Chapter Four
"If you love something, set it free. If it returns, it's yours forever. If it doesn't, it was never yours to begin with." -Anonymous
Karasu drifted into Shuuichi Minamino's room, his dark form seeming like nothing more than a shadow. He observed the room for a moment, taking in the cleanliness and the neatness. It was so not chaotic.so unlike his unruly fox. The crow carefully stepped in beside Kurama, his face twisted into something that looked as if was trying to mimic a genuine smile. He paused for a moment before giving Kurama's dreams a push in the direction he wanted. His fox looked so peaceful and vulnerable. His guard was off, and it made him absolutely *beautiful*. His red hair spread out messily on the pillow and his face lacked any signs of stress or worry, and if it weren't for the slight moving of his chest and pinkish tinge to his cheeks, he could be mistaken for being dead. But, isn't that what they called sleep? The sister of death? But, enough of that. It was time to jolt Kurama's memories.
* * * *
Youko Kurama stood in a proud manner, his arms crossed as he gazed as the smaller, and by his standards, disgusting youkai before him. In fact, the demon was quite frail and looked as if only a thin line held him between this world and the next, what with a broken face and body and no youki. Of course, Kurama hadn't helped the matter any when he'd viciously hit the small thing and then tied him securely in the rose whip, barbs sinking deep into the demon's skin. He glanced sideways to Kuronue who was holding a pendant up to the light that filtered through the trees.
"Any damage?"
"No...but Kurama! You've got to watch where you swing that whip of yours. You could've seriously hurt this jewel, and it's so pretty," The bat youkai chided playfully after flipping the jewel back into one of his pockets. He turned to look at the demon already bordering on death. "Now, what do we do with him?"
"Can't be too light in our punishment. He *did* try to steal what was ours! We don't want demons thinking we're becoming soft in our old age."
"Seems he'll be dead soon anyway," Kuronue observed as he grasped the demon's face in his hand, surveying him. "Unless he's got a strong will to survive, which I doubt."
"Then killing him will be doing him a favor," Kurama decided as he tightened the slack on the whip.
"Perhaps," Kuronue grinned back up at Kurama before turning to look evenly at the smaller demon.
"You're Youko Kurama..." The demon gasped through pained breaths looking up at the pair, his unfocused gaze locked on the demon fox.
"Ah, am I that famous already?" Kurama grinned, raising his eyebrows in mock surprise as he looked over at Kuronue.
"Hey, you didn't need to tell him that," Kuronue wagged his finger in a reprimanding way at the broken demon before him, "Do you know how hard it is to put up with this guy already without you adding to his horribly inflated ego?"
"It's not my fault that I appreciate myself and recognize how beautiful I truly am," Kurama responded, placing his hand delicately on his chest.
"Look what you've done!" Kuronue shook his head back and forth sadly, "He's going to go off on another spheel about how great he is."
"But...it's true, he is great!" The demon protested, fighting himself upright a little more.
"Brown nosing," Kuronue grimaced.
"Don't be jealous."
"Ahhh, enough fun, Kurama. I'm getting bored. Let's just kill him."
"I've changed my mind, let's not do that today," Kurama grinned at his friend.
"Don't tell me you bought this guys boot licking," Kuronue's face turned to one of true disgust as he looked over at the Youko.
"Of course not. But you have to admit that we didn't really win against him fairly. He already seems weak."
Kuronue snorted, "And when has that ever stopped you before from killing someone? Really, Kurama, growing soft in your old age?"
"Yeah, yeah. I'm going senile, too," Kurama turned his gaze back to the demon. "I'm great?"
"Yes...I wish..."
"You wish?"
"To prove...my appreciation for you" The demon finished quietly. The word he had sought hadn't been 'appreciation,' but he couldn't tell the fox he loved him. He would be rejected, and besides, Kurama already had...a lover? He looked up at the fox demon again.
"Oh? Really?" Kurama smiled slightly, a new plan formulating in his head. He watched as the collapsed demon nodded his head slightly. "Find something that proves your 'appreciation' of me, then. Something that you'll wear...." Kurama thought for a moment, "Find the Mask of Anteros and wear it until I see you again."
"Ah...all right."
