A Bond Set in Blood
Chapter Two
"It's dark here," I note our surroundings. "This part of the Makai looks somewhat familiar though."
"I should," Kurama smirks. "This is where Kuronue first introduced you to his wife and your angel Kuroni."
"So that's why she wants out," I let Kuroni come forth.
"She might also be sensing the one who made us come here and she feels it's dangerous to leave you unguarded."
"No…," I look up at her, hovering above me. "She seems excited about something."
"Excitement can still be fear, Alicia," Kurama insists.
"But look at her, Kurama! She's so happy looking!"
"Indeed," Kurama looks at her as well. "She does seem quite cheerful."
"Hello Kurama, so glad you could come. And look, you even brought a friend…" a voice echoes from the shadows. "Answer me something, is that Alicia with you? And Kuroni?"
"Come out from where you are hiding and perhaps I will answer," Kurama insists.
"Your reputation precedes you greatly Kurama. Have you still not noticed me? I've been standing right in front of you for quite some time."
"What the--?" Kurama looks down. There before him stands the demon- no more than four foot tall, cloaked in darkness and clad in a long black robe with a hood.
"So it is Alicia," he chuckles. "I was hoping you'd bring her. I actually wanted to meet with the two of you."
"Who are you?" Kurama asks.
"Your intellect has dissipated as your other skills have. First you do not notice me and then you cannot tell who I am."
"Indeed Kurama," I smile, "It is quite obvious."
"What?" Kurama blinks.
"Welcome brother," I outstretch my arms and he falls into my embrace.
"I still do not understand," Kurama insists.
"The only two people Kuroni would be this happy to see would be her husband," I pull back the stranger's hood, "and her son."
"SON!?" Kurama shouts in disbelief. "Kuronue told me he and Kuroni didn't have kids."
"Not until the end," the stranger replies. "I was only two months old when my parents died and then I was taken up to heaven and raised by mother's old friends."
"What is your name, brother?" I ask him with a faint smirk.
"I… am Kuroigure. I'm quite pleased to meet you, Alicia," he hugs me tighter.
"Another member for our family, huh Kurama?" I chuckle, tightening my embrace as well.
"It's good to be in a trio again. With it just being the two of us, I was getting rather lonely," Kurama says, lightly joining in the embrace.
"Kuroigure," I glance down at him, "will you come back to the human world with us?"
"I… don't think I can do that," Kuroigure looks dejectedly at his long black wings.
"Don't worry about it," I insist. "We'll look out for you. Please, come with us?"
"Okay," Kuroigure grins and links hands with Kurama and myself. I must say, it feels like the good old days again.
"Blood for blood; life for life. My heart is your and your heart is mine. Our fates have been entangled and ensnared. We are bound- first by fate and now by blood. Speak now, o child of Kuroni, doest thou wish to reconsider?"
"No, no, o child of Moro, I wish not to reconsider. This is my fate- I am bound to you forever."
"Then it shall be so. Nothing can tear us apart. The blood that flows freely through our veins ensures this- anger, hatred, depression, love, happiness, destruction, suffering, death, life- we will not be separated. We will bear it all together."
"Speak now, o child of Moro, doest thou wish to reconsider?"
"No, no, o child of Kuroni, I wish not reconsider. This is my fate- I am bound to you forever."
"So, you're really my sister now, huh Alicia?" Kuroigure looks at the bloody mark on his palm.
"Yep," I smile cheerfully. "And you're Kurama's little brother now too."
"I was told that I should try to track you down," he admits. "They said you were the closest thing to a sister I could ever hope to have. I'm glad I found you and Kurama."
"I'm glad too," I hug him again. "I don't have a real family- I never did. Kurama and your father Kuronue raised me. You and Kurama are the only family I've got now."
"Alicia…"
"Yes Kuroigure?"
"Tell me… about my father, will you?"
"Of course I will, Kuroigure," I say. "But first, you look a little cold. Would you like a blanket?"
"Yes please," he nods.
"Be right back," I walk off and go to my room. I pull the blankets off my bed and head back to the living room. "Here Kuroigure-chan," I hand him a blanket.
"Thanks Alicia-chan," he accepts the blanket with a warm smile. "Now will you tell me about my father?"
"He was a great man," I begin with a smile. Then, looking down at Kuroigure, I chuckle slightly, "He had the same heart of gold I sense you have but he tried to hide it under obscenities and crude behavior. He loved us all greatly but he didn't like to show it. I think it was more of a show of affection than outwardly showing his affection would have been though."
"Well… what do you mean?"
"He was trying to keep us safe by putting distance between us and him. See, you probably don't realize this, but in the Makai there is a universally accepted plan of vengeance- They do something to you; you scout out those close to them and murder them in cold blood. So, he was actually sheltering us from his enemies. And he'd show affection every so often. He even once let me wear his pendant."
"You mean this?" Kuroigure holds out blood red necklace.
"Where did you find that?" I stare at him, wide-eyed.
"I had to know what happened to my father and mother. I began by stealing my father's paperwork from Enma's office," Kuroigure says, his eyes slightly teary. "It said he was killed by the guards of a palace… so I went to the palace and inquired about it. They laughed at me…. They told me I was the son of a low-class good-for-nothing…. I just snapped…. Next thing I knew, I was the only one left alive, other than the palace owner. I was given this pendant and an apology and asked kindly to leave, so I did."
"You… killed them all for what happened to your father?" I blink.
"You don't understand!" he sobs. "That incident took my mother's life too! I just couldn't bear it! They laughed at me and insulted my father! Then… something just exploded within me!"
"Kuroi-kun," I frown, pulling him tight against my chest, "I understand perfectly. I'm just amazed that such a little child had the courage to do what I could only dream of."
"You should be glad you didn't do it," he says. "I regret it. No matter what they said, what they did, I still regret it."
"Were you told where you could find your father?" I ask in hopes that the burial site is somewhere accessible.
"They didn't bother to bury him. They left him there and one day they suddenly found him six feet under."
"Poor child," I run my hand up and down his back. "You must be so miserable."
"Things will be perfect from now on," Kuroigure insists happily. "I found you and Kurama and now I can be happy for a change."
"Then no more tears, okay Kuroi-kun?" I wipe the tears from his face. "Tears aren't suited for such happy times."
"Okay Alicia. Hey, can I ask you something?" Kuroigure asks.
"Go ahead," I insist.
"Can you… can you see… my father in me?"
"Indeed," I nod.
"How greatly do I resemble him?"
"Well, other than the silver streak in your hair, you look exactly the same. And you're a lot like him on the inside too except you have better manners and you're better with showing affection."
"I never met my father, Alicia. The best I can hope for is to see him through the eyes of you and Kurama."
"Trust me- you won't be disappointed with the view," I chuckle.
"Thanks for taking me in on such short notice, Alicia-chan."
"Don't mention it… kiddo."
Shigure: *crying* Oh, how very sweet! You called him kiddo, just like his father used to call you!
Alicia: Urusei Shigure…
Shigure: Alicia… will you do me a favor?
Alicia: Huh? Oh, sure. What is it?
Shigure: Hold out your hands…
Alicia: *holds out hands*
Shigure: Now look down… *Alicia does as ordered* Good… REVIEWS!! REVIEWS FOR THE POOR BEGGAR GIRL!!!
Alicia: Grr… SHIGURE!!!
Note: Really people, if you're reading this, PLEASE review. My inbox has been so empty lately and I haven't received a review on any of my stories in three weeks… If you don't have an account with ff.net, then feel free to send me a review via email. Just specify that it's a review of this story in the subject so I don't delete it.