Disclaimer: YuYu Hakusho is copyrighted and belongs to its creator, Togashi Yoshihiro.

Author's Note: This chapter is dark. Very dark. Could be loads darker, too.

Genre: Supernatural, fantasy, humor, horror, and not so much general. It is also an AU, an "alternate Universe" for the setting.

Rating: Mature…for obvious reasons.


OLD FRIEND

Part Two

[Somewhere In Time, Down The Rabbit Hole]

The brightest star in the heavens is "Sirius"; and with it, connected the infamous Cerberus;

Hell follows Death's footsteps.

The Hellish Cerberus closely guards her; the star of life, death, and rebirth.

That is one of the many reasons as to why the star is commonly referred to as "The Dog Star".

oOo

Shizuru had fared by many niches, rooms which archived the scores of profound compilation pieces… His most significant memories, ones that had left a major imprint under his skin.

…Though we may consciously forget our memories, whether it be our fragile minds fading away with time or to reject something that is far too unpleasant to entertain…

…Nothing is ever really forgotten…

Going through each hall, rising to every level, was like sifting through the pages of a book.

Some memories she could familiarize, others just seemed to belong to a stranger's lost and forgotten fantasy.

One anamnesis was that of a beautiful woman. She possessed warm, red locks, like flame, which flourished from her scalp in a fountain of swirling cubicals. Her eyes were like rays of sunshine, and yet, slender and sensual. Her face was like a heart-shaped box. And her soft, subtle skin was just as pale as the moon itself.

She was a very curvilinear beauty; with her hourglass shaped torso, her meaty, baby doll legs, her apple shaped hindquarters, and voluptuous breasts. However, her hands were not dainty and neither was her feet. In fact, for a female, she was quite the Amazon.

She wore a flowing white gown, an unusually designed dress constructed from a combination of lace and a silky, sheer-like material.

And walking closely beside her was an even taller, strong, and dark gentleman. Her arm almost looped around his, her wrist resting between his inner elbow, and her head resting upon his arm.

He wore a suit of shining, black armor; which it looked pretty damn wicked, manufactured in prime evil with its macabre motifs, gothic styled patterns, its dragon-like design, and its leather straps that fastened the whole thing together. He even wore a cape.

There was power in his steps, and though the pair was merely ambling along the pathway, his demeanor fitted along the lines of stalking.

Shizuru had recognized him right off the bat. All too well, in fact.

/There, where the night has no tomorrow
I miss you
Where my heart is burning for ever
You lose me/

The two were strolling down a path, with nothing but the moonlight to guide their way. And the world that they were in was a paradise compared to the earth's current state.

"Must you always frighten them away?" The woman spoke, all the while fiddling with a peculiar gold item that hung from a chain which draped around her neck. It looked to be a locket in the size of a pocket watch, fetchingly engraved with symbols.

"I see no reason why not to." He had answered proudly, his red narrowing slowly. "They're pathetic, every last one of them." A vague moment passed before his expression quirked; a smug smirk fashioning upon his visage as his eyes gleamed with a malicious gist. "They are not even worth the ground we tread upon, the disgusting vermin."

The woman looked up at him, her calm, angelic gaze warped by her reflective consequence of his reply. Technically, her brows had lowered, while her orpiment eyes were squinting in his direction. She was watching him very closely. "But they are your handmade."

He frowned at her words, his brows furrowing in a knot.

/If my angels call my name
I still hold your hand
It is finished
Last oath is branded/

"They are my father's creation, not mine. Their purpose was to suit his needs, to fulfill his incorrigible ambitions." He corrected her gently, though his words still came off as being rather stern. "I had merely inherited the problems, HIS troubles."

The man was as bold as he was harsh, Shizuru pictured; having read the language of his demeanor. And there was no doubt, in her mind, that he was overweening in nature.

He then brought their steps to a sudden halt, and then turned his head to looked down at her. "…My dear, demons are unlike elves and faeries. Like humans, they are empty creatures, a miscreation in my opinion. Always craving for more, and yet, finding nothing that can satisfy their hunger. Quite frankly, I have no need for them. Perhaps I should do them a favor by erasing-"

"Don't!" The woman interjected sharply; like a loud crack of formidable thunder. With haste, she had released herself from him, only then to push herself up forcefully against his body. "…Don't you dare." She venomously warned, and with a hiss, her temper flashing in her eyes.