"Don't forget," Kurama told him as he wrapped the whip up, transforming it into a rose and then into a tiny seed which he tucked in his hair. "And it's not worth anything if you're dead, so try to find yourself a healer," Kurama turned crisply and began walking away.
"Kurama? What was that about?" Kuronue caught up with his friend, a confused look on his face.
"Just having fun," Kurama chuckled.
"The Mask of Anteros? What the hell is that?"
"I once overheard about it in some story that some old youkai was telling in a tavern to some children for money."
"Does it exist?"
"Anything is possible in the Makai, so who knows?" Kurama laughed, deftly slipping his hand into Kuronue's pocket and pulling the pendant out.
"Hey!" Kuronue growled as Kurama studied the jewel that seemed to glow from within, "Give that back!" Kuronue dove for the pendant but was too late. Laughing, Kurama began running through the forest, gracefully dodging in and out of the trees in a chase that would easily last well into the night.
* * * * *
Kurama snapped awake, the dream still very fresh in his mind. He had so many memories that sometimes it was hard to keep track of them. However, why had that one come unbidden to him? Kurama thought back for a moment, and wondered what had happened to the demon who'd been in such poor condition. He'd always given the thing up for dead and had never given it a second thought. Still, it was odd that he'd dreamed about that...
Karasu's brow furrowed when Kurama gave no recognition between the memory and his current aggressor. He frowned considerably as he realized why Kurama hadn't been able to make the connection. When Youko and Kuronue had happened upon him so many years ago, Karasu had already been broken and beaten, his youki had been almost non existent and his facial figures were had been swollen. Quite simply, there was nothing for Kurama to go on to make the connection. Karasu sighed, looking down at the red head. He felt like a total idiot.
* * * *
Yusuke sat on the stairs of Genkai's steps, looking out on the lush forest. However, despite the serenity of the outdoors, he could not bring himself to feel a moment of that peace. His hands were being drawn in and out of fists, his teeth clenched tightly. He knew the circumstances and it grated on him. Karasu was a formidable opponent, and he already had Hiei's soul. How could they get out of the situation this time with both Kurama and Hiei alive? And how the hell did you fight a DEAD person? Yusuke's teeth clenched tighter, and he brought his fist back and slammed it violently into the trunk. The old tree quickly snapped, large splinters forming at the point of impact as it took on an unnatural angle.
"If I wanted the forest bulldozed, I'd do it myself," A quiet voice reprimanded kindly. Yusuke turned quickly to meet the gaze of his trainer.
"Genkai!" Yusuke cried out. The elderly woman nodded in acknowledgment. The two gazed silently at each other for a moment. Finally, Yusuke broke the silence, "'Baasan, what am I going to do? Hiei's soul is stolen, Karasu has remained silent on what he wants, but I know it's going to be something with Kurama.but damnit! Karasu is dead! How am I supposed to win against a dead man? How am I going to get Hiei back intact?"
"Yusuke." Genkai began, a tiny smile on her face as she was struck with a wave of nostalgia. He'd come so far since she first met him! Imagine- he had been a leader of the Reikai Tantei and was now one of the lords of the Makai.! He'd made so many friends along the way that his path would be easier then a lonely one. He'd managed to trust the silent fire demon and had been the first to have that trust returned. Indeed, he had some formidable allies. "Karasu is greedy, and he'll let you know what he wants soon, though I imagine he may play some mind games first."
"But-"
"Perhaps you should talk to Mukuro," Genkai hinted subtly. Yusuke looked at her curiously for a moment for suddenly nodding, a slight grin on her face.
"Alright."
* * * *
Hiei gazed at his body. He studied himself, observing all the things he'd never noticed before. It was odd, to say the least. And, he'd never really seen what he looked like before. In life, he only saw his reflection, but here he was..and it was.*weird*. His sense of self was a bit detached since he'd always conceived reality from his body. He tapped the glass of the tube that held him, but, of course, he passed through it and into the liquid substance that kept his body preserved. Imagine-he could be like this forever! The fire demon frowned at that, if there was someway to get back. He jumped up through the glass and positioned himself in his body, feeling out, trying to meld the two as they belonged. He felt a certain longing, something that dated back to the beginning of life, a sense of belonging and wanting, but at the same time, an overwhelming loss. He knew he was where he was supposed to be, but for some reason it wasn't happening.
