Who: I'm so glad you're still reading this far. Um yeah not much to say I hope you're enjoying yourself, reading this. I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho, and forgive my out of characterness. Oh also there's a section at the end of the chapter that skips a lot. Well I wanted to run some things simultaneously and to a achieve that effect I had to make jumps hope that's not too confusing. Okay well I'm done.
This is a story of dreams and prophesy. Jewels, monsters, magic and destiny. Enter if you dare, read if you care, explore the realms of fantasy.
Chapter 9
Kurama looked about himself, trying to figure out where he was. Still dreaming-obviously. From what the redhead could make out of his surroundings, he appeared to be standing in a field covered in flora that was dying. The grasses of the field were long, with a pale sickly brownish green hue, every time the gentle wind blew the dried blades of grass would scratch against one another. The grasses swayed with a forlorn listlessness as if begging to be carried away from the field that was domed to die.
Every plant in the field had that same dead look, the flowers drooped mournfully their petals far too weighty for them, tiny shrubs, clung to ground in stubby barely green clumps. It was depressing, the only thing that took away from the somberness, of the vastly humble looking field was the slivery light being cast down from the full moon in the sky.
Kurama, upon seeing the light let his eyes follow it upward toward the sky, he turned his back to the field as he did so giving his attention completely to the moon. The boy found he was transfixed by the large sliver orb, it appeared to be hovering so low in the sky, almost as if it had intentions to the kiss the ground. The vision was breathtaking, to Kurama who had never seen the moon hang so low in the sky; the vision became even more so astounding when Kurama realized that up to the left if the large white moon was another, but this moon was considerably smaller in proportion, and it had a rust-like color.
It was almost enough to make Kurama gasp in amazement. The redhead craned his long neck so that he could more effectively take in the beauty of the night. The sky appeared to have three strata each had its one unique shades of darkness, a deep inky navy blue shade this strata was closest to earth, and appeared to touch the ground on the horizon. The next strata held a blue-violet shade, and above that the sky was a bright cerulean color. Kurama had now fully taken in the full glory of the sky, he had counted three moons in the sky, one rusty, one sliver, and the other a pale whitish blue, and the… The stars were more extraordinary, they too fell close to the earth, and glowed so much brighter than any stars that the redhead had seen. The stars twinkled in many more colors than Kurama had ever imagined stars could be; aside from the, more common, white, red and blue, there were stars the shined in gold, sliver, pink, violet, green, and indigo hues.
The light breeze gently tugged at Kurama's clothes, like a playful child, and caressed his face with the gentleness of a lover, while it caused his ruby tresses to dance about his head. Kurama could not help but smile, for a dream it certainly felt real, Kurama could not help but think to himself. Of course if this place was actually real the boy would have no complaints, not in such a peaceful and kind place. Kurama watched a star shoot through the heavens, and nearly forgot that he wanted to leave the field that he was standing in.
Reluctantly, Kurama turned away from the sky, and let his eyes once again wonder back onto the field, how drab it was in comparison to the sky. Kurama found himself ruefully shaking his head and just wanting to forget everything but the celestial beauties that hovered above him in the cosmos.
The boy cleared his head, and focused on the ground, his keen eyesight caught a glimpse of something on the horizon. Kurama could make out what he thought was a tree line, in other words, there was a forest not too far ahead; if he remembered correctly, which the boy was not terribly certain of because everything seemed like it had been a dream, that is exactly where he had been before he had met Talva.
Wasting no time Kurama ran toward the trees, and in less then ten minuets he found himself slowly ambling through the trees. It looked familiar, which was a good thing Kurama gave a small smile and continued through the trees. Strangely enough the sky seemed to become brighter as he walked as if the sun were suddenly begging to rise only in the wrong direction.
Kurama drew to an abrupt stop the sky had changed to a crisp blood-orange shade, that Kurama could see through the small not so dense wooded area. Of course that was not the reason why Kurama had stopped so unexpectedly. No, it was something, or more to the point someone he saw just in front of him that made him stop, drawing a sharp breath when he saw the blood red hair. It was him just, after he had been attacked; Kurama drew his conclusion from the fact that the dead body of the demon snake was lying on the ground.
The redhead ran his hand over his injured shoulder, he could feel bandages, under the silk shirt he was wearing. "This doesn't make any sense," Kurama silently intoned, he was hesitant to move any closer to his unconscious figure. Maybe he truly was dead Kurama could not help but think that the because of the poison he had met with an untimely demise. It would explain why he was speaking with a dead woman, but she seemed to believe he was very much alive. Kurama hesitantly stepped forward but before he even had his foot firmly on the ground the sound of leaves rustling caught the boy's ears.
