Email: swythangel@hotmail.com
Title: The Reddest Rose
Type: Series 7/?
Rating: PG (just to be safe)
Disclaimer: All characters of YuYu Hakusho are owned by their writer and company. They aren't mine (sigh!) and even if I wished on a hundred falling stars, Kurama will never be mine. This fiction was made to entertain and hopefully does not infringe on their copyright.
Here's the next part…I tell you this is one complicated plotline I've been weaving…or at least too complicated for my poor mind ^^ Hope you guys still like it because there is still about 50 pages left of this. O.O Next part will be out on Wednesday. ^^
The Reddest Rose
"I…I… love you too, Fox-fire…." Hitori said haltingly, surprised at what Fox-fire had done and not a little bit dazed.
Kitsune never fall in love. Or at least that was what Hitori thought. She had never seen any kitsune male say those words before. And to hear them from Fox-fire, the epitome of a kitsune warrior, was certainly surprising and just a little distressing…she could hardly think, much less say something. But she knew she had to set things straight so she plunged on.
"…but only as the one who stood by me when I was growing up, the one who played with me and cared for me enough to be there even though the others taunted me. I love you as a brother…as my oniisan. Nothing more, nothing less."
"Iie, Hitori. I cannot accept that. Surely…surely you can love me more than that."
"Gomen nasai, Fox-fire." She shook her head, trying to ease the blow by softening her tone, hoping Fox-fire would listen.
"Iie! I cannot accept that!" Fox-fire raked a hand through his hair and a steely look entered his eyes. "If you will not, then I will make you love me!" He tried to grab Hitori but she knew him too well, had read his movements and was ready for him. She avoided him with ease. (oos: Alright, it's a little trite but I couldn't think of anything else…;;*_*;;)
As always, oniisan, you resort to typical kitsune behaviour. "Mizu!" Hitori raised her hand, calling in the element of water. "Tidal Shield!"
Immediately, a shield of water erupted from the ground and surrounded Hitori's form.
"Kitsune Kaji!" A flaming fox spirit shot out from Fox-fire's hands and hit the water shield with a sizzling sound. "You're just wasting time Hitori. You know your shield won't hold out that long."
I know that. I only need a little time to convince you that this is madness. Hitori thought to herself. She raised her voice a little to make sure that Fox-fire could hear her above the roaring water and sizzling flame. "Fox-fire, iie, oniisan! What is the point of all this? Even if you do break through my shield, what will you accomplish? I will not love you even if you do this. You cannot force me because if you did, I would hate you for it. And I will fight back. Just how long can you keep me then? You…"
"Shut up, I don't want to hear what you have to say." Fox-fire shouted back, all the while throwing a volley of fireballs at the water shield which was thinning out by now.
"You don't want to hear me out because you know I'm telling the truth!" Hitori shot back, jumping out of the disappearing water shield and readying herself for Fox-fire's next attack which came in the form of a kick.
Hitori blocked it easily which prompted a surprised look from Fox-fire. Not so easy to defeat now, am I, oniisan? Constant training with Yusuke had improved Hitori's fighting skills, made her more powerful. She knew that she could withstand and even match Fox-fire's attacks now.
Minutes of silent combat followed with Fox-fire initiating all the blows and Hitori blocking each of them successfully.
After a few minutes, a frustrated sigh escaped from Hitori's lips. "Oniisan, why don't you give up? You know you won't be able to defeat me and we could continue like this for a long time. Yusuke and the others might show up and then where would you be?"
No response. If nothing else, Fox-fire seemed to have intensified his attacks.
I have no other choice then. You are so stubborn, oniisan! Hitori mentally shook her head at her oniisan's stubbornness and waited for an opening. Once she found one…
"Shizukane Kaze!"
Hitori's silent wind attack hit Fox-fire and threw him to the ground. Hitori put her foot down on his chest as he started to rise. "Enough! This is stupid as well as silly, oniisan! Let's stop this now." Hitori gazed down at Fox-fire intently, trying to read his expression.
Fox-fire dropped his head on the ground, the fight finally going out of him. "Its him, isn't it?"
"Nani? Who are you talking about oniisan?" Hitori said, confused by the abrupt turn of topic.
