---- Chapter 27: Side Story - An Angel of Death, A Demon Fox, and An Immortal Warrior ----
=== Kurama's Residence - Bedroom, 6:30 A.M. ===
The alarm on Kurama's nightstand rang sharply, though it was quickly silenced by Kurama's swift fingers. Sitting up, Kurama yawned, looking down at his lover, Botan, who was still sleeping. With a smile, Kurama leaned down and kissed her cheek gently before rising out of bed and stretching. Walking over to his bathroom, Kurama grabbed a few articles of clothing to put on for the long day ahead.
As Kurama began to brush his teeth, he spoke in a muffled voice.
"You can come out now. I know you're there."
Emerging from the shadows was Keyaku, dressed in a tank top and loose-fitting pants. Chuckling, he mused, "That easy to spot? Damn.... Gotta work on that."
"So, what do you want, Keyaku?"
".... Do you love her?"
Stopping abruptly, Kurama turned to face Keyaku with a stern look on his face.
"W-What.... do you mean?"
Staring intently at his sister's lover, Keyaku repeated himself: "Do you love her?"
Kurama was silent for a moment.
"Of course I love her.... I love her with all of my heart and soul."
Replying with a gruff, "Hn," Keyaku vanished back into the shadows, and Kurama went back to getting ready for work.
=== Kurama's Residence - Living Room, 7:18 A.M. ===
"Have a nice day at work, 'kay?"
Kurama kissed Botan passionately, before breaking the kiss and turning away.
"I will, Botan. You take care as well."
As Kurama walked out the door, a voice called out from behind Botan.
"Hello, Shizuka...."
Botan shrieked, reflexively hurling a slap behind her at the source of the voice.... Keyaku. As Keyaku saw stars and wobbled around the room, Botan ran over to him and held him tightly.
"Are you okay, Keyaku-kun?"
Shaking off the fierce blow, Keyaku muttered under his breath, "Scarier than death...." At that remark, he was met with another earth-shattering slap. "Scarier than death, am I?!!" yelled out Botan, seething in anger.
As he recovered from the slap, Keyaku muttered an apology as he sat up.
"So, how are you, Shizuka--"
"My name is Botan."
Botan spoke firmly, but there was no trace of anger in her voice. Pausing for a moment, Keyaku continued speaking.
".... Okay, then. Botan. If that's what you want to be called, so be it. Anyway, I came here because I have a question...."
"Shoot, Keyaku."
"Do you love Kurama?"
An awkward silence followed Keyaku's question. Botan's mouth hung open for a second, but soon closed as she turned away.
"W-Why.... do you ask that?"
"...."
".... Of course I love him.... I love him with my very being. I never thought I could love someone so much...."
".... I see. Farewell, Botan-chan."
With that, Keyaku faded into the shadows, as Botan whirled around in a state of confusion.
".... ? Keyaku?"
=== Tokyo General Hospital - Shuichi Minamino's Office, 9:27 A.M. ===
Kurama sat in his chair, legs propped up on his desk, looking deep in thought. A nurse entered the room, her voice frantic.
"Doctor Minamino! There's an emergency! Come quick!"
Leaping to his feet, Kurama dashed out of the room, but his eyes showed that his thoughts were elsewhere....
=== Kurama's Thoughts ===
.... Why did Keyaku ask me that? Do I love her.... ? Once, I would've said that I couldn't.... My heart was that of a cold, ruthless demon. 'Love' was a foreign thing to me then. But then I met with disaster, and was forced to inhabit this body.... and I received love, true love, from my parents. It felt.... so strange. An alien feeling, one of great joy.... I feel that with Botan now. But.... can I love her? Am I good enough for her? These things.... I do not know. And it pains me so very much....
=== Tokyo General Hospital - Rooftop, 9:24 A.M. ===
Watching solemnly, Keyaku saw as a masked man gunned down a young boy in the streets. The boy, apparently, was a member of the gunman's gang, and had betrayed them. Keyaku felt his rage boiling over, as he gripped his Naginata tightly. Leaping from the top of the roof, he gracefully landed in front of the gunman.
Terrified, the gunman began to shoot.... only to have each and every bullet caught by Keyaku.
"You.... dead jackass! Did you ever stop to think of that boy's family?!"
With that, Keyaku clenched his fist, exploding the bullets but causing no discernable damage to him. The gunman started to back away slowly, dropping his gun.
".... So, you're also a coward.... Die a thousand deaths in the pits of Hell, coward!!!"
Grasping his Naginata tightly, Keyaku shoved it into the gunman's chest, the man coughing up blood. Flipping behind him while leaving the Naginata embedded in him, Keyaku called out, "Ryuga Shugeki!!!" And with that, he delivered such a powerful kick to the gunman's back that it actually tore through his body entirely, ripping the gunman in half. Retrieving his Naginata, Keyaku spat on the gunman's head.
"Did you ever stop to think of that boy's family? No.... you didn't. And that's why you died."
Jumping back into the air, Keyaku retreated to a nearby rooftop. Shouldering his Naginata, he began to think....
