(A/N. I don't know I think I should clarify before I go on any further. I may be a bleeding heart, and perhaps the greatest, and most hopeless romantic that I know. Anyways this story has no romance, at least not in the most obvious ways. In fact if there is any love it will most likely be unrequited, unless I see fit to do differently, or my readers, the few that are out there request that I do otherwise. Otherwise, whatever, thanks for reading this and all. Okay and here I go.)
Chapter 6
"Ruby. Emerald. Silver. Gold. I don't really understand. Gems and precious metals. It just does not make sense." Said Kurama, to himself. "I know that it's just a dream, but why does it feel like there is more to it than that? Am I missing something?"
Kurama was lost in contemplation, not really knowing what to do about his dilemma with dreaming. Was there even a point to all the nightmares he had been having. Always the same that terrible scene. Him, two others all slain, that frightfully dark figure. Kurama continued to muse as he sat outside staring at the sky, his back pressed against a tree.
Kurama had convinced Yusuke and Kuwabara to go on to their own devices, so now they were gone. Leaving Kurama to idly wonder about those cryptic words the dark creature of his dreams had relayed to him, before the incident. There was little doubt in his mind that the dreams he had been having recently were all connected to something bigger than… maybe, himself. Kurama just could not figure out what or even why he felt the way he did.
Did the Prince of his dreams signify something? What of the dark creature that brought only death, what of that? Was the dream trying to relay some message to him? If that were the case, then the only question would in interpreting what it all meant, and that would be the hardest part.
"What does it mean?" Kurama inquired into the air. I want your life I want your soul. "What does it want with me? With my life?" Kurama gave a little sigh. "Maybe… Maybe I can find out something in another dream."
"Then you'd be trusting your life to chance" said a voice that seemed to hover just above Kurama's ears.
"Hiei?" Kurama quickly turned his head upward to see the fire demon looking at him. "What else do you suggest that I do? I need answers and I won't get any like this. I'm convinced no matter how crazy it sounds, that I will find the answer in my dreams, Hiei."
"If there are even answers to be found. You may just find more questions. Or worse you'll find your own death." Hiei gave a soft snort, as if it really did not matter to him. "But what do I care it's your life. Do with it as you please Fox. It's not as if I'm your keeper."
Kurama gave a lighthearted look in Hiei's direction. "It's good to know you'll be watching out for me Hiei. It really puts my mind at ease, perhaps I may even be able to rest easier" said the redhead.
Hiei's eyes jumped a moment of surprise. "hn" stated the fire demon as he faced away from the redhead.
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Hidrigo shook her head as if trying to shake off the memories of what she had seen. The girl slowly and gently rested the Prince's head on the ground, then let her hands entangle themselves into her hair. Hidrigo then pressed her hair down and looked back at the body that was lying before her. Its eyes were open, and peering off sightlessly at the ceiling.
Hidrigo gasped, feeling a chill run through her at the sight. The girl was a little surprised as she saw the two lifeless green orbs staring at her, more surprising still was that she remembered the eyes being closed.
"Tricks of the mind" said the girl lightheartedly as she shook her head once again trying to clear her mind. That was not easy having eyes just staring at her. Hidrigo slowly reached out her hand to close the open eyes of the Prince, but as she reached down she felt something grasp her arm. The girl jumped trying to pull her arm away from what held it, but whatever held her, had a very good grip on her arm. Hidrigo looked toward her arm hesitantly, she knew what she expected to see and there it was, a hand held her arm tightly.
Hidrigo slowly looked toward the owner of the hand becoming more unnerved with each second. Her eyes became wide with shock and fear, when she realized who's hand grasped her arm. The girl would have even screamed were it not for the fact that she was far too afraid to make even a squeak. Hidrigo violently tried to tug her arm out of the Prince's hand, her face was contorted in a look of terror.
The Prince was slowly rising, as his hand still clutched Hidrigo's arm tightly. Hidrigo looked into the Prince's face. Into his open eyes, and they were red, like burning embers! There was almost a warmth in that monstrous glow, and Hidrigo's mind drifted back to the vision, she could almost feel the crystal burning into her skin again.
"Yisa!" Yelped Hidrigo her voice wavy with fear as she continued to try and tug her arm free. Finally the girl succeeded in freeing her arm of the tight grasp that the Prince had on it. Hidrigo felt herself tumble backward at bit, and she quickly shuffled to her feet.
Hidrigo swallowed hard, and let her lips part partially as she looked at the Prince's form. The girl could hear sound of her own heart pounding away in her ears as she tried to rationalize what was happening. Had the Prince through her power somehow been reanimated?
No Hidrigo thought to herself, this is not my doing. Those eyes. Hidrigo looked toward the Prince's face, at the moment it seemed the two of them were just looking over one another. Those eyes. How they glow like, malicious flames. Where have I seen them? It was not that long ago since the girl had seen the creature but for some reason she could not remember. Then the flash of the moving shadow the beast that sent the Prince to his death.
"Oh no, by the Gods. Necromancy, that beast is powerful" Hidrigo said softly. She sucked in a fearful breath and shakily took a step back.
