1. War of the Worlds: Prelude
General notes:
Disclaimer: Something clever that indicates I don't own anything but Lowell, some
manga, and a few OVAs. Hey, ya know? That was kind of clever in it's own stupid
way. It stays. Inspiria: You are a dork.
READ THIS! I'M NOT GETTING CHEWED OUT AND I'M ONLY SAYING THIS ONCE!
OK. So I might say it a few times, but not a lot.
Rating says PG-13. I believe it is. According to the guide though, it isn't. It may be very well closer to R. Here's the info. I'm kind of a vulgar person. Cursing, sexual innuendo (comments, references, etc.), violence, the works. I'm also not very nice by nature. I might not be very politically correct. Basically, it shows in my work.
Sex- I won't get into the whole lemon-lime, orange, grapefruit, whatever you call it. I don't like it, I don't read it, and I don't write it. I don't go that far. However, I'm fairly adolescent, so you can't expect the topic of sex not to come up.
Violence- I like blood. Enough said. Who can't watch Yu Yu Hakusho with a weak stomach. I also like the injury and pain factor. Put me away. Whatever. Any way it's here, and probably in great quantities. YOU ARE WARNED!
Language- I'm a language geek. YOU ARE WARNED! But that's not the point. To me it's all just words. You don't like it, don't read it. Long story short: there will be more than mild cursing (and some sexual references but we've already done that.)
Drugs- Not my focus, but there are probably some references. No use that I know of yet. I'll tell you if there is any. YOU ARE WARNED!
YOU CAN STOP READING NOTES NOW BUT YOU WILL PROBABLY BE VERY CONFUSED!
other shit (I told you):
+author's note+
Muse's note
() duh, foot note
/thoughts/
"/telepathy/" Makes sense don' it? (I don't think it's used here)
"speech in another language" language will be specified, will be in plain quotes if it is written in that language
(I don't think these next two terms will be used here but they will be later, so I'll leave them.)
hybrid: one who is born part human/Reikai/youkai and part... well you get the picture. Because it can't get more complicated that just two sides I'll leave it at that.(i.e. Yusuke, Hiei is a blend of two youkai races and is also considered a hybrid)
splice: one who was born human/Reikai/Youkai (I suppose they could be a hybrid too)and became another (i.e. Kurama, werewolves, vampires (if they were bitten)). They may consider themselves full one side or the other or may just say that they area splice but they are not 1/2 or anything like that.
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Not so general notes:
Kay, so this is intended to be a many part series. Not like multichaptered (all of my stories are that way), like several stories revolving around the same plot. This will be the first installment. I have this sort of planned, but not very well. I'll get around to it, but I have enough to get going.
Also, all of the speech here should be in 'makai' language, whatever that is. Ummm… that's it. Enjoy!
- end of notes, beginning of story
1. Kuronue's War
"If we don't end war, war will end us."
- H.G. Wells
"Rome remained free for four hundred years and Sparta eight hundred,…"
"That kind of fighting has been going on forever, fox, but now it's more evident."
Kuronue poked at the fire with a stick.
"Why?"
Both fox and bat youkai whipped around to stare at the small dragon apparition, that, until now, had been silent.
"Well, because that's the way the world is." Kuronue explained as if he were speaking to a small child.
"No," the boy answered, "I know that. Why, after thousands of years, has
it come up now?"
"Oh." Kuronue tipped his head so that the tip of his hat hid his eyes. Kurama knew that gesture. Kuronue knew something and didn't want to say it. Kurama, with all the speed, skill, and finesse of a trained and practiced thief, snatched the hat from the hat from his partner's head.
"Spill." he commanded simply.
With no brim to hide the expectant gazes from his sight Kuronue cracked. "Its
simple really," he said tossing the uneasiness out of his voice, "there's a war coming. People have been saying it for centuries. The big Kahuna. Nothing like the war for the triad, or the banishing of the Meikai. It won't even between the four worlds, but it will involve them.
"You see, it's just nature. Everyone wants power, to some degree. Even born followers. They want the power to decide who they follow, or power for their leader.
Do you follow?" He smirked at his word play. When two nods met his inquiry, he continued:
"Of course, it's common knowledge that power doesn't just come to you. Someone has to fight for it, and once you have it, you have to fight to keep it. You see, there just isn't enough power to go around.
"In addition to that, too many people want it. The followers don't have a problem with minimal power, but that's only half of the population. The other half want all of the power, therefore, are always fighting for it. With me so far?"
They under stood. It was the way of the world. Once someone learned how to survive, the only thing left to do was join in the competition. Two more nods urged him on.
"People are constantly vying for power, no exceptions. And they've gotten smart about it. They've stopped facing off one on one and brutting it out. No, they're civilized about it now. They've got plans, elaborate plans. And they've all got one." Kuronue was gesturing in exasperated sarcasm (and didn't stop now),
"And there's always a 'perfect' time to spring it. Sooner or later they're all going spring it at the same time and all out war begins."
He stopped and registered the blank look that comes from the "Step 1: punch Link in the face, Step 3: rule the world" (1) scenario.
