Charms
Sorry if my writing hasn't been the best lately. I've got a work/school combo and both of them are making me memorize a million things every week, practically. You can imagine my time and thought constraints.
Anyway, bare with me. There's so much information behind all the many things that are happening. But I don't think I've cheated at all. I believe Kurama is intellegent enough to, with the information provided coupled with his own experience, figure out the basics anyway.
Chapter 42
"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, is it?" Kurama bundled the letter together with the photos and other documents. "The time of your revenge has passed, Korina." Green eyes looked at the burnt gold globe, resting on the tatami mat. The ingraved patterns caught the light from this angle. "Your insipid games have already gone too far."
The fox demon had been waiting for almost an hour after Wakaba left with his note. All Kurama could do now was occupy his time, anticipating his guest, hopefully soon. The green eyed demon had been second guessing himself since he started thinking of the possibilities. Unfortunately, this was the only one he could think of. The red head decided to commit himself. If he didn't, he might hesitate and hesitation can only led to mistakes. A soft click from the door sounded in the small room.
"Thank you." said Daiki, when the door opened. He was accompanied by that brunet woman who had taken Yuma's place.
"Just, not too long." She stressed to the teen. Her eyes were stern, but that quickly faded to worry. "It'll be morning soon and..."
"I know." The strawberry blond smiled, stepping Shuichi's room.
"The master's just gone to bed, but he doesn't sleep long." She warned.
"Trust me, I know." The blue eyed teen assured her.
"If you need anything..."
"I know. I know." He leaned over and gave the middle aged woman a peck on the cheek. "It'll be fine. We just need to talk for a bit." Those amazing blue eyes looked into green. "Right, Shuichi?"
"That's right, only for a moment." //Probably.// The red head couldn't be certain, but nodded his reassurance.
"I guess it can't be helped." the brunet shook her head "I'll be fixing breakfast soon." she told him as she slid the door shut. She didn't seem in the least bit reassured.
"Sorry about that. She's worries too much." The strawberry blond came to sit by Shuichi. "She used to be my baby sitter so she always treats me like a kid no matter how old I become. She's always telling me stuff like, 'Don't forget this,' and 'Be sure to eat right.'"
The stawberry blond seemed to be overly talkative. And those blue eyes hadn't looked on Kurama since the door closed.
"It's not like she's trying to be my mother or even take care of me really." he shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's like I'm replacing her own children. The fire was hard on everyone. Don't get me wrong I like this place well enough I suppose," the teen continued.
"I just can't get over how different everything is. There was a door over there," he pointed, "And the other room used to have a trap door under the tatami. I say trap door, but it was probably just a little cubby hole type thing." Daiki motioned downward with both hands. "I used to hide stuff in there and the big tree out back." He pointed at the far wall. "You're probably too sofisticated for tree climbing." He might go on for hours. Even though the red head didn't mind listening, there wasn't time.
"Daiki?" Kurama sat closer and reached out, touching his companion's warm hand. It was a bit moist, he was probably sweating from the discomfort he was feeling earlier. //You pour thing. I can't imagine what Fuuyuki must have done to you to make you so nervous. Even now, when he can't reach you.// The sudden contact made Daiki jump, just barely, but the fox recognized it. The blue eyed teen snapped his gaze into emerald green pools. "Are you alright?" The demon felt guilty for letting him go like that. //I promised...I still haven't been able to protect you, have I?//
The strawberry blond swallowed hard, leaning back a little to put some distance between their faces. //Daiki?// This reaction wasn't what he expected. It seemed rather like...//Oh no.// Kurama remembered his past self explaining the first kiss between this teen and the fox demon. //He...He probably likes me.// The red head took his hand away and broke eye contact. //I don't want him to misunderstand. Should I explain? But if I explain and I'm mistaken then that will be embarrassing for both of us. What should I do?// There was an awkward moment of silence as Kurama collected his thoughts.
"Um," Daiki cleared his throat, after scratching his cheek. "I found a weird note in my room." he reached in his yukata and pulled out a scribbled on bit of paper. "Did you...?" //Thank you, Daiki.// He changed the subject like a pro.
