-Tricked-
-Chapter Summary- Hiei is being hunted. Will these problems ever end? Kurama has gone off in search, following the strange energy trail. Will Hiei and Botan catch him in time? Or will he fall into a neatly laid trap?-
VERY IMPORTANT RAMBLING FROM THE AUTHOR - I did say that this fic is coming to a close soon.. SOON. Not too far away. But I think I will drag this on a little longer just for you. I was thinking.. Why finish it off now when I'm coming to an end with almost all of the others? While I can continue on with this, I will. Looking forward to hearing from you in those reviews.. ^_^; Truth is, this one is just SO much fun to write and I don't want to let it go so soon. It ONLY has 24 chapters.. Come ON! Tell me you don't want me to continue this great piece of work. *sarcasm* Stay with me here. I so love you readers and reviewers. Hope you like and look forward to some new work once I finish off Broken Petals and Life Without You. BTW - There is a nice little voting thing for LWY. Anyway, this is long enough and I feel that I made my point. Keep up that readin' and enjoyin'!
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Chapter 24 - Part 1 - Promise of Revenge
Part 1 of 3
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Kurama was moving as fast as he could, hoping he would get this over with before anything too serious happened. The streets were littered with garbage, from the strong winds of the fog. People only felt a slight breeze and smelled the faint scent of roses at his passing. He didn't sense that the power was too strong. His eyes narrowed.
"It has to be an illusion." He said to himself. Suddenly, he was out of the city and on a grassy hill, covered in darkness. His enemy was a master at illusions. What he was seeing couldn't be real. He heard light footsteps and turned around. He saw Botan smiling at him. She wordlessly walked over to him and entranced him with her touch. He could barely breathe. She stared at him with those big amethyst eyes and he believed that she was real.
"Come with me, my love. I have something to show you." His dream was becoming a reality. She grabbed his hand and gingerly pulled him along. "Come on, Kurama-kun." She laughed her chime-like laugh and gave him one of her best smiles.
"Botan.." He followed her a bit hesitantly. She stopped and looked at him with a confused look on her face.
"Don't be afraid, koi." She whispered softly, wrapping him in her arms.
"I-I'm not afraid-" He started to protest. She pressed a finger to his lips and pulled him down onto the grass with her. She began toying with his hair, running the soft red locks between her fingers. "Botan, I-"
"Kurama!" He heard a raspy voice hiss from behind them. He saw a look of horror pass Botan's lovely face. He stood up and got in front of Botan.
"What do you want? Stay away from us."
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Hiei let Botan down once they were outside of town. The grass felt good beneath her feet as she stood there, looking around for Kurama. The funny part was, she didn't remember this place. She had never seen the grass so green or felt it so soft. Hiei tapped her on the shoulder and took a smell of the air.
"He has passed by here." She nodded and was about to start walking ahead when he stopped her. "We can't be separated. I have a bad feeling. Stay behind me."
"Okay." She tried to stay behind him.. but she became so distracted by the flowers and everything that she had strayed behind. "Hiei? Kurama?" She called. She suddenly felt alone.. She closed her eyes and hoped that either the koorime or the kitsune would find her. She shivered.
"Oh, Botan? What are you doing out here?" She looked up and smiled.
"Kurama!" Kurama kneeled down beside her and wrapped her in his arms, soothing her as he would a frightened child that had just had a nightmare. "Hiei's out there.. We need to find him."
"Don't worry, koi. Hiei will be fine. There is no danger here." She ignored the pleas that her conscience threw at her and snuggled deeper into his embrace.
"No danger.."
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Hiei coughed and looked around. He was walking in circles. He had passed the same hill three times. Something wasn't right. Botan had vanished and there was no trace of her. He walked along, having that strange sensation that he was being watched. He knew better than to be fooled or to open his mouth. He kept his mind clear and walked along the grass. He couldn't sense any energy, but he followed the scent of roses. He soon saw Kurama with some girl.. and it wasn't Botan. He frowned.
"Don't be afraid, koi." The strange girl whispered. He grew disgusted. What was going on?
"I-I'm not afraid-" This was getting way too intimate for the little koorime. He had to wait for some clue before he jumped out. "Botan, I-" That was when he lost it. This was an illusion fog. It caused those in it to see only what they want to happen. It gives you your deepest desires.
"Kurama!" He stood up and wondered briefly how he would unveil this evil fog to someone who was under its spell.
"What do you want? Stay away from us." Kurama was getting angry. Hiei didn't like the look on his friend's face directed at him.
"Kitsune, it's me, Hiei." His blood ran cold. Kurama's eyes were blank. That wench behind him had poisoned him. She had been feeding him lies.
