I can't shake the nerves tripping through me as I stand at a tunnel to Demon World with Jin, Chu, Touya, Rinku, Shishi, and Suzuki around me. It feels like the past five months just flew by. I'm already a second year in high school, and, much to my surprise, Mayumi got permission from her parents to join me at Meiou. It's summer break now, and we're as ready as we can be. This is really it. We're going to Demon World.
Kurama had already briefed us on what's expected of us when we arrive at Yomi's territory. We're to be part of his army when the fighting breaks out for dominance in Demon World. Yusuke and Hiei will be parts of the enemies we'll be going against. Even knowing this, I can't help but hope it doesn't come to that. There's no way Kurama can want that either, even if he never says as much.
Kurama told me that he and Yomi had worked together centuries ago, but that Kurama had left his old partner for dead because he'd been getting too dangerous. A liability. I didn't question it. The spirit fox Kurama once was made decisions solely based on cold calculation, so if he had really believed it would have been better for Yomi to have perished, I had to take him at his word. At least for now.
As the fox in question lead the way to Gandara, we all followed in stony silence. We'd been informed that Yomi could hear anything in his territory, a sense he'd developed after losing his eyesight. The sheer amount of stress hearing that heaped on me has made me extremely nervous. What that means is that I'll be blindly trusting Kurama from the moment we step into this territory until the moment we leave. I swear, if he ever doubts my faith in him again, I'll kick his ass.
Gandara is dark and sparse, the capital city really the only place with a significant amount of anything going on. That's Demon World in essence, really. It's pretty untamed and unmanageable save for these little pockets where demons gather either for companionship or safety in numbers or to prey on those seeking both. It's not a kind world.
The last time I was here, I was still engaged to Hide, a fact I'd like to forget. I hadn't told Kurama about the gift or the letter because I didn't want him to worry. He had enough on his mind, and I couldn't stand the idea of adding something else to it. Besides, what was the worst that could happen? It's been half a year since then, and he hasn't tried anything. On top of that, the odds he could get to me while I was under Yomi's ears were next to none.
Once we arrive at Yomi's stronghold, Kurama breaks off from the rest of us, and we're told to wait in a hall until we're summoned. I don't like the idea of being without him in a strange place, but none of the others seem particularly worried. At least, they aren't showing if they are. Rinku is doing yo-yo tricks, Jin, Chu, and Touya watching. Shishi and Suzuki are paying them no mind, both looking like they'd rather be anywhere else. I wish I could be nearly so easily distracted.
When we're finally summoned, Chu puts his hand on my shoulder, mouthing "look intimidating." He then proceeds to put on a scowl that made me grin, some of my nerves fading away. This won't even be the hard part, I have to remind myself.
Stepping inside the hall, I feel all of my comrades flare up, flexing their demon energy like no one's business. I would have probably attempted to join them if not for two things: the sight of Kurama, dressed in what must have been a Gandaran officer's uniform and the fact that I recognize the demon beside him.
While much less important, I don't like how frightening Kurama looks up there, staring down at us, completely expressionless. He's only a matter of feet away, but he feels very distant in this moment. More pressing is the serious amount of relief I feel at the fact that Yomi can't see. I can just imagine what would happen if Yomi knew that one of the fighters Kurama had brought here, one of Kurama's own friends, had saved Yomi's life.
The man on the other side of Yomi glares at a small old man with a device in his hands. The man walks up to Jin, and the device makes some noises. "Well, 120,000." He says, moving on to Chu. He doesn't say anything this time, just gasps, continuing down the line. "I never would have believed it. Seven fighters for us, all with energy levels of 120,000 or higher."
"That can't be!" the man beside Yomi growls.
"Seven?" Yomi asks, tilting his head toward Kurama.
"I picked up another fighter along the way," Kurama replies mildly, not looking my way. That's probably for the best or he might have seen me sweating bullets.
"You said you've spent some time on them," the small demon says to Kurama, "but these levels are rare feats. How did you get them so strong?"
