(many years later, of battling Kyozame, and rebuilding different hideouts, and Ryu battling more and more with Youko Kurama)
"Wake up." Came a voice in Koraseru's ear.
"Come one! Wake up!" Came the voice again
Koraseru opened her eyes, sitting in shock, as she felt cold water splash over her body.
"Ryu you asshole!" Koraseru hissed. She jumped off of her got, tackling him to the floor.
"I could slit your throat right now." She said holding on of her nails to his throat. "But you wont." Ryu said pushing her off him. Cats hate water.….i have to use that to my advantage." Ryu said laughing. "
"What ever…..why do I have to get up so early?" She asked. "This." Ryu said handing Koraseru a peace of paper, and leaning on her shoulder. "What….is this….i though you said we were going to work on getting that book…..what's with all the side stuff/" Koraseru asked. "So you don't get rusty." Ryu said snatching the paper away. "What about you?" she asked. "I never get rusty." Ryu said.
"Oh really cuz the last time I remember…….." Koraseru started.
"Koraseru!?" Came a voice down below the tree house. Koraseru smiled. "Isnt it a little early for this?" Ryu asked Raising his hands in the air with frustration.
Koraseru looked over the balcony to find a familiar looking fox demon staring up at her. "Kurama…..what are you doing here?" she asked blushing. "Came to check out competition…..where are you going, and for what?" Kurama asked putting his hands on his hips. "Like id tell you." She said rolling her eyes.
"Yo, pussy ears, get the hell away from here. Me and my partner are going somewhere got it!? Ryu yelled. "What if I don't!?" The kitsune yelled back growling. "Guys!? Stop! Kurama…..i have to go…..ill find you later." Koraseru said.
"What!?" Ryu asked. Koraseru put her hand up to silence Ryu. "Come one Ryu…..lets go……I want shiney stuff."
"Woe…….this place is a lot bigger from the pcture I saw." Koraseru said looking around. "Shut up!" Ryu hissed. "Guards will hear you! Now listen…….we have to go down this hallway..…it will lead us strait to…...What the hell!? Where did you go now!?"
Koraseru looked around, as she walked down a hallway tat had caught her eye. "Sorry Ryu…..but your stuff is too boring……" Koraseru stopped in her tracks. Her attention was fixed on a box at the end of the hallway. She quickly tip toed toward the box, kneeling down and reading the description. She opened the box to find to ruby red pendants. "oooh pretty……oh well…..no need to tell Ryu 'bout this." She said stuffing them into her pouch which hung around her waist. "After all…..he didn't come there for this.
"Koraseru!" Ryu's voice came. "Yes!?" She said standing up. "What the hell are you doing!?"
"Um…...nothing……"
"Yeah well…….i got the gold……come one lets go before.…..shit…...their coming! Come on lets go!" Ryu yelled grabbing Koraseru.
They both reached the tree house, Ryu flopping on his cot. Koraseru went to climb down the latter when Ryu sat up. "Where are you going?" He asked. "To see Kurama." She said. "ok that's fine….traitor….." Ryu trailed off. "What?" Koraseru asked. "Nothing." He said waving her off. "Huh…..Kurama……whats he ever going to do for her……"
"There you are." Koraseru said. "hey!" Kurama said turning around. "Never thought id find you this deep into the woods." Koraseru said. "Im wating for Kurounue." Kurama said. "oh whens he getting here?" Koraseru asked. "In a few minutes…..we have some time to our selves." Kurama said. Koraseru blushed, as her heart started to pound harder. She sat down on a rock, Kurama sitting down next to her.
There was a pause, and then to Koraseru's relief, Kurama began to speak. "So…..how did things go today?" He asked. "Great…...we almost got caught though…..." She said. "That was funny…..." Kurama said laughing. "What do you mean…….? Koraseru asked suspiciously. "sicking the gaurds on you and watching you .run……priceless." Koraseru drew her claws, scratching Kurama across the face. "Ow!" He said grabbing his cheek. "Why did you do that?" She asked standing up. "Got to get Ryu back…..he thinks hes the best thief……" Kurama said. "You guys are so pathetic…all competitive…" She said rolling her eyes. "You know…..that really did hurt." Kurama said. "Let me see." Koraseru said. Three slash marks appeared in red down Kurama's left cheek. She started to lick his wound, healing it quickly with her energy.
Koraseru slowly pulled away, feeling embarrassed. She had never made contact with Kurama in that way before. Kurama smiled. He leaned in to kiss her, but Koraseru looked away. "What wrong?" Kurama asked. "um..…..Kurounues " Koraseru saying the first thing that came to her mind. With luck, Kurama looked up, and so Kurounue jumping through the trees.