/And no power
Will bring you back, because we are doomed/

Shizuru had been amazed, stricken with awe by how this woman had turned this whole thing around. She had countered back his statements with her own assertions, transforming this argument into a minor quarrel between lovers.

Why, she was the sister that she had always dreamed to have. The girl had a backbone, which Shizuru believed to be an admirable trait.

This maiden's voice deepened as she continued, her pale complexion tainted by a rising smoke of black doom; like black, viral-like clouds passing and shrouding the light from the moon. She seemed more like a monster than she had at first appeared. "Don't you dare say anything like that. Don't even think it. …Don't take your hatred for your father and place it upon them."

Her body then began to blaze, fire lining every part of her; like when the moon eclipses the sun. And along with this intimidating scene, were twelve wings made of flame, horns, and a tail. By then, the fire became a raging inferno; she was literally engulfed in flames, and her whole being seemed to be completely that.

A person could still manage to make her out, but she was awfully terrifying.

/But our light breaks the darkness
Because every word from you will remain forever/

The man raised one of his large, thick, and sharp eyebrows at her; he has very pointy, arching brows for some reason. From Shizuru's point of view, he seemed to be quite amused, if not all the more enamored with her. He was grinning wolfishly, exposing his sharp teeth in a feral-like fashion.

The man was an utter loon, looking for trouble…and he had found her.

She was his "better half", possessing much of what he had less of or lacked.

/I still hear your dying words
"Come with me"
And still deep inside it burns/

He raised his large and strong hands, tenderly framing the contours of her face, his fingertips gently caressing the surface of her skin. He was careful not to scrape or nick her with his long, sharp nails.

And how he was able to touch her was a mystery of its own. Her fire did not burn, nor did it bring him any pain.

Moreover, it had began to rain...out of nowhere. Earlier, there had not been a single cloud in the air above them. Now it was pouring, the rain crashing down in profound clatter. Not to mention that it was also now extremely windy; the wind roared and howled with each intense band.

"Your father is gone." The women told him, calming down somewhat, with her voice growing soft and windy. The fires that burned were quelling, appearing mostly blue; like gas burner set on a low flame. "He can't hurt you anymore. Let it rest in peace."

/"Follow me through the raging flames
Where we will feel no pain"/

"Yesss, my pet." He crooned in response. A forked tongue then slithered from out between his lips, flickering like a serpent when it tastes the air.

In reaction to having seen the latter, Shizuru had jerked slightly backward. The man's anatomy was just off the wall, bizarre.

He then shamelessly grabbed a firm hold onto her ass, his hands gently squeezing her butt-cheeks, and then hoisted her up off the ground. And in return, she wrapped her legs around him, straddling his waist. Her hands were gripping the shoulders of his armor, trying her best to hang on.

Shizuru's face had almost turned red when she had witness him drawing a finger sensually down the crack of the lady's backside; which had given him squeak from the female. She then growled at him, the very end of her long, prehensile tail wagging behind her.

And what did he do? He just grinned at her, and wriggled his eyes in a provocative fashion; like a horny animal...on a quest for a much needed "make-up" session.

It was obvious that he "eats" her aggression right on up; like a dog lapping up an accidental spill on the floor.

And then suddenly, the memory began to fade away, dispersing, and them along with it; like a mist drifting through the night. Their silhouettes merged into one.

Not that Shizuru would complain. Actually, she was highly grateful for not being permitted to see any further into this. That's all she needed to know, that they were having straight up, rough and wild sex on the ground somewhere. And he looked like the type of animal that would "slam and hammer it" into the girl, savagely, that and they were probably both rather kinky...

Shizuru isn't stupid, she is psychic. And she had figured out who the girl was perfectly well on her own, or more like "who she is".

And she also had a good memory of her own, remembering what Ref had said in regards of her brother being a "one he had to fight for"; commenting about receiving "scratches all up and down his back".

It wasn't all that ostensive to believe. Their interactions with one another spoke volumes.

/I want to die
Each time it hurts/

"But there is an uprising…" His voice echoed, increasing in distance. "And I'd rather not lose you…just the thought…pains me…"

/I hear your dying words/

And then there had been another invading memory she had seen, as though its purposes was to keep a certain all too familiar wound green.

