Here it is, minna-san! I'm sorry it's taken me so long...I've been working on Kikyoku like a maniac, but finally I can post the first chapter of Touketsu, the sequel to Hiruiseki! In case you're new to this, read Hiruiseki...in case you're too lazy, here's a short synopsis:
Kuronue gets brought back to life in order to protect a young Ice Maiden from a malevolent Koorime Hunter. He gets to see his old friend Kurama again, plus a few new characters. Of course, watching over Kaeru is no easy job. Being a Koorime, she's terrified of Kuronue, and freezing ensues...daily. But he eventually gains her trust...soon enough, the Hunter attacks, and Kaeru, in a fit of rage, teams up with Hiei to destroy him. Or so they think. But...it turns out Zenkai ISN'T dead, and Kuronue's job is FAR from over!
Disclaimer: I do NOT own the characters of Yu Yu Hakusho, Chitsuko (owned by Lexi-chan), and Mizu (owned by...Mizu)...and Kelsey, Rei, and Axe (I get to USE them, but Kelsey owns them!). I only own Kia, Kaeru, Zenkai, Ryu, Kazuko, and several other characters who I'm too lazy to mention. Go me. And I do not own the Orcs. Why are there Orcs in here? There aren't. I just want to say that I don't own them. Stupid Orcs.
So...let's get rolling! Keep in mind I'm only doing this to delay chapter 15 of Kikyoku…. Hey, whatever works right?
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"I can't BELIEVE you live in this kind of weather..." Kuronue wasn't in a very good mood, and the freezing snow clinging to him didn't help at all.
Kaeru didn't reply. He didn't expect her to. She'd been rather quiet during their trek to Makai, and she had fallen asleep on his back on the way to the floating island of Koorime. One arm loosely dangled over his broad chest, and the stiff winds played with the strands of sea-green hair, loosely gathered into a high ponytail and held in place with a red flower ornament.
"I don't even know why we have to come here," the chimera continued, scowling. All Koenma had told him was that the Elders needed to speak with Kaeru...and Kuronue, as her protector, was obligated to accompany her. Who knew when that bastard Zenkai would strike?
As it turned out, there was a threat of a much different nature approaching. Kuronue took one step-then paused, looking around. Seemingly having appeared out of nowhere, he was now surrounded by tall, regal women, all clad in kimonos. A few had Kaeru's hair color; others had darker or lighter shades. And all were glowing ominously.
The chimera shivered as the temperature suddenly dropped, and continued to fall. This wasn't good. "Look," he said uneasily, "I come in peace, I'm just here to-" He turned, and one of the Koorime caught sight of Kaeru. For all appearances, she looked completely lifeless.
"...What did you do to her?" The Ice Maiden said very slowly...and very menacingly.
Kuronue took a step back. "Wait, I didn't-"
Kaeru chose that moment to wake up. Everyone stared as the small Koorime yawned, blinking sleepily. "Kuronue-san? Are we there-"
"Kaeru!!" One of the Ice Maidens suddenly broke through the circle and ran towards the two.
"Ruri-san!!" Kaeru slid off Kuronue's back and was caught up into the taller woman's arms.
"...Ruri..." One of the Koorime said quietly. "What's going on? What is a MAN doing here?"
"I believe he is the one assigned to protect Kaeru during her stay in Ningenkai." Like Kaeru, Ruri wore her hair in a high ponytail, but she was definitely bustier and carried a certain gracefulness with her at all times that the smaller Koorime hadn't quite mastered yet. She turned to Kuronue. "Am I correct?"
He nodded. "So...call off your army? I'm not here to hurt any of them."
The Ice Maiden that had spoken previously rolled her eyes. "He calls us an army. Men should not be allowed here..."
"Hmmm." Ruri chose not to respond to that and released Kaeru. "It is best if you head on to the village, Kaeru. The Elders await you...as does a certain little Ice Apparition."
"Oh!" The girl's ruby eyes lit up, and before Kuronue could blink, she was off at a run. He took off after her, marveling at her speed. How someone could run that fast in a kimono was something he'd probably never be able to understand. But now they were approaching the village, and other Koorime were emerging...older women, and little girls running out happily.
