Author's Notes: Sometime really late in this story or when this story's done, I'll write a companion to this, "When the World Ends." Basically the same thing, except it's four different scenes in Koenma's, Kurama's, Yukina's, and Karasu's POVs. That will help clear up many little things Hiei will never find out about. Like what was really happening during the tug-of-war scene in Hiei's dream. And little random thoughts with Kurama, although that'll probably be more of a flashback thing. The reason I'm not doing this along with this is because it's a real spoiler.
Oh, and you'll see one of the random quotes from the end of chapter three in here. In fact, it's probably going to pop up in chapter 7, too. And maybe even the 'What friends?' quote.
I'm actually off my lazy @$$ and looking at my reviewer's names! ^^;; Anyhow, I just wanted to say something to one particular reviewer who gave a bit of info.
Maruken: I didn't know that, but that wasn't truly in that scene anyhow. Erm, this chapter kinda explains that, but anyhow, if you're kinda confused at what's happening, Karasu actually found out about Hiei's dreams (sensing ghosts... spirit awareness thing?) and actually came for Kurama, but attempted to get Hiei close to him in order to barge in on his dreams without being killed for attempting to do so. *blinks* Yes, 'tis complicated, my stories always are. But anyhow, at one point, I had a rather difficult crisis on how to transit from one scene to the other, and that little quote helped me out BIGGIES!
Oh yeah, more stuffs. This chapter is practically a HUGE flashback. The beginning few paragraphs take place about a week after the end of the last chapter, and from there, there are random flashbacks and stuff. Flashbacks are like last chapter: *flashback* and *end flashback*. And flashbacks from dreams are like this: ~*~flashback~*~ and *~*end flashback*~*.
Warnings: GUESS WHAT?! BLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOODY! Oh, and I realized the genocide occurred in the first chapter with Hiei's killing of ningens. Also, shounen-ai. Sensitive people could call it on the borderline of yaoi. (Yeah, now we're gettin' somewhere!) Later, suicide, body mutilation, and generally, things Hiei would do without a second thought. And for once, I'm not including the Botan quote! Aren't I wonderful? ^^ (Kurama: Hiei, don't restore THAT much ego!)
*~*~*Turnaround*~*~*
The sun sets over the horizon, beautiful light following it.
The sunset, the end...
*flashback*
"Well, look at that, the sunset, the end," I sigh, leaning against Karasu.
He laughs. "Sunsets are not the end, for there is always the upcoming dawn... and the opening dawn is not the beginning."
"Who said that?" I asked, looking up.
"Ah, a certain Youkai. Me."[1]
"Hn. Not probable," I grunt.
"You'll see, you'll see...."
*end flashback*
...the end... the end... I was right... he was wrong....
The soft splashing of the waves accompanies this scene, making it the typical artists' dream. The only thing that taints this scene is the blood in the water, the red sand turning the ocean the red of blood.
I... killed...—
~*~flashback~*~
"Koenma! I do not believe your foolish claims!" I shout. Koenma groans and closes his eyes.
"Hiei, if you are truly strong, then maybe you will survive this, but I highly doubt it. Karasu is known as a deceiver..."
"Hn. So? I'm known to have destroyed the Earth's life. And yet YOU basically employ me! And here Karasu is, just stealing a couple trinkets and committing a few cases of spirit murder and torture, and here you're worrying about MY life? There has to be something in it for you."
"ME?! How could something purely based on your interest be for ME?! If I wanted something done for myself, I would've made Yusuke-tachi destroy you EONS ago!"
"I'd like to see them do that.... Ningen weaklings."
"WHAT?!" Yusuke shrieks. "Demon-boy, you are dead!" His hand glows blue, and I sense his Reiki. I smirk and casually concentrate my Youki. "SHOTGUN!" he shouts, releasing a barrage of blue bolts of Reiki. One by one, I reflect them with Jaou Ensatsu Ken.[2] Yusuke raises a hand in surprise and shields himself as the drops hurl at him like bullets.
"Well, is that all?" I mock, holding the Jaou Ensatsu Ken at my side. The idiot with carrot-top hair growls and steps up.