"Just good nutrition and the proper exercise," he replies. "Nothing special." I would have laughed if I wasn't still freaked out.
"Funny," Touya says.
"Why don't you say the real training you put us through?" Chu growls.
"Yeah," Rinku adds. "Like the four weeks locked in that cave?"
"Or balancing on spikes," Shishi says.
"Or being buried alive with the snakes and things," Jin says.
"Hag didn't let me shower for months," Suzuki finishes.
Why am I all of a sudden really glad the worst I had to deal with was Kurama kicking my ass every other day?
"Excellent work," Yomi says, looking toward Kurama. "You've done as promised. And so in return, I'd like to make you my new second in command if you'll accept it."
"Sure," Kurama says like it isn't a huge deal. I really really hope he knows what he's doing.
"But, Lord Yomi, should you be so rash?" the other man standing beside him says, leaning over. "We don't know if we can trust these seven. Where their loyalties lie."
"That is enough from you." Yomi's voice is calm, and yet it makes me fidget in place. "What have you done these past few hundred years to further my power, Shachi?"
Shachi looks dumbstruck. "But...our army!"
"It is true, Shachi," the smaller demon says, "by numbers you are the second strongest fighter we have on our side, but in brains and leadership, you are weak." Ouch.
"What do you know?!"
"You speak of the army you maintained, but what good's it done? Can you name one soldier with energy levels even close to 100,000?" Shachi doesn't respond, just stands there, fuming. "There is a dark time ahead of us, a great war for power where any edge we get could mean the difference between order and bowing to Mukuro's chaos. In his short time here, Kurama has brought seven fighters stronger than your entire army combined, yet you can't even give him praise."
"Youda." Yomi stops the old man, saying, "Your point is heard. Now, can you please draw up the papers to make this change of powers official? What matters here is that our path to unification can live another day."
Yomi gets to his feet to leave, and I start to think maybe this will be fine. Maybe I'll just be mute the entire time I'm here, have no one say my name, it'll be fine. That is, of course, when I sneeze. Fire shoots out of my nose, making the boys around me jump.
"Geez, watch where you shoot that now, Asaki," Jin says, making Chu laugh. Neither of them seem to register the look of horror on my face until it's too late.
"And Youda." Yomi might not be able to see, but he sure is looking my way. "After you've shown them to their rooms, escort that one to my office."
Shit.
"Of course, Lord Yomi." Then, he's gone.
Shit shit shit shit….
"You all right there, Asaki?" Chu asks, putting a hand on my shoulder. He hisses, yanking it away, and I stare in horror at his burnt hand. "You look like you've seen a ghost, sheila."
"S-sorry," I mumble, taking his hand and healing the burn. "I'm fine."
"Wonder what Yomi wants you for," Rinku says. "Somebody's in trouble."
You have no idea.
"Come along then," Youda says, standing at the front of the room. "Allow me to show you where you'll be staying."
"Maybe we can finally get a bit of rest," Touya says as the six of them file after Youda. I shoot one last look at Kurama whose face is as impassive as ever before following suit. The guys are all laughing and joking, something I can't help but be envious of. All I can think about is an incident, almost long enough ago that I should have forgotten. Instead, it's vivid in my memory, plaguing me with the knowledge of what I've done.
Once the six guys have been shown their rooms, Youda turns to me, saying, "Kurama only told us he was bringing six fighters, so we've yet to prepare a room for you. In the meantime, if you'll follow me, I'll show you to Lord Yomi's office."
I nod, not trusting myself to speak right now. This day is only going to keep getting worse, I can feel it.
It's not a long walk, but all of these hallways look the same, very gray and uninspiring with tiled floors and scarcely any windows. What windows I do pass show the same dark sky, the same lit skyscrapers, somehow both familiar and alien at once. It's like a facsimile of Living World cities, only darker. Less human.
"Wait here."
When Youda speaks again, we're outside a door at the end of a particularly long hallway. There's a window to my left that I stare out of while Youda steps inside the room. After a few seconds, he opens it wide, bowing to me.