This moving image was before the period of having been ostracized by his family, redeemed from the deepest, darkest oblivion.

She had been surprised to hear the two hold an adult conversation, between a child and a god, sharing a moment of maturity with one another.

"Kazu-kun, do you even know what you are saying?" Even though Ref was in female form, his voice was rather deep, hoarse and mature for a little girl. There was no innocence in the child's voice and, in Shizuru's opinion, she sounded to be quite the little virago; a REAL troublemaker, all balled up in searing rage and spite. "We've crossed this boundary many times before. You are too young to understand."

/Where my soul is crying alone
I seek you/

Her raven hair was incredibly long, untamed with a flair of wildness.

Those smut black ears were definitely of that of a tail-wagger's, a canine of a more primitive pedigree; and for Shizuru, they explained perfectly well enough as to why that Devil was giving airs on wanting to dry hump her brother's leg back at Sun's shrine.

Her pale skin possessed a bluish tint; analogous to the description of a lifeless, once suffocated corpse. And those wide set eyes bore a great resemblance in shape with another's. Those characteristics were noticeably seen of a certain three eyed, fire demon's, and yet, still those optical orbs possessed their own individuality.

She certainly was a little vampire, especially with those razor-like teeth and fangs. A little death pixie.

She didn't wear a dress, like common little girls do, though her attire was rather swanky. The masculinity that she possessed was a dead give away, especially with her tom-boyish attire: Sporting a black vest and a red tie, a white dress shirt, a black pair of slacks, a fashionable red jacket, and her black and white pat-and-leather dress shoes.

Those blood red orbs of her's possessed a coppery gleam, whenever she laid her gaze upon the boy.

"I know what love is like, what love is…" Shizuru's brother had answered, determined to get his point across. "What it's about… You told me so yourself. You told me that love is like when you can't bare to be apart from a certain person, that you wish to share your life with that person, and you would do anything to make it happen." His face fell downward, his body grew tense and shaky. "And I feel those things. I don't know what I'd do without you, Yuki-chan. In fact, I don't think I could bare it, even the thoughts of it scares me."

/Here where the sun never seems
You persecute me/

Little kids shouldn't engage in conversations like this. It just didn't seem right, chiefly when such matters were concerning Kazuma.

He was far too young to be addressing matters that situated in the regions of profound love. He was too young to be making such a declaration, no matter how touching or sweet it was.

"Are you sure that isn't your puerile anxieties speaking?" The girl asked, her eyes addressing his developing behavior. "Or are you playing around?" Her brows lowered, knitting together as she narrowed her gaze in a serious and chilling manner. "If so, allow me to provide you with a heartfelt warning: I am not in the mood to play these sort of mind games, not with you…not right now. The matter that you're addressing is a tender one. So, spare me by changing the subject."

The boy's head shot up, becoming absolutely fretful. "No, I know what I feel! And what I feel is real!" He exclaimed with fervor, all the while holding his hand over his heart.

/We are united under cover of darkness
With the clouds heavy with the shadow on/

The girl's face had softened, faintly, at his rash response. "Are you sure that you're not in love with his form? That what you feel is merely a little crush?" She then looked discouraged, as though a sudden sadness had fallen upon her. And for once, a person could manage to see right through her and see who she really is; both her ruse and her resolve failing little by little. "You know that what you see is a part of me, and a disguise to deceive these people. Surely, you must not forget that."

It had been all too obvious.

Ref wanted the boy to love him for him, for who he truly is. And not be fancied with his masquerade. The circumstance was truly a classic case, of one better seen in timely movies.

"No, I have not forgotten." The boy answered, and clearly, he was sincere as he could be about the matter. "And no, it's not because I've grown accustomed to this form. I…love you, Ref. Please, don't leave me."

/When I baptize your heart with my tears/

Shizuru stared at the memory, observing her brother as he was on the brink of shedding tears. For some reason, she had always detested seeing him in such a pitiful shape; mostly because it showed weakness.

Ref was Kazuma's first love, in fact, his true love.

Shizuru's heart panged as she watched, before a sudden nausea overcame her. She felt downright shitty on the inside.

/I still hear your dying words
"Come with me"/

That sentimental moment had woken up an unpleasant memory of her own. She remembered what her family had done, terribly. That they had selfishly pulled these two apart, separating them for what reason that they claimed was "for the best".

