Chapter Fourteen: Lost and Found
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho. I do not own the lyrics to 'Hickory Dickory Dock', Duvet, or Matchbox20: Unwell, either. All standard disclaimers apply.
Warning: May be some sexual content, harsh language, violence, and unusual relationships. (Yaoi/Yuri/Het/etc.) YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. Flames towards this issue and plagiarism will NOT be tolerated.
Written by- AoiHyou
Posted- 10/6/03
~*~
The Osa watched with uncolored shimmering eyes, clear as crystal, through the pendant.
She smiled softly, seeming almost gentle, if not for the malicious thought behind it.
The direct vision of the pendant was on a silver fox, smiling gallantly and being ravished by one who adorned it.
But that was not what made her smile.
In the corner of the pendant's vision was a black shadow.
Purple eyes gazed at the swinging amber necklace, and she knew instantly who it was.
She whispered an enchantment, looking at the figure in the tree, then started to talk into the pendant.
"Shadows..."
She tested to see if he could hear her,
"Shadows... Fire... Ice..."
His eye caught hers-or so it seemed. She kept whispering.
"Child of Shadow... Shadow expects you..."
His eyes took on a raw understanding.
"Shadow expects you..."
He grinned, and she did the same simultaneously.
Fool...
~*~
Hickory Dickory Dock,
The bird looked at the clock,
The clock struck two,
Away he flew,
Hickory Dickory Dock!
~*~
It was dark.
There was so much foliage that he abandoned his stealth for cautiousness.
If someone had seen him, they would have said he was lost. He was walking-seemingly aimlessly- in a forest. His eyes kept darting left and right, and it was apparent he had never been there before.
The wind whispered through the leaves and made it sound like a sharp hissing warning.
What one would not notice is that his footing was sure. He walked straight towards something, his destination in sight. He was not lost, merely untrusting.
The foliage, though unruly, seemed to twist with the shadows to keep from entangling him. It was strange that so many branches surrounded him, and yet none caught onto his clothing.
A few more steps, and he stumbled a bit. He glared a moment at the root that had tripped him, then looked beyond it and gasped.
~*~
Hickory Dickory Dock,
The dog barked at the clock,
The clock struck three,
Fiddle-de-dee,
Hickory Dickory Dock!
~*~
Karasu stepped cautiously into the cavern, feeling a breeze come from deep within it, wrapping around him and pulling him in gently.
The crow was suspicious, and followed slowly, making sure to take in any details in his surroundings.
The ceiling hung down in some places, and at others was so high that it seemed as if it were simply night and the darkness above was not a ceiling, but just the sky.
There were dips and formations, but to his surprise, only one passage.
But before he went any further, a deep yet smooth voice washed over him. The wind seemed to cease, and the air was still.
-What are you doing here, child?-
He jerked backwards at the voice, yet found he could not place where it had come from.
"Who are you?"
-One would believe that intruding on one's home meant they knew what they were entering...-
"Who are you?" He asked again, almost stubbornly.
The voice washed over him once again,
-I, child, am Shadow. Element of Darkness.-
"So it is you," the crow tried to keep his surprise and unexplained fear hidden, "I have been told that you were expecting me... But it seems that you do not know who I am--"
-Oh, I know who you are, child. But what I asked is what you are doing here.-
"I was told..."
-They knew not what they spoke of, then. It is not your time yet.-
Slightly angry at the arrogant tone, Karasu spat, "Just who are you, and how the hell do you know of me?"
-As I said, child, I am Shadow. Element of Darkness.-
He was about to respond when it continued.
-And how I know of you, child, is quite simple.-
A chill went through him, and he knew the next words before they were uttered.
-You, child, are my son.-
He was silent, trying to take in the fact, and finding that he wanted a glimpse of the speaker. But before he could react, the voice that enveloped him started to fade, and he found himself becoming alone in the cave.
-As I said, child. It is not your time yet...-
"But how do I know when-"
-You will know, child. You will know.-
And the wind resumed hissing past him, as if escorting him out.
-You will know...-
~*~
Hickory Dickory Dock,
The bear slept by the clock,
The clock struck four,
He ran out the door,
Hickory Dickory Dock!