Kurama's head jerked up to a direction above him, slowly as not to arouse suspicion Kurama moved out of sight, tucking his body away behind a nearby bush. As Kurama looked the himself, i.e. the person lying on the ground wounded, he saw some leaves fall down toward his unconscious form. Kurama watched as the figure that shared his form let his head lazily drift toward the source of the sound.
Then, from out of the trees, a dark figure dropped down in front of the body of the injured Kurama. Behind the shrub where he was hidden Kurama gave another surprised gasp. It was that thing, "the dark one," Kurama heard Talva's voice echo in his head. He could only watch aghast as the creature bent down and lifted his, now unconscious form. Then to Kurama's surprise the being tore off into the forest.
Alarmed about the prospect of his body, (if the form he held now was merely an astro-projection) being harmed. Kurama sought to follow the dark creature, least the dark being destroy his body and actually kill him. The boy gave chase even though he was uncertain just where the being of shadow had run off to. Soon the trees grew much more dense and the forest path began to become rockier, dark, and ominous, until Kurama had to give in to the realization that he was hopelessly lost, as if his situation could not have gotten worse.
Kurama, not being able to turn back, for fear he would only getting even more lost, continued to wonder forward deeper into the forest. After all one can only wander so far into a forest before they eventually wonder out and from the forest's grasp, let's just hope I find my way out sooner rather than later.
Kurama once again drew to a stop but, this time it was because the forest path he was walking down had suddenly forked. Kurama looked between the two forest paths with great confusion. Which path should he go down? What would the consequences of his choice be, if there were any, should choose the wrong path. Kurama shrugged trying to see if he could make out any form of distinction between the paths, but both were too deep and dark to see anything beyond the entrance.
Kurama took a hesitant step forward his head swayed from left to right, as he tried to decide on a path to take. The redhead then took in a deep breath and just step forward going toward the path on the left hand side. A cold wind seemed to rush out of the path chilling Kurama, that had to be a good sign. If wind was penetrating the path then the exit could not be far away. Kurama took another step forward when the crystal that Talva had given him had begun to glow. The white-blue light caught Kurama's attention, and he took the gem into his hand to look at it. Why is it glowing?
"Enchantment," said an alien voice that sounded lyrical and distant as it floated into Kurama's mind, it seemed, at least for the moment as if the voice was responding to his unvoiced inquiry. Kurama spun around halfway, trying to discern to origin of the voice. The boy's attention shot to a point behind himself. But, there was no one there. "It's a powerful thing," the voice spoke again. Kurama spun around completely then looked upward. "So powerful it seems too strong to break."
"Who's there?" Kurama called out to place an identity to the voice. "The prophecy it is upon us" said the voice. "Prophecy?" Kurama said softly to himself quirking his brow. He still did not know about this prophecy, but he had certainly heard a lot about it, too much about it in his mind, and yet not enough.
"What about this Prophecy?" Kurama called out in hope for some form of an answer. The voice was silent but Kurama swore that he could hear someone breathing. Each breath sounded heavy, and labored. The boy could almost feel the breathing, as if it were in the leaves of the trees. A strange energy was in the air, it wasn't overwhelming but very apparent. "What about it?" Kurama called out again. The redhead found that he was posing his questions out into emptiness.
What does all this have to do with me? Kurama wondered looking into the emptiness of the path before him. Another rush of cold air shot past Kurama, causing him to shiver, and look back toward the path he stood before. The shadows began to grow brighter, soon Kurama was even able to make out a silhouette. The redhead took a step back, and looked toward the other path. The a silhouette within that path, had a complacent air about it. The figure stood turned to the side, its arms folded over its chest. It was tall with long hair flowing a magnificent shadow. Kurama could already place a name to the figure even without seeing the persons face. The identity of the silhouette in the other path was a different story.
Kurama was tempted to take the path where the familiar figure stood. But even before he could move the cold wind blew once again. Kurama looked back to the path he still stood in front of. The silhouette, appeared to be looking down, when Kurama's eyes fell on the creature it looked up.
Kurama's breath got caught in his throat. No matter how many times he saw those eyes. It never got easier. The figure stepped out from the shadow and Kurama took a step back. His eyes looking to a point off to the side. The creature's movements were slow, as if taunting the boy. Kurama continued to back away. After having retreated several more paces Kurama turned around and ran toward the other path.
The familiar silhouette that haunted the path had disappeared, that however was not a concern to the boy at the moment. How odd that he felt so fearful. Kurama hated it, even more so because he felt so helpless. The boy looked over his shoulder to see if he was still being chased by the creature. The shadow. The boy's eyes were met with only darkness, so Kurama turned to look forward. Kurama saw that he was now bounding toward the shadowy figure it's bright red eyes glowed with a smug triumph.
Kurama stopped in place he wanted to turn away but found that he was unable to move. It had something to do with those eyes. Kurama watched as the figure slowly moved forward, the red eyes of the creature bounced up and down with each slow and casual step it took.
