A Fanfic by Yomi no Miko
Chapter 1: Raizen's Kingdom
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It was a rather uncommon day at Raizen's Kingdom. Even though Makai wasn't the kind of place where days follow a routine, it seemed from the beginning that afternoon would be outstandingly different from usual. On second thought I decided, looking up at the sky, that feeling made no sense. There was no reason to feel so weird at all. So I just moved on and tried to ignore whatever it could be and find something better to do.
I was on my way back to the dwelling where I was staying for the night when I realized someone was running fast towards me. It was Joh, a youkai who had arrived at Raizen's territory on the same day as I had.
"Something terrible happened!" he said, panting, as he kept on running. "Come with me."
We arrived at the clearing where Raizen's soldiers usually met whenever there was something important to be discussed. Lately, it happened with amazing frequency. Raizen alone ruled the chaotic Makai that I called home.
There were no other kingdoms, not even other noticeable leaders. Raizen was a S-class youkai, a warrior whose power couldn't be ignored, a conqueror and for many, the equivalent of a God. They followed him, and assisted him in achieving his goals, which naturally included the further expansion of his domains. There were already other powerful youkai who nurtured personal ambitions, of course, but no one who could possibly beat Raizen. Even a newcomer like me enjoyed to dream of having my own followers but I was also pretty sure that it was impossible, at least for the time being.
In the middle of the clearing, there was Hokushin, Raizen's second in command. Every time I had to look at him, I couldn't help to remember the day I met him for the first time...
"Oh... not again. One more ragged demon" he said after scanning me with disgusted eyes.
If Joh had not held me back, I would have picked a fight even knowing it'd be like suicide. The worst thing was to realize that the anger on my face was nothing but a joke to him.
"Ragged and stupid. What a combination! I'd better let you stay. It's going to be fun."
Despite all that, there I was, a member of Raizen's mighty army for six months so far. Six months of a confusing preparation, loss of face, and in all no trace of the piece of action I longed for so intensely. As a matter of fact, being a part of Raizen's entourage was nothing like I had imagined. I pondered on all the effort I had put into reaching that part of the Makai. Years of struggle wasted on what I once believed to be the perfect beginning of a glorious military career.
Finally, Hokushin started to talk. The usual bullshit, only in a little more careful way. After a brief break, he continued; this time, in a more serious tone:
"The news I carry will certainly be a surprise for all. I hope you understand how hard it is. On this very morning our King made up his mind about putting an end to all military activities of our Kingdom..." A loud turmoil rose, but the youkai didn't seem to bother. "The soldiers with the highest rank will be invited to stay, in order to protect the territory and keep the order. It's very important to ..."
This time he was interrupted by an almost hysterical riot. An elite group built a protective formation around the bald youkai to defend him from the mob. I could barely see what was happening. It was then Joh pulled me to join him, climbing a wall where we could have a better overall view. The disorder was wide. All those youkai, all of them brave soldiers, being dismissed like that. I was so shocked by the insurrection threat that I forgot I was being kicked in the ass as well.
Suddenly, a deep silence fell around. Raizen himself had shown up at the plateau. "Where did he come from?" I thought, stretching up to take a better look.
"Damn! Is that Raizen?" I just couldn't believe that underweight youkai was the real Raizen. "Is this a joke? He hasn't even got any horns!" I said aloud, for anyone to hear.
It was the first and only time I had ever seen Raizen. I had already imagined him under many different aspects. In my mind the sole S class youkai of the Makai should have a magnificent appearance, with maybe more than one head. The simplicity of Raizen's form was very surprising for me.
The truth was that Raizen was not that banal. He had weird symbols painted all over his body and a huge white mane. The fact was, being so far away on top of that wall, I just couldn't grasp any of these details.
When a perfect, totally undisturbed silence was spread, Raizen started to talk:
"Warriors of the Makai. I came here in person here to tell you that I decided to dissolve the army. The expansion of my kingdom will no longer be. This is my will, therefore don't try anything stupid. You all have my permission to remain here or not as you wish - Just don't cause me any troubles. I don't expect you to understand my attitude. Frankly, I don't care. It's over and that's all. Accept it in your minds and we'll be done."
He turned his back on us and left then.
The night had come already. Silence was disturbing. Joh and I remained there, sitting atop that wall, watching the crowd scatter around. We just observed, out of words. All of a sudden, a laughing sound. "What's that?" I thought, "Who can be laughing out loud in such a hard time, when so many of us are lost and aimless?" I looked around, but there was no one else there but Joh, who also looked around, trying to find out where that derisive snicker was coming from. Then I sensed something hitting the top of my head and fall to my lap. It was the stone of a fruit... I looked up and tugged at Joh, so he could look up too. There he was, partially concealed amidst the branches and leaves of a tall tree grown past the wall, the inconvenient joker, who gave out an even more annoying chuckle now. I could not stand it.
