And I am back with the second chapter of Brand New Tomorrow! Thank you to ChibiBotan88 for reveiwing the first chapter! I'm glad to see that some fans of Kyouka Ankoku are back! I missed you all! Also, I'm glad to see new fans of Brand New Tomorrow as well! Yay!
Anyways, you must be wondering what this chapter's about, right? Well, here's a summary for ya!
SUMMARY FOR Chapter Two - The Hunter in the Darkness:
Seems like there's something going on in the shadows that Hiei and the others don't know about! What do they seek and why do they seek it? Could it have something to do with Numata? Fear builds inside dear Numata as a horrible memory is returned to her, triggered by witnessing Hiei's battle against a mysterious attacker! Are memories worth regaining if all they do is hurt you deeply? Hiei x OC; Kurama x Botan and Yusuke x Keiko in later chapters (maybe).
FANFIC KEY:
/---/ in Italics Character thinking to themself or communicating telepathically to another. If it is a telepathic communcation, I'll indicate it . . . somehow. oO;;
"---" and text in Italics A flashback or memory.
Blah blah okay. Enough with my rabble. ONWARD WITH THE FANFIC!
Brand New Tomorrow
Chapter Two - The Hunter in the Darkness
"Normally when a soul has left the physical body, it takes at up to 100 years for it to be reincarnated." It was a sunny afternoon. Quietly Botan sat under a large tree with Kurama. Together the two of them watched as Kuwabara, Yusuke, Keiko and the just recently awakened Numata played a game of tag--Yusuke was currently 'it' and trying his best to catch Keiko.
"But it's only been a year hasn't it?" Kurama asked, glancing at the blue-haired grim weaper seated beside him. He looked back toward the game of tag currently being played not too far from where they sat. "If what you said is true, then why is Numata so different?"
"That's what we're currently trying to figure out." Botan answered, a sweat drop running down the side of her face. She watched her friends running about and let out a tired sigh. All those hours of endless research, and progress had yet to be made.
Kurama noted the fustrated look on Botan's face and gently slipped an arm around her slender shoulders. "Don't worry. I'm sure we'll find the answer soon enough."
"R-right . . . " Botan replied as she blushed, feeling Kurama pull her a little closer.
"Hey Botan-chan!" Looking up at the call of her name, a flustered Botan found herself looking face to face with a smiling Keiko. "Come and play with us won't you? It's a lot of fun."
"Yeah! Come on and play, Botan!" Yusuke shouted from where he stood on the field.
"You too Kurama! Don't think you can get away so easily!" Kuwabara shouted, a goofy smile on his face.
"Oh . . . all right." Botan answered as she rose to her feet. She dusted off her blue deniem jeans, before looking around the field. "By the way, who's 'it'?"
"I am!" Keiko laughed as she patted Botan on the shoulder and ran off to the others. Once she was joined up with Yusuke and the others, she looked back at Botan waving. "Come on Botan-chan! You'll never get anything done if you just stand there staring!"
For a moment Botan just stood there, wondering who to tag. Slowly she turned her head, facing Kurama. "Ooo Kurama . . .!"
"Oh no. You're not tagging me that easily!" And with that, Kurama ran off toward the others, laughing. Botan followed close behind and soon another game of tag had started up.
While all this was going on, Hiei sat up in the tree Botan and Kurama had once been sitting beneath, watching with an un-interested look in his eyes. He leaned up against the tree stump, his sword laying across his lap. He glanced over at Numata, watching her progress in what he considered a senseless game, before closing his eyes. It was a peaceful afternoon, perfect for napping.
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"It better be important." Sitting on a marble table was a half-filled glass of red wine. Reflected on the front of the glass was a kneeling figure, while the figure of a person standing at a window was reflected on the back. Slowly the figure standing at the window turned to face the one kneeling. "Well, spill it out already."
"It has been confirmed, sir." The kneeling demon replied, his large green tail curled behind him. "Our target is indeed in Ningen-kai and doing well. But, it has shown no signs that it has awakened."
". . . No worries." Carefully the figure tapped the glass of the windowsill with its long, sharp fingernail. "It will awaken in time . . . and when it does, I want it to be here."
"Sir. I shall send out a small team to retrieve the target." The demon replied with a bow.
"Please do." And with that, the figure watched as his demon servant disappeared from the room. He glanced at the glass of red wine before smiling slightly and turning back to the window.
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"That was fun." Numata replied as she walked down the sidewalk with the others, a cold drink in her hand. She smiled happily as she flicked a strand of her long orange hair off of her shoulder. "I never played tag before. We should do it again sometime."