"Good, I'm glad you found it." Kurama followed the other's lead. "It's hard to explain and we don't have the time but...We've got to restore what's rightfully yours." The red head took the tiny vile from his robe and placed it on the tatami.
"What..." his blue eyes seemed suddenly transfixed on the object. "What is...?"
"It's a peice of your heart." Kurama explained, very aware of the teen's intense interest.
"My..." he shook his head, "I don't understand." the strawberry blond's brow wrinkled with confusion, but he just couldn't seem to look away from the tiny thing.
"You don't have to understand everything, but you must believe me." the fox explained. "I'm going to try, with your help, to replace this portion of your spirit energy. Think of it as refilling an emptied glass."
"This...is crazy," he shook his strawberry locks again, he was so confused "but..."
"But what?" Green eyes gauged the other's reaction, certain he felt the connection.
"I feel...weird...about this thing..." he admitted, "like I know...I know it's mine..."
"You must hold on to that feeling." Kurama explained. "I'll help you get it back, but you must help me." Finally, the teen turned his gaze, possibly to find out if the red head was really serious.
"What do I have to do?" Daiki asked, simply
"Take this in your hands." The fox demon held out the burnt gold orb.
"Like this?"
"Good. Now hold it still." Kurama took the small vile that was shaped much like a vaccine ampule. He touched the globe, moved a small panel and a tiny hole was revealed. The globe's surface moved as it slipped evenly with the rest of the burnt gold pattern. Daiki jerked when he felt each tiny panel re-adjust itself under his finger tips.
"Ah-what's happening now?" The blue eyed teen was nervous, but he wasn't resisting.
"It's normal, relax. From here, I'll try to influence your mind by revealing your memories." The green eyed fox slipped the pointed end of the ampule into the indentation. //It fits perfectly. It's times like these I can't help but feel powerless. As if someone set all of this into motion and is continuing to push us towards a specified design.//
"W-wait, your going to look in my memories?" There was a sweat drop on Daiki's temple. //It's perfectly natural to feel strange in this situation.//
"Don't worry, I won't hold anything against you." He winked at the teen, Daiki just pursed his lips. "Belive me. If I knew another way, I'd use it. I need you to trust me." The green eyed fox explained seriously. Those blue eyes shifted from left to right with uncertainty. "Please, trust me." The fox demon touched the strawberry blond's hands.
Kurama heard Daiki gasp as the world seemed to, all at once, be sucked into a different time and space. Green eyes looked around. It was a snowy forest. Evergreens, fallen logs and cold snow everywhere. //What is this place?// Even though he felt the cold on his skin, the fox let out a breath and saw no puff of mist that comes with true winter. //Is this...inside the orb? Last time Kuwabara projected Daiki's thoughts to the outside world. Perhaps this is why demons were not meant to use this device.//
"Akuma no ko! (Demon child) Get out of here no one wants you!" Children shouted. His red hair fell in waves as he turned his head like a shot. Green eyes witnessed five children taunting a sixth, who was now on the ground. A little boy, with a strange cloth around his head. //If these are memories...That can't be Daiki.// "You're dirty!" said one. //They are all dressed in feudal era style of kimono's.// "Yeah, let hell take him back." said another.
Yet another child grabbed the boy's head wrap and ripped it off. Brilliant white hair with hints of blue, like clean pure snow, poured onto his back. His eyes were green as pine and a bit red from tears. He put his small hands over his fosty head as if trying to stop them from seeing the mostrosity he was.
"You're unnatural." One child frowned with rage as he narrowed his eyes at the boy below him. "Yeah, he's a freak." another spat on him. "Kohaku the freak boy!" yet another laughed.
"Kohaku?" the red head said under his breath. //These are...Kohaku's memories?// Emerald green eyes saw the angry child pick up a rock. "No." The fox started to run, but didn't seem to go anywhere. "Stop it!" Kurama protested, extending a hand out of reflex. To the fox's amazement the world around him obeyed. //It's just like before except I'm inside his mind. Inside of...Their memories.//
Sorry if my writing hasn't been the best lately. I've got a work/school combo and both of them are making me memorize a million things every week, practically. You can imagine my time and thought constraints.