"Thank you," I say, stepping inside and wishing he wouldn't close the door when he leaves. He does, however, leaving me alone with the man sitting at a desk, papers neatly piled around him. With three ears on either side of his head, that long black hair, and those horns, he's pretty distinct. I couldn't have mistaken him for anyone else, even if I'd wanted to. And I really really want to.
"It's been quite some time," Yomi says, getting to his feet. "Asaki, wasn't it? I never got a chance to thank you, all those years ago."
"There was no...need." I trail off as a familiar energy flares up, somewhere else in the stronghold. It's powerful, almost overwhelming, and it sends a chill up my spine.
"I see Yoko's decided to join us," Yomi says. "For good, I hope."
Taking a deep breath, I let it out slowly, saying, "If Kurama is the one who left you for dead all those years ago, then why do you still want him at your side?"
Yomi smiles just a little, but there's no warmth to it. "I can't think of a more terrifying enemy to have, can you?"
I shake my head before remembering he can't see. "No."
"I keep him close because I know just how valuable an ally he is. Is that not also why you two are friends?"
"I have a feeling we have a very different idea of what makes a person valuable," is all I offer in reply.
He nods. "Indeed. That alone is enough to make me wonder what it is he finds worthwhile in you."
"I haven't the slightest," I reply.
"Well, why don't we ask him when he arrives? He should be here-" A knock at the door, and Yomi smiles. "Come in."
Kurama steps inside, but I don't look his way, instead keeping my eyes trained on Yomi. Even when Kurama stops at my side, I hold my ground, focused on the person who is currently more dangerous right now. Kurama may be mad at me later, but right now, he's as much a prisoner of circumstance as I am.
"Welcome, Kurama. Your lover and I were just discussing her merits."
"Lover?" Kurama and I say at the same time. Now we do look at each other, thoroughly bewildered.
"Am I mistaken?" Yomi asks. "You do bear a charm made for lovers, do you not?"
Kurama reaches in his pocket, pulling out the Inner-Flame Charm I'd given him a year and a half ago, and I feel my face grow warm. "That wasn't my intent when I made it. I didn't realize what it was until after I'd spent hours on it. I wasn't going to just stop."
"I see," Yomi replies. "A misunderstanding, then. Forgive me. Someone as...well-versed in the ways of women wouldn't settle for just anyone, would you Kurama?"
That stings in more ways than one. The last thing I want to think about right now is how many women Yoko has probably bedded for one reason or another, and Yomi probably knows it too. Either that, or he's trying to feel us out, see if we're really telling the truth.
"You are correct," Kurama replies easily. "I do have discerning tastes in partners, although that has changed considerably over the years."
"As it should, considering your new body and circumstances. However, that's not why I summoned either of you here." Turning his head toward me, he says, "I merely wanted to welcome you here and to thank you for saving my life more than three hundred years ago."
Kurama stiffens, just the tiniest contraction of muscles, but I swear, I can feel it in my bones. I'm sorry! I didn't know!.
"Perhaps she hasn't told you," Yomi says, smiling mildly at Kurama. "When you left me for dead all that time ago, Asaki found me. She was just a child then, so I don't blame her for having forgotten me. She healed me, brought me back from the brink of death. I owe her a debt I doubt I can ever repay."
I want to say he owes me nothing, to brush away his words, but I've spent enough time around silver-tongued demons to know that having something to hold over their heads is a good thing. Even if he doesn't mean it, he still said it. His word may be worth some leverage at some point in the future.
"Fate smiled on you," I reply, shrugging. "I really don't remember well, but I think luck was on your side. If my guardians had found you, they would have finished you off."
"Then I truly was blessed that day." He bows his head to me, just a little, and I narrow my eyes, my fire rising, threatening to dance along my skin. It's been a long time since I've seen such a facetious display of respect, and it makes my blood boil. This whole situation is pissing me off.
Breathe. Don't lose your cool, Asaki.
"If I may?"
"Of course, Asaki."