"The Silver Fox. Its him, isn't it?" Fox-fire repeated.
A blush stained Hitori's cheeks and she looked away. "I don't know what you mean."
Hitori's vague answer seemed to anger Fox-fire who then pushed himself off the ground and stood up abruptly, making Hitori lose her balance as the foot she had planted on Fox-fire's chest lifted. Hitori fell on her butt.
"Ow!" She rubbed her offended behind. "Did you have to do that?" She said, looking up at Fox-fire who had moved to the edge of the moonlit trees.
"You do realize that he should have been dead by now, if you had fulfilled your duty."
Hitori couldn't make out Fox-fire's expression because his face was in the shadows. She got up slowly and faced him. "Is that the real reason why you're here then?"
No response.
Hitori became agitated and started to pace. A torrent of sarcastic, angry words burst from her lips.
"I should have known! The council must have sent you then…or did Kawakami-Tosan send you himself to drag me back to the Makai this early? I still have 7 days left. He must be so sure I would fail. Has he sent for Kuronue too? I wouldn't be surprised if he had."
Fox-fire felt a little twinge of guilt at how hurt and angry Hitori sounded. He was about to reassure her but Hitori was too intent on having her say.
"Knowing him, you're probably here to assassinate Kurama too."
The protest forming on Fox-Fire's lips died as Hitori whipped back her head to look at him with a dangerous glint in her eyes.
"Well, you'll have to kill him over my dead body, oniisan. Because I won't let you or any other kitsune kill him while I am alive."
The twinge of guilt Fox-fire felt was replaced by anger and jealousy as he heard the conviction in Hitori's voice. I was going to warn you about Father and to remind you of your mission…he had been meaning to say. But now, now, he just wanted to hurt Hitori back. His voice turned flat and cold.
"I wonder how you'll do that, Hitori. Because the next time I come back, rest assured that it will be because Otosan has ordered me to take you home to be punished for your failure. I will bring you back to the Makai whether you like it or not." Fox-Fire spat out. "And then I will come back here for exactly the purpose you are accusing me of now and I promise you, I myself will kill the Silver Fox and all your ningen friends, as well as the koorime girl."
With that, Fox-fire faded into the night, leaving Hitori alone with her thoughts.
"I won't let you kill my friends, oniisan…." Hitori whispered to herself, her fist tightening as she walked back to the dojo.
Atop a nearby tree, red eyes stood out in the darkness, a silent witness to everything that had happened.
***
"Everything has gone according to plan." The cowled youko's apparition glowed dimly in the darkness of the Mekai.
"Good. It seems that the stage is set and all the actors are present. Now, all we need to do is wait for the climax. It shouldn't be long now…"
***
Day 24
"Oi, Keiko! Where's breakfast?" Yusuke's voice was loud in the silence characteristic of early mornings.
"Oh, hold your horses, Yusuke." Keiko said, plunking some plates down on the table. She had been surprised at Yusuke waking up this early in the morning. In truth, he woke up even before she did, a real first. "Here, help yourself."
Yusuke immediately began stuffing his face. Keiko sighed. "Don't eat too fast, Yusuke. You might choke. Besides, you have to leave some for the others too."
"I kunrsmmunsnitzl!" was Yusuke's muffled reply.
Keiko slapped Yusuke at the back of his head. "Don't talk with your mouth full!"
A choking sound came from Yusuke. "Ow, Keiko!" Yusuke said, after swallowing a big mouthful with some difficulty. He stood up and faced Keiko, his eyes still watering from the ordeal he went through. "What's the big idea of swatting me on the head while I was eating? I almost choked!"
Keiko smirked and flicked an index finger at Yusuke's nose. "It was your own fault. I told you over and over again—don't talk with your mouth full!"
Yusuke wasn't going to take that lying down. He opened his mouth to form a retort when Keiko stared at something over his shoulder. He swung around to look and saw Hitori sneaking out of the dojo.
"Hitori left the dojo at around this time yesterday too. And if its anything like yesterday she won't be back until late afternoon."