"KAAAAEEEERRRRUUUUUUUUU!!!" A small blur came speeding up and threw itself at Kaeru, revealing itself as a tiny Koorime, looking to be no more than six or seven. She wore her shoulder-length hair down, and her kimono only reached her knees. "You came back!!"
"Koyuki, you've grown so much!" The older Ice Maiden smiled, squeezing the little girl tightly. "Have you been giving Ruri-san trouble again?"
"Nuh-uh!" Koyuki shook her head, big crimson eyes solemn in her little face. "I've been good. Is it true? Are you REALLY going to see the Elders? And you brought a MAN with you?"
Kaeru hid a smile, indicating Kuronue. "This is Kuronue-san."
"Kuro...nue...Kuronue!" Koyuki beamed up at him and threw her arms around his legs. "You're tall. I like you. Your name is pretty."
"Uh..." The chimera was unsure of what to say. Well, obviously the younger Ice Maidens weren't as prejudiced against males as the older ones were.
"Kaeru?" A young woman peered out from a large tent-like structure. "The Elders will see you and your male companion now."
"Arigato," she replied. She smiled down at Koyuki. "I'll talk to you later, ne?"
"Hai!" The child giggled and skipped off to play tag with the other Koorime children.
Kuronue chuckled. "Well, shall we?"
Kaeru nodded, and the two entered the tent. Kuronue wasn't sure what to expect, and even docile Kaeru was somewhat nervous.
The Elders turned out to be a group of two elder Koorime...still very graceful and regal in their own age, and bearing an air of wisdom and kindness.
"Michi and Aori," Kaeru whispered to the chimera. "But..." She blinked, puzzled. "I don't know where Haruka is..."
"Killed," One of the Elders said quietly. She stepped towards Kaeru. "By Zenkai."
"Oh…" the Ice Maiden looked dismayed. "Aori-san, I'm sorry…"
"Don't be. It is to be our fate if he is not stopped." The younger of the two Elders spoke up. "Kaeru, for some reason, Zenkai seems to think that you have the key to stopping him. Might you know what that is?"
Kaeru shook her head, perplexed. "I…I'm afraid not, Michi-san…believe me, if I knew, I would have stopped him by now!" To Kuronue's surprise, her hands were clenched tightly into fists. "I hate this…he's murdering my family, my PEOPLE, and I don't know what I'm supposed to do!!"
"We know," Aori said kindly, placing a pale hand on the smaller Koorime's head. "We…believe it is best…if you remain in Ningenkai until we find a way to deal with Zenkai. I'm truly sorry, Kaeru, but if you stay here, all of the Ice Maidens will be at risk. While you've been gone, so has Zenkai."
Kuronue tensed. "So you're basically kicking her out??" He demanded loudly, anger evident in his tone. "What kind of family is THAT?!"
"Kuronue-san, it's alright!" Kaeru tugged at his hand. "Really! It's the Koorime way…"
"Screw the Koorime way!" The chimera shouted. "It's called being a bunch of bitchy cowards--"
"Kaeru…" Aori raised an eyebrow.
"Hai! G…gomen nasai, Aori-san, I'll leave right away!" The Ice Maiden practically dragged the fuming youkai away, waving good-bye to little Koyuki and Ruri as she did so.
"Come back soon!" Koyuki called, cupping her little hands over her mouth to amplify the message. Kaeru sort of grimaced, but nodded, forcing a smile.
"You know it's not right," Kuronue remarked, his voice quieter.
"It is to them…and…" She hesitated. "They have a point. I'm only a liability to them if I stay. At least I can prevent more deaths on my account."
"Kaeru--"
The Koorime didn't say anything more, just closed her eyes and kept walking.
The only way to get home is to make sure that I win against Zenkai…it's the only way…
*OOC*
I know it's short, but it's a PROLOGUE! ^^ Anyway, please review, while I try to remember what Touketsu means…o.o NEXT chapter!
* Kaeru and Kuronue return to Ningenkai.
