Disclaimer:  No, I don't own it…

A/N:  Hey!  I'm back!!! Sorry it took so long.  I had a huge writers' block and I've been really busy with school.  I know that's not a good excuse when I have faithful readers dying for my next chapter.  But, to make it to all of you by making this chapter extra long!!!  It's almost 4 thousand words!  That's the longest chapter I have ever written.

I have to give some credit to Reikachan14 on this chapter.  She wrote Kurama's speech and Riku's speech.  She also helped me choose a song for Ami to sing.  Thanks Reika!!! I love you girl!  Oh, and she also came up with the title for this chapter and came up with the last name for Kurama's family.  Okay, I'll let you read now!  Enjoy!

Ch 7:  Chain Reaction

We had the funeral two days later.  We didn't have a body, so we just put some of his old things in the coffin.  I put in his favorite treasure; we had stolen it together a few years back.

A few demons brought pieces of paper with speeches to say good-bye.  Ami had a little to say and so did Riku.  I was still thinking on it.

As I was getting dressed for the ceremony, someone tapped me on the shoulder.  I turned around to see Riku with a puffy tear streaked face.  He could barely get the words out as he asked me, "Are…are you…gonna say…something for…Kur…Kuronoe."  The poor thing was crying so hard, he could barely talk at all.

I didn't reply; I just stared.  It was at that second I noticed something about my little brother that scared me.  He was so different.  He didn't have Ami's confidence or thick skin.  He didn't have my strength or courage.  He didn't have my dad's optimism or his slyness.  He didn't have my mother's happy go lucky attitude or her down to Earth nature.

            He didn't have any of it.  Hell, he didn't even look like us.  We all have gold eyes, while Riku has blue eyes.  We all have silver hair, while his hair is more on the blonde side.  We were all rather tall, while Riku, I think, had stopped growing at five foot four.

            He even handled his emotions differently.  Like with Kuronoe's death.

Ami would cry off and on for a couple of weeks.  Then she would realize it wasn't getting her anywhere, and she'd move on.  She would try to forget Kuronoe and move on with her life.  I'd probably do the same.

But, not Riku.  Kuronoe's death had already left a crater in his heart.  He'd sulk for the rest of his life. 

I remembered all the times Ami and I had tried to train him.  He'd try to fight back for a while and then give up.  He was always the weak one.

Tears welled up in my eyes, as I tried to smile at him.  "I might," was all I could say.

He nodded as another stream of tears came.  He turned to leave, and as he reached the door, Miyo picked him up.  "You should get some rest, Young Master," she suggested.

"I do…don't…wanna…sle…sleep."  He tried to fight her grip, but she held tight.

"Just for a few hours.  We'll wake you, when it starts," she said.

I smiled at Miyo.  Riku hadn't really slept for the past two days; none of us had.  "Yes, Riku.  Get some rest.  We'll wake you," I said.

He turned to face me.  "Promise," he asked.

"I promise," I said.

"How long?"

"Two hours."

He sighed a little as he gave in.  Miyo lied him down on his bed, and he was asleep before his head touched the pillow.  The way his ears were drooping and his tail was limply hanging off the side of the bed, you'd think he was dead.  But, if you leaned over and looked very closely, you could barely see his chest rising with every breath.

As Miyo made her way to Ami's room to help her with her dress, I sat down beside Riku.  I noticed how tired I was when my eyes started drooping.  I'll just close my eyes for a second. I thought.

*     *     *

I walked through the fog, barely able to see where I was going.  Where am I?  It was so thick I could barely see five feet in front of me. I stepped cautiously, aware of the loud crunching beneath my feet.

Suddenly, I noticed a blurry figure several yards in front of me.  Ignoring the crunching, I sprinted to it.  I reached it in aw.  It was slightly higher than my head.  It was a skeleton!  A skeleton with bamboo shoots sticking through it in very odd places: through it's eye sockets, ribs, pelvic girdle, and thighs.  It also had a shoot poking through a whole in the sternum.

It was wearing Kuronoe's purple and black outfit.  As I reached out to touch the fabric, I stepped on something hard.  I looked down and crouched.  There was Kuronoe purple pendent, lying at the skeleton's feet.  I looked back up at the dead thing.  It couldn't be Kuronoe, could it?  No!  He couldn't rot that fast!

My heart started pounding.  It couldn't be!  I started ripping at the bamboo, tearing down the dead body.  As I broke the last one, the skeleton fell into my arms.  I slumped to the ground, with the tangled mess on top of me.

There was no doubt it was Kuronoe.  It still had his black hair on its head.  As I reached up to run my fingers through it, a set of bonny fingers grabbed my wrist. 

