Part 13 - Sheesh, everybody's a precog
Kuro stared at the Makai plains surrounding them, disoriented. The last time he'd been here, this place had been a teeming city full of varied youkai. That city, it seems, had now been consigned totally to memory. Not even a stone block remained to show for its existence.
It's been that long?
He wasn't even sure at how many years he'd been...away. It's going to take some time to get used to, this changed place, this Makai that was home and, yet, was not.
"Hold it right there! Don't resist us and nobody gets hurt. Ku--Yoko, I know you don't remember anything but trust me, this is for the best. Kuronue isn't what he seems anymore." A young youkai with a strange aura said, his brash voice rang across the plain. His long green-black hair waved in the wind. He wore a battered denim jacket and pants whose style was reminiscent of the Ningenkai. Dark blue eyes defiantly glowed with power.
Shit! He's an S-class...and that's not all...
Several youkai popped out to leer from the hills surrounding them.
"Speak for yourself, Yuusuke. No harm to Yoko,dear Kuronue is another matter all together." The figure had more horns than before and the eyes were closed but Kuro would recognize him anywhere.
Idiot goat...
Kuronue bristled in response to the smugness in the tone and the power emanating from the horned youkai.
As if I could ever forget him...the only one that came close to wresting Yoko away from me ever...and he's gotten more powerful than ever...
If Kuro hadn't framed the man, it would've been just a matter of time before the Fox chose the Horned One as his consort leaving Kuro in the dust or worse. Yomi had been that competent. Kuro's action was justified now by the man's power signature. The goat, it seemed, had been busy in Kuronue's absence. The horned youkai was also an S-class.
Shit!
"Yomi?" Yoko asked, uncertainly at this powerful youkai that resembled one of their Thirds.
"Hai, Yoko-sama. It's me, your current mate."
"One of your current mates." Yuusuke said before he turned to Yomi.
"Baka! Don't cut Hiei out of the picture, he has much more right to the title. I knew you were up to something when you insisted on coming with me!" 'Yuusuke' said, jumping up a bit to bop Yomi on the head miraculously not hitting any horns.
"Of course, Hiei is also missing you terribly. Why don't you come back to us? And away from that deceitful bat.[1]" Yomi said, shooting a glare at the impetuous youkai beside him. Clearly, the Horned one was having a hard time accepting that he'd become the second fiddle, again.
Heh! He doesn't had the gumption to be first ever... That's Yomi for you... Hmm. Dissension in the ranks...I could use that...
Kuronue took in the statements with a certain vengeful pleasure as he pondered on how to use it. Yoko still looked confused but it wouldn't take long the clever Fox to figure out what was happening.
I have to do something...
"You can't trust them. Yomi betrayed you that's why you lost your memory."
Rattled, Kuro accidentally picked the worst thing to say.
Kuso...anything but that...
He should've remembered that one thing. Yoko doubted Yomi's competency not the man's loyalty. Yomi was as devoted to Yoko as he was.
Maybe even more... He'd happily slit his throat for the Fox, and the Fox knew it...
That's what kept Yomi as a Third even when his competency had been in doubt.
The confusion in Yoko's eyes crystallized into decision. They hardened to amber ice.
"Somehow, I doubt that." Yoko said, edging away from him.
Shit! I need to reinforce the spell... It's going to crumble under this pressure soon...but if I do that, I will leave myself vulnerable...
Kuro was so torn. Then suddenly, he felt a sharp pull on the spell.
Hellfire! He's trying to pull free...
Still reeling from indecision, Kuro made a very bad mistake. He put too much force into it. The spell flared, covering Yoko with a soft red glow. Yoko froze at his tracks.
"Yoko, I'm sure now you believe me..." Yuusuke said, inopportunely.
"Yoko-sama, I..." Yomi said, at the same time.
"Yoko, I..."
The glow flared higher then disappeared and Kuro felt the spell's backlash hit him like the wave of heat, disorienting him. He fought to hold onto his consciousness.
"I don't believe any of you!" Yoko screamed, and dashed away to the western hills.
Kuronue tried to follow him but everything blurred and he felt himself falling...
"Grab him!" Yuusuke said.
Damned...I should have looked further into the future...
ooo
Several fluttering robes were the last things he saw before everything faded to black.
Somewhere behind another higher bluff, a group of scaly figures lay huddled in gray robes. They watched the scene unfold as Yuusuke and Yomi confront Yoko and Kuronue. They hissed something in unison as Yoko ran away from all the other youkai. They dashed out to surround Yoko.
"Should we attack them now?" Hiei asked.
"No, we wait." Aya said.
He was annoyed by Yomi's play at the Fox. He itched to get his Fox back before the horned idiot got another crack at convincing Yoko but he knew better than to attack without his brother-in-law's blessing. It was illogical in extreme to go against a Seer. Even Yomi was holding off in the other bluff...
Besides, I could always take the Old Goat out if he tried again...
Comforted by the thought, Hiei turned back to watch.
"Who are you?" Yoko asked, his hand held a long sword made of a black Makai rose.
"Friends, my lord. You don't remember anything but when you stole the body you are currently wearing...you stole our allegiance as well." A scaly figure said in gray robes.
"I don't know what the hell you're talking about!" Yoko said, his eyes were gleaming insanely.
"Don't worry, you will."
"Ore mi kitare..."Several of the scaly figures started to chant.