"Please, be careful, my love." Hiei was now angry. Only Botan had the right to call Kurama that. Only she had the claim on his heart. How could he have fallen victim to a fake? Shouldn't he have known?
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Botan knew this wasn't right. She could feel it in her heart. But why wasn't it right? This was Kurama. He gently touched her face, letting his fingers run down her cheek to her lips. Her doubts gave way and nothing mattered but him. She looked up into his jade green orbs and smiled.
"I love you.." She whispered, resting her head on his chest. Her heart nearly skipped a beat. His flesh was warm and soft, like her Kurama's.. but he had no heartbeat. She stood up abruptly and whirled around to face him. "I'll be right back with you, Kurama-kun. I must get something for you." She tried to make her voice sound sweet and disarming. He smiled and nodded, just relaxing where he was. She dashed away, stumbling around with no destination. That's when she saw them. Kurama and Hiei.. along with a girl.
"I will not let you harm her." Kurama hissed and she tripped, falling to the ground. They all looked over at her. Hot tears coursed down her face.
"Hiei, what's going on!?" She cried. She watched in horror as the girl touched Kurama's face, whispering in his ear.
"Kurama-kun, I'm scared. Don't let them hurt me, koi." Botan's eyes widened. Disbelief mingled with anger shone in her eyes. She pushed herself up and gasped in horror at the look in his eyes.. or lack there of.
"Kurama, don't believe her!" Botan ran to Hiei's side, worried that he had been corrupted.
"He believes that she is you, Botan. He is protecting her like he would you." She felt her anger give way.
"They have no heartbeats. That's how I figured out that the Kurama I had seen wasn't real. Is this all an illusion? Is that why he believes that she is.. me?"
"His most guarded and treasured possession is you, Botan. This fog is causing it. This isn't a hill. There is no hill here. How much do you want to bet that we are in the place where she wishes to play with us? I know who is doing this. She is. She is poisoning his mind; making him believe that we are his enemy." Hiei said, his eyes narrowing at the girl.
"I can't fight with him." Botan firmly crossed her arms. There was no way to change her mind. "He will listen. I will get through to him before long."
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Kurama could see nothing but two demons in front of him. The aura of the one who had fell in their coming seemed familiar to him. He couldn't hear the words that they spoke to each other.
"Whoever you two are, just leave me and Botan alone. I don't want any trouble." Botan was hanging onto his arm. She looked worried. He brushed her cheek with one hand. "It will be all right. They won't harm you." Suddenly, the one on the right, the one who had tripped, screamed something. He covered his ears against the sound. Something was not right in his mind.. he felt odd.
"Kurama! Listen to me! Snap out of this damn trance, NOW!" The demon was surrounded by a blue aura.. a very familiar blue aura.
"Botan!?" Snowy white wings, silver-tipped, spread from its back. The ratty black hair was transformed into glittering cerulean locks. The dark brown skin went to a pale peach color. The horrible black eyes vanished, replaced by large amethyst orbs. Her familiar white nightgown flowed out, billowing from her power. She held out her left hand and her katana appeared in it. She drew it and swung it, banishing the fog. They were in the streets of the city.. surrounded by a crowd of on-lookers. Kurama saw the other demon's hair transform into the familiar black and white starburst. Hiei stood behind, a bewildered look on his face. He looked to the female holding onto his arm. As soon as he saw her, he threw her from him. Botan stepped forward.
"Gemmei." Hiei stated. "You know the penalty for escaping your prison."
"I will gladly accept it when you're dead!"
"Why do you want to kill me?" Botan blinked, not taking her eyes from Gemmei.
"She wants to kill you to fulfill a promise of revenge. She believes that you betrayed her 20 years ago." She answered, her voice calm.
"A promise of revenge? Betrayed?" The small koorime seemed confused. Shiori, one of the viewers, cried out in realization.
"Suuichi!"
"I will be back for you, Hiei. You and your angel demon." Gemmei vanished in a flash of black lightening. Botan cried out.
"You are hurt, koi. Let me heal you." Kurama looked at his arm and realized that it was bleeding and burnt from Gemmei's touch. Botan lowered him to the ground and gently touched his wound with her hand. In a blue flash, the wound was gone. He lifted his gaze to her eyes.
"I cannot believe I fell under her spell.." He didn't know they were surrounded. All he saw was her. "I can't believe I thought she was-" She smiled, cutting him off with a gentle touch.
"Right now, I am just happy that you are mine once again. I was nearly fooled by her as well." He brushed some of her hair out of her face.