~*~
She stood out like an angel in hell. Her bangs were almost spiky, but the rest of her hair was sleek and bluish-white, flowing down her back like an avalanche. Her white complexion did not camouflage at all with the darkness of the forest.
She walked through the brush, just as the previous visitor.
Soon, she stepped delicately into the cavern's entrance, and swiftly made her way through it.
"You wanted to see me?" Her voice was harsh, icy, and sharp, and yet had a warm feminine tone.
-Yes... or it would seem that you wanted to see me...-
"Well, you cannot blame me. One can only find your lair if they are an Element, related to you, or invited. Since I doubt I qualify for the former, I chose the latter."
-By trying to quicken Fate?-
Her eyes turned cold at the last word.
"My goal in life," she almost growled, like icicles being ground against one another, "is to stop Fate..."
There was a silence, and Shadow seemed to be bored of her display choosing simply to ignore it.
-So what did you wish to speak to me about?-
"I wanted to discuss what will happen to the Youko's soul."
-We have already agreed on this. At least, your ancestor and I. There is nothing to discuss, child.-
"No, there is. I have come to tell you-rather than argue-that his soul is ours."
-His soul was promised to me. You should know why, it was written in our pact. Ice agreed to it.-
"He can cause problems. I want to keep my eye on him."
-I will watch him. I need him for the plan to work...-
"We do not need to give him to your little child as a bribe. Your child's role in this is dispensable. Ice may have held you in high regards, but there are more efficient ways to accomplish the task..."
-Ice and I agreed to this, child. You have no place to meddle.-
"As I said, your agreement overlooked the fact that your child is unneeded."
-He is, daughter of Ice. We must attack the Curse with mentality and physical powers... my child can accomplish the former, he has the power of a seer...-
"But Youko also has empathy, though those fools do not seem to notice... and the fox is a more efficient way to break down the bastard child's mental defenses..."
-I hardly believe that Inari and Animal will stand for that...-
"And giving him as a whore present to your child is more respectable?"
-I am not handing him over as a 'whore present', watch your mouth, child. I am simply giving my child what you promised him years ago. It is your responsibility...-
She glared at him, anger and embarrassment barely hidden behind her crystal eyes.
"It is not my fault he believed me when I told him I would give him the 'Weakness'. How was I to know that the weakness was Inari's own son?"
-And it is not my fault that you are unsatisfied and paranoid with what has already been set. As for not knowing, I believe most would check what the trade off was before promising it.-
"It matters not. I will not hand over the Youko's soul to you. We both know that you cannot call souls to you in your weakened state other than your own descendents. I, on the other hand, do have the strength to capture the Youko's soul. There is nothing to discuss."
-Do not anger me, Child of Ice...-
"And what," she hissed, her eyes glinting as she started walking away, "can you do about it?"
She quickly exited the cavern, knowing that she had angered Shadow as nobody had for millenniums...
Yet not knowing what he was capable of doing to make her pay for it.
~*~
Hickory Dickory Dock,
The bee buzzed round the clock,
The clock struck five,
She went to her hive,
Hickory Dickory Dock!
~*~
Nonononononononononononono...
His mind was in such chaos that he was vaguely amazed at his own outward expression of indifference.
He can't die, damn it... I have to help him...
He felt as if his world was ending, yet his arms were simply crossed over his arms and his eyes watched in an almost bored fashion the battle before him.
The damn raven was attacking Kurama.
He was in silent awe of himself as he hadn't grimaced even once, or winced when blood sputtered out of the Kitsune.
I have to help him...
Hiei felt his own fingers twitched on his arm, touching the cursed bandage as his mind willed him to release the Black Dragon and destroy that which dared touch the Youko.
Yet he couldn't bring himself to do it, for his other consciousness was holding him back from it...
//Why do you have to help him? He will die anyways, he will betray us. You are cursed, fool. We are cursed. If we help him, more damnation will befall him. Why do we have to help him? Why do you want to help him? What always happens to those we help? They die. They die. Why do we have to help him? They always die.//
Another bomb went off, and the redhead screamed. He panicked.
But we have to try-maybe he's different. He must be different...
More blood. It felt as if he could only see red. It felt as if there was only red... that beautiful red hair drenched in crimson liquid... A bomb went off under his feet, and the fox could no longer run.
