A Fanfic by Yomi no Miko
Chapter 14: A New Beginning
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I left the forest as soon as I recovered. I just couldn't stand to stare at those trees, that lake... Everything in that place reminded me of Kurama. I even dreamed of him. It was usual for me to think about him as if he wasn't dead. Sometimes I had to repeat to myself that he wasn't by my side anymore. As time passed I started to get used to reality again... quite slowly but eventually, I managed to overshadow all the sadness and delusion that screamed inside of me. And even though I missed him terribly, I decided to take care of my own life.
In the first few years, I wandered the fields of east Makai, robbing here and there to survive. I was all by myself, completely independent. I wished it could be like that for a long time but I knew that sooner or later I'd end up choosing some kind of association.
There wasn't so many alternatives for me. In truth, just two of them: to be a soldier or a thief. The fist one had become quite arduous since most of Makai armies had been eliminated after Raizen's decision to abandon all kinds of military disputes. So I was forced to admit that thievery was my only viable choice.
So, five years after I left the forest, I became a member of a band of thieves led by a youkai named Kenzo. It didn't take me long to conquer a significant position in the group. My "previous professional experience" as a member of Youko Kurama's notorious band surely gave me sort of a status. I had heard that Kenzo's second in command, a youkai named Liu, was out in some kind of mission. I was really anxious to meet such a respected and powerful guy. As a matter of fact, our little gang was doing very well those days. The rumors about the fire that destroyed Youko Kurama's hiding place had been spread all around Makai like flames in the wind and most of treasure houses had become less well guarded after that.
My fellows used to ask me questions about Kurama all the time. I tried to avoid it as much as possible since I really hated to talk about that. However, most of times, I just couldn't get rid of it.
One day I was trapped in one of those interrogatories when an unfamiliar voice interrupted us.
"Enough with this plant talk. What a bore! Let's get right to the point. Was he really hot like everyone says?"
I looked around searching for the responsible for such an infamous comment, but couldn't find the author.
"Over here, sweetie!"
I turned back. It was a young female, not exactly beautiful, nevertheless her eyes were incredibly brilliant. She had red hair and her skin was more brunet than usual. And her clothes... I could hardly call that little thing she was wearing an outfit... However, she stared at me defiantly, with the largest smile I've ever seen.
"So, sweetie, aren't you gonna tell me if he was really that sexy?"
I had an urge of slapping her for what (and how) she just had said about the most important person in my life but I managed to control myself.
"What you want to know has no relevance at all." I replied, trying to remain calm.
I assumed that woman could only be the lover of one of the thieves. So I though I'd rather not to get myself involved into a fight with someone I didn't know yet.
"Come on, sweetie! It may have no relevance at all to you... but it has to me!"
Everybody started to laugh. The situation was becoming unbearable.
"Listen, slut. My name is NOT 'sweetie'... And get of my face or I'll kill you right now!"
She burst into laughter.
"Help! Somebody help me, the boy with horns wants to kill me!"
More laughing. Definitely it was too much for me. I decided to spank her. When I was about to do so, Kenzo approached us.
"Yomi, Liu. So, you two have already met."
I stopped, astonished. Was that woman Liu? The powerful, famous, first commander of Kenzo was that this vulgar, irritating woman of coarse language and the most annoying laughter? I wanted to die...
"Kenzo, sweetheart, your new commander is very bad-tempered. He threaten to kill me only because of one little question I made..."
"Liu, just cut me some slack, okay? Yomi is new here and he's definitely not used to your crazy ways."
"It's okay, honey! You're the boss." She looked at me again. "Sorry, sweetie. It wasn't my intention to downplay your friend's memory. You know... I have heard things you wouldn't believe! About his cute butt with a fox tail, for example... I do love tails..."
"LIU!!!" Kenzo shouted.
"Oops! Sorry again, love. I get carried on. But you're cute too, ya know?... Oops again! Well, gotta get going before I say any more bilges. See ya, sweetie!"
As soon as she left I started to talk.
"Kenzo! What the hell was that?!"