The bat demon landed right at the other two's feet, folding his wings behind his back, and blowing his long silky black hair out of his eyes. He put his hands on his hips. "Kurama…..when a demon is told to be somewhere at a specific time by another demon, it is expected that the other demon would like him to show up. It is not expected that the other demon bounds him to a tree, still expecting him to be there on time!" Kurounue threw some torn and unraveled rope on the ground. Koraseru started to laugh. "I was trying to buy us some time….." Kurama whispered Koraseru.
"Baka Kitsune…..." Kurounue said rolling his eyes. "Im offended that you thought this stupid piece of rope would hold me down….." Kurounue crossed his arms exaggerating his hurt feelings. "Well it did hold you a while." Kurama said punishing him in the arm. Kurama started to walk away. "Where are you going?" Kurounue asked. "I forgot something." Youko called back. "After all that..…" Kurounue said to himself. Koraseru started to laugh. She tackled Kurounue to the ground, macking the sound "oof!" escape his mouth. She sta on top of his stomach while he laid on his back. "How are things little neko? Kurounue asked. "Alright…….accept….."
"Accept what?" Kurounue asked sitting up slightly, resting his weight on his elbows. "Accept…..i don't know what to do about Kurama…..." She said crawling off his stomach. She sat down next to him. "I like him a real lot, and I know he likes me too, but…I don't think he likes me in that way…I think right now hes still just into boob, ass, and sex." Koraseru said. "Yeah that sounds like him alright..…" Kuroune said with a chuckle. "The Makai slut." Kurounue said laughing even harder. And…..well…..Ryu…..he treats me crappy sometimes, but I know he cares…..and I care about him to. Basically the same I feel about Kurama…..accept im not afraid to show it as much when im with Kurama. "You should be yourself around the ones you love…..seriously……hes never liked someone as much as he likes you though…..i think hes in love with you….." Kurounue said. "He's never acted this way around a girl before..…its different..…and hes not looking for a one night-er….." Kurounue said. "You really think so?" Koraseru asked. "I know so…you should see him….." Kuroune said rolling his eyes. "Hey I have something for you! Koraseru said happily reaching into her pouch. She pulled out two pendants, both identical.
"Here Kurounue, take this."
"What is it?"
"I made it out of silver and rubies I took from that temple. It will give you good luck. I have one too see. As long as we both wear it we will be protected by the other person, through spirit."
"Wow…..and your giving this to me? What about…"
"nah he doesn't need one, he's got you."
Kurounue laughed. He put his around his neck, and Koraseru, the same. "Alright im back….." Kurama said. "Ok, here is what we are going to do…..the Mirror of Kagami.." Kurama said pulling out a drawn picture of it. "Its in a temple, kept in one of the kings vaults, hodden in this forest. Its heavily guarded.
"That's…...insame! you both wil be killed!" Koraseru said. "You have doubt in the king of thieves?" Kurama said jokingly. "Im serious…..i just don't want to lose either of you….." Koraseru said. "Nah, we kick ass. We will come running out of the temple with the mirror in our possession no doubt!" Kurounue said. "Ok, just be careful." Koraseru said.
Ryu secured his pants. Jesus, I had to piss!" He said. he all of a sudden, felt a strong energy above him. He looked up, as a body jumped down. "oh come one it hasn't even been three months!" Ryu complained to his brother. "Im not here capture you, just to talk." Kyozame said stepping forward. "Were you watching me piss my brains out?" Ryu asked. "yeah…...yeah I was." Kyozame said sarcastically. "Only because your so envious on the account that I was blessed with the majority of the family jewels." Ryu said proudly. Kyozame rolled his eyes. "What do you make of this Youko Kurama character?" Kyozame asked
"I hate the hell out of him." Ryu replied. "Why?" He asked. "She's in love with him you know…..and once she tells him, she will betray you." He said. "Yeah that's nice….." Ryu said. "Its been a fear in your heart for a very long time….." Kyozame said. "I have knowledge that…..both Kurama and Kurounue are going to the temple that holds the Mirror of Kagami…..if you would like…..i could arrange to have them caught and killed. Koraseru would never know it was us. She will then go back to being your partner." Kyozame said. "And if they survive?" Ryu asked through gritted teeth. "If they survive…..kill the girl and join up with me once more…..i cannot get this book with out you….." Kyozame said. "This is bull I wouldn't kill her." Ryu spat."