//We are cursed. They always die. They die. Why do we have to help him?//
The black haired bastard was laughing, mocking him. He couldn't hear him. He just knew something was different this time. There were too many bombs this time...
We have to help him. I have to help him. Please, please, please...
Kurama looked so determined...
//He will betray us. They always betray us. They always die. They die. How is he different? Why do we have to help him?//
A green light blasted towards the Kitsune...
He... he will not betray us. Please... please don't let him die. I have to help him. Please. We have to help him. Please, please, please, please,pleasepleaseplease...
And a purple one responded, setting off something in the crow's chest. A plant burst out of nowhere, and he unconsciously identified it: A Bloodsucker Plant. He watched as the life was drained out of Karasu... and the same happen to Kurama, the plant feeding off both their energies.
//How is he different? They always betray us... how is he different?//
He fell forward, unconscious. So horribly limp that Hiei felt fear dwell inside him.
Because... because...
Hours seemed to pass in those moments...
Because...
Then his eyes grew a bit wide, the only outward sign of his surprise, as Kurama moved.
And as relief washed over him as the fox stood.
But to anybody watching, he was as impassive as ever, the only sign of acknowledgement to the kitsune's awesome feat a simple smirk, and his trademark statement.
"Hn."
But still, as the relief washed over him, he wondered why he felt as if Karasu was still staring at him. As if the crow was still alive...
As if Kurama's battle was not over yet.
But further yet, he wondered what the answer to the question was...
//How is he different?//
~*~
And you don't seem the lying kind,
A shame then I can read your mind,
And all the things that I read there,
Candle lit smile that we both share,
And you know I don't mean to hurt you,
But you know that it means so much,
And you don't even feel a thing...
~*~
It was strange how he was used to the sensation.
Sure, he had been dead before, but it had been more uncertain and frightful last time. He had felt like he might just float away or melt into the atmosphere before he could accomplish what he'd wanted to.
This time, he felt confident, and somehow, he felt as if he were taking stable and physical steps towards the cave, rather than just floating there as he was in actuality.
Perhaps he had just gotten accustomed to death, coming near it so often?
He did not even have to think of where he was going, something was leading him yet again, and this time, he knew he was 'on time'.
He found himself in the cave he'd visited so many years ago, and wished he could inhale. He was sure the air would be sweet, and fill his lungs like a delectable toxin.
-Ah, you are here...-
/Yes... it seems I am./
-Do you know why I called you here?-
/Should I?/
-Perhaps.-
/Well, I don't./
-...I see your Seer powers have not come back to you yet...-
/I lost most of them when reincarnated./
-No, child, you did not. You simply tried to forget them... did you hate them so much?-
/Hate them...?/
A thoughtful pause. Her remembered foreseeing deaths of those he loved, foreseeing betrayals that he could not change... He remembered his first life...
(He's a monster! He's not one of us! He knew that Kou would die before he did... he must have cursed him to death! He sees things that aren't there, he hears things that aren't said! He cannot be one of us! Look at the color of his eyes! Purple! No human can have purple eyes! He must be a monster! We will kill him tonight! We will kill him...)
/Perhaps, perhaps I did.../
-Well, child. You must regain them. You have a job to accomplish...-
/A job? And who says I will cooperate?/
-I am willing to offer you a... shall we say... payment?-
/What is this 'payment' you speak of?/
-A certain fox... a certain fox's soul...-
An undignified chuckle resounded from the crow's soul.
/Someone once promised me the same thing, and I do not plan to fall for that again./
-Ah, but that 'Someone' is whom you are helping me get back at.-
/Oh?/
-Sometimes, you must discipline children... if they get too far out of line...-
/I think.../
Karasu's soul materialized into his body's form, translucent, but smirking.
/I like the way you think./
-As they say, like father like son.-
/But first.../
-Hm?-
/If I am your son, why was I born to Ningenkai?/
-The worlds used to be one. You were born in an isolated part of the world, where humans had found refuge. Soon after, Ningekai broke off of Makai, and you were, in a sense, 'stranded' there.-
/Why was I not born with youkai powers, then?/
-You were, child. That is how you ended up at Makai on that one night... the night they tried to kill you and you fled. Your youki created a portal, and you escaped to Makai... thought it was not a particularly good refuge to choose.-
/If I was born a youkai, then why was I isolated so in Makai? Was I not a normal youkai?/
The issue was more personal, a question he'd asked himself so many times at night. The thing he'd wondered over and over when he'd first entered Makai...
