Chapter Eight: Black Rose of the Shadow Realm
Kurama leaves Raven's apartment and goes home. He was afraid that his mother, Shiori, would be worried when he got home. Surprisingly, she didn't. It turned out that Ren called her when he was asleep. How she got the phone number is a mystery, but she does have to know everything about her master's friends and/or enemies. Kurama is now lounging on his bed thinking.

Kurama: (thinking) What happened back there was scary. All of the sudden my spirit energy was being drained. Could this be something about Raven? I mean she did give me back some spirit energy by that kiss. Ren also is worried about Raven. She said something about two soldiers coming after Raven. I sure hope they don't come for a very long time.
Shiori is out side of his door and yelling.

Shiori: Shuichi get up. Your friend Yusuke is on the phone. Shuichi!
Kurama: Coming mother. (gets out of his room)
Shiori: (hands him the phone and goes to the living room)
Kurama: Hello?
Yusuke: Hey man! It's me!
Kurama: Good morning Yusuke… (sweat drop)
Yusuke: You sound tired. What happened back there?
Kurama: Oh nothing! (thinking) I forgot! I didn't tell them I was out with Raven.
Yusuke: Whatever Kurama. Anyways, you have to come over right away.
Kurama: Why?
Yusuke: 'Cause Koenma has something to tell us. I think he found more info on Raven. You know how he is… always being an ass when it comes to meetings.
Kurama: I'll be there in an hour.
Yusuke: Okay. See ya later Kurama. We may be able to learn something from the toddler today.
Kurama: (laughs) O-okay Yusuke. Good bye.
Yusuke: Bye! (hangs up)
Kurama: (hangs up) So Koenma has more information huh? This will definitely be helpful. (goes back to his room) I'd better change clothes.
An hour has past and Kurama heads towards Yusuke's apartment. He stops and looks up at the morning sun. It was strangely dimmer than usual. Dark clouds were already forming too. Kurama hastily goes to Yusuke's place. When he gets there, Yusuke, Kuwabara, Hiei, Koenma, and Botan are already there.

Kurama: Good morning everyone.
Yusuke: They came a bit early.
Kurama: I've noticed. (sits by Hiei on the couch)
Koenma: (in teenage form) Nice for you to come. Anyways, I have something to show you guys.
Kuwabara: I thought you had info on Raven.
Koenma: I do. It's on this tape. Botan, can you please set this up while I talk to them.
Botan: Yes sir. (goes to the TV to put tape in)
Koenma: As you all know, Raven is the subject of this mission. Raven has already met you except Hiei.
All: (nods)
Koenma: Raven has been adapting to her environment pretty well, but she still can't manage her powers or even discover them. Today I'll show you the tape we found about Raven's demon. This will take about a good forty minutes or so.
Botan: It's all ready boys.
All: (sit on the couch or floor and stare at the black screen)
The screen was now changing scenes. There is a girl with red and black hair standing with a black tail in an open lake. She was wearing something similar to Yoko's outfit. Her face was stained with tears and there were no signs of scars. A shadowy, angel like figure was in front of her. A big, white moon was shining brightly in the sky. The two figures were facing each other and the wind was blowing gently. The girl with black and red hair is Ceres. The winged figure is unknown. The shadowy figure was revealed when the moon was rising to the middle of the sky. It was a man with long, silver hair. His eyes were a dark blue; the color of the deep sky. He was wearing a blue and white robe with a blue sash over his right arm. His wings were quite big and they were two different colors. The right wing is white and the left one is black. He was standing in the water with Ceres.