"Well…..the law of the thief." Koraseru said. "if your partner betrays you…..you must kill them…..or else they may kill you." Kyozame said. "We all Youko Kurama would like to do that…..get rid of your life completely….." Kyozame said. "Either way…..you get the book….." Kyozame said.
Ryu looked Koyzame right in the eye for a few minutes without blinking. "Fine……it's a deal." Ryu shook Kyozame's hand. "I want them dead." Ryu said. he walked away with anger.
"But master…..if Youko Kurama dies……and Koraseru goes back to Ryu…..what good will that do us?" one of the legion of demons asked. "We will tell Koraseru what really happened, how Ryu killed them both. She will leave him." Kyozame said. "But master…..if Ryu comes back…..and gets the book with you…..he will steal it from you." The demon replied. I will make sure he does not…..im sure he is planning on going with me, and stealing the book from me. I shal let him think that. With him, I shall get that book, then lock him away!" Kyozame said. "How do you know he will kill her?" The demon asked. "If Kurama survives or not, I think Ryu will kill this girl…..he believes strongly in the thieves code."
"He thinks im going to get the book with him…..right……im going to get the book, and then kill her. Then ill have the book to myself.
"There you are." Ryu said to Koraseru. "lets race home. You need your practice for tomorrow." Ryu said. "aaw do I have to?" Koraseru asked. "Yes…..tree jumping." Ryu said.
They both started to race, going through the trees as fast as they could. With Koraseru a little ahead, she looked back, laughing at Ryu, but her necklace she had made got caught on a branch. She tried to stop but was going to fast. By the time she turned back, she could not find the necklace. "Oh no….." Koraseru said looking around. "Why did you stop?" Ryu asked. "er……nothing….." Koraseru said looking around. "Alright then lets go!" Ryu said. Koraseru looked around one last time, then continued on.
Ryu layed down on his hammock, while Koraseru went out to "look for something" he thought what he must do tomorrow.
Koraseru awoke with a start. She looked around. It was a nice sunny day, but something did not seem right. "Where are you going?" Ryu asked. "I have to find Kurama!" Koraseru said running out the door. Ryu made a fist, punching the wall. "Damn you Kurama! I hope she sensed you dying!"
Koraseru searched, and finally found him. He was sitting on a tree, his head in his hands, the mirror laying on the side. Koraseru slowed down, and walked cautiously over to him. "Kurama……?" She asked. Kurama slowly rose his head, dragging his hands on his face, pulling it down wards, revealing the red under his eyes. Koraseru's stomach had felt like she had swallowed a brick.
Kurama stood up. "he…..really liked that pendant you gave him…..he kept it like he worshiped it. We were being chase, by demon hunters. His necklace fell off…..he went back for it…..i tried to stop him…..but he was caught, and….." Kurama broke off. "Koraseru clasped her hands to her mouth. The person she had loved as a brother, who had always been there…..was gone.
"you were the only one who knew where…..we were going Koraseru. Those demon hunters were not there by coincidence. You told him." Kurama said. "What? Ryu? No I didn't!" She said. you did! You were the only one to know where we were going! And you gave him that stupid pendant! If you did not do that, he wouldn't have died! Kurama yelled. "Its your God Damn fault he's dead!
"Its all your fault."
"..no..i…please…I didn't mean…."
"Its all your fault!"
"I didn't think that….."
"Get out of my sight!"
Koraseru ran from Kurama, crying so much, her vision was blurred. She lost her balanced, and fell to her knees. "it is my fault." She cried. "Im …..so…sorry Kurounue….." Koraseru said. "If I listened to Ryu……i…would have…..never found the …….pendants…….i would have never….given them to you.…..you would have never died….." Koraseru cried even harder.
It was about 6 when Koraseru had gotten the strength enough to stand up. She ran to the temple where she found Ryu waiting. "What the hell took you so long……" Ryu asked. He saw the tear stains on her cheeks, and tried not to smile. 'Whats wrong?" He asked. "Kurounue……died……and its my fault…..Kurama doesn't want to ever see me again.…." She started to cry again. "Im sorry…..Ryu…." Koraseru cried, hugging Ryu, crying into his chest. Ryu's eyes widened. "Why did she have to hug me…." Ryu thought painfully. He was regretting killing her. "Its alright…..lets do this." Ryu said. he pulled her into the temple, where they began their plan.
Ryu held the book in his arms, as they both stepped outside. "We did it…" Koraseru said. "Yeah.…." They both looked ahead. Ryu swore. "Well how did my little brother do?" Kyozame asked with his legion of about 2 million demons around him. "Kyozame……what is this?" Ryu yelled. "My plan..…" He replied. "We did not agree to this! I knew you wouldn't do it…..luckily, I came here to check up on you." He yelled.
