A Fanfic by Yomi no Miko
Chapter 19: Hekel
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My promotion didn't turn out the way I had expected. On the contrary, Kurama begun to show less respect for me. Sometimes he even mocked my opinion in front of everyone. And yet it wasn't the worst of all...
Finally I had the chance to be close to the most powerful members of the band, sort of ten youkai, most of them from that insane faction lead by Hekel. Soon I started to get to know the strange habits Kurama had developed. He had become so distant from the youko I used to know a long time ago, that most of time it was like dealing with a complete different youkai.
The high command gathered almost every night, however most of times their discussions had nothing to do with the group activities. It seemed more like social meetings. They ate, drank and talked a lot about countless things. When Kurama did show up, he was always accompanied by someone. I was annoyed to find out that he had an endless collection of lovers, and changed from one to another as if they were cups of wine. The youko used to drink a lot but never looked really drunk. On a second thought, everyone there seemed to drink so much. Especially Hekel.
Hekel was the second in command in the band. He was a very tall youkai with short, orange colored hair, always messy and a weird arrow shaped sign on his face. He used to wear a long cloak and was constantly looking at me in a strange way.
The weirdest thing was that Hekel and Kurama were always together. Sometimes they kissed when they met. I started to notice how close to Kurama he seemed to be, and he made it more evident every time I was nearby. Apparently they had an affair but it didn't stop them from seeing other people.
I hated to admit it, but to realize that I meant
absolutely nothing to Kurama was driving me crazy day by day.
One night I almost lost my temper in one of these reunions. Kurama was sitting in his habitual chair. There was a girl on his lap, her head leaned on this shoulder. That one was different from the others, was less attractive but was the first one who got to hold Kurama's attention. Now and then she kissed his neck and provoked him by caressing him under his shirt. Kurama returned her teasing, fooling around with her. I was expecting for the moment when they would forget that they were not alone there.
I was so jealous... Maybe it was the wine. But suddenly I decided to do something to stop that scene.
"Kurama. I have something very important to say!"
I spoke loudly so that I wouldn't be ignored. It worked. Everybody stopped talking and looked at me.
"And what would that be?" Kurama asked with a cynical smile.
"Well... We are stand-still for a long time and the thieves are bored."
"So what?"
"I ask for your permission to organize some activities by ourselves, so that my companions can exercise."
Kurama laughed as if I had told him the funniest joke.
"That's all right... if you wanna risk your own necks for nothing, I'm not standing in your way."
I caught a critical tone in his voice, but decided to go on anyway.
"I also think you should try something about your subordinates... to be more popular among them."
This time not only Kurama, everyone burst into laughter.
"Who told you I wanna be popular? I don't care if they like me or not, I just want them to obey me. If you want to distract them go ahead, but don't try to tell me what to do."
He left then, with that strange woman still glued to him. That was when I noticed Hekel, who was looking at me in a strange way again.
"Our meeting is over, please leave now, everyone," said Hekel, with his muffled voice.
We started to get out. I was incredibly upset, ready to kill anyone or anything.
"Yomi-san, please stay. I want to talk to you."
"About what?"
"You'll see," he answered as he waited for the others to leave the room. Then he closed the door.
"I have been watching you, Yomi-san."
"Really... so?"
"You are an interesting youkai..." he said as he came closer to me. I backed down a few steps.
"You don't need to be afraid of me..."
"Afraid, me? You've got to be kidding!" I stated, standing still.
He reduced the distance between us until our bodies were almost touching.
"There's something about you I don't see in other youkai... You have passion, lack of sense... but you're charming in your impulsively. Besides you are very attractive, and manly..." his voice was low.
His hand caressed my hair. I repelled him immediately by pushing him with all the strength I could. I was disgusted. That was the first time this sexual harassment nonsense happened to me. I drew my sword and pointed it to him.
"Don't you dare to touch me again or I'll rip your head off!"
"My deep apologies, Yomi-san. I didn't intend to scare you. I thought you had more experience in these kind of things."
"My experience is none of your business. I don't like you, and there's nothing you can do to change my opinion, so leave me alone!"
"I wonder if that is really true, Yomi-san..." he said, sitting down calmly.
"You bastard, what do you think I am? I wouldn't be interested in you even if you were the last youkai on Makai!" I shouted, infuriated, ready to leave that place before I did something wild.
"This is really a shame, Yomi-san. Being nice to me could bring advantages to you... if you know what I mean. I can talk to Kurama about you, and I have great influence on him."
"What are you talking about?"
"That's very simple, Yomi-san. Let's say that our might leader is in debt with me. If I plead on your behalf, I'm sure he won't say no. Come on, don't tell me you are not attracted to him. It's understandable. He is gorgeous and very powerful. Besides, there's nothing better in the three worlds than getting laid with him... believe me, it's an extraordinary pleasure."
I couldn't believe my own ears. I was no saint and certainly not naive but I had never heard so much dirty in my whole life. I fled from that place like an arrow without destiny. For some hours I wandered, extremely confused. How would I deal with such situation from now on? All of a sudden I had one radical idea and resolved to put it in practice right away.
I ran back to the castle the faster I could, and got in, racing upstairs to the last floor.
"Where do you thing you're going, Yomi-san?!" asked Hiyuga, looking worried and standing in front of me. "Are you drunk?"