=== Keyaku's Thoughts ===
Why.... did I react so strongly? He was just a common thug, not even worthy of my Naginata, but.... That boy.... he couldn't have been more than 10. Ten years old.... I remember that age vividly. That was the age when my sister was taken away from me.... Maybe that's it. The thought that someone, somewhere, lost a sibling.... I just couldn't take it. Is that.... the same thing I feel about Kurama and Shizuka? Rage.... is a horrible feeling. I shouldn't hold a grudge against Kurama just because he loves my sister...."
=== Tokyo General Hospital - Emergency Room, 9:28 A.M. ===
"What happened?"
"This boy was shot multiple times in the street. It's what happened to the attacker that's more disturbing."
"What about his attacker? Clamp."
As the nurse handed the clamp to Kurama, she started to explain what had happened. Kurama listened, and nearly dropped his scalpel as he heard the description of the assassin.
"W-Where did that person go?"
"Beats me. There was just a flash, and he was gone."
Kurama wiped the sweat from his brow, as he continued to operate furiously. He could feel the child's life force slipping away. But he wouldn't let this child die.
"It's over.... Everyone, please leave. I want to be alone...."
The nurses and assistants filed out of the room, as soft sobs could be heard from some of them. His aura flaring up, Kurama transformed into Youko and reached into his hair, drawing out a small green sapling.
"Seed of Life.... Transfer some of my Ki to this boy's life force.... and let him...."
".... Awaken!!!"
The boy's eyes snapped open, his wounds healing themselves rapidly. Kurama breathed heavily, his aura decreasing steadily. Smiling, he transformed back and called out, "My God! He's healed!"
Personnel rushed back into the room, in awe at the boy's recovery. The boy stared in wonder at Kurama, who just lifted a finger to his mouth and walked out of the room.
"I'm taking the rest of the day off. Call Doctor Michiba - he'll take over...."
"Yes, doctor."
=== Kurama's Residence - 10:33 A.M. ===
A knock was heard at the door, as Botan opened it to see Kurama standing in the doorway.
"Kurama?"
"Hello, love."
Kurama kissed Botan on the cheek, and laid down his medical bag on a nearby chair. Hugging Botan tightly, he began to stroke her hair gently.
"What are you doing home so early, love?"
"You don't have another man in bed or anything, do you?"
Both of the lovers chuckled slightly, as Kurama stared deeply into Botan's eyes.
"I love you, Botan. Truly, I do."
Smiling warmly, Botan replied, "And I love you, love...."
As the two began to kiss passionately, and walked towards the bedroom, Keyaku watched from the shadows. He murmured a few words under his breath....
"Take good care of her, Kurama...."
=== Kurama's Residence - Bedroom, 6:30 A.M. ===
The alarm on Kurama's nightstand rang sharply, though it was quickly silenced by Kurama's swift fingers. Sitting up, Kurama yawned, looking down at his lover, Botan, who was still sleeping. With a smile, Kurama leaned down and kissed her cheek gently before rising out of bed and stretching. Walking over to his bathroom, Kurama grabbed a few articles of clothing to put on for the long day ahead.
As Kurama began to brush his teeth, he spoke in a muffled voice.
"You can come out now. I know you're there."
Emerging from the shadows was Keyaku, dressed in a tank top and loose-fitting pants. Chuckling, he mused, "That easy to spot? Damn.... Gotta work on that."
"So, what do you want, Keyaku?"
".... Do you love her?"
Stopping abruptly, Kurama turned to face Keyaku with a stern look on his face.
"W-What.... do you mean?"
Staring intently at his sister's lover, Keyaku repeated himself: "Do you love her?"
Kurama was silent for a moment.
"Of course I love her.... I love her with all of my heart and soul."
Replying with a gruff, "Hn," Keyaku vanished back into the shadows, and Kurama went back to getting ready for work.
=== Kurama's Residence - Living Room, 7:18 A.M. ===
"Have a nice day at work, 'kay?"
Kurama kissed Botan passionately, before breaking the kiss and turning away.
"I will, Botan. You take care as well."
As Kurama walked out the door, a voice called out from behind Botan.
"Hello, Shizuka...."
Botan shrieked, reflexively hurling a slap behind her at the source of the voice.... Keyaku. As Keyaku saw stars and wobbled around the room, Botan ran over to him and held him tightly.
"Are you okay, Keyaku-kun?"
Shaking off the fierce blow, Keyaku muttered under his breath, "Scarier than death...." At that remark, he was met with another earth-shattering slap. "Scarier than death, am I?!!" yelled out Botan, seething in anger.
As he recovered from the slap, Keyaku muttered an apology as he sat up.
"So, how are you, Shizuka--"
"My name is Botan."
Botan spoke firmly, but there was no trace of anger in her voice. Pausing for a moment, Keyaku continued speaking.
".... Okay, then. Botan. If that's what you want to be called, so be it. Anyway, I came here because I have a question...."
"Shoot, Keyaku."
"Do you love Kurama?"
An awkward silence followed Keyaku's question. Botan's mouth hung open for a second, but soon closed as she turned away.
"W-Why.... do you ask that?"
"...."