One was without the other through out most of her brother's life, and the most important years of his life at that. And yet, through the eyes of a human, their relationship was unorthodox and degenerate.

Their course of action had seemed honorable, but in all integrity it had been unfair.

Whilst most of her family tended to her brother's "ailment", her uncle had been placed in charge of dealing away with "the demon".

/And still deep inside it burns/

Her uncle may have been responsible for converting their dead-beat stepfather, but he was a different brand of cruel than Masato was. Simply put, her uncle showed no mercy to any demon or devil he ever happened to meet. Like the rest of their clan, he viewed these species to be unqualified monsters, and that not one could not be trusted.

/"Follow me through the raging flames
Where we will feel no pain"/

The man had driven a sacred relic through the Devil's chest, right where the heart would've been. He had used an old fashioned, metal stake that had been blessed by a priest… And for this, for having denied the Devil of what was rightfully His, her uncle had proven to be the greatest monster.

/I want to die
Each time it hurts
I hear your dying words/

It was a nightmare, a miserably depressing nightmare.

And their family was to blame. They were to blame for many things. One happened to be Kazuma's view on anything that he perceived to be far from human, which had been part of their fundamental teachings.

She didn't want to see these memories, but it would seem that she had no other choice but to. She just wanted to find her brother. Was that too much to ask for?

Yuki's expression displayed an impression of tranquility, of a crescendo of heavenly bliss. Shining through those eyes was an unreserved devotion, and yet, there was also a shroud of lament. There was such a melancholic warmth and love in those eyes.

Was Reficul that much in love with him, even with a person of this ripe age? Had he loved him even back then as he did now?

"I will never leave nor forsake you," She delivered her words in keen affection. "You have my solemn vow…as well as my heart. It is an oath that I will keep beyond the end of time. That you are forever mine, and I am forever your's…" She reached over and placed a hand upon him, and rubbed his head in a comforting manner. "But alas, you are still far too young… For now, we must wait."

/I still hear your dying words
"Come with me"/

The younger version of Shizuru's looked up at her, sniffling as he wiped the snot fro his nose, making use out of the back of his hand. "Until the dice is rolled seven or eight?"

She growled at his senselessness. "No, you idjit." She retorted rather grouchily, her nose wrinkling in a snarl. "That's just…asinine."

/And still deep inside it burns/

The boy smiled sheepishly, blushing incredibly. "I know, I wanted to make a rhyme…" He blinked, his grin becoming all the more "state of the art" brand of being cheesy. For having suddenly realized something that he felt to be splendid in worth, he noted out loud in a whimsy; "Hey, that rhymed, too! Well, sort of."

Shizuru had snorted at that statement. Her brother could be so stupid at times.

The girl grunted as she bared her teeth in agitation, her eyes had rolled upwards and towards the backs of their sockets. She didn't have enough patience to be horsing around. "See, this is precisely what I am talking about." She countered, using a "do as I say" tone of voice. Impertinent and unassailable, she certainly was.

This girl was, indeed, Ref...through and through.

/"Follow me through the raging flames
Where we will feel no pain"/

And by this time, the memory was drawing to an end. And for what she could manage to see, the girl had gotten down upon her hands and knees, now bowing before the boy that stood as her true form began to take shape.

/I want to die
Each time it hurts/

"Look, you're still a kid. When you're mature enough, you'll understand…"

The memory darkened, the light in the room dulling like a hasty retreat. It was no different than that of the prior memory that had been described to you.

/I hear your dying words/

"That you are mine." Her voice interwoven with the true voice, merging together as it echoed. His possessiveness clear to a fault. "You have always been mine."

And with that, everything that was once there had disappeared.

These memories were like a looking glass; too annoying and painfully truthful.

...TBC...


Author's Comments:

Oi. Another sucky chapter. I tried to update it as soon as I could. I can't answer how many chapters there will be in a book, sorry. That in itself is determined on how the story flows.

And I am sorry I couldn't get it done faster. Not only have I been under the weather, but I had somehow sprung my foot.

Anyway, I wanted to take a step back from "the scary"...to help lighten the mood just a smidgen.

The song is "Dying words" by Nu Pagadi. You all should listen to it. It's a very nice song, although it is sung in German.

Thanks for reading. And thank you all for your reviews. FFN has been acting weird as of late, so please review... This way, I'll know you've liked reading this chapter.