Chapter 4: The Red Blood Amulet

The next day came in a rush of noise and celebration. Kurama awoke the next morning to loud and raucous partying. Startled that people could be in the park so early, he leapt into the higher branches, remembering how easily Rena had seen him the night before. There were people all around, and the animals that were usually in the enclosure were roaming freely. The fox's sensitive nose picked up Akiko's scent on the wind and saw her weaving her way toward him. Leaning casually against the base of his tree, she muttered, "You had better stay up there for a while."

She was whispering, but Kurama could hear every word. It was scary, the amount of humans that could fit into that tiny part of the park, but there they all were. The fox was relieved not to spot Rena in the crowd; the memory of her face the previous night still sent shivers down his spine. Akiko continued to lounge against the tree as though there was nothing wrong, as though she wasn't aware that a demon lingered in the upper branches. The fox looked out over the throng and found what he thought to be the center of attention; a man in bright red pants that were too big for him and a lime, striped shirt was handing out balloons to the children. It then struck Kurama that there were more of these people, scattered amongst the crowd. A balloon floated up and he snatched it.

Something roared to life behind him and the demon spun on his branch to see what it was. A long line of cars had blocked the road in both directions and drivers were becoming angry. What was all this? Kurama couldn't think of anything that attracted this much attention in Demon World, but Living World was a lot stranger than Demon World, and had almost as many surprises. The balloon that he'd been holding tightly suddenly popped and he jumped and dropped the pieces.

The murmur of the crowd became a roar when they saw the fox demon rise from the thick tree branches. Akiko faked panic and dashed away from the tree. Kurama cursed as he looked out over the crowd, each face looking at him. A deadly silence fell over the humans and the fox weighed his options. He would have to leave and go into hiding elsewhere. It was obviously not safe in the park. That decided, he ascended until the humans below became not much more than specks and flew away toward the city. He would find an alley or something where people didn't go.

Akiko forced herself to breathe and tried not to panic. Kurama was a smart demon, he'd figure out something. There were tons of places in Tokyo that he could hide. She didn't like not knowing where he was and planned to search for him as soon as she could. Hopefully he would have enough sense not to draw attention to himself again. She could only hope.

Kurama landed on top of an apartment building to think. He'd really made a mess of that. Pulling his knees up against his chest, the fox demon watched the people down below moving around as though nothing had happened. They probably hadn't learned about the fiasco in the park yet. He wasn't sure if news traveled as fast as it did in the Makai, but he was positive that by sunrise most of the people below him would be on the lookout for a demon.

"That couldn't have gotten much worse," Kurama grumbled irritably. Well, maybe it could have been. Kuronue would have wanted to kill the humans if he'd been discovered. Kuronue… Kurama again wondered what his friend was doing. "He's probably wondering what the hell is taking me so long to get back." If that were the case, he'd probably be wondering for a very long time.

"Hyoga!"

Kuronue forced his wings to flap faster as he spotted the old shaman's tent on the horizon. Curse that old demon for moving so much! It had taken him two days to locate him after Kurama had vanished, and Kuronue was in no way a slow flier. Quickly approaching Hyoga's tent, Kuronue landed slightly harder than he intended and sprinted the rest of the way, knocking aside jars and vials in his haste.

Hyoga poked his head out the door flap of his tent and calmly began to collect his stones and shells, ignoring the demon that stood panting beside him. After an aggravating moment in which Kuronue caught his breath and Hyoga began building his fire the bat demon spoke, forcing himself to be calm.

"Where's Kurama?" he asked bluntly, deciding he wasn't going to waste time getting to the point. Hyoga didn't answer, still tending the small flames that worked his predictions. There was something about him that Kuronue hadn't seen before. His movements were more precise, more focused, as though he had planned them beforehand. Another painfully slow minute passed in which neither demon spoke.

"Your friend," Hyoga said finally, "has passed between our world and the world of humans." Hyoga stroked the fire with a stick and it flared. "I have been watching him since he left." Ever so casually his hand drifted over the fire and Kuronue thought he saw a small bit of powder fall into the flames.

"How do we get him back?" Kuronue asked forcefully.

"How do we get him back?" Hyoga echoed. "I daresay, the better question would be, can we get him back? The Living World is a strange place, as your friend has seen." Hyoga tossed a pair of shells into the flames and Kuronue gasped. It was like a movie playing in the blaze. He could see Kurama, sitting in the branches of a tree, watching people below him. A girl appeared beneath his branch and the fox dropped to the ground.

"Why didn't you show me this before?" Kuronue continued to watch, a slightly amused smile playing over his features as he watched his friend brave the elevator. It was relieving to see that Kurama was okay.

Hyoga smiled to himself and changed the scene in the fire. Kurama was standing on a rooftop overlooking the city. A different girl was beside him now, and Kuronue had to confess to himself she was gorgeous. She started moving closer to the demon, who looked nervous. Hyoga spoke just before the fox demon enjoyed his kiss on the roof.