Ceres: (crying) Shinshi is gone from this world. My clan killed him.
(Unknown): I know Ceres. I know…
Ceres: He was just a child! Why did they have to take him away from me! Why!
(Unknown): He was at risk ever since he was born. You know that.
Ceres: Yes, I know. I tried to protect him, but they found him. They killed him right in front of me.
(Unknown): I know it's hard Ceres. Please be strong.
Ceres: How can I! This clan isn't my family, but they took me in just because I was a good fighter. I thought they would care about the changes I wanted, but they just betrayed me!
(Unknown): Please control your anger.
Ceres: I can't! My son is gone! I can't afford to lose anything anymore.
(Unknown): I'm sorry Ceres, but… I'll be leaving too.
Ceres: What! You're leaving too!
(Unknown): I'm so sorry…
Ceres: Please don't! (goes over and embraces him and looks up at him) Don't leave me here alone. I can't live without you.
(Unknown): (puts his hand on her head) I cannot stay here Ceres. I have to go back to Spirit World. They need me there.
Ceres: But I need you here! You've been here for six years now! Why not stay forever!
(Unknown): I just can't do it Ceres. They will not allow it.
Ceres: It's because I'm in the Shadow Realm isn't it!
(Unknown): I'm afraid so, but that does not mean I hate you. I just can't survive here for so long. My maximum is seven years.
Ceres: (places her face in his chest) Why must this happen to me?
(Unknown): (hugs tightly) I will always love you my dear Kitsune and I'm not the only one. Our son loves you. Although he may not be here with us, he and I will always love you. No matter how many mistakes you've done. We will always forgive you.
Ceres: I know… I know…
(Unknown): It's time for me to go. (lets go of Ceres and rises into the air)
Ceres: (still holding his hand) Wait!
(Unknown): (turns around and lowers back to the water) What? You know I can't stay.
Ceres: I know. I just need one last kiss before you go.
(Unknown): Ceres…
They both go into a passionate kiss. Ceres cries during this moment and her eyes are closed, but she still has her hands in his. She can feel him part from her mouth and she opens her eyes. He drifts into the night sky with her hands still in his. Then their hands drift apart. Ceres looks up crying. As he rises to the sky, white and black feathers fall down to where Ceres stands. Soon the silver haired angel disappears into the night. Ceres was left in that lake alone.

Ceres: (crying) Good bye… Yashimaru…
The screen goes black. Botan was trying to keep her tears in, but she couldn't hold it in. All of the boys were trying to keep in their feelings also. The images were not done. Across the black screen white letters appeared.

Thirty years later…

Ceres: (disembodied voice) New life begins when two beings fall in love. If that new life is taken… revenge is the answer. Blood will spill for my son who is now dead. My sisters will pay…
It's the month during the Mortality Moon in the Shadow Realm. Ceres is in her home near the realm's barrier waiting. Some features are different about Ceres now. Her eyes are always empty, but filled with hatred towards everything. Her face now has three scars on her right cheek. Her hair was longer and streaks of red run down her bangs. As the camera moves back, you can see bandages wrapped around her arms and legs. She's holding two swords in one hand and she has two fans at her waist. Those were the only weapons visible. She just sits at the darkness of her hut. There were no candles or any fire or spark. The only thing you could see is the red lining of her eyes and the eerie glow of the red moon. Everything was quiet. She was waiting for a sign. A black, demonic bird perches on her hut and cries out a screech. That was it.
Ceres goes out of her hut with her four weapons and heads towards the center of the Earth Region where the Lotus Clan meets for the Mortality Moon's Ceremony of Souls. It takes her twenty minutes to travel 35 miles to get to the center of the Earth Region. When she gets there her so called "comrades" greet her with all respect; not knowing what they're in for. Ceres heads towards the clan's leader. The clan's leader is Merrill, the Silver Jackal. She was responsible for Shinshi's execution. Ceres just approaches Merrill and her bodyguards.

Merrill: Ah, Ceres. So nice to see you in the ceremony. Are you enjoying yourself?
Ceres: No, I am not.
Merrill: Is it because you're are not interested? For your interests in men have poisoned your mind. Just forget about those inferior life forms.
Ceres: I can't… for I was in love with a man thirty long years ago. You also took away my son… even though you promised he can stay.
Merrill: What can I say? You were too weak to defend him.
Ceres: I guess you are right…
Merrill: I'm glad you see it my way Ceres.
Ceres: (grins) I'd rather die than to agree with you…
Ceres throws one of her blade fans at Silver Jackal and decapitates her leader. The guards are now in alert and start charging after Ceres. The war is on. Ceres easily dodges ever blow from her sisters. She jumps up and throws her spare blade fan. She cuts through seven Amazons. Her blade fan returns like a boomerang and she puts it back into its sheath. She draws out her twin blades and starts to massacre the women who dare to get in her way. The video only shows the shadows of the fighting, but it does show the blood flood onto the lush grass. That was only one area though. Ceres wanted the whole clan to suffer the hell she went through thirty years ago. Punishment would be death. After that area was cleared, she headed to the festive arena. She was covered in blood from her knees downward. Blood stains were on her top and her arms. There was blood on her face too.
The battle rolled on. The screams and clings of swords can be heard from miles away. Ceres was doing over kill. The Lotus Clan was now down to one person. The area that was once the land of the Amazonians was now the River of Blood. Dead corpses lie on the blood soaked grass. Limbs were everywhere due to all the slicing of Ceres's Twin Blades. Ceres was in the middle of it all. Sitting on her knees causing them to be soaked by the blood shed. She sits there smiling and laughing. Blood soaked from head to toe, she sits there… still laughing. She lost her soul to the art of massacre and the Bloody Blade. These are what the three queens want for a soldier.
Seven years later… in the fortress of the Kingdom of the Shadow Demons.