"She's been acting awfully weird for the past two days, ever since that brother of hers left. Everytime I see her, she has this perennial smile pasted on her face." Yusuke scratched his head, following the diminishing figure with a worried look. "I wonder what's bothering her?"
"I don't know either. I even tried following her yesterday but she disappeared in one of those dimensional portals…I'll try to talk to her when she gets back."
"That's a good idea, Keiko." Yusuke shifted his gaze to look out the garden and saw Kurama by his roses. "Well, whatever is bothering Hitori must be affecting Kurama as well. He's been at that rose garden of his since yesterday." He nudged his chin in Kurama's direction.
Keiko sighed. "Talk to him, will you, Yusuke?"
"Nani?" Yusuke said, startled. He grinned and pointed a finger at himself. "You want ME to talk to him about this?" A tone of disbelief was very evident in Yusuke's voice.
I must have sawdust for brains today. I actually asked Yusuke to try talk to someone about their love problems. Oi! Now that would be a recipe for disaster…Keiko slapped a hand on her forehead. "I can be such an idiot at times. Forget I ever said that, Yusuke. I'll talk to Kurama."
"I kind of expected you'd say that." Yusuke grinned at Keiko.
***
Kurama cut some wayward branches off the rose bush in front of him, trying to concentrate on what he was doing. He had decided to trim down his rose garden yesterday in an effort to forget what he had heard and seen the previous night and had been at this chore for 10 hours, 30 minutes and…he looked at his watch, 29 seconds. The result? All of the rose bushes were significantly shorter than they have been before…alright! He told himself, heart heavy and frustrated. So it isn't working at all. But at least it gives me something to do with my hands. He sighed, plucking out a rose from the bush and idly twirling it between his fingers, staring at it intently.
"Kurama."
At the sound of Keiko's voice, Kurama pasted a smile on his face and turned around slowly. "Ohayo, Keiko!" He said cheerily. "What brings you out here so early in the morning?"
"Oh, nothing important." That sounded cheerful enough. Maybe nothing's wrong after all…Keiko hesitated and was about to turn around when she saw the rose bushes. The rose bushes were shorter by at least a foot! This is worse than I thought. "Actually, Kurama, there is something I want to talk to you about."
"Oh?" Kurama responded, turning back to his rose bushes and trimming the wayward branches. "What about?"
"Oh," Keiko said, keeping her tone light and casual but watching Kurama like a hawk, "about you and Hitori…"
"There's nothing to talk about then." Kurama said lightly and seemed to be engrossed in cutting off twigs. Keiko wasn't fooled. When she had spoken Hitori's name Kurama had snipped a rose off instead of the twig he had been aiming at.
"Oh, stop that before your precious rose bushes become decimated." Keiko said, swiping the pruning shears from Kurama. "You know, you aren't fooling anybody one bit. So why don't you and I sit here and you can tell me all about it."
"There's nothing to tell." Kurama protested as Keiko pulled him towards the pond.
"Yes there is." Kurama heard Keiko's patented you're-not-getting-away-until-you-tell-me-what's-wrong-tone and knew that he would have to spill it out or he wouldn't get away from her the whole day. He sighed. It was going to be a long morning.
c
"So what's the problem, Kurama?" Keiko had settled down on the rock near the pond.
"I told you there wasn't any." Kurama insisted, sitting down gracefully on the ground. He knew better than to try to make a run for it, knowing Keiko.
"Really? Then why have you been burying your nose in those rose bushes for two days? And decimating your lovely roses, too, I might add." Keiko said mildly enough. "The only time I saw you like this was when the time Hiei told us he would stay in the Makai with the Border Patrol."
Kurama didn't answer her and continued to stare at the pond.
"Come on Kurama. Tell me what's wrong." Keiko wheedled. "Everyone's concerned you know. What's happening between the two of you is affecting us as well."
Never one to give up, our Keiko. Kurama thought wryly. He was tired of keeping it all in, tired of pretending nothing was wrong. Besides, this is Keiko, not Yusuke. Keiko wouldn't make fun of me. He sighed. "Keiko I am telling you this as a friend and if you ever tell Yusuke or anyone I am going to strangle you, got it?"
Keiko was so startled at the torrent of words from Kurama that she could only nod at first.