Kurama's eyes are on me, and I feel like he's begging me not to do something stupid. Too late. "I don't know what your intentions are for me, but I can venture a guess. To that end, if you think you can use me to manipulate Kurama any more than you already are, you are gravely mistaken. We are just friends, the same as he and the rest of those fighters."
The silence that meets my words feels like it stretches on for ages. When it's finally broken by Yomi, I almost wish it had lasted longer. "It hurts me, Asaki, to think you'd doubt my intentions so much. I only want to see Demon World unified under one leader. Kurama's aid, and that of the fighters he's brought, is essential to fulfilling my goals. I'm sorry if I offended you."
Bullshit. "It's fine. If you'll excuse me, I'm sure you two have better things to discuss than his relationships with the people around him." I jab a finger in Kurama's direction before turning and walking out of that room. It takes all of my willpower not to slam the door behind me.
Standing out in the hallway, I try to catch my breath to little avail. I'm scared, I'm embarrassed, and now I'm angry. That's not a good combination as far as controlling my emotions or my fire. Just as I'm about to take a step forward, the glass in the window to my right shatters, a throwing knife disintegrating before it can pierce the skin of my neck. The tiles beneath my feet are melting all over my shoes, but I don't care.
Plucking a strand of hair from my head, I toss it back out the window, waiting until I hear the explosion and the scream before I keep walking. The door behind me opens, and I stop, turning to see Kurama and Yomi step into the melted tile I've left behind.
"What happened?" Kurama asks, ignoring what's happening at his feet.
"Someone tried to kill me," I say, gesturing to the broken window. I'm so angry I swear I can hear fire in my own voice. Still, I keep my tone neutral as I say, "So, I killed them instead." With that, I bow, turn, and walk away.
...
Over three hundred years ago, when I was maybe 5 or 6 years old, I remember getting separated from whichever guardians my father had looking after me at the time. I've been through so many I can't even recall their faces or names anymore. Regardless, I think this was one of the rare occasions when becoming separated wasn't intentional.
I can't remember where I was or how I found him, but when I did, he was seriously hurt. He'd lost so much blood it was a wonder he was alive at all, and something told me if I didn't act, he wouldn't be for much longer. Kneeling beside him, I'd pressed my hands against his arm, flinching when he grabbed me, looking up at me with empty holes where his eyes should have been.
I swallowed hard, suppressing a scream, but I didn't let go, instead pushing what healing I could into him. When he realized what I was doing, he released me, falling limp to the ground. I didn't have a very good grasp of my strength at that point, so I couldn't do much. I stopped his bleeding and dulled some of the pain, but we both knew he would never see again.
"Asaki!"
Someone had called my name, and I'd gotten to my feet, giving one last look at the man before me. I didn't know if he would survive.
"Asaki, where are you?"
I turned to leave, letting out a fiery sneeze before leaving that man behind.
Thinking back, there was no way I could have known who he was or what he would become. I have nothing to feel bad about or apologize for. It was just a weird turn of fate. That's enough to calm me down, at least enough so that I'm not melting the world around me. Sitting on the floor of an empty hall with my back against one of the walls, I let out a long sigh, closing my eyes and wishing I were back home.
"You all right there, sheila?"
I open one eye and then the other, blinking up at Chu. "I'm fine," I tell him. "What's up?"
"Well, I was just taking a tour of the place, and I thought this room felt unusually hot. That's when I saw you sitting here. Thought I'd check on you. You look right awful. Need to blow off some steam? I wouldn't mind a spar."
My first thought is to turn him down, but...maybe a little stress relief isn't a bad idea. There's no way both Kurama and Yomi won't know what we're up to, but honestly, I don't care. Flexing seems like a good way to show off just how strong we both are. Maybe it's nothing compared to Yomi and Kurama, but that doesn't mean it isn't impressive.
"Sure. Why not."
So, we trade blows for a while, beating the ever-loving shit out of each other until we're both so tired it's hard to stand. When we finally stop, it's only because Youda appears in the hall, beckoning me toward him.