"Look, I know what you're thinking. She looks crazy, sounds crazy and indeed she is too crazy, but I'll tell you one thing: Liu has the most powerful youki I've ever seen in my 500 years of life. A-Class, can you imagine it? A few more years and she sets Makai on fire, like Raizen did some centuries ago."
"I don't care. I wouldn't put up with that hysterical woman even if she were more powerful than Enma."
"I know it's difficult to get used to her in the beginning, but believe me, she's very capable. I'd never dispense with her services."
"Listen to me, Kenzo. I don't want to disrespect you but I swear I get out of here if that woman pisses me off."
In fact Liu didn't cut out the nagging on me, but I never kept my promise. I knew I wouldn't find a band as good as that. Time went by and I got used to Liu's peculiar behavior. I even thought she was funny sometimes. In fact she was very powerful. She could concentrate youki in her hands and then throw it out, causing great crashes. Her abilities awed me... I hardly ever had a chance of witness such demonstration of power, and Liu's were the most amazing I had ever seen.
One day she came near me and spoke in that eccentric manners of her.
"What's up, sweetie? Wanna learn how to kick some butts?"
"I've told you not to call me sweetie. It's annoying..."
"But you are sweet! I'd bite you if I had the chance... So, are you in?"
"What do you mean, kicking some butts?"
"With your ki, baby."
"And you think you can be my teacher?"
"Sure, sweetie! I love to tell little boys what to do."
"Hell, Liu, I've told you not to call me like that. I'm not a boy, I'm... hum... almost 150 years old."
"And I'm almost 300. So what? You're still a little boy comparing to me. How about some lessons?"
"And how much is this gonna cost me?"
"Smart boy! Here's my deal: each lesson I teach you, you have to answer me a question. Deal?"
"Just that?"
"Sure, sweetie!"
I agreed with the lessons, out of curiosity. I wondered what type of lessons she would teach me... I thought they'd be rather stupid to say the least, taking into account the teacher. On the other hand they'd cost me nothing... so why not? But I was so wrong in my judgment. The lessons were awesome. Liu instructed me how to use my youki to slow down impacts and protect my body at the same time, a technic I'd use many times in the future. My speed increased in a way I couldn't believe. Liu praised me saying that I had potential, and she seemed sincere. However, the payment to the lessons... it was worst than I had thought. Liu asked the most indiscreet questions. I almost gave up the lessons just to escape from them. Every time we're about to finish I knew very well what would come next...
"Did you get everything, sweetie? Good! So it's time for my little question!!"
"What's it about now?"
"Well, let me see..."
"Could you try to not be vulgar this time?"
"Jeez, sweetie, you're such a kill joy... Okay, I'm gonna try something different this time... Lemme see... oh, yeah! Was your little friend Kurama as randy as people used to say? "
"You said you'd try something different." I replied "Have you got anything else in your mind besides sex?"
"Come on, sweetie. What about our deal? I'm the one who makes the questions, not you."
"All right. If you want to know that much about a dead person, I'll tell you. He wasn't "randy" but was truly beautiful... maybe too much, I guess. I don't appreciate the way you talk about him. He was my friend, and only 18 years old when he died..."
"Holy shit! Are you telling me that a 18 year old kid made the whole east Makai chicken out!!!"
"That's it. Will you leave him alone now? Haven't you got any respect for the dead?"
"Gods, sweetie! You sure were crazy about him. Did you make it?"
I counted to ten. Then, the wisest move occurred to me.
"I've already answered your question."
"Consider that as an advanced payment for the next lesson. So, did you?"
Okay, maybe it was not that wise...
"No we didn't, and you own me a free lesson."
"Come on, sweetie! Won't I drag anything interesting out of you today?"
"Bye, Liu. See you tomorrow." I turned my back and started to walk towards the camp.
"You really cared about him, didn't you?" She suddenly asked, in a serious tone of voice that surprised me.
I stopped but didn't look back.
"More than you can ever imagine."
Our lessons went on, and Liu didn't give up the
indecent questions, naturally. But she didn't ever mention Kurama's name
again.
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Shrine to Yomi-Sama -