How do you tell someone you love a certain girl? Damn, I've never come across a situation like this before. "Here goes." Kurama breathed deeply and just told Keiko straight out. "I think I am in love with Hitori."
Keiko smiled at him, the widest smile he had ever seen and Kurama was staggered. He had been expecting surprise, a frown even, not this delighted smile. Being of above average intellect, it didn't take him long to grow suspicious. "Keiko?" He ventured.
"Yes, Kurama-kun?"
"Do you have by any chance known about this?" Kurama couldn't disguise the suspicious tone in his voice.
He was greeted by a VERY suspicious innocent stare. "Why, I don't know what you mean, Kurama?"
By the Nine Tails! That seemingly innocent comment gave her away. Kurama now had this niggling feeling that he had been manipulated into this, that he had been a puppet, along with Hitori and that Yusuke and Keiko had planned this from the start. He gave Keiko a withering look. "That doesn't work with me, Keiko-chan."
Keiko knew when to give up. " Oh, alright, Kurama. I guess you deduced that we tried to match you with Hitori." Then Keiko smiled at Kurama cheekily. "But you were so perfect for each other, we couldn't resist! Besides, everything worked out perfectly, ne?"
Kurama knew he should at least put up a bit of a fight but like Keiko he knew when he had lost. He smiled at Keiko. "You do realize that I should hang you guys on a tree or something for manipulating me, ne? I'm guessing even Hitori wouldn't like being manipulated."
Yatta ne! Keiko almost shouted in happiness. Kurama hadn't gotten mad at all. We did it! We actually did it!
" I do not think that you should rejoice just yet, Keiko-chan."
"Wha?" That stopped Keiko from her exuberant self-congratulations. "Nani? How can you say that?"
"Well, I might love Hitori but…the lady in question does not love me."
"Nani?" Keiko repeated. She was still too dumbfounded to speak.
Kurama had lowered his head and now looked serious, his hair hid his eyes and Keiko could not see what he was feeling. "Hitori…Hitori loves somebody else."
"Nani?" This was getting to be Keiko's favorite word for the moment, she noticed. She couldn't help it, she was too surprised. "Who?"
"Fox-fire." The name had been hissed out, as if Kurama couldn't bear to say his rival's name.
Relief filled Keiko. "Kurama no baka. And I thought you were so smart. Hitori loves Fox-fire as a brother, nothing more."
"That's not what I heard last night." He muttered to himself.
Unfortunately, Keiko had sensitive ears and heard him. "Wai! Kurama-kun, you were eavesdropping?" Keiko's smile widened and she couldn't resist laughing. Imagine! Straight, upright Kurama eavesdropping! Oh! And he's blushing about it too. "Well, Kurama, you obviously didn't stay long enough to find out that Hitori loves Fox-fire like a brother. So there!"
"But I saw them…she told him that she loved him." Kurama couldn't control the hurt in his voice or the blush that was becoming redder by the minute.
So that's what's bothering you. "No, Kurama. Do you honestly think Hitori could love someone like Fox-fire?" Keiko turned serious.
"What do I know on what Hitori likes or not?" He muttered again.
"Baka." Keiko snorted. "You went into her mind once with Janen-ju, you should now how she feels about Fox-fire."
"That's right." Kurama's face brightened and almost immediately he went into trance, sorting through the small store of memories he had of Hitori.
Keiko snorted. Honestly, men are such babies at times. She grinned. But this is the first time I ever saw Kurama like this.
"Sugoi." She heard Kurama exhale a very relieved breath.
"See, I told you so." Keiko immediately inserted.
"Gomen, Keiko, for not believing you. But how did you know?"
Keiko smiled at him. "I happen to have it on good authority that Hitori loves someone else."
"Oh." Kurama's shoulders slumped in defeat, all hope deflated by Keiko's simple statement. "Then its pointless."
Keiko was incredulous. She had been hinting that Hitori loved Kurama but Kurama seemed to think it was someone else. Gah! Sometimes guys are just too dense. "I didn't think there would come a time when you, Kurama, would make me want to scream." She said, irritated.
"What did I do?" An injured tone entered Kurama's voice.
"I was referring to you, you baka! Hitori loves you."