"Agree?" Koraseru asked. "Yes…..agreed. you see, we agreed, if I kille Youko and his friend, he could have you back, or if they had survived, he would kil you….apparently, hes fine..…" Kyozame said.
"you…..were going to kill me?" Koraseru asked Ryu. "I wasn't…..i changed my mind….i couldn't…" Ryu said. he knew he was sounding idiotic. "and you….agreed to their deaths?" She asked. "Yes he did, but don't feel off the hook……if you listened to my brother, and stayed away, one of them would not have died…."
Koraseru looked down at the ground, tears welling up inside, and rolling down her face. Her body was starting to glow a bright pink, as her energy rose, and yet she looked helpless standing there. "Koraseru i…..you have to trust me….." Ryu said.
"Alright boys, get them! and the book!" Kyozame yelled. The demons went running toward the two.
"God Damn it are you listening to me Koraseru!?" Ryu yelled. He pushed the book with force into Koraseru's chest. "Take this and run! Ill take care of the demons. Ill meet you somewhere after wards. If I don't find you…..well I got what I deserved." Ryu said. Koraseru started to cry. "Are you hearing me!?" Ryu yelled. "Its all my fault….." She murmured. Her energy rising even more. The demons slowed down, but still approached with caution. "Stop crying!" Ryu slapped Koraseru hard across the face. She stumbled backwards, but snapped back into reality. She looked around, seeing all the demons around her. She looked back at Ryu she could feel her energy lessening, but used the remaining power she had.
A high pitch scream came from Koraseru. All the demons covered their ears in agony. Her energy was being released through sound waves. Ryu and Kyozame also covered their ears, trying to escape the pain.
Ryu looked around in horror as he saw most of the demons start to bleed from the ears, the eyes, and then finally, their heads would just explode from their bodies, their bodies disintegrating. "Oh my God she's going to kill me too. She never showed me this trick before. Perhaps this is why she is an upper class demon…..i guess I deserve it."
Koraseru finally stopped screaming. She looked around. Nothing was left accept a little bit of ash from demons that had not fully disintegrated. She still had the book clenched to her chest with her arms. She saw Ryu passed out on the ground, laying next to Kyozame, who was moaning in pain.
Koraseru ran over to Ryu. "..…Ryu…." She said shaking him. He moaned. "You…..should have killed me…." He said. "I wouldn't do that." She replied. "Ryu…..i shouldn't have…..well….Kurama….if I listened Kurounue would still be…"
"Don't worry about it…..and Kurounue was…..my fault….." Ryu replied. "Listened……get out of here now. go run somewhere with the book…..ill take care of Kyozame….." Ryu said getting to his feet.
Kyozame slowly stood up. Ryu and Koraseru both looked at Koyazame with horror. "This …..ends now." He said quietly and slowly. He raised his hands, as demons rose from the ground. "Koraseru run!!!!" Ryu yelled.
Koraseru ran, leaving Ryu behind to deal with Kyozame, the demons behind her. She had no idea where to go. She was tiered and weak from letting out all her energy, and panicked. The demons were catching up. At least 12 mini knives were hucked into her back from the demons behind her. She could feel herself slowing down. She looked up. There were demons chasing her in the trees. She dodged most of the spears they were throwing at her, until one came down piercing her right arm to the book she was carrying, and the book and her arm. To her rib cage. The spear stuck out her other side. Koraseru took another turn. She ran out of the woods, toward a cliff where she had been before. She had found a cave in the cliff side while hiding from Ryu once. With the demons still in the woods, she quickly climbed down the cliff, with her left hand and both feet half way, where a big cave was formed. She crawled inside, and fell to her knees. She slowly pulled the spear out oh her arm and chest, and all the knives out of her back. She threw the book on the floor, and fell one her stomach. She hoisted herself up, leaning against the wall of the cave. She closed her eyes. She knew she was not going to servive. "If I transfer my soul, I could come back here and get the book later……" Koraseru said. if I just die…..Ryu will never get his book……I know he was never going to kill me. I must tell Kurama im sorry…even of Ryu did order them to be killed, it was my fault Kurounue got caught…..im sorry Kurounue. Please…..forgive me…….perhaps in the body I inhabit, I can live a more peaceful life…." Koraseru thought. "Ill see you later Ryu….Youko…." She closed her eyes, and pulled herself from her body.
She could feel herself almost floating……she felt no pain, or suffering. She looked down at her bloody body limp in a messy pile. She was going to lead a better life, then come back for Ryu and Kurama.