Hey you guys, I'm sorry for making you wait. Also, thanks for the reviews, but I've decided to take a different course…if you don't like that, I'm sorry, but it's kinda my decision. Please read on.
I don't own anything!!
Chapter 8.
Turn of the Tide
The Stones of Courage and Strength were not too hard to find. (I'll spare you the details; least I bore you to sleep.) The two boys had already found the last stone – the Stone of Heart – when they found something. A small camp, that was very familiar to one of them.
The two boys carefully walked around the small camp. Kuronue stopped and looked around, his eyes wide.
"This… this is where we stayed…my family," Kuronue whispered.
Kurama continued to look around, only half listening to his friend.
Kuronue suddenly knelt. He picked up a small silver pendent with a large blood red stone in it. "This was my mother's," he said.
Kurama stopped and looked at his friend. "Maverik," he said softly. "Maverik did all of this. He took your family and my sister. He set us up. We knew that. But why?"
(A/N: It's amazing how fast they grow isn't it? This Kurama seems so much more mature than the one in the first chapter…. does that seem realistic to you?)
"So we would get these stones," Kuronue said. His eyes lit up. "The Binding Stones!"
"What?" Kurama growled.
"When I was really young, I heard a story about these eight Stones of Binding that can rule the world."
It dawned on Kurama. "Oh no. We just gave them to Maverik!"
"All but one," Kuronue said, pulling out the rose colored stone from his pack. "I'll bet this is the Stone of Heart."
Kurama blinked. "What should we do? We can't leave the other stones in Maverik's hands."
"What can we do?" Kuronue asked.
Kurama shrugged. "We have one stone. That will keep Maverik from controlling everything. We can learn to fight."
"We can take back the Stones!" Kuronue cried.
"Maverik won't get away with this!" Kurama growled.
The two boys agreed. They would fight Maverik for the Stones, for their families, and for themselves.
* * *
Almost five years had passed since Maverik had gained seven of the eight Stones of Binding. Even without the Stone of Heart, he managed to take control of a large part of the Makai. He searched ceaselessly for the two little demons and for the Heart Stone. No matter how hard he searched, he couldn't find them.
Neturan had remained his (seemingly) faithful servant. The red haired demon waited for his chance to take the Stones, and the power they held. All he had to do was wait to find the Stone of Heart.
* * *
Kurama smiled to himself as he sat on a high tree limb. For the last five years, he and Kuronue had fought, becoming strong, intelligent, and cold. They had had to steal to survive. They had even made a game out of who could steal the most valuable items. Kurama felt like this was right for him. When he was little, people had feared him because he was a kitsune. Now he would give them a reason to fear him. He would become the most dangerous and known thief in the Makai.
Kuronue appeared at the base of the tree. He frowned up at Kurama. With one leap, he jumped onto a tree limb near the one Kurama sat on. He settled down against the tree's smooth bark. He stayed silent. Kurama knew his friend and partner felt the same way he did. The kitsune, comfortable with the silence, smiled a little more. He touched the Stone of Heart, which hung around his neck.
"It seems that Maverik is controlling a large part of he southern Makai land." Kuronue's soft voice broke the silence.
"Why does that not surprise me?" Kurama asked dryly.
"I think we should make our move soon," Kuronue said, not looking at his friend.
Kurama studied him. Kuronue had changed very much from the timid little demon Kurama had first met. His ebony hair had grown very long, and Kuro kept it pulled back into a high ponytail. His skin was still fair and pale. His beautiful blue-violet eyes had lost all of the innocence they had held; they were now completely expressionless. Only Kurama could tell the demon's feelings, and even that was doubtful at times. Kuronue's wings had also grown stronger. He could not fly long distances, as the others of his clan could, but he could actually fly for short distances. That was a majors improvement, especially because he thought he would never fly at all.
Kurama had changed as well. His hair had grown out and fell down his back like a silvery curtain. He, too, had fair, pale skin, not marred by any scars. He now had deadly claws that could tear anything apart. His gold eyes were colder than Kuronue's, but just as emotionless. He was a master of stealth, as was Kuronue, and both were smarter than and demon, or human, they had encountered. The only one to ever have beaten them was Maverik, and they had already vowed to make him pay.
Kuronue glanced over at the kitsune. "I assume you have something in mind?"
Kurama just smiled. Kuronue laughed slightly and turned away. "This should be fun," the winged demon smiled.
* * *
The pale girl stood outside Maverik's fortress. Her feathery wings were drawn tight to her back. (Remember her from last chapter?) She brushed her hair from her face and studied the building.
"The Stone of Heart is still missing…it does not matter anymore. The Stones must be returned to their rest."
The girl jumped, fanning her wings. She landed lightly on the roof of the building. She stopped, sensing something strange.
A knife pressed against her throat.
"So Slyndrana, guardian of the Binding Stones, we finally meet."
The girl drew a dagger from her sleeve. In a careful move, she slashed at her attacker. The knife left her throat as he jumped away. Slyndrana turned to see Neturan, a dagger in either hand, behind her.
"I take it you seek the Stones?" Neturan asked.
"So are you," Slyndrana mumbled in the same monotone voice.
The demon grinned slightly. "Very perceptive of you." The grin died away. "I won't let anyone, not even you, stop me."
Slyndrana – the Stones Guardian – drew another dagger from her belt. It was to be a fight to the death, and she knew she could not lose. She would not, and could not, let the Stones fall into the hands of someone so wicked.
Neturan attacked first, his short knife flashing as he slashed. Slyndrana blocked with one dagger, and cut with the other. A long bloody scratch appeared on Neturan's cheek. He cut sharply into her hand, causing her to drop one of her daggers. She tried to slash at him, but he caught her wrist. His grip tightened until she dropped her other blade. Neturan hit her in the stomach. She kicked him.
The battle went on….
* * *
(Later…)
Kurama inched closer to the fortress before them. Kuronue hid in the darkness behind him. The bat came closer to him and said in a low voice:
"Something is not right."
Kurama nodded a little. He started to head for the fortress. Kuronue came after him. Something grabbed his ankle. The demon jumped, and turned. A pale woman with dark hair and wings gripped his ankle. She was hurt bad. In her free hand, she clutched a carved bone flute.
"You must take this," she gasped, pushing the flute at Kuronue. "Keep it safe."
Kuronue, bewildered, reached to take the flute and the girl disappeared, just like that. Kuronue gasped as the flute fell to the ground. It was as if she had never been there at all. Kuronue picked up the flute as Kurama came over to him.
"Perhaps this is more complicated than we thought," the kitsune whispered.
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Well there it is, another chapter. Sorry for the long wait. I hope you guys like it…and I hope I'm not taking it too fast. Please review! Thanks!!