"Mukuro, can you contact Karasu?" Yusuke inquired as she pushed the door to her infirmary open. Hiei looked towards the pair as they came in, startled.
"I'm working on it, but the spiritual plane is much more.vague then our own. It's harder for my psychics to look for souls not connected here. Also, there's a lot more gaps and even smaller connected planes. The whole spiritual plane is like some dream. In fact, I have my own theories on that."
"But Koenma-"
"The Reikai operators guide the majority of souls to where they're supposed to be, but there's always the ghosts who linger. The souls who are too strongly connected to something on this plane that they can't leave."
"But what about Karasu? I thought Koenma had some spiritual teams on finding him.
"Sure, but there are vast pockets. Also, it seems that Karasu has somehow blocked himself.somehow hid his defining youki. I imagine they'll find him eventually, but you have to remember: Every creature who has ever died is there in some form. They have to sift through ALL the afterlifes. He could be hiding anywhere."
"Well, shit."
"Exactly," Mukuro nodded her head. Hiei looked on, slightly peeved before fading out.
* * *
"Why, you're back, Hiei!" Karasu feigned surprise, his hands folded in his lap, his legs crossed. The fire demon flashed him an evil look. "Have fun being free?" Karasu continued.
"Hn."
"Let's fight."
"What?" Hiei's crimson gaze suddenly focused on the other demon.
"I'm bored, I want the practice.I assume you'd like to work off some stress," Karasu looked expectedly at Hiei, and when the demon didn't react either way, he smiled as the cave around them seemed to melt.
"What the hell..?" Hiei looked at the gray walls dissolve and flow into the floor, quickly becoming the arena of the Ankoku Bujutsukai! The stands were filled with the berating yells of hateful demons. Hiei was faced up against the crow youkai Behind him he could hear the encouraging yell of Yusuke, but when he turned quickly, no one was there.
"This is part of my memory," Karasu explained simply.
"We'll fight here?"
"Same rules as the tournament," Karasu confirmed. Hiei shrugged, pulling his sword from where he'd kept it, more of a familiar move then anything else. It took him a moment to realize that until just now, the sword hadn't been on him as a spirit. At a closer glance, he realized it was the one he had used during the second part of the tournament.
"It's how I remember it, and how it was," Karasu shrugged in explanation.
"Karasu vs. Hiei! Begin!" Keito's sudden cry echoed throughout the stadium as she spoke into her microphone. Both contestants quickly sprung into action.
"You're fast," Karasu commented as Hiei dodged one of his small bombs. Hiei launched himself toward the bomb youaki, suddenly having to change direction as a bomb glowed into existence and exploded almost simultaneously. Hiei's eyes narrowed as he began an immediate assessment of his opponent. As they struck and parried several more times, Hiei realize that Karasu relied completely on his bombs for both offense and defense. Of course, he could always call the black dragon, but he usually used that as a last resort. Not only did it take a lot of power, but it was more formidable of an enemy when used sparsely. Using it often made it lose its mystery and the fear that came with it. Also, Hiei suspected that the crow would be able to land some major blows as he paused to call the dragon.
"You've gotten stronger," Karasu commented as Hiei dodged in.
"A lot's happened since you died," the fire demon responded curtly as he picked up speed, going in for the attack, but instead of retreating when Karasu summoned his bombs, he feinted to the left and brought a quick slash across the youkai's side. The demon pulled back.
"First blood!" Karasu announced, though his tone had suddenly become a bit sinister. It seemed that he didn't like to lose. That was fine-Hiei didn't plan to lose either. An explosion suddenly went off next to his ear, sending him into action again, though slightly deafened. The bomb has seem to have been made for sound more then to be destructive. Hiei smiled wryly, it seemed Karasu didn't hold the same regards of keeping his face intact as he did for Kurama.
"You seem weaker," Hiei smiled darkly, knowing the insult would get a response. He was right, and just managed to get out of the way before the bombs detonated. He suddenly stopped short, however, when he saw dozens of glowing green spheres. His face tightened, knowing that his had been the situation that had almost killed Kurama, and that HAD killed him. Hiei's teeth clenched. He knew he could feel pain here, in this alternate reality. What would happen if he died here?