"Why?"  Where was that voice coming from?  "Why, Kurama?"  I looked down at the skeleton.  Did it just…talk to me?  "Why did you leave me?!"  The confusion on my face quickly changed to pure shock, as I watch the mouth of the skeleton move.  It was talking.

It quickly sat up, pushing off of my lap.  "I asked you a question!"  Unable to respond, I jumped to my feet.  The skeleton stood up as well.  It started walking toward me, a look of displeasure on its face.

With the fear that was radiating through me, I couldn't help myself.  I felt the warm liquid soaking the front of my tuxedo.  I backed away, not knowing what to do.  Should I run?  I thought. 

"Don't even think about running!" Kuronoe exclaimed.  I froze.  I couldn't move.

"Now, answer my question! Why did you leave me?"

"I…I…you told me to," I replied.

An evil grin crossed Kuronoe's meatless face.  "Wrong answer!"  He lunged at me, a dagger in hand.  I still couldn't move.  He held it high and brought it down fast.

*     *     *

"Master Kurama.  Master, wake up."  A gentle hand was shaking my shoulder.  As I opened one eye, I saw Miyo's motherly smile.  "You've been sleeping the whole two hours with Young Master," she said.  "It's time you both came downstairs.  Ami will sing soon."

I opened my other eye and saw that my forehead was against Riku's.  I sat up and looked around.  I was in Riku's room.  It was all a dream!

I starting rubbing my eyes.  I turned to smile at Miyo when I noticed the look on her face.  She was in shock, staring down at the bed.  I looked down and saw the yellow stain surrounding me.  Oh God!  I didn't!

I looked back up and met her eyes.  "Master, Kurama.  Did you have an accident?" 

I could feel the blush of embarrassment crossing my face.  I wondered how this must look.  There I was, an 863 year old fox demon…and I had wet my little brother's bed.

I tried to think of a good excuse but I could think of nothing, except I had soaked my little brother's mattress through with piss.  "I…um…I…I'm sorry."

"Shut up," Miyo said.  "Just go take a shower, but before you do, take Riku to your room.  I'll find you a new tux." 

I picked Riku up and she began removing his sheets.  Damn, that was embarrassing.

I crossed to my room and gently lied Riku on my bed, covering him up.  As I passed Riku's room again, I felt guilty seeing Miyo cleaning my "mess".  I walked up to her and began to help.  "Don't worry about it, Master.  Just go clean yourself up."

"But Miyo…"

"No buts Master Kurama.  We all have accidents."  I just stared at her as she continued working.  I felt extremely guilty. 

Miyo saw the look on my face and smiled.  She reached over and gave me a loving hug, saying, "Don't fret, Master.  We're all acting differently."  She pulled away and whispered in my ear, "I won't tell anyone."

I smiled gratefully.  I turned to leave, but when I reached the door, I stopped.  "Thank you…Mother."

Miyo's aged fox ears perked up a little at my words.  She turned to me with her motherly smile, and joyful tears in her eyes.

*     *     *

Demons from all over Makai came to say their last good-byes to Kuronoe.  The ceremony was held behind our mansion.  Some demons said a few words for him. 

Everything was going fairly well...well, as well as funerals go.  Anyway, everything was going fine, until some chic pissed off my already upset sister.

Some cat demon came and got on her knees at the coffin. She started bawling, saying in between sobs that he wasn't meant to die.  That he was meant to be with her forever.  Everyone got kind of nervous when they saw my sister walking toward her, daggers in her eyes, saying that she would pay.  They screamed and cursed at one another.  No one made a move to break them up, probably because they feared my sister.  I couldn't blame them.

Then, suddenly, the cat demon slapped my sister.  The argument they were in quickly turned into a fistfight.  Okay, when I say fistfight, I mean FIST FIGHT!!!!  It wasn't the usual slapping, scratching, and hair pulling that girls do.  Oh, no!  Not my sister.  She doesn't play that way.  When Ami wants to, she can pack one hell of a punch.  And, right now, it was clear she wanted to.

It took me, Miyo, and two other demons to pull Ami off of the girl.  Blood was everywhere; most of it was the cat's.  The only mark I saw on my sister was a bloody temple, and that was just barely bleeding.

We had to delay the closing speeches, taking time to calm everyone down.  It took about half an hour before everything was once again peaceful. 

For closing, my brother was going to say a few words, then me, Miyo, then finally my sister was going to sing.

Everyone got quiet as my brother stepped up, teary eyed to the bodiless coffin.  He had something in his hands, but I couldn't tell what it was.  He started speaking at once.  I could tell by they way his voice was so controlled that he had practiced.