"Get out of my way, Hiyuga, or I'll kick your ass. I want to see him now and no one will stop me!"
I pushed him out of my way and went on. Then I punched the door hard. Instants later, the girl I saw with Kurama in the meeting appeared at the door, half naked.
"What do you want? Are you drunk? Go away, if Kurama wakes up you'll be in deep shit..."
I shoved her to the floor, and got near the bed where Kurama was asleep. He was naked, lying on his stomach, in the middle of messed sheets. His hair was spreading among the pillows, covering his face. He was breathing slowly, deeply asleep.
Hiyuga and the chick tried to hold me, begging me to stop and go away. Firmly resolved, I resisted them, until a sleepy, mumbling voice got to my ears.
"What the fuck is going on here??"
Kurama was awake and sat on the bed, while he pulled the sheets over himself mindlessly. For one moment I was really sorry for taking him out from his calm sleep but it was too late to go back.
"Kurama, I need to talk to you in private, now. I only ask you to listen to me. After that, you can do whatever you want: Desert me, kill me or lock me in that creepy prison, I don't care!"
He looked at me with a puzzled expression on his face. Hiyuga and the girl started a series of explanations at the same time.
"Shut up, both of you!" said Kurama rudely. They obeyed like dogs.
The youko took a deep breath.
"Ok, Yomi, you can talk. And you two, get out."
"But, Kurama-sama!..." Hiyuga tried to protest.
"Now! And take Naomi with you."
As soon as they left, I began to worry about what I had done. Kurama got up, curling the sheets around his waist. He walked near a little table nearby and drank some liquid of a bottle on it. Then he dressed a pair of black trousers that made him look even paler, and sat down in a chair in front of me.
"You're still the same air head."
I felt a little better. That was the first time he was speaking to me without despise or sarcasm in his voice, despite of calling me an air head. He wasn't wrong, was he?
"So, what's so important? I'm listening."
"It's about your... friend... that Hekel... he made a pass at me."
"... And...?"
"He said the most indecent stuff..."
"And you woke me up for this? Do you think I am your mother?"
"You don't get it... he told me the worst things about you... that he has power over you and could make you have interest in me... like you were his toy or something..."
Kurama lowered his head, then he faced me.
"Yomi, what's the big deal? Hekel tried to seduce you, that's all. You want to accept, then do it. Or don't, it's your problem, not mine. I guess you are pretty much adult to know what you want. Take my advice and stay with him for a while, I'm sure you will learn something useful. And don't mind what he said about me. Not even Enma would make me feel something for you."
His words stabbed me for real but the way he said was even harder to accept. He really wanted to make me feel like trash. And for one moment, I really wanted to kill him. I felt an urge to hurt him, in some way... anything but the coldness and indifference that his eyes showed all the time.
"Who the hell are you now, Kurama? Have you sold you soul the same way you sell your own body? We were friends, dammit! And we could have been more than that but I'd never take advantage of your innocence and your problems. I never abandoned you, even after everything you have done. You set fire to our hiding place, remember? I ran away only because I saw there was no way to save you anymore. I didn't search for you before 'cause I was isolated in the North War. And I could never imagine you could be still alive. I always loved you and you know it. Even so, you treat me like shit! What's your problem anyway? Do you only like people who are mean to you?"
Kurama got up and approached me.
"Yomi, this is the last time I tell you this. Forget this whole stupid thing that we have some past together. I have no past. It was wasted away a long time ago. I care about no one, and nothing. And of course, I don't give a damn about you either."
"Why did you invite me to stay, then?"
"If you really want to know, there are two reasons: One is that you have guts and youki, even though both are useless for you."
"And the other reason?"
"Hekel asked me to," he said with a wicked smile on his face.
I looked down. There was one last card up my sleeve.
"You may not remember, but you used to care about me."
He looked at me, surprised.
"I hope your memories good are enough for you. Luckily, I don't remember anything..."
"You wouldn't. Nothing really happened. One day you were distressed and I comforted you... I realized that you weren't yourself and didn't take advantage of it..."
For the first time I saw some signals of astonishment in his golden eyes, but it didn't last too long. The usual coldness came back quickly and I felt a shiver climbing up my spine, when noticed that he wasn't touched for one single word I told him. He laughed.
"You, what...?" He approached till he was so close I could feel his breath. "That's why, isn't it?" His voice barely more than a whisper. "You know what?..." He held my jaw tightly, painfully. His eyes seemed to be serious but laughing at me at the same time "You are really pathetic."
It was too much for me. I completely lost it. I got hold of his shoulders and pushed him to the wall with violence. I knew I hurt him but I was dazzled by rage. Through the mist of anger that blinded me, I remember kicking his stomach with my knee strongly. He didn't try to defend himself. I am sure about this because at that time his power was bigger than mine. He could have reduced me to pieces, if he wanted. When I came to my senses again, Kurama was lying on the floor. He was bleeding by his neck and mouth. I was bending over him, breathless, my hands full with his blood. I let him go and stood up, trying to compose myself and be aware of what I had done. Slowly and serenely, Kurama rose and propped against the wall.
"Are we even now?"
I was not able to answer anything. Only years later I got to understand the true meaning of his words.
"I wish I had never met you".
That was the only I thing I managed to say before
running away from that place and from him.
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Shrine to Yomi-Sama -