Twenty four hours later I found myself at the edge of a dense, dark forest. I took another look at the map by the dim light of one of my lamp weeds. I frowned, going around the forest would get me to my destination too late to save Hiei. However, going strait through it would get me closer in only half a day. With a sigh I put the map back onto my bag and headed into the forest.
Dark sky that stretches out limitlessly The sound of distant, cracking thunder
Whenever I stand, my steps sway
Darkness stretched out as far as the eye could see. I shivered as I ventured deeper into the dense forest. It had suddenly become very cold. A loud rumbling like thunder reverberated through the thick trees, starling me, causing me to stumble.
Borrowing the words of a warm person
Borrowing the form of nostalgic days
Bad dreams step ever closer
Nightmare!
A figure emerged from the shadows, walking slowly toward me. My eyes widened when the dim light of the lamp weed revealed the figure to be Hiei. "What are you doing here Fox?" he asked. "Coming to help you. Murkuro told me you'd been captured," I replied."I escaped," he said tonelessly as he approached. "Something's wrong," my mind screamed at me. Something wasn't right. I could feel the hair standing on the back of my neck. The dim light finally revealed his face. I took an unconscious step back at the strange look in his eyes. They were feral, wild and untamed, a look I'd never seen in him before. "Shy, Fox?" Hiei inquired. "You haven't been before," He seized my wrists, pulling me closer to him. He released my writs and slowly ran his hands down my stomach. "For someone who was rushing to my rescue, you don't seem very pleased to see me," he said as his hands drifted lower. "I'm just surprised is all," I said softly.
He forcefully pulled on my sidelocks, making me lean toward him. He kissed me roughly. I was so shocked I didn't respond. He released me and scowled angrily at me. "Why are you being so cold?" he demanded. "After being away for six months I think I deserve at least a little affection," "You've never been this forceful with me before," I countered. His scowl deepened and for the first time I was actually afraid of him.
A strange voice, a cold hand...
From out of the darkness, they call me
Again and again, they call me
I could feel nothing through our bond and it frightened me even more to realize I hadn't since he'd shown up. "Is that it?" he asked mockingly, "…or is it…something else?" "What do you mean?" I asked. "You've gone back to your old ways haven't you?" he accused, his voice low and dangerous. "…So, who's taken my place while I've been gone?" I narrowed my eyes at him. Before my mind even registered what I was doing, I struck out in anger knocking him to the ground. "How dare you accuse me of such a thing," I growled. "I've kept my vows against such infidelity," Hiei picked himself up off the ground, his eyes burning with intense anger. "You have audacity to strike me whore," He snarled. "This can't be Hiei," I thought as he stalked toward me. "He may be quick to anger at times but slow to arouse mine," The moment he moved I saw my chance and quickly sped past him, running deeper into the forest. I didn't dare look over my shoulder. Surely that couldn't have been my mate.
"What kind of strange place is this?" I thought. "Kurama," came the whisper of a voice. "Kurama," I shuddered, it seemed the very wind was crying out to me from the darkness. The breeze itself feeling like a cold hand caressing my arms as I ran. Again and again my name was whispered and called from the darkness and the wind caressed my face or arms with it's icy touch like a lover's hands.
What in the world is right?
What in the world is wrong?
Memories! Please,
illuminate this darkness immediately!
"He doesn't really love you," came the whisper of another voice. "He's just like all the others," murmured another. "He only wants you for one thing," "Your marriage was just so he could stake his claim, keep you for himself," a third chimed in. "Block it out," I thought. "He only wants what you can give him," the taunts continued. "You're just his whore…and nothing more,"
"It isn't true," I thought. "I know Hiei loves me," "You know we're right," the first voice said. "Don't you remember how quick he was to cast you away when he found you with Sata ?…and how eager he was to get you back?" "Why do you think he wants to mark you so badly?" added the second voice. "Maybe that's why he was so eager to leave, knowing he couldn't fully possess you…" the third chimed in. "He's so eager to serve Mukuro, maybe he wanted to leave, get away from you…"
This continued on for what seemed forever, and just when I felt the weight of the hurtful words upon my heart, memories flooded through my mind. I remembered the way he looked at me the day he asked me to be his mate. He'd been so happy. His eyes had lit up with joy like I'd never seen in him before. He'd looked at me with such pride, and happiness as I walked down the isle to him on our wedding day. In the midst of all those emotions, there was one that was always present in his eyes, love.
If it's to protect someone precious to me,
it's OK if this body of mine is wounded
it's OK if this heart of mine burns.