"Me?" Kurama said, stunned.
"Yes, you!" Keiko repeated, rolling her eyes. "Though honestly, I'm beginning to think that she shouldn't have. I mean…eeek! Kurama, what are you doing?"
"Are you sure, Keiko?"
Keiko rolled her eyes. "Yes, of course I am. Hitori can't hide things like that, you know."
Kurama had lifted her in his arms and was twirling her around in delight. "Keiko!" Kurama's eyes were shining. "Arigato, I'm so happy! "
My! Keiko thought. So this is how Kurama is when he's in love.
"Well then Kurama-kun. Don't you think you should be telling the lady in question that instead of swinging me around? Yusuke might misunderstand." Keiko said fondly.
Kurama blushed and put Keiko down. "Gomen. I got carried away."
"Hey no problem. Just promise me that you are going to tell Hitori just as soon as she comes back."
"Hai, Keiko-chan! I promise. I have wanted to tell her for some time now. I do love her with all of my heart." He said, laughing delightedly. "This is going to be a wonderful day." He turned towards his roses and plucked one of them, handing it to Keiko with a bow. "For you, my lady, for setting me right!"
My! Hitori is a very lucky girl. Keiko said, enchanted with this Kurama. I wonder if I can get Yusuke to act like this. She chuckled, she couldn't quite imagine Yusuke doing it. I hope Hitori comes back soon.
***
"This is Minamono Shuichi. Hello?"
"Shuichi-kun?"
"Kaasan?" Kurama let out a delighted cry. "How are you? Is everything all right?"
"We're fine. Everything's fine. Your younger brother is enjoying himself."
"Aa. I would think so. Shuichi has been clamoring for a vacation ever since I could remember." He chuckled. "Why are you calling then, 'kaasan?" Kurama asked his mother.
"There's something I want you to do. I know you're vacationing with Yusuke right now, darling, but can you go back to our house for a few days?"
"Of course, kaasan. When do I need to be back? Next week?"
"Iie. You have to leave as soon as possible, Shuichi-kun. Nothing's wrong but our lawyer just called me up the other day and he needs some important documents that are in the house. And since you're the only one there in Japan…"
Kurama was in a quandary. He was in a welter of nervousness over telling Hitori and wanted to get it over with as soon as possible. Now this turns up.
I can't let 'kaasan down. He sighed. What I have to tell Hitori will just have to keep until I finish this errand.
"Of course. I'll go now 'Kaasan. I'll be there at around midnight."
"Domo, Shuichi-kun. I love you."
"I love you too, kaasan. Give my regards to Shuichi and 'Tosan too, ne?"
***
As luck would have it, Kurama met Keiko and Yusuke en route to Tokyo, they were on the same train. It seemed that there had been a problem in the restaurant and Yusuke had to go back too.
"Hey, Kurama, Keiko told me the good news!"
Kurama gave Keiko a withering look. "You were supposed to keep it a secret, Keiko-chan."
"Er, oopsie?"
Keiko had an unrepentant expression o his face.
If Keiko and Yusuke were on the train, who was watching the dojo? Kurama wondered and asked the two.
"Saa, don't worry Kurama, Kuwabara and Yukina are there. And besides, Hitori can probably fight off anything they throw at her anyway."
"I hope so."
***
Day 26
Hitori returned to the dojo in a better frame of mind. She had managed to convince Koenma of the danger in Fox-fire's threat. And he had promised to send some of the Reikai's security force to guard the dojo.
Now I can rest easy, knowing that whatever happens to me, everyone will be protected.
She walked into the dojo.
"I'm home!" She was happy with her triumph and felt like shouting it out.
"Well, well, if it isn't the half-breed."
"Wha?" Hitori turned around to find Kai-oh, a seven tailed kitsune, leaning against the dojo post.
"Quite happy isn't she?"
Takar. She looked to her left and sure enough there was Takar and three other six-tails. Ice filled her veins in dread. With Fox-fire…
"Hitori, you will come with us now."
How had the kitsunes come here without Yusuke noticing? Hitori wondered. Her mind working overtime, trying to think of a way to escape.
"But I have 4 more days…"
Fox-fire shook his head. "The council has decided that your time is up. You will return with us."
