A Fanfic by Yomi no Miko
Chapter 18: Youko Kurama
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Soon after Kaizo had told me about Kurama, I left his house and entered the woods. Fortunately I knew that place very well. This time it wouldn't be like the last one when I crossed the forest to find him. Different situation, but the same anxiety to meet him again. So I walked for a while, always towards the Kala fortress. I didn't mind the stories Kaizo had told me. Only one thing really mattered: to see him again. Part of me still didn't believe... Should he be changed? He was almost a hundred years older, of course. And this time with no mad stepfathers around. This was the best part... or so I thought.
As I expected, it didn't take long and I found myself being surrounded by three youkai. I hadn't noticed their presence. I tried to explain I wasn't their enemy, just someone looking for an old friend, but they didn't listen to me. Well, I knew that whatever explanation wouldn't work out the way I wanted but I tried it anyway.
My hands were tied, and my eyes were covered. Then they pushed me through a long and very confuse way for hours. They didn't answer me either, no matter how much I annoyed them with questions. Instead, I ended up gagged. I could feel we were passing through a wide gateway. I was pushed down to the floor. They left me there for a long time, or so it seemed. Screams of pain could be heard as clearly as if I was locked in some kind of prison. I started to fear that I had done something really stupid this time.
"Release him. Boss will meet him now."
It was a low, determined soldier voice.
"This piece of shit? Why?"
"Don't know. Just do it."
I was untied. Finally I could take a look around. I had been taken to a kind of dungeon. Not a very pleasant place to be, as a matter of fact. There were other prisoners there, most of them in an unbelievable precarious state. Even during my soldier years I hadn't seen such a thing.
The youkai guided me through a narrow corridor. It was not rustic tunnel, in fact, it was a path between well built stone walls. I almost laughed when I realized that I was back in the same place where I had that strange experience with my former partner Kenzo.
"What is this place?" I asked.
"Shut up, moron!" was their kind answer.
They left me in a wide room. It was a very unusual place, full of books, maps and lots of small objects that formed a remarkable mess. There was also a large wooden table, with heavy looking chairs. It could be a fine piece of furniture if there weren't so much dust on its surface.
Minutes passed and nothing happened. So I started to fuss around. I was about to taste a strange red colored liquid that I found the bottom of an old bottle when I was interrupted by the sound of an unknown and yet familiar voice.
"So, you wanted to see me."
It took me some time to recompose, and even more to realize that I wasn't seeing things. It was Kurama who was standing next to the entrance, staring at me.
"Ku... Kurama? Is that you?"
"Who else, Yomi?"
"You're alive... How can it be?"
"I could ask you the same question," he said, as he sat in one of the chairs.
I stared at him for some time. He was exactly the Kurama I knew but at the same time, he was so different... Not the same child I once met. He looked so adult. His hair was now reaching his waist and his eyes that used to look so clear now seemed too fierce. He was taller too, much more that I would expect for someone who used to barely reach my shoulders.
"Are you going to stare at me all day?"
And his voice... I think it was what shocked me the most. It used to be so sweet... How could it have changed that much?
"Kurama... You changed."
"I hope you didn't come here just to say that."
His words sounded a little harsh but I didn't mind. I thought he didn't remember me.
"It's me. Yomi. Don't you remember?" I tried to come near him.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"I was jus..."
"Stay where you are. I can see you very well from this distance. So, aren't you going to tell me what's your business here? I haven't got all day."
Surprise turned into shock. I didn't know what to say.
"Why are you talking to me like that? Kurama, I thought you were dead... And so I thought for almost a hundred years. All this time I was living in the North. But the moment I knew you're alive, I had to come. Did you forget that we used to be friends? That I used to care for you more than..."
"Cut the crap, Yomi," he interrupted, "You may stay if you want but forget about this nonsense."
He stood up.
"But we..."
"And try to understand, Yomi... There was no "us" and there will never be. Hiyuga!"
A short old man appeared outside the room.
"Master?"
"Let him take a look around. If he decides to leave, tell someone to take him to the frontier."
"Shall I communicate his decision, master?"
"No... No need to waste your time... or mine," he said as he left the room.
"As you wish, master."
I still couldn't believe... It all seemed the weirdest dream I had ever had. I was so confuse that I ended up burning the palm of my hand in a nearby candle. The unexpected pain made me cry out in surprise.
"Are you hurt, sir? Let me see your hand."
I remained like a stone while the little youkai inspected the wound.
"It's nothing. I hope you can control your sword with the the other hand for a couple of days. Please, follow me."
I just obeyed him, like a robot. However, as we walked around, my mind started to absorb the situation. I noticed that Hiyuga was still speaking to me. His words sounded like explanations, but I couldn't understand them well. So I just answered "Hai" every time he stopped to breathe.
"Are you sure you're all right, sir?
"Hai."
"Very well then. Now, let me tell you something about Kurama-sama."
This time I tried to pay a little attention.
"Despite of all people say, it not difficult to get along with him. Just don't forget what is your place here and everything will be fine. Hum... I guess it's not necessary to mention this but I'll tell you anyway: the fact that you're Kurama-sama's former friend will mean nothing here. It's totally useless for you now. Kurama-sama takes business too seriously, so whatever you have in mind, forget it. And stay away from Hekel and the rest of the commanders. Am I clear?"
I was about to ask him what he meant by "former", but instead, what came out was:
"Who's Hekel?"
"He's Kurama-sama's second in command. That's all you need to know. Are you staying, sir?"
"Hai."
Few times I got to see Kurama in the two months that followed, although he commanded all the attacks. It was easy for me to notice that the band operated in quite different bases than I had thought at first. Kurama and his commanders took care of everything while the rest of the thieves seemed to be no more than cards that Kurama could play with. Some youkai would never get near the action, not even in a hundred years. They were just pieces, to be controlled according to the convenience of the plan. I could see that some of them didn't like it at all, although in the end, all of them accepted the situation in silence. The truth was that Kurama's plans were perfect. God knows how he managed to get so much knowledge and information. Besides, the band was like a gold mine. As a leader, Kurama wasn't what I would call popular, but the fear and admiration he inspired were the key he owned to have the whole band in the palm of his hand.
However, I wasn't worried about Kurama's reputation as a leader. What really annoyed me was the way he treated me: the same way he treated any other thief in the band. So, I ended up blaming that horrible incident that separated us in the past. The only conclusion I could get to was that he still thought I had abandoned him then. So I decided that I would deserve his attention again. I was much more skilled than most of his subordinates after all.
One day, Hiyuga asked me if I was interested in
joining the command. Of course I accepted it immediately. I couldn't
imagine all the trouble coming in my way.
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Shrine to Yomi-Sama -