Disclaimer: Don't own YYH.
Thanks to my reviewers:
A Life of Rules is No Fun- No, he's not an illusionist. That was an introduction to his powers. As to the traitor comment…all I can say is good guess. I won't say if you're wrong or right though. Thanks so much! I glad you like it! Happy Holidays!
escptheshdw835- I'm so glad you like it! Here's the update! Happy Holidays!
Sorry I took so long with this…Christmas shopping…but it's here just in time for Christmas! Enjoy and please review!
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"I must find a way...a way to break them," Runae said, pacing the room where all his glorious inventions stood. "The Clan of the Shadow will rule the three worlds...I just need to break their spirits, make them join me."
The Junik remembered Kurama's look of defiance, his angry words of rejection. "Kurama, you will be first."
His eyes then fell to his newest invention. "Perfect," he hissed.
He walked to the memory machine that he had described to Kurama and pressed the first three buttons. On a tall screen there began to play Kurama's memories of the Dark Tournament. "Now, which one shall I restore?" he asked himself.
Finally he saw it. The perfect weapon.
He strode over to his newest technological terror, a green glass chamber, with a metal panel on the side. On the panel were many small buttons.
"I have taken your past," Runae whispered, looking at the screen where Kurama's memories of the Dark Tournament were playing.
He moved over to the machine, fingers sliding over the buttons. "Now it will become my tool."
He pressed the buttons in a series of complicated patterns. "Taken from this world by your rival, now brought back to seek revenge," he chanted. "Rise, my servant, my friend, and make him pay for your suffering." A brilliant blue light flashed in the chamber.
"You summoned me?" asked a cool voice from behind a metal mask. Violet eyes shimmered behind strands of long, shining black hair.
Runae grinned. "Yes. Welcome back to the world of the living. Karasu."
&&&&&
Kurama and Hiei stopped talking abruptly when they heard the clanking of boots on the metal grates.
"Get down," Kurama warned in a low voice. "Pretend you're still unconscious."
Hiei snorted. "Never. I'm not a coward, you know that."
"Stubborn as a mule," Kurama muttered.
Suddenly a figure came into view, but his face was hidden by the shadows. He paid no heed to Hiei and instead stopped at Kurama's cell.
"My, my, Kurama, I hardly recognized you. It's a shame you're so wounded."
The fox gasped. This voice sounded so familiar. It sounded like...
But no! It couldn't be. It was impossible.
"Who...who are you?" he asked, his voice shaking.
"It's been quite a long time, Kurama. Still, I didn't think you'd forget me so quickly. Perhaps this will help you remember."
"Kurama! Look out!" Hiei shouted. He could see that Kurama was surrounded by glowing objects. But it was too late.
One flew toward the already injured fox and exploded on contact. Kurama yelled in pain and clutched the bleeding hole in his side.
"Now do you remember?" the cool voice drawled.
Kurama's breathing was rigid. "Karasu..."
"So you do know my name after all." The man stepped out of the shadows.
"Impossible!" Hiei growled.
"Improbable," the Bomb Master corrected without even turning to look at the fire youkai. "Nothing is ever impossible."
"No! This can't be real! You're dead! I killed you!" Kurama exclaimed.
Karasu's violet eyes flashed. "No, Kurama. That's not entirely true. You may have killed me that day, but now I'm back. Soon you will come to realize that I am very real, and very much alive."
More bombs exploded upon touching Kurama's flesh, making him scream in agony. He fell back to the ground, setting off more bombs.
"Kurama!" Hiei yelled.
Blood pooled around Kurama's body. His limbs shook. He was in pain...and he was afraid.
"There's no need to fear for your life, Kurama," the Bomb Master said cooly. "I have strict orders not to kill you. But that doesn't mean I can't toy with you for a while. I've been deprived of a good time since you made that plant kill me. Now it's time for a little payback."
"Leave him alone!" Hiei spat.
Karasu tossed his head back to look at the fire youkai. "You will be dealt with later. But for now, you will be able to watch your friend suffer..." He chuckled evilly. "...and perhaps even beg for my mercy."
More bombs exploded, and Kurama screamed in torment.
"Kurama!" Hiei's eyes burned with hatred. He drew himself as close to the bars as possible without touching them. "Stop it! STOP!"
Still, the sounds of explosions, Kurama's screams, and Karasu's maniac laughter drowned him out.
&&&&&
Jerin arrived back at the cave in the usual fashion.