"You're so beautiful.." He leaned upward, locking her lips in his for a brief kiss. "I'm sorry I nearly hurt you."
"You would not have hurt me physically as much as emotionally, koi."
"It seemed I was tricked again." He smiled bitterly. He suddenly remembered Hiei. "What do you plan on doing, Hiei?"
"Getting back to my rest. I still need to recover from that wench's attack." He turned around and the crowd parted for him. There were whispers as many recognized Suuichi Minamino. Shiori was still under a state of shock. Botan closed her eyes and Kurama supported her. Her wings vanished and she was back to normal.
"That sapped some of my strength.. Promise me right now, Kurama. Promise me that you will never ever do that to me again. I will not stand by and wait helplessly for you to return, wondering each second if you were killed." He blinked.
"Karasu.." She glared at him. "Botan- I.." He sighed. "I promise you that I will never do that to you again. But you have to promise to listen to me when I say stay."
"What am I? A dog?" He grinned sheepishly. "I promise." She kissed him on the cheek. "Sealed with a kiss." She winked and stood up, a little wobbly on her feet.
"Let us get back to where we were before we were interrupted by Gemmei, shall we?" Botan yawned.
"No argument here." She walked through the crowd, finally realizing that they were there. She blushed furiously. She looked around to find Kurama. Shiori had taken him over. She was hugging him, claiming that she saw it all.
"Are you all right?" Botan wobbled and fell into his arms.
"I am now, mother. There is a lot of explaining to do now." He sighed. "We're tired. Mind if we stay here tonight?" Shiori smiled.
"I was just going to suggest it, Suuichi. Come on." She led them away from the crowd. Botan felt light-headed and dizzy. Her breathing was labored.
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End of 24! Sorry I haven't updated anything in a while.. I'm sick right now and I was away all weekend at my dad's house. He doesn't have a computer. =[ Sadness escapes me. I got 200 reviews! Time to party! YAY! ^_^;
Here is a special preview! -
Hiei arrived and took Botan into Kurama's room to talk to her alone. Kurama had to sit and wait.
"What is it, Hiei?" She asked, frowning at him. He stared at her.
"You know how to transform? I thought that the toddler only gave you the longevity."
"So did I.. but when I heard that.." She looked down at her feet.
-
Yay! Well, I've started the next chapter and all, so it should be up soon.
-Chapter Summary- Hiei is being hunted. Will these problems ever end? Kurama has gone off in search, following the strange energy trail. Will Hiei and Botan catch him in time? Or will he fall into a neatly laid trap?-
VERY IMPORTANT RAMBLING FROM THE AUTHOR - I did say that this fic is coming to a close soon.. SOON. Not too far away. But I think I will drag this on a little longer just for you. I was thinking.. Why finish it off now when I'm coming to an end with almost all of the others? While I can continue on with this, I will. Looking forward to hearing from you in those reviews.. ^_^; Truth is, this one is just SO much fun to write and I don't want to let it go so soon. It ONLY has 24 chapters.. Come ON! Tell me you don't want me to continue this great piece of work. *sarcasm* Stay with me here. I so love you readers and reviewers. Hope you like and look forward to some new work once I finish off Broken Petals and Life Without You. BTW - There is a nice little voting thing for LWY. Anyway, this is long enough and I feel that I made my point. Keep up that readin' and enjoyin'!
-------------------------------------------------
Chapter 24 - Part 1 - Promise of Revenge
Part 1 of 3
-------------------------------------------------
Kurama was moving as fast as he could, hoping he would get this over with before anything too serious happened. The streets were littered with garbage, from the strong winds of the fog. People only felt a slight breeze and smelled the faint scent of roses at his passing. He didn't sense that the power was too strong. His eyes narrowed.
"It has to be an illusion." He said to himself. Suddenly, he was out of the city and on a grassy hill, covered in darkness. His enemy was a master at illusions. What he was seeing couldn't be real. He heard light footsteps and turned around. He saw Botan smiling at him. She wordlessly walked over to him and entranced him with her touch. He could barely breathe. She stared at him with those big amethyst eyes and he believed that she was real.
"Come with me, my love. I have something to show you." His dream was becoming a reality. She grabbed his hand and gingerly pulled him along. "Come on, Kurama-kun." She laughed her chime-like laugh and gave him one of her best smiles.
"Botan.." He followed her a bit hesitantly. She stopped and looked at him with a confused look on her face.
"Don't be afraid, koi." She whispered softly, wrapping him in her arms.
"I-I'm not afraid-" He started to protest. She pressed a finger to his lips and pulled him down onto the grass with her. She began toying with his hair, running the soft red locks between her fingers. "Botan, I-"
"Kurama!" He heard a raspy voice hiss from behind them. He saw a look of horror pass Botan's lovely face. He stood up and got in front of Botan.