"I-I really don't know what to say…I never expected that I would have to give a speech at Kuronoe's funeral.  I always imagined it would be him who would have to scrape up my body off a battlefield.  And now here I am…  Kuronoe wasn't like a brother to me.  He was a brother.  He was my father.  He was everything to me.  I knew he cared, an-and if I could…I would take his place in a split second."

Riku took a deep breath, and then he laid what was hidden in his hand, on Kuronoe's coffin.  It was Riku's pendant; the one Kuronoe had gotten him so they could match.  Of course, Riku's wasn't a real jewel. 

He continued to cry silently as he stepped out of the way, making room for me.  It was my turn.  I stepped forward, and closed my eyes.  I suddenly found myself wishing I had practiced like my brother.  To be honest, I didn't know if I could do it.  I hadn't written anything down.  I was just going to say what I felt.  So, I started.

"Kuronoe.  I know that…I know that you couldn't…couldn't be here, though you are listening."  I took a big gulp.  This was harder than I thought it would be.  I giggled to myself as I thought of my next line.  "And I know you'll laugh when you hear this praise to you.  Don't get used to it."  Then, I got serious again.  "You were my…you were my…" I stopped there, as hot tears blurred my vision. 

I turned and ran.  I couldn't let my thieves see me cry.  I couldn't let anyone see me cry.  I was Kurama, Makai's most honored thief's son.  If they saw me, not only would my reputation be ruined, but his too. 

I stopped behind the side of my mansion, where no one could see me.  I didn't cry; I refused to cry.  How could I have said that stuff?  You "were" my…my what?  I thought for a moment.  "My best friend," I said to myself.  "You ARE my best friend."  

I was pushed out of my thoughts as I heard Miyo start to speak.  I was amazed at how she said almost exactly what I was thinking.  "We all loved him.  He was a part of our family, and he will not be forgotten."

Everybody bowed his or her head as Miyo asked for a moment of silence.  I did the same, closing my eyes.

 I buried my face in my arms, as I let old memories come flooding back.  How great my father and he got along, how he had held me as I cried for my father's death, how he had cried with me, how he stayed by my mother's side with us while she gave birth to Riku, how he had helped us raise him, all the times we teamed up to go stealing, how he fell in love with my sister, when he asked me for the first time if they could make love, how he had accepted his fatherhood, how he had been there for my sister after her miscarriage, never leaving her side…

There was no doubt; he was one of the family.  Yeah, I thought.  So many memories…

After that, I peeked around the corner to make sure no one was looking my way.  When I was satisfied that they weren't, I came around the corner and leaned against the wall.  My sister now walked to the microphone to sing.  Miyo had cleaned up her temple and made her put a bandage on.

She had on the wheat-gold dress that Kuronoe loved so much.  It came just above her knees, with strings hanging down, beads on the ends.  The dress had stripes the same color as the dress, except they sparkled in the light.  She had on strapped black heels to match.  Her hair had been permed.  It was now in a high ponytail with two strands hanging beside her beautiful face.

She lowered the microphone to her and announced her song.  I was surprised when I heard her.  It must have taken her some serious thought.  She had picked "My Immortal."

I closed my eyes as Ami's sweet voice filled the night air.

I'm so tired of being here

Surprised by all my childish fears

And if you have to leave

I wish that you would just leave

Because your presence still lingers here

And it won't leave me alone

These wounds won't seem to heal

This pain is just too real

There's just too much that time cannot erase

When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears

When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears

And I've held your hand through all of these years

But you still have all of me

You used to captivate me

By your resonating light

But now I'm bound by the life you left behind

Your face it haunts my once pleasant dreams

Your voice it chased away all the sanity in me

These wounds won't seem to heal

This pain is just too real

There's just too much that time cannot erase

When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears

When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears

And I've held your hand through all of these years

But you still have all of me

I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone

And though you're still with me

I've been alone all along

            As she finished, we made eye contact.  My sister and I have always had a special connection ever since we were little.  We could tell what the other was about to say, what the other was thinking, and what the other was feeling.  I don't mean just standing beside her, I could tell what she was feeling.  What I mean is, we could be miles and miles away from each other, and feel the other's pain; emotionally and, sometimes, even physically.

            That's how I knew, when our eyes met, that we were going to be fine.  She smiled at me. We're going to be okay, she told me.  I smiled back.  I know baby sister…I know.

            Then she frowned and walked off the stage.  I knew she was thinking of Riku. 

*     *     *

It was later that night that we received the agonizing news.  Like we needed anymore!  We had clean everything up and were settling down for the night, when the doorbell rang.  Miyo went to answer it.  When she opened the door, a strange demon handed her a letter. "It's for you, Mistress Ami," Miyo said.