* A strange man greets Kaeru, almost as if he knows her! How is this possible?
* It turns out that Kazuko had a brother…could this man be it?
Kuronue gets brought back to life in order to protect a young Ice Maiden from a malevolent Koorime Hunter. He gets to see his old friend Kurama again, plus a few new characters. Of course, watching over Kaeru is no easy job. Being a Koorime, she's terrified of Kuronue, and freezing ensues...daily. But he eventually gains her trust...soon enough, the Hunter attacks, and Kaeru, in a fit of rage, teams up with Hiei to destroy him. Or so they think. But...it turns out Zenkai ISN'T dead, and Kuronue's job is FAR from over!
Disclaimer: I do NOT own the characters of Yu Yu Hakusho, Chitsuko (owned by Lexi-chan), and Mizu (owned by...Mizu)...and Kelsey, Rei, and Axe (I get to USE them, but Kelsey owns them!). I only own Kia, Kaeru, Zenkai, Ryu, Kazuko, and several other characters who I'm too lazy to mention. Go me. And I do not own the Orcs. Why are there Orcs in here? There aren't. I just want to say that I don't own them. Stupid Orcs.
So...let's get rolling! Keep in mind I'm only doing this to delay chapter 15 of Kikyoku…. Hey, whatever works right?
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"I can't BELIEVE you live in this kind of weather..." Kuronue wasn't in a very good mood, and the freezing snow clinging to him didn't help at all.
Kaeru didn't reply. He didn't expect her to. She'd been rather quiet during their trek to Makai, and she had fallen asleep on his back on the way to the floating island of Koorime. One arm loosely dangled over his broad chest, and the stiff winds played with the strands of sea-green hair, loosely gathered into a high ponytail and held in place with a red flower ornament.
"I don't even know why we have to come here," the chimera continued, scowling. All Koenma had told him was that the Elders needed to speak with Kaeru...and Kuronue, as her protector, was obligated to accompany her. Who knew when that bastard Zenkai would strike?
As it turned out, there was a threat of a much different nature approaching. Kuronue took one step-then paused, looking around. Seemingly having appeared out of nowhere, he was now surrounded by tall, regal women, all clad in kimonos. A few had Kaeru's hair color; others had darker or lighter shades. And all were glowing ominously.
The chimera shivered as the temperature suddenly dropped, and continued to fall. This wasn't good. "Look," he said uneasily, "I come in peace, I'm just here to-" He turned, and one of the Koorime caught sight of Kaeru. For all appearances, she looked completely lifeless.
"...What did you do to her?" The Ice Maiden said very slowly...and very menacingly.
Kuronue took a step back. "Wait, I didn't-"
Kaeru chose that moment to wake up. Everyone stared as the small Koorime yawned, blinking sleepily. "Kuronue-san? Are we there-"
"Kaeru!!" One of the Ice Maidens suddenly broke through the circle and ran towards the two.
"Ruri-san!!" Kaeru slid off Kuronue's back and was caught up into the taller woman's arms.
"...Ruri..." One of the Koorime said quietly. "What's going on? What is a MAN doing here?"
"I believe he is the one assigned to protect Kaeru during her stay in Ningenkai." Like Kaeru, Ruri wore her hair in a high ponytail, but she was definitely bustier and carried a certain gracefulness with her at all times that the smaller Koorime hadn't quite mastered yet. She turned to Kuronue. "Am I correct?"
He nodded. "So...call off your army? I'm not here to hurt any of them."
The Ice Maiden that had spoken previously rolled her eyes. "He calls us an army. Men should not be allowed here..."
"Hmmm." Ruri chose not to respond to that and released Kaeru. "It is best if you head on to the village, Kaeru. The Elders await you...as does a certain little Ice Apparition."
"Oh!" The girl's ruby eyes lit up, and before Kuronue could blink, she was off at a run. He took off after her, marveling at her speed. How someone could run that fast in a kimono was something he'd probably never be able to understand. But now they were approaching the village, and other Koorime were emerging...older women, and little girls running out happily.