"You're a shame to swordfighting," he taunts, putting his hands together and forming a bright yellow sword, "I'll show you how it's really done!" He charges. Baka. I leap behind him. I can't really say he's even a ningen, stupidity can only go so far. But really, he shouldn't have been so shocked when I attacked him from the back. He lets out a small gasp before falling to the floor, unconscious.
Kurama observes quietly. "Then, I suppose, I am your last obstacle." Gracefully pulling a rose out of his hair, he shouts, "Rose whip!" and that dreaded aroma of doom once again wafts in the air. I suppose I'll have to use the Dragon of the Darkness Flame after all....
Suddenly, Karasu walks from the darkness. "So Hiei, this is where you've been off to." He takes off his mask, and I can see his grin. "Why didn't you tell me you met such a pretty Kitsune-Youkai in your dreams?" Karasu walks over to Kurama and deftly stroke his hair.
Kurama's eyes widen in shock. "W-what?" He drops his whip, and I can see the way he trembles. Like when Karasu stroked me....
~ "How dare he steal my affection!" ~
~ "No, how dare Karasu lie...." ~
Watching Karasu touch Kurama the only way he touched me... it infuriates me! Not only was Kurama's hair and face red, but all of my vision turned into the furious tint.
"I thought you held ME dear!"
He 'tsks' me, slipping his arm around the blushing and shocked Kurama. "Didn't know from the start? I have no interest for brash, indifferent fire Youkais. This elegant fox was the only true prize. You were only an obstacle...."
I can't think. I can't remember. I can't see or feel...
...all I know is that when I came to, Kurama's whip was being pried from my grip, there was blood covering the floor, and I was sobbing, "Karasu... Karasu...."
Koenma shouts in the background. "I told him this would happen, I told him to watch out!" Botan sighs, shaking her head at Koenma-sama. I can see her eye wandering over to what used to be the Youkai thief known only to me as...
*voice-over* "Sunsets are not the end, for there is always the upcoming dawn... and the opening dawn is not the beginning." *end voice-over*
*~*end flashback*~*
--Karasu.
He's wrong. That sunset was the end... the end of the only emotion that held meaning to me. Apathetically, I toss Karasu's carcass into the sea. The ocean turns a deeper hue of crimson. The night has come. A reign of darkness shall follow. Darkness of my wrath, darkness of the night, darkness of betrayal.
~*~flashback~*~
"Hiei! Calm down!" Yusuke shouts over my incoherent yelling. I slash at him, my aim terribly off. "CHILL! Karasu's gone okay?! You killed him, he can't hurt you any more!"
These words only made me feel more rage surge through my veins, and I grab him by the neck, ready to strangle him. I shake him back and forth by the neck. He frantically tries to pry my hands off, but finds it without effect. His head flops like a puppet as I tighten my grip and rattle him more. Yusuke's face is turning an odd purplish color when I feel a numbing sensation in my arms. They flop to my side lifelessly. The rest of my body follows, and I feel stiff, like when Karasu first- no. I'm not dwelling on that again.
I hear Yusuke fall on the floor, gasping. Someone behind me walked over to the ningen. "He... really... needed... that... tranquilizer," Yusuke gasps.
"I predicted about as much," the other voice, Kurama, says. "But next time you face someone in emotional disorder, think twice before making a comment like that one."
"Uh, yeah, I think I know that now," he replies.
~"Karasu, Karasu, Karasu..."~
Why can't I just leave it all behind? Why does my past insist on endlessly tormenting me?
*~*end flashback*~*
The sea rises and slashes at the sand, dragging down more blood with it. My fingertips are still numb and scarlet-tinted, tight with unease.
The sunset, the sunset; the end of the beginning.
*~*~*[3]
It's disturbing.
The chomping of the Hate Fish[4] is just utterly disgusting to my ears. Karasu should be tortured and disposed of only by me. More blood rises to the surface, followed by things that I really don't want to see or talk about. I look away from the scene, choosing to stare at the night sky instead. Knowing in the deepest recesses of my heart and mind that it would be the best of my sanity that I get rid of this world that has caused me pain.
...
I must've lost more sanity than I thought. But the utter chaos through my heart when Kurama stole Karasu's affection... it's not worth it.