".... Of course I love him.... I love him with my very being. I never thought I could love someone so much...."
".... I see. Farewell, Botan-chan."
With that, Keyaku faded into the shadows, as Botan whirled around in a state of confusion.
".... ? Keyaku?"
=== Tokyo General Hospital - Shuichi Minamino's Office, 9:27 A.M. ===
Kurama sat in his chair, legs propped up on his desk, looking deep in thought. A nurse entered the room, her voice frantic.
"Doctor Minamino! There's an emergency! Come quick!"
Leaping to his feet, Kurama dashed out of the room, but his eyes showed that his thoughts were elsewhere....
=== Kurama's Thoughts ===
.... Why did Keyaku ask me that? Do I love her.... ? Once, I would've said that I couldn't.... My heart was that of a cold, ruthless demon. 'Love' was a foreign thing to me then. But then I met with disaster, and was forced to inhabit this body.... and I received love, true love, from my parents. It felt.... so strange. An alien feeling, one of great joy.... I feel that with Botan now. But.... can I love her? Am I good enough for her? These things.... I do not know. And it pains me so very much....
=== Tokyo General Hospital - Rooftop, 9:24 A.M. ===
Watching solemnly, Keyaku saw as a masked man gunned down a young boy in the streets. The boy, apparently, was a member of the gunman's gang, and had betrayed them. Keyaku felt his rage boiling over, as he gripped his Naginata tightly. Leaping from the top of the roof, he gracefully landed in front of the gunman.
Terrified, the gunman began to shoot.... only to have each and every bullet caught by Keyaku.
"You.... dead jackass! Did you ever stop to think of that boy's family?!"
With that, Keyaku clenched his fist, exploding the bullets but causing no discernable damage to him. The gunman started to back away slowly, dropping his gun.
".... So, you're also a coward.... Die a thousand deaths in the pits of Hell, coward!!!"
Grasping his Naginata tightly, Keyaku shoved it into the gunman's chest, the man coughing up blood. Flipping behind him while leaving the Naginata embedded in him, Keyaku called out, "Ryuga Shugeki!!!" And with that, he delivered such a powerful kick to the gunman's back that it actually tore through his body entirely, ripping the gunman in half. Retrieving his Naginata, Keyaku spat on the gunman's head.
"Did you ever stop to think of that boy's family? No.... you didn't. And that's why you died."
Jumping back into the air, Keyaku retreated to a nearby rooftop. Shouldering his Naginata, he began to think....
=== Keyaku's Thoughts ===
Why.... did I react so strongly? He was just a common thug, not even worthy of my Naginata, but.... That boy.... he couldn't have been more than 10. Ten years old.... I remember that age vividly. That was the age when my sister was taken away from me.... Maybe that's it. The thought that someone, somewhere, lost a sibling.... I just couldn't take it. Is that.... the same thing I feel about Kurama and Shizuka? Rage.... is a horrible feeling. I shouldn't hold a grudge against Kurama just because he loves my sister...."
=== Tokyo General Hospital - Emergency Room, 9:28 A.M. ===
"What happened?"
"This boy was shot multiple times in the street. It's what happened to the attacker that's more disturbing."
"What about his attacker? Clamp."
As the nurse handed the clamp to Kurama, she started to explain what had happened. Kurama listened, and nearly dropped his scalpel as he heard the description of the assassin.
"W-Where did that person go?"
"Beats me. There was just a flash, and he was gone."
Kurama wiped the sweat from his brow, as he continued to operate furiously. He could feel the child's life force slipping away. But he wouldn't let this child die.
"It's over.... Everyone, please leave. I want to be alone...."
The nurses and assistants filed out of the room, as soft sobs could be heard from some of them. His aura flaring up, Kurama transformed into Youko and reached into his hair, drawing out a small green sapling.
"Seed of Life.... Transfer some of my Ki to this boy's life force.... and let him...."
".... Awaken!!!"
The boy's eyes snapped open, his wounds healing themselves rapidly. Kurama breathed heavily, his aura decreasing steadily. Smiling, he transformed back and called out, "My God! He's healed!"
Personnel rushed back into the room, in awe at the boy's recovery. The boy stared in wonder at Kurama, who just lifted a finger to his mouth and walked out of the room.
"I'm taking the rest of the day off. Call Doctor Michiba - he'll take over...."
"Yes, doctor."
=== Kurama's Residence - 10:33 A.M. ===
A knock was heard at the door, as Botan opened it to see Kurama standing in the doorway.
"Kurama?"
"Hello, love."
Kurama kissed Botan on the cheek, and laid down his medical bag on a nearby chair. Hugging Botan tightly, he began to stroke her hair gently.
"What are you doing home so early, love?"
"You don't have another man in bed or anything, do you?"
Both of the lovers chuckled slightly, as Kurama stared deeply into Botan's eyes.
"I love you, Botan. Truly, I do."
Smiling warmly, Botan replied, "And I love you, love...."
As the two began to kiss passionately, and walked towards the bedroom, Keyaku watched from the shadows. He murmured a few words under his breath....
"Take good care of her, Kurama...."