"Yeah, we should." Keiko answered as she gently clinged onto Yusuke's arm.
"Hey, maybe next time we can get Hiei to join in." Yusuke replied with a grin as he glanced back at the koorime.
"Don't push your luck." Hiei cooly replied, glancing up at the others. "As if I'd let myself play such a senseless game."
"Aww . . . come on. It's a fun game." Numata answered, turning around and facing him.
Hiei looked at her and for the first time in a while, saw her smiling at him. He lost himself in her smile for a minute or two, but managed to regain himself. Quietly he looked away, not responding to Numata's comment.
Numata looked at the silent Hiei for a moment, until she was interupted by Botan's heavy sigh.
"Well, it's been a fun afternoon, everyone. But I have to go." Botan replied as she got a depressed look on her face.
"Aww . . . do you have to Botan-chan?" Kieko asked, looking sad at her friend that needed to leave.
"I'm afraid so." Botan answered, sighing again. But she soon smiled as she summoned her magical oar to her hand. "But I'll see you all again tomorrow! You can count on it!"
"Bye Botan-chan!" Everyone bid the blue-haired grim weaper a farewell as she rose into the orange-red sky and disappeared. Shortly after, Kurama exchanged his good-byes with everyone else, stating he had a test he needed to study for.
"Man, I'm starved. I can't wait to get some food inside of me." Kuwabara replied as he rubbed his stomach. It responded with a loud groan.
"Speaking of food," Keiko replied, looking up at Yusuke. Lightly she tugged on his arm, catching his attention. "You're coming over to my house for dinner tonight, right?"
"Of course." Yusuke answered with a smile. He then looked at the koorime that had been silent for some time. "What about you, Hiei? Care to come over to Keiko's for dinner tonight?"
"No thanks." Hiei quickly answered, his hands in both pockets. "I have other plans tonight."
"Like what?" Kuwabara asked, looking at the little koorime walking a foot or two behind him.
"That doesn't concern you, ningen." Hiei replied sharply, flashing a quick glare at him. He stopped walking and in a blink of an eye, disappeared from everyone's sight.
"There he goes again with his disappearing act." Yusuke sighed, his arm still being clinged by Keiko.
"Does he always do that?" Numata asked, looking at Yusuke, Keiko and Kuwabara confused.
"Yeah, that's just the way he is. Don't worry about it." Yusuke answered with a smile. "Now let's hurry up at get back to Keiko's place. I'm starving over here!"
As the quartet made their way down the sunset colored street, Hiei stood in a nearby tree. He watched them quietly, but with his eyes mainly focused on Numata. Something was telling him to watch her tonight, to keep her safe . . . but from what, he did not yet know.
"Mmm . . . that was a good dinner." Dishes in which food once sat upon were piled at the sink. Keiko walked Yusuke to the door, saying good-night to him before walked out and headed home. Keiko's mother was at the sink cleaning the pots and pans used to make the food while Numata cleaned the table.
"Numata, could you take this out back please?" Keiko's mother requested, referring to the large trashbag that sat by the back door.
"Sure thing." Numata answered with a smile. Ever since she woke up, she had been living with Keiko and her family. For the past week, when ever Keiko was out at school, Numata hepled her parents with the restaurant. It was the least she could do for letting her stay with them.
"Thank you, Numata." Keiko's mother answered with a smile as she placed a dish in the dish rack.
"No problem." Numata replied as she grabbed the trashbag and pushed the door open. She slipped on her shoes before heading out. Quietly she walked down the dimly lit alley that lead to the dumpster. As the dumpster came into sight, she suddenly stopped in her tracks. Quickly Numata spun around, her eyes wide and full of shock.
"I see you were able to sense me." A shadow that had been projected on a nearby wall suddenly began to move. It walked out to the middle of the alleyway where it morphed into a half-human, half-lizard creature. He smiled at Numata as he raised a clawed hand to her. "If you wouldn't mind, I'd like you to accompany me somewhere."
"No chance." Numata answered, facing the creature completely. Her hands rolled into tight fists and slowly, she could feel her blood began to boil. Before her stood a threat . . . a threat that made her frighten, but excited a part deep down inside her body.
"We could do this the easy way or the hard way." The creature looked at Numata's eyes and smiled, his tail slowly moving back and forth. "But I can see in your eyes that you've chosen the hard way. Heh . . . let's hope you make this very enjoyable for me."
/Kill him . . ./ A voice whispered inside of Numata's head as her heart began to race. Something inside of her was beginning to stur at the thought of fight. It was something Numata knew nothing about, but knew that no matter what, she shouldn't let it free.
"What's the matter, girly?"