Eclipse: You want out?
Ceres: Yes… I'm tired of doing what you want. I want my own life. Not one that's controlled by a damn bitch like you!
Eclipse: But you wanted blood shed ever since you arrived to my army.
Ceres: I never knew I'd be killing children along with this. I just want out!
Eclipse: I'm sorry, but you can't.
Ceres: Fine then… you'll just have to get the picture by sharp edge of my blade. I hope you're ready! (charges)
Eclipse: Foolish girl.
The two clash forces. Ceres throws every weapon in her arsenal. Eclipse Has her sword and jams the tip of it into Ceres's right shoulder. Ceres counters with her throwing blades. The two kept at it; throwing and thrusting any weapon their hands get on. After a few minutes, Ceres came out standing. She held a blade to Eclipse's face.

Ceres: I warned you. Now I want out!
Eclipse: Violence was always your forte…
Ceres: STOP PLAYING! I WANT TO GET OUT OF THIS HELL HOLE!
Eclipse: Sure thing… Sakura Serpent Stalker Formation!
Ceres: What the hell!
It came out unexpectedly. A whole army of youkai came into the room at once. They attacked Ceres from all sides. She tried to fend them off, but there was too many. Eventually, she fell in defeat. Breathing hard, she tried to get up, but Eclipse kicked her down. Ceres was trying to get her sword, but it was too far away. Eclipse placed her foot on Ceres's back and held a sword over her.

Ceres: Get off me!
Eclipse: That won't be happening. (raises the sword and thrusts it into Ceres's back until it went all the way through to the stone tiles)
Ceres: (Hand raises then drops)
Eclipse: (smiling) No one gets out of my army alive.
Eclipse goes off to her infirmary until she sensed something coming. She turns to see Ceres just lying there bleed like a fountain. Until it hit her. Sparks of blue lightning were occurring. Shadows were forming and the cries of foxes can be heard. The ground shook. Everyone was panicking. They all went out of the place as soon as possible. Eclipse ran out too. While inside the building, Ceres's body came up with the sword still in her. The walls crumbling down.

Ceres: (coughing up blood and eyes blank) Vengeance will be mine someday. I swear it will.
The castle starts to crumble down. Before anyone can talk, the whole area exploded into a big burst of demonic energy. When the smoke cleared, all was left was the ruins of the castle and black rose petals floating down from the sky. The Twin Blades were never found after that day. Ren, Ceres's pet, was in a different area when this happened. The ruins of that castle still remain today.
As the tape turns into static, Kurama saw something. It was a blurry picture of Ceres. All of them saw it too. Then they never expected this to happen.

Ceres: (from the TV) I know you're watching…
The TV goes out after that message. Kurama, Yusuke, Kuwabara, Hiei, Koenma, and Botan sat there with terrified faces. Ceres knows they're watching, but she doesn't mean harm… or does she? That's what's going through everyone's head right now. Knowing that Ceres can attack without hesitation brings questions about Raven. Will Raven kill them before it's too late? Will Raven bring that suffering to the Human World? Will Raven turn the Human world into a bloody ocean? Who's going to be the first to go down? And will she be able to control what's she's doing? Also, if she does turn into that… will she know the difference between friend or foe? Kurama is affected quite badly. After seeing that image he can't control his shaking.

Kurama: It can't be how Raven is… it just can't.

Please review. Next chapter: Appearance of the Two Soldiers