"I believe you're familiar with this attack?" Karasu's arms were crossed, a smug grin on his face. It seemed death hadn't changed him. He was still a sadistic bastard. "Nowhere to go.tch. How'd you let this happen to you TWICE?" Karasu shook his head reprovingly
"You bastard." Hiei's eyes narrowed. He'd suddenly become aware that there was an escape to the top, it was slim and if he moved wrong, he'd be in lots of pain. Deciding to act before the damned demon actually detonated the bombs, he launched upward. His cloak caught one of the bombs, setting it off. The back of his left leg got caught and Hiei's escape was a bit staggered at he was struck with pain. However, he pulled himself away, landing carefully on the other side of the platform. Karasu broke into a small smile.
"I'm impressed. You managed to escape." Hiei's response was a quick attack from the side, darting back away again before attacking from a new angle. He'd resorted to peck and scratch methods until a better plan stuck him, but it was hard for the crow to follow him, much less attack. It was a bit tiring, and it pained his leg, but more importantly-it did damage to his opponent. Even though the wounds were small, they hurt, and they would build up. "I had more fun fighting my fox," Karasu said tightly, looking disapprovingly at the tatters that his jacket was quickly becoming.
"He's not your fox," Hiei growled, coming in close again. However, this time Karasu was ready and had a bomb prepared Hiei saw the counterattack, but only just, and he twisted harshly to the side in order to avoid the full force. However, Karasu called the move and detonated the bomb early. In result, the explosion caught him cruelly in the side as he fell away.
"Ah, you are mistaken," Karasu wagged his finger. Hiei clenching his teeth hard pulled himself up, using his sword as support.
"Jaoh Enstasu Ken!" Hiei cried out, tired of dealing with the youaki. Black fire suddenly danced along the blade. This time when he came in, not only did his attack seem faster but the strike went deep. Karasu looked down at the stain across his chest, his hand automatically reaching to it, and then pulling away, looking at the blood on his hand. When he looked up at Hiei again, the demon had moved in, bringing his burning blade up to the crow's neck. "What happens if I kill your soul?"
"You won't be brought back. I've hidden us behind a barrier that those of the Reikai won't be able to detect. Even when they finally find you, they won't be able to meld you and your soul. I've set it up so that unless I've taken off the restrictive barriers, you can't get back," Karasu held out his hands in a defenseless manner, smiling slightly.
"Damn you."
"I already am," Karasu chuckled, though it seemed to be a bit sadly. Around them, the arena faded and melted, the bright colors of the different youkai swirling into the drab colors of the cave. Karasu slumped heavily into one of the chess table chairs, grasping his wound. "You may wonder how it's possible to still feel pain, even though we're dead. It's a curiosity, one might even think it to be some sort of.discontinuity. I'm not sure how to explain it, I guess that in certain planes of existence the soul has substance," Karasu explained, surprising Hiei by his sudden mellowness. "I didn't tell you about how I first met Kurama, did I?"
"..No."
"You're going to say you don't want to hear it. I'm going to tell you anyway, though." Hiei sighed, "You bore me."
"It's not like you have somewhere else you can go," Karasu argued logically. The two demons glared at one another.
"Tell your dumb story then," Hiei scowled. It was true, though. Until Karasu made a next step in his plan, or the Rekai figured something out, he was stuck here. Hiei grimaced at the thought that he'd have to hear all of Karasu's stories. Now that would be hell.
End Chapter Four
This is all I had gotten up to when I stopped a year or so ago. Going back, I've realize just how much I like this story. Consequently, although I may put it on the back burners for a while, I DO intend to finish it. I haven't much motivation at the moment, and I'm currently concerned with my Weiss Kreuz fics and a potential Saiyuki ones. There's so much I want to do.Time simply isn't on my time. Well, as always, I'd appreciate it if you reviewed. I like to know what my readers think. Ah! For those who think Karasu is too calm.I think he's biding his time, being diplomatic and we already know he's plotting. About the mask of Anteros.Anteros was the Greek god of unrequited love. Ooooo, isn't that just too cool?