"KAAAAEEEERRRRUUUUUUUUU!!!" A small blur came speeding up and threw itself at Kaeru, revealing itself as a tiny Koorime, looking to be no more than six or seven. She wore her shoulder-length hair down, and her kimono only reached her knees. "You came back!!"
"Koyuki, you've grown so much!" The older Ice Maiden smiled, squeezing the little girl tightly. "Have you been giving Ruri-san trouble again?"
"Nuh-uh!" Koyuki shook her head, big crimson eyes solemn in her little face. "I've been good. Is it true? Are you REALLY going to see the Elders? And you brought a MAN with you?"
Kaeru hid a smile, indicating Kuronue. "This is Kuronue-san."
"Kuro...nue...Kuronue!" Koyuki beamed up at him and threw her arms around his legs. "You're tall. I like you. Your name is pretty."
"Uh..." The chimera was unsure of what to say. Well, obviously the younger Ice Maidens weren't as prejudiced against males as the older ones were.
"Kaeru?" A young woman peered out from a large tent-like structure. "The Elders will see you and your male companion now."
"Arigato," she replied. She smiled down at Koyuki. "I'll talk to you later, ne?"
"Hai!" The child giggled and skipped off to play tag with the other Koorime children.
Kuronue chuckled. "Well, shall we?"
Kaeru nodded, and the two entered the tent. Kuronue wasn't sure what to expect, and even docile Kaeru was somewhat nervous.
The Elders turned out to be a group of two elder Koorime...still very graceful and regal in their own age, and bearing an air of wisdom and kindness.
"Michi and Aori," Kaeru whispered to the chimera. "But..." She blinked, puzzled. "I don't know where Haruka is..."
"Killed," One of the Elders said quietly. She stepped towards Kaeru. "By Zenkai."
"Oh…" the Ice Maiden looked dismayed. "Aori-san, I'm sorry…"
"Don't be. It is to be our fate if he is not stopped." The younger of the two Elders spoke up. "Kaeru, for some reason, Zenkai seems to think that you have the key to stopping him. Might you know what that is?"
Kaeru shook her head, perplexed. "I…I'm afraid not, Michi-san…believe me, if I knew, I would have stopped him by now!" To Kuronue's surprise, her hands were clenched tightly into fists. "I hate this…he's murdering my family, my PEOPLE, and I don't know what I'm supposed to do!!"
"We know," Aori said kindly, placing a pale hand on the smaller Koorime's head. "We…believe it is best…if you remain in Ningenkai until we find a way to deal with Zenkai. I'm truly sorry, Kaeru, but if you stay here, all of the Ice Maidens will be at risk. While you've been gone, so has Zenkai."
Kuronue tensed. "So you're basically kicking her out??" He demanded loudly, anger evident in his tone. "What kind of family is THAT?!"
"Kuronue-san, it's alright!" Kaeru tugged at his hand. "Really! It's the Koorime way…"
"Screw the Koorime way!" The chimera shouted. "It's called being a bunch of bitchy cowards--"
"Kaeru…" Aori raised an eyebrow.
"Hai! G…gomen nasai, Aori-san, I'll leave right away!" The Ice Maiden practically dragged the fuming youkai away, waving good-bye to little Koyuki and Ruri as she did so.
"Come back soon!" Koyuki called, cupping her little hands over her mouth to amplify the message. Kaeru sort of grimaced, but nodded, forcing a smile.
"You know it's not right," Kuronue remarked, his voice quieter.
"It is to them…and…" She hesitated. "They have a point. I'm only a liability to them if I stay. At least I can prevent more deaths on my account."
"Kaeru--"
The Koorime didn't say anything more, just closed her eyes and kept walking.
The only way to get home is to make sure that I win against Zenkai…it's the only way…
*OOC*
I know it's short, but it's a PROLOGUE! ^^ Anyway, please review, while I try to remember what Touketsu means…o.o NEXT chapter!
* Kaeru and Kuronue return to Ningenkai.
* A strange man greets Kaeru, almost as if he knows her! How is this possible?
* It turns out that Kazuko had a brother…could this man be it?