"What do you want? Stay away from us."
-------------------------------------------------
Hiei let Botan down once they were outside of town. The grass felt good beneath her feet as she stood there, looking around for Kurama. The funny part was, she didn't remember this place. She had never seen the grass so green or felt it so soft. Hiei tapped her on the shoulder and took a smell of the air.
"He has passed by here." She nodded and was about to start walking ahead when he stopped her. "We can't be separated. I have a bad feeling. Stay behind me."
"Okay." She tried to stay behind him.. but she became so distracted by the flowers and everything that she had strayed behind. "Hiei? Kurama?" She called. She suddenly felt alone.. She closed her eyes and hoped that either the koorime or the kitsune would find her. She shivered.
"Oh, Botan? What are you doing out here?" She looked up and smiled.
"Kurama!" Kurama kneeled down beside her and wrapped her in his arms, soothing her as he would a frightened child that had just had a nightmare. "Hiei's out there.. We need to find him."
"Don't worry, koi. Hiei will be fine. There is no danger here." She ignored the pleas that her conscience threw at her and snuggled deeper into his embrace.
"No danger.."
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Hiei coughed and looked around. He was walking in circles. He had passed the same hill three times. Something wasn't right. Botan had vanished and there was no trace of her. He walked along, having that strange sensation that he was being watched. He knew better than to be fooled or to open his mouth. He kept his mind clear and walked along the grass. He couldn't sense any energy, but he followed the scent of roses. He soon saw Kurama with some girl.. and it wasn't Botan. He frowned.
"Don't be afraid, koi." The strange girl whispered. He grew disgusted. What was going on?
"I-I'm not afraid-" This was getting way too intimate for the little koorime. He had to wait for some clue before he jumped out. "Botan, I-" That was when he lost it. This was an illusion fog. It caused those in it to see only what they want to happen. It gives you your deepest desires.
"Kurama!" He stood up and wondered briefly how he would unveil this evil fog to someone who was under its spell.
"What do you want? Stay away from us." Kurama was getting angry. Hiei didn't like the look on his friend's face directed at him.
"Kitsune, it's me, Hiei." His blood ran cold. Kurama's eyes were blank. That wench behind him had poisoned him. She had been feeding him lies.
"Please, be careful, my love." Hiei was now angry. Only Botan had the right to call Kurama that. Only she had the claim on his heart. How could he have fallen victim to a fake? Shouldn't he have known?
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Botan knew this wasn't right. She could feel it in her heart. But why wasn't it right? This was Kurama. He gently touched her face, letting his fingers run down her cheek to her lips. Her doubts gave way and nothing mattered but him. She looked up into his jade green orbs and smiled.
"I love you.." She whispered, resting her head on his chest. Her heart nearly skipped a beat. His flesh was warm and soft, like her Kurama's.. but he had no heartbeat. She stood up abruptly and whirled around to face him. "I'll be right back with you, Kurama-kun. I must get something for you." She tried to make her voice sound sweet and disarming. He smiled and nodded, just relaxing where he was. She dashed away, stumbling around with no destination. That's when she saw them. Kurama and Hiei.. along with a girl.
"I will not let you harm her." Kurama hissed and she tripped, falling to the ground. They all looked over at her. Hot tears coursed down her face.
"Hiei, what's going on!?" She cried. She watched in horror as the girl touched Kurama's face, whispering in his ear.
"Kurama-kun, I'm scared. Don't let them hurt me, koi." Botan's eyes widened. Disbelief mingled with anger shone in her eyes. She pushed herself up and gasped in horror at the look in his eyes.. or lack there of.
"Kurama, don't believe her!" Botan ran to Hiei's side, worried that he had been corrupted.
"He believes that she is you, Botan. He is protecting her like he would you." She felt her anger give way.
"They have no heartbeats. That's how I figured out that the Kurama I had seen wasn't real. Is this all an illusion? Is that why he believes that she is.. me?"
"His most guarded and treasured possession is you, Botan. This fog is causing it. This isn't a hill. There is no hill here. How much do you want to bet that we are in the place where she wishes to play with us? I know who is doing this. She is. She is poisoning his mind; making him believe that we are his enemy." Hiei said, his eyes narrowing at the girl.
"I can't fight with him." Botan firmly crossed her arms. There was no way to change her mind. "He will listen. I will get through to him before long."
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Kurama could see nothing but two demons in front of him. The aura of the one who had fell in their coming seemed familiar to him. He couldn't hear the words that they spoke to each other.