"If you love something, set it free. If it returns, it's yours forever. If it doesn't, it was never yours to begin with." -Anonymous
Karasu drifted into Shuuichi Minamino's room, his dark form seeming like nothing more than a shadow. He observed the room for a moment, taking in the cleanliness and the neatness. It was so not chaotic.so unlike his unruly fox. The crow carefully stepped in beside Kurama, his face twisted into something that looked as if was trying to mimic a genuine smile. He paused for a moment before giving Kurama's dreams a push in the direction he wanted. His fox looked so peaceful and vulnerable. His guard was off, and it made him absolutely *beautiful*. His red hair spread out messily on the pillow and his face lacked any signs of stress or worry, and if it weren't for the slight moving of his chest and pinkish tinge to his cheeks, he could be mistaken for being dead. But, isn't that what they called sleep? The sister of death? But, enough of that. It was time to jolt Kurama's memories.
* * * *
Youko Kurama stood in a proud manner, his arms crossed as he gazed as the smaller, and by his standards, disgusting youkai before him. In fact, the demon was quite frail and looked as if only a thin line held him between this world and the next, what with a broken face and body and no youki. Of course, Kurama hadn't helped the matter any when he'd viciously hit the small thing and then tied him securely in the rose whip, barbs sinking deep into the demon's skin. He glanced sideways to Kuronue who was holding a pendant up to the light that filtered through the trees.
"Any damage?"
"No...but Kurama! You've got to watch where you swing that whip of yours. You could've seriously hurt this jewel, and it's so pretty," The bat youkai chided playfully after flipping the jewel back into one of his pockets. He turned to look at the demon already bordering on death. "Now, what do we do with him?"
"Can't be too light in our punishment. He *did* try to steal what was ours! We don't want demons thinking we're becoming soft in our old age."
"Seems he'll be dead soon anyway," Kuronue observed as he grasped the demon's face in his hand, surveying him. "Unless he's got a strong will to survive, which I doubt."
"Then killing him will be doing him a favor," Kurama decided as he tightened the slack on the whip.
"Perhaps," Kuronue grinned back up at Kurama before turning to look evenly at the smaller demon.
"You're Youko Kurama..." The demon gasped through pained breaths looking up at the pair, his unfocused gaze locked on the demon fox.
"Ah, am I that famous already?" Kurama grinned, raising his eyebrows in mock surprise as he looked over at Kuronue.
"Hey, you didn't need to tell him that," Kuronue wagged his finger in a reprimanding way at the broken demon before him, "Do you know how hard it is to put up with this guy already without you adding to his horribly inflated ego?"
"It's not my fault that I appreciate myself and recognize how beautiful I truly am," Kurama responded, placing his hand delicately on his chest.
"Look what you've done!" Kuronue shook his head back and forth sadly, "He's going to go off on another spheel about how great he is."
"But...it's true, he is great!" The demon protested, fighting himself upright a little more.
"Brown nosing," Kuronue grimaced.
"Don't be jealous."
"Ahhh, enough fun, Kurama. I'm getting bored. Let's just kill him."
"I've changed my mind, let's not do that today," Kurama grinned at his friend.
"Don't tell me you bought this guys boot licking," Kuronue's face turned to one of true disgust as he looked over at the Youko.
"Of course not. But you have to admit that we didn't really win against him fairly. He already seems weak."
Kuronue snorted, "And when has that ever stopped you before from killing someone? Really, Kurama, growing soft in your old age?"
"Yeah, yeah. I'm going senile, too," Kurama turned his gaze back to the demon. "I'm great?"
"Yes...I wish..."
"You wish?"
"To prove...my appreciation for you" The demon finished quietly. The word he had sought hadn't been 'appreciation,' but he couldn't tell the fox he loved him. He would be rejected, and besides, Kurama already had...a lover? He looked up at the fox demon again.
"Oh? Really?" Kurama smiled slightly, a new plan formulating in his head. He watched as the collapsed demon nodded his head slightly. "Find something that proves your 'appreciation' of me, then. Something that you'll wear...." Kurama thought for a moment, "Find the Mask of Anteros and wear it until I see you again."
"Ah...all right."