Around his neck the gem that Kurama wore began to glow a hellish red, as if trying to mimic to creature's eyes, Kurama gasped, as there was nothing else that he could do.
The sound of shattering glass drew Kurama from his dream. And the boy was thankful as the dream was quickly turning into a nightmare. Kurama sat up breathing hard his eyes just beginning to adjust to the light of the room. When Kurama realized what he was looking at he found that his wakeful vision saw was far worse that what had been happening in his dream. Kurama's bright green eyes grew wide as he looked into the glowing red eyes of the dark figure. As if the dark figure had been waiting for him to wake up.
"Cohimeta, run!" said a weak voice the figure held Talva it's cloaked arm pressing into her throat, restraining her breaths. Kurama's eyes narrowed, he knew that he could not allow fear to claim him, because if this was indeed real, as he suspected it to be. Fear would only bring him death, and if there was a time for him to end this it would be now.
Kurama still wearing a hateful glare quickly slide out of the bed. His weapon of chose a sword made of vines, that twisted about his forearm, as using the rosewhip would endanger the life of Talva, who the creature was holding as a hostage.
"Cohimeta fight not, run! Worry not for me, go!" Kurama did not listen to Talva instead he raced forward. The being's eyes narrowed, as if it were hiding a smile in the shadows of the hood. Kurama hesitated, he did not like the look the creature was giving him, even if he was unable to see it fully.
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"Hey I think he's waking up" said Kuwabara, seeing Kurama head moved from side to side in the folds of the pillow his head rested on, then in a most sudden action Kurama quickly sat up. In all honesty the three boys: Hiei, Yusuke, and Kuwabara, weren't certain if their friend would ever be waking up. If Hiei hadn't found him underneath that tree…
"Ya think?" Yusuke said in a mocking voice, after all Kuwabara had just stated the obvious. "Hey Kurama you feeling okay?" Yusuke inquired with concern, to the redhead. "You really had us scared." Kurama, however, did not seem to respond to Yusuke's inquiry or even his voice in fact his large green eyes were fixated straight ahead on Hiei.
"What is it fox?" inquired Hiei, his voice sounded colder and more distant than he'd actually felt, after all he had spent a two days worrying with Yusuke and Kuwabara over the fate of the one person who knew him better then maybe he knew himself. He was very relieved to know that Kurama was alive, in all honesty. However as far as Hiei's inquiry went, Kurama did not answer. In fact his eyes had a distant look to them, as if staring a vision that was beyond Hiei. A vision that the boy was obviously not happy with because he glared his eyes holding a hateful determination.
Kurama quickly slipped out of the bed surprising everyone. He had a weapon drawn a second later and looked as if he were about to attack Hiei. "Kurama?" Kuwabara inquired from the right of the boy. He walked forward with trepidation seeing that Kurama was acting so strangely. To the opposite side of Kurama Yusuke did to same thing.
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Kurama stared at the red-eyed being hatefully, he was not going to let fear overwhelm him. It was strange how confident he felt, he would use that to his advantage. "Let her go" Kurama commanded with a courage that he didn't even realize that he had. "No Cohimeta, go! Casha! Just go! Worry not for me those without lives die not" Talva pleaded then the creature pressed its arm even deeper into her throat causing the woman to cough, as she cocked on the inner walls of her own throat.
Kurama wanted to save Talva, whether she wanted him to or not. If for no other reason than to prove to himself that he could fight against the shadowy being. Perhaps sensing Kurama's intentions the being released Talva from its grip, throwing the unconscious woman onto the floor. Kurama shot a quick concerned glance toward Talva, before directing his attention back to the cloaked figure before him. Abandoning, a certain amount of rational, Kurama raced forward toward the red-eyed shadow. He knew Talva would live him on the other hand.
Kurama was surprised that upon attacking, the creature held back his attack with its bare hand at least as far as Kurama could tell, as the creature did not actually posses true hands.
Kurama pulled back, then tried once again to attack the hooded creature. The being continued to block the boy's attack, but was forced to retreat from the force of each blow. Kurama slashed at the shadow's neck; the creature jumped back, that was when Kurama sliced through the unsuspecting creature's arm. As it was forced to retreat it had left itself open to attack. The hooded being grasped it's wounded arm, looking down toward it, then the creature gave a look of surprise to Kurama. The boy slashed at the being again in the most cutthroat of manners, not even giving the creature time to cater to its pain. The cloaked figure nearly got taken by surprise again, yet somehow had enough insight to put up a sloppy left-handed block.
Kurama pleased that he had the upper hand in this fight, though his face only displayed his calculating determination. It seemed that despite the fear the creature incited in his dreams it was actually quite weak. Kurama was able to break the creature's block, and was ready to deal the being a final blow, when the boy felt himself being pulled back.