Dark sky that stretches out limitlessly
The sound of distant, cracking thunder
Don't be fooled by what you see.
Mercifully the voices ceased their taunting and I at last had some peace. Thunder rumbled behind me, as I took in my surroundings. There was something off about this forest, but I couldn't place it. I was certain of one thing, I couldn't trust a thing I saw or heard here.
My heart is uncertain if it should
track down the wounded future
or tread on the broken tomorrow
Love
Your voice, your gentle hands
They call me from out of these dreams
Always, they call me
I stopped dead in my tracks as Hiei stepped from the shadows. "Thought I'd run into you here," he said. I mentally cursed, knowing that whatever this figure in front of me wasn't my mate. He may sound, feel, and smell like Hiei but it wasn't him. "Turn back Fox," he said sadly. "You're too late," My eyes widened in shock. This wasn't whatever I'd run into earlier. I tossed a few more lamp weed seeds close to me and willed them to grow. Hiei stepped toward me, his expression was completely somber. "What do you mean I'm too late?" I asked. He reached out to touch my hand and I gasped as his hand passed strait through mine. I sank to my knees, my eyes silently pleading for him to tell me that it wasn't true, that I hadn't just come across my mate's spirit. "I must go now," he said. "I love you…" He vanished just as suddenly as he appeared leaving me alone and heartbroken on the cold earthen forest floor.
"Kurama?" came a weak whisper in my mind. "What's happened? What's upset you so?" I blinked away the tears that had formed in my eyes. "Hiei?" I responded telepathically. "Please tell me that's really you Fire Baby," "Of course it is," he responded. "Inari, please don't let this be another one of this accursed place's tricks," I thought. "I don't know how much more of this I can take," "Where are you?" Hiei asked. "In a forest, northern region," I answered. "What?!" he exclaimed mentally. "Fox, tell me you didn't enter the Black Forest," he pleaded. I mentally cursed. In my eagerness to reach my mate I'd failed to realize that I had entered the Black Forest,also called the Forest of Sorrows. A place fabled to let no one out alive, at least not with their sanity.
Even when struck by the fierce rain
Even when blown by cold winds
Seeking the light
I think of that tree's strength
Dark sky that stretches out limitlessly
The sound of distant, cracking thunder
Whenever I stand, my steps sway.
If it's to protect someone precious to me,
I'll become much more extraordinary than anyone,
I'll become much stronger than anyone.
"I'm sorry Love, I can't do that," I responded. A string of colorful curses came form Hiei's end. "What in the name of the Makai possessed you to go there?" he asked. "I'm coming to get you," I answered. He sighed as though suddenly very tired. "Listen to me," he said. "You need to focus only on the sound of my voice and block out everything else. Move quickly and find the exit as fast as you can," "Yes, Love," I replied.
"So, that's what you were hiding," Hiei said. "All those lies whispered to you in the forest, and the visions?" " Yes, that was it," I agreed. "There's nothing else you're keeping from me?" I shook my head. "Nothing, Love," I assured him," He turned to face me. "Honest," I said. He gave me a look that said he wasn't sure if he believed me, but took my word for it. I gave him a quick peck on the lips and continued the story.
I collapsed, having finally escaped the forest, I was exhausted and badly in need of rest. I took a deep breath and grudgingly moved my body into a sitting position. I looked around for someplace I could lie down and rest for a while. I spotted a cave up ahead and decided it would do. I managed to shift into my fox form and tiredly padded over to the cave. I caught no scents indicating that something was living there. It seemed nothing had been inside for quite sometime. I entered the cave and curled up in a spot out of view. With a mental sigh I closed my eyes. "Hiei?" I thought, hoping my mate was still listening to my thoughts. "Are you alright Love?" "I am now," came his tired reply. "Sleep now. We can talk later," "I love you," I said. I felt a flood of warmth from Hiei's side of our link as though he was caressing my cheek or giving me a loving kiss. "…and I you," he responded. I slipped into unconsciousness.
Well, Kurama made it out of the forest... but now he's got to rescue Hiei. Trust me he will not show mercy to anyone in his way. The rescue ...next time
Author's Note: Thanks to all who read and reviewed. The song in this chapter is called Nightmare. It's a Kurama song and totally fits the mood of the Forest of Sorrowsscene. The lyrics I used were the english translation of the song as found on anime lyrics . net.
To fox gal: I know suspense can be evil. I always cringe at the words To Be Continued..., but don't worry things maynot be easy on the star couple now but it willget better in the end. ;)
Until next week,
Yami