"Don't forget," Kurama told him as he wrapped the whip up, transforming it into a rose and then into a tiny seed which he tucked in his hair. "And it's not worth anything if you're dead, so try to find yourself a healer," Kurama turned crisply and began walking away.
"Kurama? What was that about?" Kuronue caught up with his friend, a confused look on his face.
"Just having fun," Kurama chuckled.
"The Mask of Anteros? What the hell is that?"
"I once overheard about it in some story that some old youkai was telling in a tavern to some children for money."
"Does it exist?"
"Anything is possible in the Makai, so who knows?" Kurama laughed, deftly slipping his hand into Kuronue's pocket and pulling the pendant out.
"Hey!" Kuronue growled as Kurama studied the jewel that seemed to glow from within, "Give that back!" Kuronue dove for the pendant but was too late. Laughing, Kurama began running through the forest, gracefully dodging in and out of the trees in a chase that would easily last well into the night.
* * * * *
Kurama snapped awake, the dream still very fresh in his mind. He had so many memories that sometimes it was hard to keep track of them. However, why had that one come unbidden to him? Kurama thought back for a moment, and wondered what had happened to the demon who'd been in such poor condition. He'd always given the thing up for dead and had never given it a second thought. Still, it was odd that he'd dreamed about that...
Karasu's brow furrowed when Kurama gave no recognition between the memory and his current aggressor. He frowned considerably as he realized why Kurama hadn't been able to make the connection. When Youko and Kuronue had happened upon him so many years ago, Karasu had already been broken and beaten, his youki had been almost non existent and his facial figures were had been swollen. Quite simply, there was nothing for Kurama to go on to make the connection. Karasu sighed, looking down at the red head. He felt like a total idiot.
* * * *
Yusuke sat on the stairs of Genkai's steps, looking out on the lush forest. However, despite the serenity of the outdoors, he could not bring himself to feel a moment of that peace. His hands were being drawn in and out of fists, his teeth clenched tightly. He knew the circumstances and it grated on him. Karasu was a formidable opponent, and he already had Hiei's soul. How could they get out of the situation this time with both Kurama and Hiei alive? And how the hell did you fight a DEAD person? Yusuke's teeth clenched tighter, and he brought his fist back and slammed it violently into the trunk. The old tree quickly snapped, large splinters forming at the point of impact as it took on an unnatural angle.
"If I wanted the forest bulldozed, I'd do it myself," A quiet voice reprimanded kindly. Yusuke turned quickly to meet the gaze of his trainer.
"Genkai!" Yusuke cried out. The elderly woman nodded in acknowledgment. The two gazed silently at each other for a moment. Finally, Yusuke broke the silence, "'Baasan, what am I going to do? Hiei's soul is stolen, Karasu has remained silent on what he wants, but I know it's going to be something with Kurama.but damnit! Karasu is dead! How am I supposed to win against a dead man? How am I going to get Hiei back intact?"
"Yusuke." Genkai began, a tiny smile on her face as she was struck with a wave of nostalgia. He'd come so far since she first met him! Imagine- he had been a leader of the Reikai Tantei and was now one of the lords of the Makai.! He'd made so many friends along the way that his path would be easier then a lonely one. He'd managed to trust the silent fire demon and had been the first to have that trust returned. Indeed, he had some formidable allies. "Karasu is greedy, and he'll let you know what he wants soon, though I imagine he may play some mind games first."
"But-"
"Perhaps you should talk to Mukuro," Genkai hinted subtly. Yusuke looked at her curiously for a moment for suddenly nodding, a slight grin on her face.
"Alright."
* * * *
Hiei gazed at his body. He studied himself, observing all the things he'd never noticed before. It was odd, to say the least. And, he'd never really seen what he looked like before. In life, he only saw his reflection, but here he was..and it was.*weird*. His sense of self was a bit detached since he'd always conceived reality from his body. He tapped the glass of the tube that held him, but, of course, he passed through it and into the liquid substance that kept his body preserved. Imagine-he could be like this forever! The fire demon frowned at that, if there was someway to get back. He jumped up through the glass and positioned himself in his body, feeling out, trying to meld the two as they belonged. He felt a certain longing, something that dated back to the beginning of life, a sense of belonging and wanting, but at the same time, an overwhelming loss. He knew he was where he was supposed to be, but for some reason it wasn't happening.