Numata was suddenly snapped back to reality by the creature's voice and jumped back just as he swung his claws at her. She dropped the bag of trash as she ducked another swing. Bringing her right leg around, she kicked the creature in the side. As he doubled-over in pain, Numata moved past him and began to run. But the creature's tail grabbed her leg before she could get any further, and pulled her back.
"Damn it. That hurt." The lizard creature hissed as he looked down at Numata. His tail dragged her across the ground, bringing her closer to him. When she was close enough, he bent over and picked her up by her neck. "I should make you pay for doing that to me."
/What are you waiting for? Kill him. You know deep down inside that you wish to do so./ The voice spoke again. She could feel whatever it was inside her began to stir more restlessly, showing signs that it wished to be released. Numata's hands began to throb, desperate to be soaked in blood . . . desperate to kill.
"No . . . stop . . . " Numata pleaded, trying to pry the creature's hand off of her throat.
"Hehehe . . . that's it, BEG for you life." The lizard creature laughed, looking Numata coldly in the eyes. Suddenly his eyes noticed a bright flash of light streak across his arm. He stood there strangling Numata by her neck for a few minutes until his arm began to fall off. "WHAT THE HELL?"
Numata landed on the ground and quickly worked her way free from the creature's now severed arm. She scooted away from the arm lying in front of her. It was just an arm, but she saw something more terrifying in her mind . . . a pool of red, a frighten girl and demonic figure standing in front of her, a grin on its face. But before Numata could complete lose herself in this vision, she felt a hand placed gently on her shoulder.
"You all right?" Hiei glanced down at Numata and was taken back by how utterly terrified she looked. This was a look that he had seen on her face a long time ago . . . this was a look that he never liked seeing on her face. He quickly turned his gaze away from Numata and glared at the creature that stood before them, howling in agony from his lost arm. "Tell me who you are and what you want with her. If you do, I promise not to chop off anymore of your limbs."
"Bastard!" The lizard demon shouted, charging toward Hiei in blind rage. He seeked vengence for his severed arm and sought the venegnece in beating Hiei into a pulp.
Hiei darted past Numata, unsheething his sword. Gently his pushed off the ground and meeting his opponent head on, began to hack and slash at him. He was furious because this creature had made Numata so frightened, she was afraid to speak . . . and that reminded him of the one person he had hated for making her feel that way: her father, Akujin.
Numata watched as the creature was sliced away by Hiei, still finding herself unable to move or speak. Her body trembled as her heart raced. She could feel the fear building up inside of her with each swing Hiei took with his sword.
"MOTHER!" The table was knocked over, causing the birthday cake to land on the floor. Backed up against the wall and bleeding from a wound that traveled down her neck to her chest, she watched in fear. Her mother willingly throwing herself in harm's way . . . the pool of red covering the floor . . . and in the center of it stood a demonic figure, grinning at her.
"Now you now what I truly am." It spoke in a low voice that sent a chill up her spine. It looked down upon her, its blood red eyes full of insanity. It grinned, showing the frightened girl his blood covered teeth. "I would kill you now, but I still need you, my dear daughter . . . Numata . . ."
The lizard creature let out a loud cry as he fell to his knee and began to fade. Hiei wiped the blade of his sword clean before sliding it slowly back into its scabbard. He kicked the arm of the creature that was severed earlier and watched as it began to fade.
"It's all right. It's gone now so--" Hiei turned to face Numata and suddenly paused.
"Mother was . . . mother was . . . " Numata was hunched over, her wide eyes full of fear as she stared at the ground. She could hear the voice in her head softly laughing at her dispair . . . as if amused by her suffering. She closed her eyes and shook her head, sending the tears flying. "Why did mother . . . ? Why?"
/It seems her memories are starting to come back . . ./ Hiei thought to himself. He silently watched as Numata knelt there crying, feeling he should do something but clueless as to what he should do. Instead he just stood there by her side, watching her tears fall.
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"So Higen failed? Ha! He was a worthless good for nothing anyways!"
"Yes, but because of his failure, our presence is sure to be known now and might raise the suspicions of the Reikai Tentais surrounding the target."
"Regardless of what obstacles lying in our path, our priority is to get the target and deliver it to the General right away."
"Which is why I should go." A figure covered in the darkness stepped forward, causing his comrades to look at him. "Unlike Higen, I will not fail."
And there you have it! Chapter two! I've noticed that I write chapters quiet unevenly . . . some are longer then others while others are sometimes very short because I can't think of what else to write without it seeming to drag on and on. oO Anyways, reviews are once again appreciated! Please? See you all in chapter three!