The Prince, at least the creature that now held the Prince's form, sensed Hidrigo's apprehension. Much like a bird that takes note of a foreign movement the creature sharply cocked it's head to the side, taking a step forward to cover the receding step Hidrigo took. A whimper of fear escaped from Hidrigo's throat, and terror covered the girl like the shadow of a thick storm cloud covers the ground.
The Prince continued to cover each retreating step Hidrigo took, insuring the distance between the two of them stayed the same. Hidrigo's shaky hands had fallen to her side and she had begun to try and release the sword she carried from its sheath. But, her trembling hands would not allow the panicked girl to grasp the sword. Hidrigo's retreating stride became faster and she continued to tug at her sword, finally after moments of ineffectual panicked groping the girl pulled out her sword.
The weapon itself was small, and light enough that Hidrigo could hold it in one hand, but through her fear she could not find the strength nor stability to hold it in one hand, so both of Hidrigo's hands were wrapped tightly about the hilt of the weapon.
The Prince moved toward Hidrigo with an almost mechanical grace. In his hand was the whip that he had used to slay the beasts that had plagued the denizens of the palace. Hidrigo could almost see the deathly intentions of the Prince reflected in those ghastly glowing eyes. Continuing her retreat Hidrigo could only think of one thing, her survival. The only question was, how was she going to survive!
With the deadly precision that made the Prince's attacks so powerful when he was alive, the Prince lashed out with his weapon. Hidrigo was able to block the attack with her weapon, allowing the Prince's whip snaked about the girl's sword, coiling itself around the blade as if it had a life of its own. With one quick yank the Prince had liberated Hidrigo of her weapon. The blade that Hidrigo had held clattered to the floor leaving Hidrigo, wide open for attack and very vulnerable.
The Prince lashed out with another attack that made Hidrigo, nearly jump from her skin. The attack however, teasingly swatted the ground leaving a gapping crack just beneath Hidrigo's feet, as if the Prince had just felt the need to toy with her.
"Cohimeta, please. This is not you, if you can hear me…" The girl jumped again with another missed attack. "Please stop do not let yourself be controlled." The Prince did not respond which is what Hidrigo expected. This was indeed necromancy and the most powerful kind.
Hidrigo felt herself tumble backward as she slipped down onto a large fur covered body. Thankfully, the slain beast had not been awakened by the dark powers, that floated about. Hidrigo took a moment to sigh in relief, before she heard the sickening sound of the whip snapping. The girl barely had time to tumble to safety on the other side of the beast's body, before the Prince's whip fell severing the creature's head from its neck.
Hidrigo shivered as she realized the Prince was no longer playing, if he had not had intentions to kill her before, he did now.
"Yisa I could use those powers now" said Hidrigo thinking back to her arm but too afraid to spare a look least the Prince attack again. The Prince's whip wrapped it self about Hidrigo's leg as she had continued her slow yet fearful retreat the next thing she knew, Hidrigo was staring at the ceiling from the flat of her back. The girl let her head roll from side to side for the moment she did not think her head would ever stop hurting. She'd hit the ground so hard
Hidirgo could not for her life focus her mind, it was just lost in a daze, and she heard a sharp whistling noise and all she could see were shadows. A most unfortunate thing and at the moment, very inopportune.
Just above Hidrigo's head stood the form of Carnessis, his eyes were dead, and had taken on a milky white hue. The dark brown hair of Carnessis's beard was stained with coagulated blood that dripped from his slightly separated in lips semi-congealed strands. Some of the ropy cords clung to the hairs of his beard while the rest continued to dribble down his face to hit the floor with a sickening 'splat'.
Hidirgo caught the sounds of dripping blood, but they were still too distant for her. She was still lost even as the stomach churning smell of death, bile and blood floated into her nostrils. Hidrigo just shook her head trying to forget the stench.
Before her eyes, in her own personal night Hidrigo saw the blue light flutter by, and a smile crossed her lips as for one flitting moment she felt safe, far from the true horror of reality. She did not even notice the milky white eyes of Vernon's dead body hover over her.
The Prince, who for the moment had relented with his weapon was at Hidrigo's side examining her hand. The sliver symbol glowed brightly in her palm as if it could ward off the evil forms about the girl. The most sinister look that over dawned the Prince's face alive or dead twisted the boy's handsome features, then he stretched out Hidrigo's hand.
Vernon, equipped with his dagger looked at the girl's hand as if it were a target. While in her mind Hidrigo was frolicking with the blue light that had guided her through shadow and wonder. The beast in the form of a man had lifted his dagger over his head.
Hidrigo could see nothing but the blue light dancing about her. The girl released a giggle when the light whirled around her form, in her mind's eye. The light dipped and rose teasingly it flew up to her hands and the away. The girl giggling again at the sprightly light. Hidrigo's right hand reached out to touch the light, just as she was about to capture it. Hidrigo was struck by a crippling pain. In her vision everything around her had turned red, and the light had vanished, leaving the girl to look at a dark hole that developed in her right hand.