"Mukuro, can you contact Karasu?" Yusuke inquired as she pushed the door to her infirmary open. Hiei looked towards the pair as they came in, startled.
"I'm working on it, but the spiritual plane is much more.vague then our own. It's harder for my psychics to look for souls not connected here. Also, there's a lot more gaps and even smaller connected planes. The whole spiritual plane is like some dream. In fact, I have my own theories on that."
"But Koenma-"
"The Reikai operators guide the majority of souls to where they're supposed to be, but there's always the ghosts who linger. The souls who are too strongly connected to something on this plane that they can't leave."
"But what about Karasu? I thought Koenma had some spiritual teams on finding him.
"Sure, but there are vast pockets. Also, it seems that Karasu has somehow blocked himself.somehow hid his defining youki. I imagine they'll find him eventually, but you have to remember: Every creature who has ever died is there in some form. They have to sift through ALL the afterlifes. He could be hiding anywhere."
"Well, shit."
"Exactly," Mukuro nodded her head. Hiei looked on, slightly peeved before fading out.
* * *
"Why, you're back, Hiei!" Karasu feigned surprise, his hands folded in his lap, his legs crossed. The fire demon flashed him an evil look. "Have fun being free?" Karasu continued.
"Hn."
"Let's fight."
"What?" Hiei's crimson gaze suddenly focused on the other demon.
"I'm bored, I want the practice.I assume you'd like to work off some stress," Karasu looked expectedly at Hiei, and when the demon didn't react either way, he smiled as the cave around them seemed to melt.
"What the hell..?" Hiei looked at the gray walls dissolve and flow into the floor, quickly becoming the arena of the Ankoku Bujutsukai! The stands were filled with the berating yells of hateful demons. Hiei was faced up against the crow youkai Behind him he could hear the encouraging yell of Yusuke, but when he turned quickly, no one was there.
"This is part of my memory," Karasu explained simply.
"We'll fight here?"
"Same rules as the tournament," Karasu confirmed. Hiei shrugged, pulling his sword from where he'd kept it, more of a familiar move then anything else. It took him a moment to realize that until just now, the sword hadn't been on him as a spirit. At a closer glance, he realized it was the one he had used during the second part of the tournament.
"It's how I remember it, and how it was," Karasu shrugged in explanation.
"Karasu vs. Hiei! Begin!" Keito's sudden cry echoed throughout the stadium as she spoke into her microphone. Both contestants quickly sprung into action.
"You're fast," Karasu commented as Hiei dodged one of his small bombs. Hiei launched himself toward the bomb youaki, suddenly having to change direction as a bomb glowed into existence and exploded almost simultaneously. Hiei's eyes narrowed as he began an immediate assessment of his opponent. As they struck and parried several more times, Hiei realize that Karasu relied completely on his bombs for both offense and defense. Of course, he could always call the black dragon, but he usually used that as a last resort. Not only did it take a lot of power, but it was more formidable of an enemy when used sparsely. Using it often made it lose its mystery and the fear that came with it. Also, Hiei suspected that the crow would be able to land some major blows as he paused to call the dragon.
"You've gotten stronger," Karasu commented as Hiei dodged in.
"A lot's happened since you died," the fire demon responded curtly as he picked up speed, going in for the attack, but instead of retreating when Karasu summoned his bombs, he feinted to the left and brought a quick slash across the youkai's side. The demon pulled back.
"First blood!" Karasu announced, though his tone had suddenly become a bit sinister. It seemed that he didn't like to lose. That was fine-Hiei didn't plan to lose either. An explosion suddenly went off next to his ear, sending him into action again, though slightly deafened. The bomb has seem to have been made for sound more then to be destructive. Hiei smiled wryly, it seemed Karasu didn't hold the same regards of keeping his face intact as he did for Kurama.
"You seem weaker," Hiei smiled darkly, knowing the insult would get a response. He was right, and just managed to get out of the way before the bombs detonated. He suddenly stopped short, however, when he saw dozens of glowing green spheres. His face tightened, knowing that his had been the situation that had almost killed Kurama, and that HAD killed him. Hiei's teeth clenched. He knew he could feel pain here, in this alternate reality. What would happen if he died here?