Anyway, bare with me. There's so much information behind all the many things that are happening. But I don't think I've cheated at all. I believe Kurama is intellegent enough to, with the information provided coupled with his own experience, figure out the basics anyway.
Chapter 42
"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, is it?" Kurama bundled the letter together with the photos and other documents. "The time of your revenge has passed, Korina." Green eyes looked at the burnt gold globe, resting on the tatami mat. The ingraved patterns caught the light from this angle. "Your insipid games have already gone too far."
The fox demon had been waiting for almost an hour after Wakaba left with his note. All Kurama could do now was occupy his time, anticipating his guest, hopefully soon. The green eyed demon had been second guessing himself since he started thinking of the possibilities. Unfortunately, this was the only one he could think of. The red head decided to commit himself. If he didn't, he might hesitate and hesitation can only led to mistakes. A soft click from the door sounded in the small room.
"Thank you." said Daiki, when the door opened. He was accompanied by that brunet woman who had taken Yuma's place.
"Just, not too long." She stressed to the teen. Her eyes were stern, but that quickly faded to worry. "It'll be morning soon and..."
"I know." The strawberry blond smiled, stepping Shuichi's room.
"The master's just gone to bed, but he doesn't sleep long." She warned.
"Trust me, I know." The blue eyed teen assured her.
"If you need anything..."
"I know. I know." He leaned over and gave the middle aged woman a peck on the cheek. "It'll be fine. We just need to talk for a bit." Those amazing blue eyes looked into green. "Right, Shuichi?"
"That's right, only for a moment." //Probably.// The red head couldn't be certain, but nodded his reassurance.
"I guess it can't be helped." the brunet shook her head "I'll be fixing breakfast soon." she told him as she slid the door shut. She didn't seem in the least bit reassured.
"Sorry about that. She's worries too much." The strawberry blond came to sit by Shuichi. "She used to be my baby sitter so she always treats me like a kid no matter how old I become. She's always telling me stuff like, 'Don't forget this,' and 'Be sure to eat right.'"
The stawberry blond seemed to be overly talkative. And those blue eyes hadn't looked on Kurama since the door closed.
"It's not like she's trying to be my mother or even take care of me really." he shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's like I'm replacing her own children. The fire was hard on everyone. Don't get me wrong I like this place well enough I suppose," the teen continued.
"I just can't get over how different everything is. There was a door over there," he pointed, "And the other room used to have a trap door under the tatami. I say trap door, but it was probably just a little cubby hole type thing." Daiki motioned downward with both hands. "I used to hide stuff in there and the big tree out back." He pointed at the far wall. "You're probably too sofisticated for tree climbing." He might go on for hours. Even though the red head didn't mind listening, there wasn't time.
"Daiki?" Kurama sat closer and reached out, touching his companion's warm hand. It was a bit moist, he was probably sweating from the discomfort he was feeling earlier. //You pour thing. I can't imagine what Fuuyuki must have done to you to make you so nervous. Even now, when he can't reach you.// The sudden contact made Daiki jump, just barely, but the fox recognized it. The blue eyed teen snapped his gaze into emerald green pools. "Are you alright?" The demon felt guilty for letting him go like that. //I promised...I still haven't been able to protect you, have I?//
The strawberry blond swallowed hard, leaning back a little to put some distance between their faces. //Daiki?// This reaction wasn't what he expected. It seemed rather like...//Oh no.// Kurama remembered his past self explaining the first kiss between this teen and the fox demon. //He...He probably likes me.// The red head took his hand away and broke eye contact. //I don't want him to misunderstand. Should I explain? But if I explain and I'm mistaken then that will be embarrassing for both of us. What should I do?// There was an awkward moment of silence as Kurama collected his thoughts.
"Um," Daiki cleared his throat, after scratching his cheek. "I found a weird note in my room." he reached in his yukata and pulled out a scribbled on bit of paper. "Did you...?" //Thank you, Daiki.// He changed the subject like a pro.