"Alright," he sighed. He'd hoped that he could just leave it at that, but it looked as though he was going to have to fill in the wholes. "Basically, all of the traitors, corruption, those who have gone astray in their ideals; all that junk, will be exposed at once. Everyone will renew or switch their alliances. Loyalties broken, friends betrayed, bad stuff. Anyway, since everyone wants absolute power, everyone else is their enemy. Everyone will be at war with each other. Truly disastrous."
He smirked, "Of course, I don't intend to be around for that."
"Sounds like the end of the worlds to me." Kurama shrugged.
"Well, as we know it any way." Kuronue replied, "My theory is that everyone will fight and die and such, until the distance between them is too great to fight. Then they just start over. Not really the end of the world, the renewal."
"That could take centuries!" Kurama remarked.
"Yeah, probably." Kuronue shrugged, "But, like I said, I don't intend to be around for it."
The third boy looked at him in bewilderment. He seemed as though he had drawn some conclusion, and though he wasn't sure it was right, he seemed disgusted at the fact that it was a possibility.
"One as powerful as you could live for centuries more. Maybe even more than a millennium. If this 'great war' is so close, who's to say you won't be around?"
Kuronue smiled softly, a rare occurrence. "It's relatively close. It may not be here for another 2000 years."
"But if it does," the boy looked at him accusingly, "what will you do? Kill yourself?" the last two words were coated in the acid of disgust.
"I truly don't know." Kuronue stated, unfazed by the boy's deadly gaze.
"Kuronue would probably hide and stick around to watch the fools." Kurama supplied.
Kuronue smirked (yet again), this time, in amusement. "You know me too well, Fox." He addressed the smaller youkai, "If he says so, I probably would."
Silence followed as they ate from the stash of food Kurama always made sure they had. The small, black-haired youkai barely touched his share at first, but with much coaxing from the two companions he ate decently. When they finished, he thanked them and stood, suddenly feeling he'd stayed too long. The Two had helped him out when a poorly preformed transformation to a dragon form he never knew he had had left him helpless in freezing water. That had been two moons(2) ago. He'd traveled with them since they'd nursed him back to health from conditions and treatment he refused to reveal.
He was a traveling demon. He'd traveled for as long as he could remember. The last 25 years in captivity did not sit well with him for mainly that reason. He liked these two, and being stationary was not an issue, and they in their actions (even if not in words) welcomed him to join them. They were fond of him too and made this known.
He knew they were thieves and had helped them in their endeavors over the past few moons. They wanted and expected him to stay, which was why they were startled when he began to leave with out a further word. These were the toughest, hardest demons in the Makai. Both sides, hard and soft, were their true sides and constantly fought.
They were disappointed to see him go but said nothing.
He liked these two. Such fondness among demons was rare and no one else would be allowed to see it, but it was most definitely there. But he had always traveled alone and alone he would stay. Being around others constantly, however much he liked them, grated on him. He wanted to leave before he began to hate them.
"Hey kid," The 'kid' was over a century old, but from the 200- and 300-year-old
youkai, he accepted the title. He turned to face the elder of the two, who'd addressed him.
"Hn?"
"The Fox wants to ask you something."
"Huh? I do? Oh yeah. What's your name?"
The small youkai's eyes widened with realization: he'd spent two moons w/ these two and had never given them a name. They'd never asked.
"Why do you care now?" he shot at them.
"The Fox is obsessed with them." Kuronue replied though he was curious too.
Just the same, He'd always been content to call him "kid," "boy," "dragon," (even though it was obvious that he wasn't a full dragon) and the like.
"I don't like nameless faces." the fox replied in his own defense. What he wouldn't say was that he paid special attention to names because he didn't have one until he met Kuronue. Kuronue had given him the working name Kurama. No one else had cared enough what his name was, so it had become very important to him.
"Oh," the boy relied, though he still didn't see the significance, "Hiei."
/Don't Ask me how I know./ he thought in addition.
Kurama nodded in acceptance.
"Good luck kid!" Kuronue waved enthusiastically.
"Gutluk dun fullung, Hiei." (3)
Hiei flitted off with out another word, as became habit. That was the last time he saw Kuronue.
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(1) "Step 1:... universe." -from Really fun. It just means that there's something in the speaker's head that pulls it al together but was left out in the explanation. I strongly urge you read the comic.
(2) "moon" -a moon is a measure of time in the Makai (i'll leave it to your judgment as to when). It is from one cycle of the moon the next respective cycle. About a month. Just to make things simple year, day, century etc. will be the same as ours.
(3) "Gutluk dun fullung." –"Good luck and fullfilment." in Kurama's 'demon language.' it's like "live long and prosper." The words are mutilated German.
It came from "Guten Gluck und Erfullung" meaning the same. Disclaimer: other than using German words as a basis, it is not remotely German and has nothing to do with German customs, sayings, etc. A.K.A. don't use it unless you want funny looks. I MADE IT UP!
The only way to win World War III is to prevent it."
- Dwight Eisenhower
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Finally I got this up. I hope people actually read this now. Well. That's it. Keep reading. RR and all that good stuff.
C ya!