Hitori backed away from Fox-fire and shook her head. "No. I will stay here. I won't go with you."
"Are you willing to fight the six of us to do so?"
Hitori lifted her chin up. "If I have to."
"Then you leave us no choice." Fox-fire motioned to the others and everyone attacked her at the same time.
"Mizu!"
The water shield went up and temporarily distracted the attackers while Hitori tried to think. Why weren't Yusuke and the others outside? They're normally outside at this time. Could something have happened to them?
"Kitsune-kaji!" Fox-fire's attack dissipated her shield.
I must fight. There is no other choice. I do not want to leave just yet!
And with this conviction, Hitori summoned all of her powers, revealing her kitsune form, to battle her kind.
***
"No, Yukina!" Hitori held out an ineffectual hand as Taka hit the koorime with his power. Hitori couldn't protect her, being beseiged by three others.
Nor could Kuwabara who had his hands full with the other two.
Yukina crumpled to the ground.
"Kisammaaaa! You will pay for that."
Hitori watched as Kuwabara went berserk, seeing his beloved on the ground, unconscious. Hitori wanted to warn the ningen about staying calm but it was no use. Kuwabara was far gone in anger to even hear her warning.
It was dangerous. A warrior who didn't think in battle made mistakes and right now they couldn't make mistakes, not with the enemy. Kitsunes were notorious for their cunning and wile. Not thinking could mean losing.
Backflipping in the air, Hitori ran towards Kuwabara, trying to reach him in time to help defend his back as he flailed wildly at his two opponents, leaving his back exposed. But she didn't get there in time as Kai-Oh blasted Kuwabara from behind with enough force to level a small building.
"Noooo! Kuwabara!"
Her concentration broke as worry filled her thoughts. Kuwabara could very well have died under that blow. He could have…he wasn't moving at all, bleeding furiously…
And much against her own advice, she felt anger take over. She turned to the kitsunes, eyes glowing redly like coals.
"You will pay for that."
The anger served to fuel her power. An invisible cord inside broke as rage filled her veins. The tattoos all over her body pulsed with a life of their own. And power, overwhelming power, coursed through her being as her form lit up in a blazing red flame.
***
Yusuke felt a familiar eddy of power somewhere nearby and he stirred from his window seat.
"Nani?"
He wondered who it was, the power was so familiar to Raizen's and his…he couldn't be mistaken.
He turned towards Kurama. "Did you feel that, Kurama?"
Kurama nodded. He had tensed up the minute he felt the power manipulation evident in the air.
"What?" Keiko asked the two of them.
"Someone is battling here in the ningenkai." Kurama said in a far away voice. "I feel…no, it is kitsune." He stood up, worry in his eyes. "Kitsunes are in the ningenkai. Yusuke!"
Yusuke nodded. He realized what Kurama was trying to say. If kitsunes were in the ningenkai it could mean only one thing…they had come for Hitori at last. Four days too early…
Damnit! Don't these kitsunes know how to count!
"Hey, cabbie! Can't you make this thing go a little faster?" Yusuke asked the cab driver. They had just gotten out of the train station and was trundling along town. At this rate they would be too late.
"If I don't want to get caught by the police, it is! I suppose you can go faster?"
"Hell of course I can." Yusuke opened the cab door and kissed Keiko soundly. "Important, Keiko. See you at the dojo alright?"
Keiko nodded. She understood the implications. "Just make sure everyone there is safe."
Yusuke looked to Kurama. "C'mon."
And both of them sprinted off into the forest lining the road, leaving behind a worried looking Keiko and a bug-eyed cab driver as the two running boys effectively outdistanced the cab..
***
"Yusuke!!!"
As Yusuke jumped from tree to tree with Kurama, he heard Koenma's voice in his head.
"What's happening, Koenma?"
"6 Kitsunes at the dojo. Hitori is battling them on their own."
"Her status?"
"Holding out. But not for long. Hayaku, Yusuke."
As he followed Kurama who had taken the lead, he felt another blast of power, the same signature as before.
I am hurrying Koenma. Er, I felt a power similar to mine. I can't be mistaken, Koenma, it had Raizen's signature to it. Is there anyone else in the vicinity who utilizes the same power as we do?"