"Thanks, Chu," I say, smiling as I extend a hand.
"Anytime, Asaki," he replies, grasping my hand so I can heal him. "Always a pleasure knocking heads with ya."
I wave goodbye before approaching Youda. He's got a small smile on his face, and I can't help but wonder if he's up to something. "What is it?" I ask.
"I've prepared a room for you, per Lord Yomi's request," he says. "If you'll follow me." I do as he asks, unable to shake the feeling that there's something really stupid waiting for me at the end of this walk. When we stop outside a door, he pushes it open, gesturing for me to step inside.
Frowning, I do as he asks, taking in the massive room before me. There's a large bed, a dresser, a big window looking out over Gandara, and a desk, complete with a person pouring over documents. Good. Perfect.
"Youda, I think there's been a mistake," I say as the occupant of said desk gets to his feet. "This room appears to be occupied."
"There's no mistake," Youda says. "Lord Yomi was worried you might be uncomfortable, being the only woman in the stronghold, so he thought you might wish to room with a friend."
Son of a bitch. "He was wrong, and I want a new room," I reply, all of the anger I'd worked off coming back in full force.
"Unfortunately, that's not possible. This is the arrangement." Youda bows and leaves before I have the chance to call him something foul.
"I am going to murder him in his sleep," I growl.
"Don't, Asaki," Kurama says, and I turn to face him, not even the least bit surprised to see how angry he is.
"What?" I snap. "You can't tell me you're okay with this? That creep-"
He grabs my wrist hard, his fingers digging into my skin, surprising me. Those green eyes are boring into me, fire dancing in their depths as he mouths, Don't provoke him.
And just like that, Yomi and Youda aren't the only ones I want to call foul names. "You're hurting me," I tell him, keeping my voice low, even as my rage rises.
He releases me like he's been burnt, though I've done nothing of the sort. The marks he's left behind on my wrist sit between us like a weight, and I stare at them for a long moment before turning and walking out of the room. He doesn't follow. I don't want him to.
I'm so frigging pissed. At Yomi, Youda, Kurama...myself. I had been fully prepared for so many things, but having my relationship with Kurama messed with like this was not one of them. I'd told Yomi he couldn't use me to manipulate the fox, but apparently, he was going to try. I want to scream, to yell, to fight this in any way I can, but I can't. As much as I don't want to admit it, Kurama's right. I shouldn't provoke someone so much stronger than me. Still, I think I'm allowed to be angry.
After a while, I end up in another hall, this one smelling kind of like blood. There are a few demons in here scrubbing the floor, so I turn to leave, not wanting to interrupt their work.
"You shouldn't wander around on your own too much," a voice behind me says, walking toward me. "It's dangerous."
"I've been around demons like you all my life," I tell Yomi, narrowing my eyes as I face him. "I'm not afraid, and you're nothing special." So much for not provoking.
He's silent for a long moment, but when he finally speaks, it's with a wry smile. "I think we're going to get along, you and I."
A beat passes. Two. Letting out a long sigh, I shake my head, saying, "Maybe we will." If only because I refuse to let him know he's getting to me.
"I was planning to take a walk, if you'd care to join me," Yomi says, gesturing back the way I came. "There's a courtyard our mutual friend has been tending to that I'd like to visit."
Our mutual friend, my ass. "Sure."
So, we start to walk, and I can't help but be impressed at how easily he navigates the halls, even without his sight. "You have this place memorized, don't you?" I ask after a little while.
"I do," he replies. "The things I've learned to do for myself since losing my sight are nothing short of incredible."
I don't want to be impressed, but I really am. "I don't think I'd want to deal with Kurama again if he'd done something like that to me."
"Consider," he says, "Kurama is the only person who provides me any challenge, mentally. Besides, it's safer to have him at my side than opposing me."
"I honestly think if you hadn't contacted him, he would have just let you be," I say.
"I wonder." After a long stretch of silence, he changes the subject. "I have a question for you."
