Part 6

Black Night

As we flew through the starry sky I thought about Kaminari and Koga, trying to figure out how they were the same person. Koga was completely different from Kaminari was. I sighed, "I guess it doesn't really matter.....my mom said she was different from Kikyo."

"Jesse, pay attention, I can't detect everything on my own, you know!"

I shook my head, "Sorry, Fushichou."

"What were you thinking about? I tried getting through to you for ten minutes!"

I grinned and shrugged, "You know, stuff...."

"Yeah, yeah, boys of course."

"What's that supposed to mean?!"

He laughed, "You've always got boys on the mind!"

"I do not! I have only one guy on my mind and that's--"

"Who, Koga? Trust me Jesse, he is not all he's cracked up to be. Take my word for it, I've lived with him since I was born, Koga's not the best choice for a mate."

"Thanks Fushichou, that makes me feel SO much better, and who said anything about A MATE?!"

"Hehehe....." he trailed off, "Maybe I should start keeping my thoughts to myself."

"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea!" I said hitting him across the back of the head.

"Okay, that wasn't even cool!" he growled at me, "Wait a minute, didn't you say earlier that I should be more open with my thoughts?!"

I growled, "No!"

Later on that night I was awoken by a sharp pain. My eyes shot open and I noticed I was laying on the ground and Fushichou was sprawled next to me, lifeless. I sat up as my eyes darted around trying to figure out what in the hell had happened to Fushichou. Then I felt it, something was coming, something powerful. I crawled to Fushichou's side as a young man appeared before us and the powerful being I had sensed disappeared.

"My, my, seems you have gotten into a tight situation, haven't you?"

"Who are you?!"

"My name? It's Kuroi, what's yours?"

"I'm asking the questions here!" I exclaimed, "Where do you come from and what do you want with us?!"

"I'm a wanderer, I go many places, and I want nothing but to help you, if you will allow me to that is," he said walking towards us.

"Back off!" I yelled back to him as I stared down at Fushichou, "Come on Fushichou, wake up! Please, you just can't die, you just can't!"

Kuroi knelt down next to us, "Please, let me help you." He placed his hand on Fushichou.

"Don't touch him!" A light glow came from his hand and surrounded us and Fushichou. I could feel warmth coming from the light. "What are you doing to him?!"

The light disappeared as quickly as it had emerged and Fushichou's eyes opened and he stood up. "I was only helping, like I said I wanted to," Kuroi said standing as well. I looked up at Fushichou and then up at Kuroi who had extended his hand to me, "Come on, I won't bite, I promise."

I took his hand and he helped me up, "Who are you?"

"I already told you, but if you want my full name it's Kuroi Stoleck."

"Nice to meet you, Kuroi, I am Jesse Higurashi."

"And I am Fushichou, Jesse's guardian," he said shaking himself, letting the grass and dirt fall off him.

"The pleasure's mine, Jesse, Fushichou," Kuroi smiled, "Come on, I bet you're both hungry. I made camp not too far from here and I have food if you wish to join me."

I looked back at Fushichou and he nodded. I turned to Kuroi, "We'd love to."

"Alright, come on."

At the camp while we ate we talked about a lot of things. "You say you were attacked? By what?"

"I don't know, and I don't believe Fushichou does either. All I know is it has to be the evil that has plagued the Feudal Era with its poison. We are in search for this evil and we plan to destroy it, even if it means giving our lives to do so."

"I, too, have been on a quest. You see, I am the last remaining member of my village for my village was totally destroyed when I was only fifteen. For four long years I have wandered these lands hoping to find those who killed my people and avenge their deaths," Kuroi explained, "I still can see the night it happened and I have the scars to prove that I, too, was in fact injured during the attack. But for some reason, I survived, and in doing so gained powers, one of which you saw earlier."

"Oh yeah, I forgot to thank you for saving Fushichou's life earlier."

"There is no need, Jesse, it was the least I could do."

I smiled and looked over at Fushichou who had just finished eating as well as I had. He walked over to me and laid down behind me, "We should get some rest and then head out in the morning."

I nodded and turned back to Kuroi, "We're going to get some sleep, good night."

Kuroi nodded, "Okay, sleep well, you two."

After we had fallen asleep, Kuroi stood and walked away from the two of us. As he walked away he transformed into a different being, the one with the powerful aura I had felt earlier. "My dear Jesse, you shall be mine before today is over, I promise you that."