Yoko lashed out with his whip but the figures just dodged it and continued to chant. Still dizzy from the red glow, he couldn't think of anything else to do. The spell's words were now throbbing through him filling his mind and body. He felt his skin melt like candle wax over a flame and...everything faded to black...
ooo
Morning sunshine felt warm on his face. Kurama's head felt like it was stuffed with cotton and not of the best kind either.
Maybe I can clear it by rising...
He sat up but shakily fell back to the futon he was lying on. The room was a simple traditional Japanese one with paper-screen walls. He recognized it as the one he normally shared with Hiei when he stayed over for one reason or another in Genkai's temple.
Usually for injuries that I don't want 'Kaasan to worry over... What...
The screen door slid open and Kurama looked up to see Schuldig come into the room.
"How do you feel, Kurama-chan?"
"I've been better, Schuldig-niisan. What happened?" Kurama asked. The last thing he could remember was that he invoked the resurrection spell.
I remember saying the spell then...then...
Nothing...
It was disturbing to say the least.
"Well, what do you remember?"
"I tried to resurrect Kuronue..." Kurama trailed off, quite puzzled. The spell wasn't that strong that it would drain him like this. Besides, he was feeling assorted aches and pains around other parts of his body.
It's as if I'd been in a fight...or something...
"Well, there were complications..." Schuldig was clearly uncomfortable about the subject.
Whatever it is, it must have been big...
Kurama was about to press for details when his Ran-niichan came into the room. The redheaded assassin was carrying a tray with a bowl of soup and tea.
"You have to eat this first. Everything can wait." Ran said firmly.
Kurama would have argued the point but his stomach grumbled.
I suppose that it can wait...
Kurama let Schuldig and Ran fuss over him, wondering what prompted the extra care.
"Now, do I get the explanation?" Kurama asked, politely but with steel in voice. It surprised him.
Both Ran and Schuldig winced.
When did I ever raise my voice so? Certainly not much in this form...and not with them...
"'Niichan, you have to admit that it's rather unusual for me to forget why I feel I've been beaten silly." Kurama asked, softly.
"Well..." Schuldig began.
"Hn." Ran said simultaneously.
"What they were trying to say is that: you forgot for a while that you've been Kurama. You acted like Yoko for awhile and ran off with Kuronue. It had been the bat's plan all along." Hiei interrupted, he scowled darkly at the Kurama.
"What?"
"Fluff-tail." Hiei snorted and said nothing more, flitting off to brood in a corner.
"He's right, Kurama-chan... Kuronue planned it all along..." Schuldig began.
"...So we all charged them. Yuusuke, Yomi and their troops subdued them while Hiei and I retrieved you." Ran finished. He had taken over telling the story after the part Schuldig had been knocked out.
"So...?" Schuldig
"So what happened to Ku--Crawford-san after that?" Kurama blurted out. He was still in shock from the narrative and didn't know what to think. He said the words before even thinking about them. Only that...
My Kuronue...betrayed me? He--he--
Both Schuldig and Ran winced at the question.
"Hn." Hiei retorted darkly.
"Quickfire, don't be like that--" Kurama said. He knew how it had sounded, especially to Hiei.
I--you won't believe the words I'm going to say now won't you Hiei? Won't believe that I--I--
I did it to convince you that I cared only for you...that I don't feel anything anymore for him...
It was hard enough before. Hiei plainly didn't believe Kurama when he told tried to convince the fire youkai that he didn't love Kuronue anymore.
That's why I tried to resurrect Kuronue in the first place... Should've known it would get more complicated than that...
"Yes, it's only natural for Kurama-chan to show some concern..." Schuldig said. Though it looks like he'd rather be anywhere than in the room.
But not with Hi-chan in the room...
Kurama knew that he was making a mess of things but couldn't help it. His thoughts were a mess. He couldn't think straight from the sudden avalanche of facts staring at him, demanding him to act.
"Hn." Hiei said darkly.
That centered him.
I need to talk to Hiei first...and get things settled between us...
"Crawford's being guarded here in the temple. The Reikai couldn't find anything to charge him with but we figured you'd feel better with him locked up." Ran, finally answered the question.
More like you, all, would feel better with him locked up...and I don't blame them... I can't remember anything that I've done...but it is understandable...
Kurama still couldn't catch even a wisp of memory for the past--week? Month? He didn't even know how long it had been.
Figures, Kuronue never did anything in halves...
"Would you like to see him?" Ran asked Kurama. Everything froze at that instant as if holding their collective breath.
No, me and Hiei must have a united stand to present...
That among other things said that whatever Kurama had done with Kuronue in this life, Hiei was still first in his heart.
Yes, nothing else should matter than that Hiei understands...after that, I can deal with the rest of it...
"No, I think I need to be alone with Hiei a bit...Ran-niichan, Schuldig-niisan?" Kurama asked.
Both Ran and Schuldig hastily vacated the room and Kurama was finally left with Hiei.
Author's Notes:
[1] Singsong voice Pot calling kettle...
Yomi: glares and sends a ki blast at Silrayn while pouting Why oh why can't I have my Yoko-chan all to myself?
Silrayn: There, there! hops up on a tall rock and pats Yomi's head and winces when she accidentally hits the horns
[2] All spell words are my creation (or by my fingers flying randomly on the keyboard). They are not in any language I know of.
There is something wrong with this part but I can't figure it out but I have this part in my computer for so long it's growing mold so here. The next update is Finders Keepers.