"Shoot," I say. Something tells me he already knows the answer to whatever it is he's going to ask.
"You're Taro Anno's daughter, correct?"
Ah. Here we go. "Yes. However, if you think you can use me against my father in some way, you're wrong. We don't exactly see eye to eye, to put it mildly."
"Be that as it may," he says, "you are still his child."
"I am."
"It must have been difficult, growing up under such pressure."
I shrug, wondering where he's going with this. I doubt it's therapy time. "It's in the past."
"I hear he's been acquiring massive amounts of Spirit World throughout the years. That's no small feat."
"He's nothing if not ambitious."
"And you aren't?"
"I learned a long time ago that having my own ambitions didn't matter. It was all I could do not to get swept up in other people's expectations of me. So, no, I'm not ambitious at all."
"Pity," he says, shaking his head. "I was hoping you could help me with something." I don't respond, and I can tell he's waiting for me to ask. When I don't, he continues as though I had, however. "What has Kurama told you about my plans for Demon World?"
"You want to unify the warring factions," I reply.
"My goal is to stop the fighting," he says. "I want to present a unified front so that Demon World is no longer the festering sore on the three Worlds that it's always been."
"I doubt that's possible, even if you did succeed," I say, shaking my head.
"It will be difficult, but winning this war will be the start. If I can gain influence over Living and Spirit World, it will be much easier." He stops before a door to our right, saying, "To that end, I wonder if you would consider becoming my partner."
What did he just say? "Partner?"
"With the prominence your name alone would give, coupled with your father's influence, it would be a simple matter to control everything."
I shake my head slowly, letting out a sigh. "What you're asking is impossible."
"Because you have no ambition."
"Because I have no control over what my father does with his power. As for my name, I'm the half-demon spawn of a shrine maiden and one of the most hated men in the three Worlds. I would cause more trouble than I'm worth."
"I wonder about that," he says. "In this world, power is all that matters. Even with your heritage, your strength alone would win you respect."
"You're wrong," I tell him. "My heritage would make people want to test me, and I'm not interested in fighting for my life for what little would be left of it. I'm sorry, but the answer is no."
"All right," Yomi says, nodding. "I've heard you, Miss Anno. However, if you change your mind, the offer still stands."
With that, he opens the door to the courtyard and steps through. I follow behind, wondering what the hell kind of conversation we just had when I stop short, surprised to see Kurama here, his entire arm in the mouth of a carnivorous plant. The entire space is filled with these massive plants, most of which are either deadly because they will eat us or deadly if we touched them.
"Should we bother him, do you think?" Yomi asks me.
"No," I almost whine, watching with no small amount of discomfort. I know Kurama knows what he's doing, but still….
"Oh, that reminds me," Yomi says. "Youda told me you had a problem with your room. Did you want a new one?"
At this, I tear my eyes from Kurama, staring right at Yomi. The entire conversation we'd just had felt like a game, and I don't want to keep playing anymore. I can't give him what he wants. "No," I reply. "It's fine."
"Ah, good. I was worried I'd upset you."
"You couldn't," I reply, walking as close as I dare to where Kurama is standing. He looks up at the sound of my approach, his eyes falling first on me and then on Yomi.
"Good," Yomi says. "Then I'll leave you. Thank you for accompanying me, Asaki."
"Any time."
And then, it was just me, Kurama, and the plant that was currently gumming his arm.
A/N: We're finally in Demon World. Thank all the stars. I can't express to you how happy I am that we're here. I don't know that I ever thought I'd make it. I played with the timeline for the express purpose of giving Asaki a role in Yomi's life. Because messing with Kurama is fun. A lot of fun.
Also! Happy two year anniversary to A Hand to Hold! It still amazes me that I haven't given up on this monster of a story yet. I have a tendency to orphan things. *side eyes other stories* But, I haven't yet, and I want to thank all of you for not having given up either! Thanks for sticking with me for so long! Special thanks to MasqueradeStar11, Layla1234567, firemadein789, sammie, and bluerose921 for the reviews!