"Koenma?" I call at the sky. "I give up this world. The ningenkai is horrible. All this... I... just want to live my life over...." I could faintly sense a few ghosts above me. Hopefully, he heard. I don't want this world anymore.... "If you didn't hear me, Koenma, you can have the ningenkai back. Just leave me alone!" The ghosts scatter, and I mournfully rest my arms on my knees. It's over, all over....
*~*~*TBC (no, not the end, Hiei's just too darn good of an actor ^.^)
[1] *eye twitches* my quote. Mine. Damn you Karasu, MY QUOTE! You no steal!
[2] Translated directly, "Black Fire Sword." Ensatsu meaning fire/flame/inferno, and ken meaning sword. I'm not sure about that Jaou, though. Oh, and I don't know what it's really called in the dubbed anime, but I got this off a pretty good website made by... a reviewer. Ack, I'm forgetting again.... But it was really good ^^;; I think it was called 'The Last Snow: a Jaganshi Shrine' or something. Gimme a Chibi Kurama plushie if I remembered correctly. ^^;;
[3] I was going to end it there since it was slightly over 1000 words, but I decided to make this a long chapter since I was on a roll, and starting fresh ends my mood. *nodnod*
[4] the things Rando lured from the depths of Reikai. I have no clue what its Japanese name is, so blah.
*~*~*
Endnotes: ^^ this is like a movie in my head, it's cool! Oh yay, we get to hit the suicide warning next chapter! *bounces around endlessly* I'M SO GREAT, AREN'T I?!
Kurama: Hiei, take away some ego!!
(Voice-over: L'eggo my eggo!)
Hiei: *ignores Kurama* *nods* I liked this chapter. I got to strangle baka-Yusuke! And I like her ego, I get a sweet snow raise that way!
Yusuke: *rubbing neck and breathing HARD* you're SUPPOSED to be depressed.
Hiei: *shrugs indifferently* *monotone* sob, sob, wah, I feel stiff and betrayed. Happy?
Yusuke: -_-
Hiei: it's acting, ningen. *dips spoon into ANOTHER tub of ice cream*
Yusuke: BUT I WANNA RAISE, TOO! I ALMOST GOT KILLED FOR THE SAKE OF THIS %^$%&$^#%@!#%#@ FIC!
Koenma: And where's Botan-chan?!
R Amythest: oh, and that reminds me. You know the study of plants is called botany? Well, pronounce it with a long O, short a, have the accent on the O, and say, "Kurama loves Botany!" ^^ Kurama/Hiei forever, but I just thought that was neat.
Koenma: I WANT MY BOTAN BACK! *pouts*
Kurama: *eye twitches* Botan? She told me... *whisper, whisper*
Koenma: WHAT?! *goes off to kill evil male Mary-Sues*
R Amythest: -_- Review, but for heaven's sake, not for the sake of Botan... MY KURAMA! *grabs Kurama and huggles*
Reviewers with scythes: WE BEG TO DIFFER! MY KURAMA!
R Amythest: *lets go of Kurama and pouts* Grrish. Well then, how about just reviewing?
Lucky Reviewer with Kurama-muse: *GLOMP* *nodnod*
Random Moment: (nothing to do with story, it's just that my internet's not working at the moment, my horror fuel is used up, and I'm bored)
Warnings for this Random Moment: Yaoi! ^_^ Oh, and slight nudity.
[Scene: Yusuke-tachi are playing strip poker. Kurama has only boxers and underwear on right now. Kuwabara has only underwear that has kittens on it. Hiei lost, is nude, is currently a spectator, and is casually leaning on the back of Kurama's chair. Yusuke has everything but his shirt on, evidently winning]
Kurama: ...you're telling me I lost ANOTHER hand?! *blushing*
Yusuke: *grin, nodnod*
Kurama: *BLUSH* alright then. *takes off boxers to reveal plain red underwear*
Kuwabara: that's all? Gee, I was kinda expectin' roses.
Yusuke: Yeah, with all that flower dazzle, I'd really expect it. That's just... plain.
Kuwabara: MINE'S PRETTIER!
Kurama: *blushes a little less* I'm not quite picky about underwear...
Hiei: Hn, look at it this way. It only matters with what's INSIDE.
Yeah, lame, whatever... I was hyper, but I think it's kinda sucky -.-
Kurama: HIEI, YOU TOOK TOO MUCH EGO!
Hiei: HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THAT?!
...until then, review!