"I believe you're familiar with this attack?" Karasu's arms were crossed, a smug grin on his face. It seemed death hadn't changed him. He was still a sadistic bastard. "Nowhere to go.tch. How'd you let this happen to you TWICE?" Karasu shook his head reprovingly
"You bastard." Hiei's eyes narrowed. He'd suddenly become aware that there was an escape to the top, it was slim and if he moved wrong, he'd be in lots of pain. Deciding to act before the damned demon actually detonated the bombs, he launched upward. His cloak caught one of the bombs, setting it off. The back of his left leg got caught and Hiei's escape was a bit staggered at he was struck with pain. However, he pulled himself away, landing carefully on the other side of the platform. Karasu broke into a small smile.
"I'm impressed. You managed to escape." Hiei's response was a quick attack from the side, darting back away again before attacking from a new angle. He'd resorted to peck and scratch methods until a better plan stuck him, but it was hard for the crow to follow him, much less attack. It was a bit tiring, and it pained his leg, but more importantly-it did damage to his opponent. Even though the wounds were small, they hurt, and they would build up. "I had more fun fighting my fox," Karasu said tightly, looking disapprovingly at the tatters that his jacket was quickly becoming.
"He's not your fox," Hiei growled, coming in close again. However, this time Karasu was ready and had a bomb prepared Hiei saw the counterattack, but only just, and he twisted harshly to the side in order to avoid the full force. However, Karasu called the move and detonated the bomb early. In result, the explosion caught him cruelly in the side as he fell away.
"Ah, you are mistaken," Karasu wagged his finger. Hiei clenching his teeth hard pulled himself up, using his sword as support.
"Jaoh Enstasu Ken!" Hiei cried out, tired of dealing with the youaki. Black fire suddenly danced along the blade. This time when he came in, not only did his attack seem faster but the strike went deep. Karasu looked down at the stain across his chest, his hand automatically reaching to it, and then pulling away, looking at the blood on his hand. When he looked up at Hiei again, the demon had moved in, bringing his burning blade up to the crow's neck. "What happens if I kill your soul?"
"You won't be brought back. I've hidden us behind a barrier that those of the Reikai won't be able to detect. Even when they finally find you, they won't be able to meld you and your soul. I've set it up so that unless I've taken off the restrictive barriers, you can't get back," Karasu held out his hands in a defenseless manner, smiling slightly.
"Damn you."
"I already am," Karasu chuckled, though it seemed to be a bit sadly. Around them, the arena faded and melted, the bright colors of the different youkai swirling into the drab colors of the cave. Karasu slumped heavily into one of the chess table chairs, grasping his wound. "You may wonder how it's possible to still feel pain, even though we're dead. It's a curiosity, one might even think it to be some sort of.discontinuity. I'm not sure how to explain it, I guess that in certain planes of existence the soul has substance," Karasu explained, surprising Hiei by his sudden mellowness. "I didn't tell you about how I first met Kurama, did I?"
"..No."
"You're going to say you don't want to hear it. I'm going to tell you anyway, though." Hiei sighed, "You bore me."
"It's not like you have somewhere else you can go," Karasu argued logically. The two demons glared at one another.
"Tell your dumb story then," Hiei scowled. It was true, though. Until Karasu made a next step in his plan, or the Rekai figured something out, he was stuck here. Hiei grimaced at the thought that he'd have to hear all of Karasu's stories. Now that would be hell.
End Chapter Four
This is all I had gotten up to when I stopped a year or so ago. Going back, I've realize just how much I like this story. Consequently, although I may put it on the back burners for a while, I DO intend to finish it. I haven't much motivation at the moment, and I'm currently concerned with my Weiss Kreuz fics and a potential Saiyuki ones. There's so much I want to do.Time simply isn't on my time. Well, as always, I'd appreciate it if you reviewed. I like to know what my readers think. Ah! For those who think Karasu is too calm.I think he's biding his time, being diplomatic and we already know he's plotting. About the mask of Anteros.Anteros was the Greek god of unrequited love. Ooooo, isn't that just too cool?