"Have you found anything?" Korio asked from his position in front of the entrance.
The Sparian nodded. "The trees have told me everything, including what direction the Clan members went."
"Good. Now we can get started. We'll have to wait until morning, though." The Master Detective smiled and looked into the cave. "Everyone's asleep. We should get to bed, too."
"You know I don't require rest," Jerin said.
"You're not invincible, you know."
Jerin gazed up into the night sky. "I should be," he whispered.
The air around them quietly stirred, as if it could sense the mood of the demon hunter.
"You okay, Jer?" Korio asked.
"Don't call me that," Jerin replied.
Sensing that that was as close to a direct answer he would get, Korio stood. "I'm going to bed. Get some rest, okay?"
The Master Detective walked indoors.
Jerin sighed and sat on the ground with his back against the cave wall, gazing up at the stars. Like it or not, he was tired, and his eyes began to flicker shut......
He was walking through the forest. The unfamiliar smell was coming from the direction of his camp. He had to find out what it was. He had to get home.
His steps quickened as he raced through the trees, which had begun to sway and creak, as if telling of a misfortune.
It was scary here.
His mother had told him not to go deep into the forest. She had told him it was too dangerous. He had gone anyway, wanting a better place to train and be more in tune with nature.
Yes, he was still young, but he was full of curiosity and courage. At least...he had been. Right now, he was afraid.
He began to see familiar landforms and was comforted. The clearing where his tribe lived wasn't far now. He was almost home.
Finally, he reached the edge of the forest and burst into the clearing. His eyes widened in shock.
There, before him, were the small, simple huts of his tribe...all in flames. Blood stained the grass a bright crimson, and corpses littered the ground. There was Haru, one of the Elders, dead, as well as Marotak, a girl even younger than he.
There were some forms he didn't recognize, but only one or two, Juniks by the look of them.
Most of the corpses were those of his own tribe. Men, women, children, all dead.
But what about his mother? His father? What of his family?
"Darunin! Kaomsa!" he cried. Father! Mother!
He ran through the disheveled village, tears stinging at his eyes. Everywhere he went, there were the dead bodies of those he had known and cared for.
Taro, one of his best friends, had a hole in his stomach, and blood still spilled from it.
Daiku, his mother's friend, was slit in the throat.
He came to the hut of his family. Outside the door was the body of his father, burnt so that it was almost unrecognizable. "Daru..." he gasped. "Rei! Rei, daru!" Dad...no! No, dad!
Unable to bear it, he went inside the smoking hut to find the body of his mother, her jade green eyes wide and glassy, a bloody hole in her forehead.
Behind her was a smaller form.
No...it couldn't be...
"Kira," he breathed. He ran to his sister's side. "Rei, Kira! Haroni, kaito yessa!" No, Kira! Please, wake up!
His younger sister was still. "Kira, haroni," he pleaded. Kira, please.
Tears began to fall from his eyes. "Kira," he sobbed, throwing himself onto her lifeless form.
"KIRA!"
Jerin jolted awake, breathing heavily. "Just a dream," he muttered.
"More o' a nigh'mare, I'd say."
The Sparian jumped as the owner of the voice popped into view upside-down in front of him.
"Wind Master, it's only you."
"I 'ave a name, y'know. Tis Jin," the wind youkai said in his cheerful accented voice. Then he turned serious. "I 'eard ya screamin' ou' 'ere an' came ta check on ya. Wha' was i'?"
"How did you hear me and the others didn't?"
Jin pointed to his ears. "These things are sensitive, ya know. So, wha' was goin' through yer 'ead?"
Jerin turned away as the dream flashed through his mind again. "Nothing. Just...bad memories."
Jin looked at him curiously. "All righ', if ya say so."
He touched his feet to the ground and began to walk inside the cave. "Jus' ge' some sleep, ya hear?" he said over his shoulder. "We go' a big gus' o' wind comin' our way soon, an' we got'a be prepared ta face i'. G'nigh', Jerin."
The usually cheerful wind youkai's face was solemn as he disappeared into the darkness, almost as if he knew the events to come.
&&&&&
Runae smirked from his place outside the prison door. He could hear the fox's delightful screams. They gave him such pleasure.
But before long, his mind set to work again. How would he deal with the fire youkai? Which method would be best for his torment?
Soon, he had an idea, and, tearing himself away from the shrieks of agony, set off to his laboratory.