Fanfic by Yomi no Miko
Chapter 23: Visitors
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In the year that followed I continued to be the band's outlaw, regardless of the fact that Kurama never forbid me to do whatever I liked. Maybe his way to displease Hekel, since they had become sort of rivals. Or maybe he was just waiting for me to die, like he said once.
One night we were discussing a new attack in the
main room of the castle. Ziegh, one of Hekel's friends was trying to impose
one of his plans on us when Kurama arrived. He looked drowsy, like he was
having a hangover or something. But despite his condition, he managed to
prevent Hekel from manipulating the meeting. It was an odd experience for
me to watch them talk. All the words they used seemed so full of suppressed
intentions.
At that time I didn't understand that, most of times, Kurama's
sarcasm was his way to deal with opposition.
Suddenly, we were interrupted by of the entrance
watchmen. He declared that two thieves were standing outside the room and
demanded to speak to the leader. No surprise I was the one chosen to deal
with the situation. In other words, while the reunion went on, I had to
stay outside to convince those two youkai that no matter what they had
found, it wasn't
that important. But I wasn't a newcomer anymore
to be sent away as a message boy. That really pissed me off, so instead
of telling them anything, I just waited with the guys till the meeting
was over. After all the youkai left the room, I took them inside. If Kurama
had any plans for that day, they'd have to wait a little longer.
"Kurama-sama, I've just captured two youkai" one of the thieves said nervously "They're already behind bars. But..."
"Are they hunters?" asked Kurama absent-minded.
"No, sir."
"So kill'em, what are you waiting for?"
"Kurama-sama, those youkai are different. They're looking for you."
"Honto?"
"And they look like you."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Kurama remained silent for a while. I've never seen his mood change so fast.
"We can get rid of them immediately."
"No. Leave them there. Now go."
I left with the guys, but instead of going out, I went downstairs towards the prison. I was kinda curious to know who could be those youkai, that not only looked like Kurama, but were allowed to live through the night. Kurama never made one single prisoner that I had seen.
I crossed the whole place to find a pair of youko sitting near the bottom of that large, dark and empty dungeon. I tried not to make any noise, after all, I didn't want to scare them. They were an adult youko female and a boy, both with red hair and tail, just like that dying youko I'd met years ago. For one moment I thought the lad could be Kurama's son. A rather stupid idea, if a thief like Kurama had a son, he'd have to kill him or hide him well. On a second glance, both youko looked incredible humble and melancholic, specially the girl.
The I felt someone coming. It was Kurama, alone. I didn't expect him to do that so soon. As I didn't want him to see me there either, so I hid behind a large pillar. The youko stood up. Only then I noticed that both captives had been tied by their ankles.
Silently, Kurama broke the chain's lock and released them.
"Kurama..." whispered the girl, with tears in her eyes "Don't you remember me?"
"I wish I couldn't." He crossed his arms, undisturbed.
"I've been looking for you for so long. I know you've got all reasons to despise me... But I... There's so many things I'd like to tell you."
"Tell me? Tell what? You shouldn't have come here. You could have been killed."
"Kurama, listen..." she held the kid who was almost hid behind her cloak "This is Ken. He's my son, your brother. The remaining youko out there are still dying..."
"Look, Yu... I don't care if they're dying and I don't care about who this kid is."
She leaned forwards, as to embrace him, but she hesitated. Kurama remained indifferent, as if dealing with an ordinary thievery matter. His last words had brought even more tears to her beautiful green eyes, and the bitter certain that no matter what she said, Kurama wouldn't be touched by it.
"I - I know I failed you. But you survived. You know you're the strongest of our clan alive."
"What clan? The same that convinced you I was a curse?"
"You remember everything, don't you? Why can't I feel all that anger in you? You're my son and you're a youko. Deep inside I know that there's still much I can do to compensate you for the mistakes of the past."
"A century ago, maybe. But definitely you've arrived late. I'm a thief now, and you're just a desperate youko looking for a second chance in the wrong place. And you're right, I don't bear any grudge about you. Why should I waste my anger on something as pitiful as you and your bunch of dying kitsune?"
"That's not true..."
"I'll tell someone to take you back to the trail. Don't even think about entering my territory again. You may be not as lucky as you are now." He turned to the place I was hidden "Yomi, I know you're there."
Then I had to crop up, trying not to look that sheepish.
"Take those two to the border and leave'em there" he ordered.
Then he just turned his back to us and left.
I did as he told me. Kurama's mother and brother followed me silently till we reached the main trail, outside the band's territory. The youko girl's desolated figure reminded me somehow of my mother, in the day I told her that I was going to leave the village to never come back. The funny thing was, I had never missed my homeland before that day. There was nothing to be missed anyway and my mother had been too apathetic to miss me either. But there I was, glancing at the forbidden family from time to time, and having the most absurd ideas about returning to the South of Makai one day.
"That's the trail" I explained when he reached a relatively safe spot "If you follow that way, you'll reach some small villages. Most of them are quite pacific. This part of the forest isn't so dangerous either, you and your son will be fine."
"Oh... gomen... I..."
I repeated with patience. Probably they'd be fine as I said, but if anyone else suspected she was Kurama's relative, she'd be in great trouble. I tried to sound casual, despite the fact that the situation was everything but ordinary. In the end, I added one subtle and laconic "I'm sorry". I knew I wasn't supposed to do that, but I couldn't help feeling bad for her.
"Are you his friend?"
"Sort of..."
"Is he doing well as a thief?"
"Doing great. He's got much power. Every body fears him."
"He doesn't look like a menace to me. He never did. He was so different then... I don't recall seeing him at that time as someone who could become such a strong and handsome youko. I'm glad I could finally come here."
"I have to go back now."
"I understand. Thanks and good-bye..."
"Yomi."
"Good bye, Yomi-san."
After I left them, I visited a nearby tavern. I wished to spend some time away from the band's base. At night, I stopped at Kaizo's cabin. He was still living at the same place in the forest, protected by nothing more than some rustic traps. When I met him, he was preparing his meal. I thought it was amusing to see a bounty hunter like him cooking in such a careful way. Kaizo was still a very peculiar youkai.
We talked for hours. I told him about Kurama's relatives. I knew he'd never think about using other youkai to reach him. Then Kaizo told me a long story about the strange circumstances that had killed thousand of youko in the last few centuries. Youko had always been one of the most powerful youkai races of the Makai, not that much for their youki, but for their intelligent, cunning and capability of keeping their own way of living. However, some kind of unknown plague began to kill them. Adult youkai don't die of body diseases unless they're wounded or starved, which made the youko's situation even more aberrant. So, that girl and her son were more likely two of the survivors, and so was Kurama. All that talk made me think that I knew very little about what happened outside thieves circles. And since Kaizo seemed so interested in teaching me, I stayed with him for some days. Kurama wouldn't miss me anyway.
When I returned to the band's fortress, I intended to tell Kurama that I had carried the task he had given me out, but Hiyuga told me he hadn't come out of his room since the day I left.
The next time I saw him, almost thirty days had
passed.
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Shrine to Yomi-Sama -