought.
The group of four turns to leave and Yusuke shouts, all of a sudden.
"Wait! Who the hell are you guys?" Kurama had wondered and was glad that Yusuke had asked them first, and now that the question was out in the open, he waited for an answer.
The group pauses, and Miroku turns, the one he had encountered just the day before, he smiles a smile that seems fake and says, "We are no one, but humble travelers."
Kurama senses that Yusuke is angry and awaits the ear shattering blow. He braces himself but he's glad that Yusuke is regaining his energy back, as Yusuke is after all, famed for his bad temper and atrocious manners.
"What the hell??!!"
Kagome turns too, along with the others, and Kurama can see a fire burning in her eyes, her words are laces with anger and Kurama is shocked at her fiery nature.
"We do not have to explain anything at all."
Yusuke pushes Kurama away, whom has been supporting him, and Kurama sighs.
"You.." Yusuke starts but he is interrupted by both Sango and Kurama.
"Urameshi-san!" "Yusuke!"
Sango turns to look at Kurama and he flashes a smile of gratitude. He places a hand on Yusuke's shoulder and says, quietly, seriously, and only one word. "Hiei."
Yusuke stiffens and resets his priorities. He nods, and both formulate a new plan in their heads. Questions and answers can come later.
But now, Miroku is the one who questions them. "Hiei?"
The other question comes swift and it causes both Yusuke and Kurama to turn quick, nearly spraining their necks, the question hitting them between the eyes.
'Is he the one that Kuwabara-san tried to save?" Sango asks, hoisting a large boomerang. And the next shocks them even further, "The human that wanted to save the hybrid and died by doing so." This came from Inuyasha and Yusuke and Kurama could only gape.
"How did you.."
"How did we know?" Kagome asks, her eyes soften now, and they are twinkling. And the words that she speaks are like jewels. The most wondrous sound ever uttered to Kurama and Yusuke.
"Kuwabara-san is not dead. He's very much alive."
And to prove that fact, Kuwabara, in person, comes barreling through the trees.
And there was not a time in Kurama's life that he had ever felt so happy.
Hope
is the companion of power, and mother of success; for who so hopes
strongly has within him the gift of miracles.
--
Samuel Smiles.
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There! Done! Finished! In six hours time from five in the evening. Sorry for the long update, I had several versions to this chapter, wondering if I should reveal the revival of Kuwabara in the next chapter or that Kagome is the miko and bla, bla, bla. I don't think it turned out nicely but I might change it.
The exams were hell, part of the reason I didn't update. Three weeks!!! Man, today it ended and I updated!! Yea!!!
Have to count the votes first though, so no updates on votes, but clearly Kurama is winning and this fic will go that way. Will have an alternate version of Inuyasha getting together with Kagome though, after this is done.
Ah, the joy of updating, tell me your comments k. This is a little rushed as I'm off to bed.
Yours truly, Nicole.
xxx
10.50 17.10.06