(If I'm one of them, why won't they accept me?)
-No...-
A wistful sign,
-You, my child... are a Forbidden Child...
...and a Forbidden Child can never have peace or acceptance...-
~*~
"There is always a reason for the Forbidden to be Forbidden..."
~*~
But I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell,
I know right now you can't tell,
But stay awhile and maybe then you'll see,
A different side of me,
I'm not crazy, I'm just a little impaired,
I know right now you don't care,
But soon enough you're gonna think of me,
And how I used to be...
Me.
~*~
"Koenma-sama! Koenma-sama!"
"Eh... five more minutes..." The demigod's head shifted to the left as he murmured.
"Mou!" Botan pouted, noting that the drool on Koenma's face was not very attractive. Well, we can't have that, now can we? She snapped her fingers and grabbed her oar. She could fix that problem...
THWAP!!
"OW!"
Koenma, now sporting a throbbing 'wound', glared at the grim reaper.
"Are you awake now?"
"No, I think you have to hit me a few more times."
THWAP! THWAP! THWAP! THWAPPPP!!!!!
"ALL RIGHT! ALL RIGHT! I'M AWAKE, OKAY?!"
"Oh. That's good. I just had to have you stamp some papers." Botan smiled sweetly, once again defying the grim reaper stereotype.
Koenma muttered something about women being manipulative and the evil of the afterlife, then stopped when Botan fingered her oar menacingly.
"Fine, fine. Hand me the Enma-damned papers."
"You know you just mocked your own father."
"Oh, shut up."
"That's not very nice..." Her fingers played on the end of her oar.
"Please, be quiet as I try to complete this task you have beset on me." He rolled his eyes as she nodded approvingly.
Thump.
He hated that sound. The sound of the damned stamp hitting yet another form. A sound he'd heard so many times that he swore he would go insane, and yet knew he wouldn't
Thump.
Thump.
He wished it were still the Dark Tournament. Yes, he had had to risk his life (sort of) but it was better than this.
Thump.
Thump.
He thought about the tournament, ignoring the expression of boredom on Botan's face, urging him to go faster. She probably wanted to get on her break to go see that human miko...
Thump.
Thump.
He noticed that a few of the forms were paperwork for those who had died at the Dark Tournament. Most of which victims of the Toguro Team...
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
A few moments, and many more stamps later, he finished off the stack.
"Thank you Koenma-sama~~! I'm off on my break now, okay?"
"Okay Botan..." He muttered, finding that his nap was long lost.
Then, something occurred to him.
"Wait, Botan?" The grim reaper stopped in her tracks, annoyance playing lightly on her features.
"Yes?"
"...were those all of the Dark Tournament forms?"
"Yes. And some other regular deaths."
"...all of them?"
"Yes, Koenma-sama. All of them." She was obviously resisting the urge to tap her foot.
"...Botan, can I take another look at those?"
"Su~re Koenma-sama." She signed and walked back over to his desk, handing him the papers.
Immediately, he snatched them from her and skimmed through them.
His face turned pale, and Botan finally felt that something was seriously wrong. His eyes showed their true age, something that would have looked comical in any other situation, but was frightening at the moment.
"Ko...Koenma-sama?"
"Botan..."
"H...hai?"
There was an awkward silence as he finished looking through all of the forms. He turned his face up to her, and whispered almost inaudibly.
"Where are Karasu's papers?"
~*~
End Chapter Fourteen.
You may have to remember the thing about how you can enter Shadow's cave. It's pretty important later on.
Hiei is finally noticing his feelings for Kurama, ne? Slow little fire demon...
I really found it amusing when rereading this chapter that Shadow and Karasu (after Karasu dies) sound like a father and son getting reacquainted over a counseling session. All awkward and such. XD
I'm scaring myself. This is the third update... this week.
I would like to thank my koi (Callisto Firestarter) for beta reading this chapter!
"...well...either the world is ending, or this proves that anything can be done..."
"I vote for the world ending."
"...me too"
R&R Onegai, no flames.