"What are you laughing at, you moron? Show yourself and let's fight it over" I shouted in a very angry tone.
"Take it easy, Yomi!" said Joh repeating the same sentence he had already uttered to me maybe over a hundred times since we first met.
"To Hell with it! I didn't go through all this shit to become the laughingstock for some annoying jerk. Come down here and show yourself!" I screamed, standing up on the wall.
A silent moment passed.
"If I were you, I'd sit down, angry one, or you'll end up falling" said a voice coming from the tree.
"You bast..."
I couldn't finish the sentence because just as the stranger had said, I fell down to the ground. I was lucky that the wall wasn't very high. Joh came to help, which made me feel even more pathetic. I stood on my own feet as fast as I could and yelled at the tree, unsheathing my sword.
"Enough! If you don't come down, I'll get you where you are. I'm gonna fix you up, scum!"
There was nothing but silence coming form the tree's direction. I was ready to climb up it, when I heard that same voice again, now in a more respectful tone.
"Oh! What's this all for? Look, I'm sorry if I've offended you. I didn't mean it."
"Show yourself then", I yelled louder yet.
"I'm here."
I turned around as quick as possible, aiming the sword towards the stranger who stared at me in the dark. What a stupidity, I realized. He came up right behind me and I didn't sense him. He could have killed me if he wanted to do so.
"So, you still want to fix me up?" asked the stranger, showing a fearless tone of voice.
I didn't know how to respond to that. Instinctively I stared at Joh, just to realize he didn't show the slightest intention of intervening. I even wished he would repeat his old line "Take it easy Yomi" once more. At least it would offer me a good excuse to put down the sword and cease that embarrassing standoff... at least it was embarrassing for me.
"Yomi, that's your name, right?"
The voice made me keep looking up.
That was a hell of a situation! I needed to do something. Either piercing the guy with my sword or allowing him to leave, but anyway, I couldn't make up my mind.
"Why the hell you're laughing?"
It was ridiculous to ask such, but it was the only thing that occurred to me.
"Can you put down the sword?"
I had forgotten about that as well. I held the sword up, even though I was not sure it was the right thing to do.
"Thanks. As I was telling you, I didn't mean to offend you. I was not laughing at you, but at this situation's expense. As far as I'm concerned, I realize all of you, Raizen's warriors, are facing a terrible problem. I'm just passing by, and I found all this mess just too funny. I came from the east because I heard there was a great king in this land. It's such an irony that he decided to retire on the same day I arrived, don't you agree?"
What a sweet voice! I had never heard any youkai speaking in such a delicate and well educated way like that.
"Did you come to volunteer?" asked Joh.
Only Joh could ask such a nonsense.
"Not at all."
And Joh continued the typical questioning.
"What kind of youkai are you and what are you doing here?"
The poor guy still believed he was a frontier guard.
"I'm a youko. I came here just to get to know this kingdom, for the day when I'll conquer my own."
Oh my! What a haughty jerk. I wanted to give him the kind of reply he deserved, but as I started one of the illumination towers around was switched on, spreading light all over. I took the chance to aim a good look at the youko as I had absolutely no idea about the kind of youkai he was. I was in awe then. I had never seen anything as beautiful in my whole life. I believed no youkai could be truly good looking. Girls used to look better in general, but they were hard to get. Searching for a male partner in the Makai was a helluva problem for poor guys like me, with a bit of good taste. I confess I stood still there for a while like an idiot. I could only stare in astonishment at that creature... a youko...
"So, am I forgiven?" asked him, coming closer to me, which made me even more confused.
"Er... sure!" I answered, a bit flustered.
He didn't reply, but smiled. Probably he was amused with my embarrassment.
"Kurama!" someone called him.
I turned over and looked at the youkai coming towards us, apparently in a hurry.
"I looked all over for you like crazy" the guy definitely seemed angry "Listen to me, there's trouble coming. I think we gotta get away fast."
"You can go, I'll catch you up."
"Mind your share, at least..." said the youkai, throwing a bag at the floor. "And don't stay here for long. I mean it."
So, Kurama was his name...
"Well, I think I've gotta go now" he said picking up the bag "It was a pleasure to meet you!'
I kept staring at him till he disappeared from sight.
"Yomi, wake up!" Joh yelled, grabbing my shoulders and shaking me out of my daydreaming. "What's going on? Are you all right?"
"No" I answered.
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Shrine to Yomi-Sama -