Ami walked over, took the note, and thanked the demon.  Miyo stood beside her as she started reading the note.  Suddenly, my sister gasped.  "It's from the Maiden Island!"  I got up and walked over, as my sister started reading the letter aloud.

Dear Ms. Yuriatoshi,

We are sorry to say we have horrible news.  Ms. Hina has passed away.  She was found this morning in her room.  It would appear that she had bleed to death.  It was said by the doctors that she committed suicide, while grieving for the forbidden child. Her second child, Yukina, will be sent to her aunt.   Ms. Hina's funeral will be held two days from today.  You and Mr. Kuronoe are invited to come, and also, if you want, to say a few words.  We do hope that you will come.

                                                                                                Maiden Council

Miyo held my sister as she wept.  I couldn't cry.  I was all out of cries.  I didn't even know exactly what I felt at that moment.  I didn't even know what to think, except that a lot more shit can happen in two days, than I thought possible.

Suddenly, I was overwhelmed by anger and hatred.  I couldn't control myself.  I dashed upstairs, got the treasure that Kuronoe and I stole, and ran out the front door.  I had no idea where I was going.  All I knew was that the damn orb had to go.

It had caused most of my recent troubles.  But, most of all, it had killed Kuronoe.  I kept running until I reached the river.  It wasn't my river.  I knew I was out of my territory, but under the stress I was in, I didn't give a fuck! 

"You damn piece of junk!" I screamed at the orb.  "It's your fault!  It's all YOUR FUCKING FAULT!!!"  I brought my hand back, ready to toss it, but I didn't.  I let it drop to the ground and roll away.  I sat down, as reality hit me.

It wasn't the orb's fault at all.  It was Isei's fault.  Everything that happened, happened in a chain of events that led back to him.

Kuronoe had been killed, but only because he was weak.  He was weak because he had just been sick.  He was sick because he drank Isei's poison.  He wouldn't have drank Isei's poison, if Isei hadn't of left it on the counter.  Isei had killed Kuronoe.  He may not have meant to, but he did.

He had also killed Hina.  She killed herself, because she grieved for her child.  She grieved for her child, because it was dead.  It was dead, because she gave birth to it.  She gave birth to it, because Isei impregnated her with it!

He had killed three demons, without even realizing it.  Or maybe he did, I thought.  Maybe he did mean to. 

I couldn't take it anymore.  I stood up and started to scream.  "Damn you, Isei!  You bitch!  You killed my best friend!  You killed my sister's best friend!  You killed an innocent child all in two days!  You son of a bitch!"

Just then, I heard a strange sound.  Knowing I was out of territory, I ducked in the grass.  I heard it again. 

It…it was…a baby crying.  I listened for a couple minutes, before I moved.  When I thought I had figured out where the crying was coming from, I starting looking for it. 

I didn't have to walk long, only about a quarter of a mile.  When I reached the bottom of a drop of cliff, I saw it.  It was a naked baby with cuts and bruises all over its body.  Some of the bigger cuts were still bleeding.  As I crotched down, I got the shock off my life.

It was the forbidden child.  Hina's baby boy.  It looked up at me and started whimpering.  Only one thought went through my mind, what the hell was it doing here?

It was supposed to be dead and buried.  Why would it be at the bottom of a 75-foot drop cliff?  Then, as I looked up, my question was answered.  There was the Maiden Island, floating several thousand feet above, and to the right of the cliff.  It appeared that, maybe, they had come from the island when they saw the cliff.  Maybe they thought it would be a quick and painless death to drop it off the edge.  The maidens were too soft hearted to kill it by hand, or make it suffer.

I reached down and picked the child up.  It looked at me with huge blood red eyes, as it started to suck its thumb.  I couldn't lie to myself, the little thing was pretty damn cute. 

I felt bad when reality hit me.  The little guy was supposed to die, but had lived.  If it sat there now, it would suffer a painful death by starvation.  I knew what I had to do.

I walked back to the river and held the child above the water.  I had to kill it.  I couldn't let it suffer. 

As the child starting blowing bubbles with its mouth, I smiled.  I looked at the water…then back at the child…then at the water. 

I couldn't do it.  The child did nothing wrong.  It was innocent.  I laughed to myself, as I cradled the child in my arms and started home.

A/N:  So…what did y'all think?  Pretty good?  Pretty bad?  Let me know in your reviews!  Oh, when you do review, don't forget to let Reika know what you think of her speeches!  J  I'll do my best to have the next chapter up within two weeks.  But, as usual, I'm not promising anything!  I'm a slow writer and I have to really think about the story before I can write it down (or in this case, type it down.  lol).  R&R!  Hieis4gotndreamr