When the knife struck down the muscles in Hidrigo's hand spasmed the pain was violent enough to pull the girl from her dream and back to the horrid reality she'd tried to escape. Hidrigo burst from her daydream screaming in pain, as tear streamed from her eyes. She couldn't move hand, and she felt completely trapped. Hidrigo rolled over to her right side and grabbed her right hand at the wrist, her fingers twitched unnaturally and the girl's body quivered from pain. There protruding from her hand was a dagger Hidrigo winced; the sight was even more painful then the actual feeling.
Hesitantly Hidrigo lifted her left hand and slowly wrapped it about the handle of the dagger, but before she can pull the dagger from her hand two strong rough hands tug her hand away and pin her left hand to the ground. Hidrigo struggled but she could not break free; the girl soon found she could not move her legs. While she'd been away in her little dream world the Prince tied them down. Hidrigo craned her head upward to see Vernon with his sword ready, and if Hidirgo did not know better…
"Ivem Octa" the girl exclaimed fearfully "No!" Hidirgo shook her head. "No. No. No. By the sacred land of the Gods. Not like this! Let me free!" Hidrigo struggled to break out of the grip the dead soldier, Carnassis had on her. "If you can listen to reason. Please do not do this. "
Hidirgo watched the sword fall in slow motion. "No" tears broke free from Hidrigo's eyes please. The girl let out a frightful scream.
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Hiei ended up watching Kurama, though it did take a bit more cunning for the redhead to actually get Hiei to stay inside the house. The fire demon voiced quite ardently that he would rather stay outside, yet he ended up conceding. The worst part for him was that he had not even realized Kurama had tricked him until it was too late. Well that is what happens when you try to match wits with a fox.
Hiei watched Kurama resting despite the fact he said he would not. The boy appeared at peace, like usual, as only Hiei would know as he had secretly watched Kurama sleep several times before. It seemed that there would be no cause for alarm this night. Maybe it was a once in a lifetime event, of course such an event is best restricted to a never at all basis.
Hiei yawned as his own fatigue had threatened to take hold. The fire demon shook his head, then rested his form in the chair at Kurama's desk. Hiei yawned again but fought the urge to close his eyes.
Kurama continued to rest peacefully, then suddenly without warning the boy slowly rose from his bed the blankets slid down to his waist. Although his eyes appeared to be wide open Kurama clearly was not there, as far as his consciousness goes. Kurama slid out of his bed so that he was now standing upright.
Hiei quickly lifted his head and looked at Kurama. The redhead waking up in the middle of the night was not a strange occurrence. Everyone knows what happens when nature calls. Hiei dropped his head not giving to much merit to Kurama's action, even as the redhead left the room. In fact Kurama's leaving made the incident all the more mundane. After a while however Kurama had not returned. Then the door opened slowly.
"Fox?" said Hiei expecting Kurama to answer however, the redhead did not respond to the fire demons voice.
A strange gurgling sound made its way into Hiei's ears; for some reason Hiei found himself becoming perturbed. The fire demon rose, and slowly walked toward the partially open door of Kurama's bedroom. He furrowed his brow as he pushed the door open wider. Hiei saw a shadow shot down the stairs, the fire demon followed the vision with trepidation. "Fox" Hiei said again as he reached the foot of the stairs; the sound of gurgling seemed to grow louder, and in the kitchen the light was on.
Hiei felt relived, it seemed that Kurama had gotten hungry in the night. The boy was probably just getting a midnight snack was what Hiei surmised. However, that did not explain that ungodly sound that seemed to grow louder as Hiei neared the kitchen.
"What's wrong with you, F…" Hiei drew in a sharp breath, and unconsciously took a step backward when he saw what was in the room. The fire demon's knees almost buckled when he say the figure with glowing red eyes. On the floor was Kurama, laying sprawled out in a pool of his own blood. It was staining the powder blue hue of his pajamas.
"Fox" was all that Hiei could choke out as her saw the bloodied hand of Kurama shakily rise up. "Help me" the boy pleaded wordlessly as his eyes began to grow glossy. Hiei found that he could not move. Was it fear, or something else. The sound of gurgling that Hiei had heard was Kurama choking on his blood.
The glowing red eyes of the dark specter looked toward Hiei they seemed to burn with hatred and malice. Hiei unsheathed his katana preparing to fight the fearful beast but before he could even manage an attack something pierced through him.
"Hiei." It was Kurama's voice Hiei could hear it as he slipped into unconsciousness. "Wake up." Hiei's eyes shot open quickly he looked around.
Kurama was sitting on the edge of his bed. "I'm not the only one that can't go without sleep am I?" Kurama, inquired with a soft smile on his face.
"Hn" was Hiei's response even as he could still feel the dream clinging to him, for a moment he could even see bloodstains on Kurama's clothes. The fire demon shook his head slightly, was it the same creature, or was his imagination just getting the better of him. Hiei looked up to see Kurama was leaving his room. "Where are you going, Fox?"
"To the kitchen to make breakfast, if you're still tired Hiei you're welcome to use my bed" with that Kurama left the room. Hiei was quick to follow.