Silence from the other end and Yusuke somehow knew that Koenma was hesitant about something.
"Koenma? I have a feeling you know something. Now spill it. I hate going into a battle unprepared."
"The signature of power you felt is indeed similar to Raizen's, Yusuke. That is because it is from one of Raizen's children."
"Heya! I didn't know the old man had other children! That means I have an ototo! Hey can't wait to meet him!"
"You've already met your sibling, Yusuke. And it's an imoto, not an ototo."
"Nani?"
"It's Hitori."
"WHAAAAT?" Yusuke almost tripped in surprise. "But how can that be?"
"Years before Raizen met your ancestor, he had a fling with a kitsune girl. Hitori is the fruit of the union. Raizen never knew. Look, tts really a very long story Yusuke. One you cannot afford to hear right now. Just hurry and save Hitori, will you!"
And Koenma's voice faded from Yusuke's mind.
What an extraordinary thing. Yusuke thought. Hitori was actually his imoto. So that's why he felt so at ease with her.
"Just wait a little while longer, imoto. I'm coming."
Yusuke would save Hitori. He promised himself. After all that was what oniisans did, protect their imotos.
***
Yusuke didn't get to fulfill his promise to Hitori, because by the time Kurama and he had reached the dojo all they found were the blackened places where fireballs hit, ruined architecture, the unconscious bodies of both Kuwabara and Yukina, as well as a note.
"Damn it!" Kurama punched the door, causing it to shake. His eyes were worried and all he could think about was saving Hitori.
"Shimatta! They want you in exchange for Hitori. Or they're going to kill her. What the fuck are they playing at?"
Kurama looked back at Yusuke. Somehow he had known that would be what the note contained. The mission they had given Hitori had been an elaborate plot. They knew he'd become attached to Hitori and now they were using her to get him back.
And he loved her enough to go back…even if it meant losing his humanity, even if it meant becoming a cruel kitsune again.
"They want the Nine Tails back." Kurama shrugged.
"Why would they?"
"…"
Yusuke turned sympathetic eyes towards Kurama. He understood the near-manic worried look in Kurama's eyes. Because if it had been Keiko it would be the same one he would be wearing. Still he knew that he couldn't let Kurama go.
"You can't just surrender yourself to them Kurama. If they want you this badly, surely there is a reason. A dark reason."
"Yes." Kurama said grimly. "They want the Nine Tails back. For what reason, I am not sure but you can bet its for some dark purpose."
"Then you cannot go." Yusuke said firmly. "We'll find some other way to save Hitori. In the meantime we have to help Yukina and Kuwabara."
Kurama didn't answer and followed Yusuke in silence to the unconscious comrades. It would be useless to argue with Yusuke when he had already decided.
***
In the silence of the night, a lone figure stole through the little-used portal connecting the ningenkai to the Makai. Green eyes resembled cold jade chips as he transversed the plane in between the mortal world and the demon one.
Kurama was trying to kill off every emotion he had, erasing his ningen instincts, preparing himself for the inevitable. Because once he got to the Youko-kitsune tribe he would then have to assume his Youko form. That had been the terms set forth by the Kitsune leader. In exchange for Hitori's freedom, they wanted the Silver Fox.
Becoming the Silver Fox meant going back to being the ruthless, callous kitsune who had been feared in the Makai a long time ago. It meant sublimating emotions and human feeling. And when he changed, slowly but surely, Kurama knew that Minamono Shuuichi might never come back. The Silver Fox's personality so all-encompassing that it would smother all the humanity out of this human shell.
Kurama didn't want to change. It had been his personal struggle ever since he had become human. His decision to shun his demon heritage and live as a ningen was something he had made with alacrity. He neither needed nor wanted to become a kitsune again, no matter the rush of power that accompanied becoming a kitsune. He didn't want to trade his humanity for that.
But now, he was going to. Because he needed to save someone who had become important to him in such a short time.
/Wait for me, Hitori. I'm coming./
Soon, Youko of the kitsune, would be back in the Makai.
TBC ^_~ You can't believe the angst after these few parts. Comments onegai?
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