"Good, I'm glad you found it." Kurama followed the other's lead. "It's hard to explain and we don't have the time but...We've got to restore what's rightfully yours." The red head took the tiny vile from his robe and placed it on the tatami.
"What..." his blue eyes seemed suddenly transfixed on the object. "What is...?"
"It's a peice of your heart." Kurama explained, very aware of the teen's intense interest.
"My..." he shook his head, "I don't understand." the strawberry blond's brow wrinkled with confusion, but he just couldn't seem to look away from the tiny thing.
"You don't have to understand everything, but you must believe me." the fox explained. "I'm going to try, with your help, to replace this portion of your spirit energy. Think of it as refilling an emptied glass."
"This...is crazy," he shook his strawberry locks again, he was so confused "but..."
"But what?" Green eyes gauged the other's reaction, certain he felt the connection.
"I feel...weird...about this thing..." he admitted, "like I know...I know it's mine..."
"You must hold on to that feeling." Kurama explained. "I'll help you get it back, but you must help me." Finally, the teen turned his gaze, possibly to find out if the red head was really serious.
"What do I have to do?" Daiki asked, simply
"Take this in your hands." The fox demon held out the burnt gold orb.
"Like this?"
"Good. Now hold it still." Kurama took the small vile that was shaped much like a vaccine ampule. He touched the globe, moved a small panel and a tiny hole was revealed. The globe's surface moved as it slipped evenly with the rest of the burnt gold pattern. Daiki jerked when he felt each tiny panel re-adjust itself under his finger tips.
"Ah-what's happening now?" The blue eyed teen was nervous, but he wasn't resisting.
"It's normal, relax. From here, I'll try to influence your mind by revealing your memories." The green eyed fox slipped the pointed end of the ampule into the indentation. //It fits perfectly. It's times like these I can't help but feel powerless. As if someone set all of this into motion and is continuing to push us towards a specified design.//
"W-wait, your going to look in my memories?" There was a sweat drop on Daiki's temple. //It's perfectly natural to feel strange in this situation.//
"Don't worry, I won't hold anything against you." He winked at the teen, Daiki just pursed his lips. "Belive me. If I knew another way, I'd use it. I need you to trust me." The green eyed fox explained seriously. Those blue eyes shifted from left to right with uncertainty. "Please, trust me." The fox demon touched the strawberry blond's hands.
Kurama heard Daiki gasp as the world seemed to, all at once, be sucked into a different time and space. Green eyes looked around. It was a snowy forest. Evergreens, fallen logs and cold snow everywhere. //What is this place?// Even though he felt the cold on his skin, the fox let out a breath and saw no puff of mist that comes with true winter. //Is this...inside the orb? Last time Kuwabara projected Daiki's thoughts to the outside world. Perhaps this is why demons were not meant to use this device.//
"Akuma no ko! (Demon child) Get out of here no one wants you!" Children shouted. His red hair fell in waves as he turned his head like a shot. Green eyes witnessed five children taunting a sixth, who was now on the ground. A little boy, with a strange cloth around his head. //If these are memories...That can't be Daiki.// "You're dirty!" said one. //They are all dressed in feudal era style of kimono's.// "Yeah, let hell take him back." said another.
Yet another child grabbed the boy's head wrap and ripped it off. Brilliant white hair with hints of blue, like clean pure snow, poured onto his back. His eyes were green as pine and a bit red from tears. He put his small hands over his fosty head as if trying to stop them from seeing the mostrosity he was.
"You're unnatural." One child frowned with rage as he narrowed his eyes at the boy below him. "Yeah, he's a freak." another spat on him. "Kohaku the freak boy!" yet another laughed.
"Kohaku?" the red head said under his breath. //These are...Kohaku's memories?// Emerald green eyes saw the angry child pick up a rock. "No." The fox started to run, but didn't seem to go anywhere. "Stop it!" Kurama protested, extending a hand out of reflex. To the fox's amazement the world around him obeyed. //It's just like before except I'm inside his mind. Inside of...Their memories.//