"Whoever you two are, just leave me and Botan alone. I don't want any trouble." Botan was hanging onto his arm. She looked worried. He brushed her cheek with one hand. "It will be all right. They won't harm you." Suddenly, the one on the right, the one who had tripped, screamed something. He covered his ears against the sound. Something was not right in his mind.. he felt odd.
"Kurama! Listen to me! Snap out of this damn trance, NOW!" The demon was surrounded by a blue aura.. a very familiar blue aura.
"Botan!?" Snowy white wings, silver-tipped, spread from its back. The ratty black hair was transformed into glittering cerulean locks. The dark brown skin went to a pale peach color. The horrible black eyes vanished, replaced by large amethyst orbs. Her familiar white nightgown flowed out, billowing from her power. She held out her left hand and her katana appeared in it. She drew it and swung it, banishing the fog. They were in the streets of the city.. surrounded by a crowd of on-lookers. Kurama saw the other demon's hair transform into the familiar black and white starburst. Hiei stood behind, a bewildered look on his face. He looked to the female holding onto his arm. As soon as he saw her, he threw her from him. Botan stepped forward.
"Gemmei." Hiei stated. "You know the penalty for escaping your prison."
"I will gladly accept it when you're dead!"
"Why do you want to kill me?" Botan blinked, not taking her eyes from Gemmei.
"She wants to kill you to fulfill a promise of revenge. She believes that you betrayed her 20 years ago." She answered, her voice calm.
"A promise of revenge? Betrayed?" The small koorime seemed confused. Shiori, one of the viewers, cried out in realization.
"Suuichi!"
"I will be back for you, Hiei. You and your angel demon." Gemmei vanished in a flash of black lightening. Botan cried out.
"You are hurt, koi. Let me heal you." Kurama looked at his arm and realized that it was bleeding and burnt from Gemmei's touch. Botan lowered him to the ground and gently touched his wound with her hand. In a blue flash, the wound was gone. He lifted his gaze to her eyes.
"I cannot believe I fell under her spell.." He didn't know they were surrounded. All he saw was her. "I can't believe I thought she was-" She smiled, cutting him off with a gentle touch.
"Right now, I am just happy that you are mine once again. I was nearly fooled by her as well." He brushed some of her hair out of her face.
"You're so beautiful.." He leaned upward, locking her lips in his for a brief kiss. "I'm sorry I nearly hurt you."
"You would not have hurt me physically as much as emotionally, koi."
"It seemed I was tricked again." He smiled bitterly. He suddenly remembered Hiei. "What do you plan on doing, Hiei?"
"Getting back to my rest. I still need to recover from that wench's attack." He turned around and the crowd parted for him. There were whispers as many recognized Suuichi Minamino. Shiori was still under a state of shock. Botan closed her eyes and Kurama supported her. Her wings vanished and she was back to normal.
"That sapped some of my strength.. Promise me right now, Kurama. Promise me that you will never ever do that to me again. I will not stand by and wait helplessly for you to return, wondering each second if you were killed." He blinked.
"Karasu.." She glared at him. "Botan- I.." He sighed. "I promise you that I will never do that to you again. But you have to promise to listen to me when I say stay."
"What am I? A dog?" He grinned sheepishly. "I promise." She kissed him on the cheek. "Sealed with a kiss." She winked and stood up, a little wobbly on her feet.
"Let us get back to where we were before we were interrupted by Gemmei, shall we?" Botan yawned.
"No argument here." She walked through the crowd, finally realizing that they were there. She blushed furiously. She looked around to find Kurama. Shiori had taken him over. She was hugging him, claiming that she saw it all.
"Are you all right?" Botan wobbled and fell into his arms.
"I am now, mother. There is a lot of explaining to do now." He sighed. "We're tired. Mind if we stay here tonight?" Shiori smiled.
"I was just going to suggest it, Suuichi. Come on." She led them away from the crowd. Botan felt light-headed and dizzy. Her breathing was labored.
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End of 24! Sorry I haven't updated anything in a while.. I'm sick right now and I was away all weekend at my dad's house. He doesn't have a computer. =[ Sadness escapes me. I got 200 reviews! Time to party! YAY! ^_^;
Here is a special preview! -
Hiei arrived and took Botan into Kurama's room to talk to her alone. Kurama had to sit and wait.
"What is it, Hiei?" She asked, frowning at him. He stared at her.
"You know how to transform? I thought that the toddler only gave you the longevity."
"So did I.. but when I heard that.." She looked down at her feet.
-
Yay! Well, I've started the next chapter and all, so it should be up soon.