An invisible hand grasped his wrist tightly holding the boy's arm back and completely disabling his attack. Another invisible hand grasped his shoulder, then two other's until Kurama was restrained entirely. The boy struggled, even more so when Kurama's eyes made out a pair of shadow figures holding him back, in an effort to protect the dark being that summoned them. The shadowy being having recovered from its near lose seemed most pleased with the change in events. It lifted its hand and Kurama fought even harder against the shadows that restrained him, as he knew what that hand could do.
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"Hiei, I think he's after you," Yusuke said trying his best to hold Kurama back with Kuwabara's help. "What gave you your first clue, Detective?" Hiei inquired grumpily, placing his hand onto is wounded arm; crimson veins trailed down his arm, and flowed over the fingers of the hand he held his arm with. In the restricting clutches of Yusuke and Kuwabara Kurama squirmed so much that, each of the boys' hold threatened to fail them. "What did you do to piss him off shrimp." Kuwabara inquired to Hiei, who just shot an angry look at Kuwabara not wanting to dignify the boy with an answer.
Hiei looked closely at Kurama trying to figure out what it was that was causing the boy to act so violently. Was he delirious? Hiei's eyes fell upon Kurama's, they seemed foggy and distant "He's in some type of a trance look at his eyes" said Hiei he pointed toward Kurama. Yusuke and Kuwabara tried their best to restrain Kurama but he began to fight even more vehemently then he had before. As if he was wrestling for his life the two boys couldn't figure out why, nor could they figure out why he seemed to be trying to kill Hiei, the two of them were best friends so it did not make sense.
"Kurama. Hey it's us your friends. You know Yusuke, Kuwbara, Hiei." Yusuke said in a gentle voice. Kurama stopped resisting, Yusuke thinking he had gotten through to the boy let his grip on Kurama wane. In that moment Kurama wrenched himself from Yusuke's grasp, having freed his arm, Kurama took his free hand and slammed his palm into Kuwabara's gut. Kuwabara feeling somewhat winded could not hold onto Kurama. Kurama then completely out of the two boy's grasps swung his makeshift sword of vines at Yusuke.
"Hey" Yusuke stated moving out of the way as Kurama slashed at him with his weapon. "Whoa" came Kuwabara's freighted voice as he was forced to move out of the way of an attack as well. "Kurama what's wrong with you? Snap out of it!" said Yusuke in a pleading manner, just before he was blind sided by Kurama's elbow. "Urameshi!" Kuwabara called surprised to see Yusuke fall. The carrot-top was unable to even awkwardly stumble out of the way when Kurama's weapon slashed through his abdomen.
The large carrot-top cried in pain and stumbled to the floor. Luckily the boy had slipped back enough so that none of his vital organ's were touched by Kurama's attack still, he would defiantly be spending the rest of this fight watching from the sidelines.
"Kuwabara!" Yusuke shouted in a worry manner as he rose from the floor. "I'm alright Urameshi" Kuwabara's voice sounded weak, and the color was beginning to fade from his face. Kuwabara slipped down to the floor in front of Yusuke's worried eyes. Yusuke closed his eyes then shook his head giving a most forlorn look Kurama's way.
"If we don't stop Kurama he might actually kill us" stated Yusuke. "Not if we are the one to get him first" Hiei's cold voice drew surprise from the other two boys.
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I've got to finish this. Kurama thought to himself as the shadow creature he had knocked down rose. The other did not rise after it had fallen, it could not it had been wounded. He would make this quick, and to do that Kurama would have to use his rosewhip. He was fortunate that the creature had inadvertently threw Talva a safe distant away. Kurama looked toward the woman then nodded his head.
The vines about Kurama's arm vanished, and the to lower shadow, looked at the other before it began moving slowly toward Kurama. This would only make things easier Kurama gave a small smirk, the creature would walk up and be sliced in two by his rosewhip then he'd take care of the other. Kurama glared at the red eyed shadow. Kurama quickly brushed his hand through his hair, an instant later he was holding a rose, and then a whip.
In the end it was actually Kurama who was surprised when the red eye being vanished, then appeared right of Kurama hitting the boy in the jaw. Kurama, hurt and startled slipped to the ground his eyes narrowed as he glared up at the figure with glowing red eyes.
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"Hiei, what the hell are you doing?" Yusuke shouted after seeing Hiei practically sucker punch Kurama.
"Stay out of this Detective if the Fox want to fight me then I'll fight," Hiei said his eyes never leaving Kurama's form. The fire demon was surprised to see the malice that Kurama displayed in his eye when the boy looked up at him. Then something caught Hiei's attention, a long crystal hanging on a gold chin about Kurama's neck. The boy had not been wearing it before; the gem was glowing and hot white-blue color. Hiei wondered how he missed it.
That necklace might be attributed to Kurama's Thought Hiei to himself with a nod. Of course he could only hope that he was correct, because the only other alternative was not sitting well in his mind at all.