"He's had quite a time trying to keep up with the humans and their ways," Hyoga said quietly. "But so far he's managed okay. You can go to him, if you want."

Kuronue looked at the shaman as though he'd sprouted horns. "I can…why didn't you mention this before!" Kuronue was too happy to curse his lack of information. He would go! "Send me through! Send me!"

"You are aware," Hyoga asked sharply, "that it's not likely you will be able to return?" As he spoke, Hyoga stroked the flames of his fire. "I am still unaware of how to create a portal to transport you back. It was by luck that I stumbled into a void and was able to manipulate it to send you to Human World."

"Precautions are for the weak," Kuronue answered harshly. "Kurama's in there and I'm going too!" The bat demon beat his wings impatiently and Hyoga sighed in defeat. Kuronue glared at the ground as he flexed his claws. Why didn't anyone understand? He was strong enough to do this. "Are you just going to sit there or are we going to find this void?"

Hyoga shook his head and rose to his feet. Young demons, they were so impatient! Kuronue should be grateful that his friend was alive, not out risking his own neck on a fool's attempt. Collecting a small vial of a strange liquid that looked suspiciously like blood, Hyoga beckoned for Kuronue to follow him. "You had best be discreet," Hyoga cautioned. "If demons were to find out about your and Kurama's travel the Living World would be overrun by bloodthirsty monsters."

"You don't have to tell me to be discreet," Kuronue answered with a trace of sarcasm, "it's in a thief's nature."

"As you wish," Hyoga replied, and took to the skies, flying swiftly south. Kuronue pumped his powerful wings and glided smoothly into the air, dancing like a caged animal that had just been freed. He was finally going after Kurama!

They flew for several hours, during which the skies grew increasingly darker and the terrain below them more barren and desolate. They were entering areas Kuronue had never seen before. There was no decrease in Hyoga's pace, however, and he seemed undaunted that they had journeyed far beyond Kuronue's estimate of where they should have been. In fact, the shaman seemed unaware of anything; his eyes were closed and Kuronue wasn't sure if he was even awake, or had just charmed himself to float while he slept.

Large mountains in the far distance distracted Kuronue from his marveling at Hyoga's travel means. There was a strange mist starting to swirl around them, and Kuronue could sense an overwhelming power aura hanging in the air. Hyoga opened one eye and nodded, pleased about something Kuronue could only guess, before starting his descent. Kuronue went into a dive and opened his leathery wings, making a smooth landing on the rocky ground. Hyoga alighted alongside him without a sound and immediately began to lead Kuronue up the rocky mountainside.

"Wouldn't it just be easier to fly?" Kuronue asked once it was clear they would be hiking the whole way.

"Flying would be of no use here," Hyoga retorted with a dry laugh. "You miss many things from the air that are obvious to a demon on the ground."

Kuronue himself had very poor eyesight, but he decided not to mention this and continued to trudge along the mountainside, not quite sure what he was supposed to be looking for. It seemed though that Hyoga at least had a plan, because he would often pause and examine some mark or track on the ground that Kuronue couldn't see, always leading westward. This continued for a time before Hyoga held up his hand for Kuronue to halt. The bat demon stopped, bewildered, as Hyoga scattered some shells from his cloak in the shape of an oval on the ground.

"Give me your hand," Hyoga commanded without looking up. Kuronue did as he was told and felt a slight prick on his palm as Hyoga slit it with a knife, collection the blood in a small bottle. Dropping a pair of shells that had been coated in the newly drawn blood into the center of the oval sent shivers of anticipation down Kuronue's spine. He could feel the void's vast power growing by the second.

"This is it," Hyoga whispered, his voice barely concealing his anxiety. "I can't guarantee how long I'll be able to hold it, so be quick. If it closes with you on the other side, you must try and remain out of sight. Kurama should be fairly easy to find; his demon energy is quite unique."

Kuronue nodded and watched as Hyoga used his magic to tilt the created portal upward. Beyond it Kuronue could see strange sights of buildings and a dark sky. That was the world he was going to! "Of you go then," Hyoga prompted him, and Kuronue stepped up to the gateway, his heart racing. He took another step and felt his stomach fall out. Roaring wind swirled around him, deafening him to Hyoga's last precautions. It must be working!

The sun set once again with Kurama lost in thought. The fox demon had taken refuge on top of a large building far from the city, and more importantly, far from the park he'd exposed himself in earlier. The demon's amber eyes shimmered and he shook his head forcefully. His thoughts were muddled, swirling in his head in a jumble. Kuronue's face kept resurfacing, along with Akiko's. Kurama felt, for the first time, a resistance to that once total desiring to return to his own world. Maybe he had something here after all…the fox cursed himself for even thinking such a thing.

He leaned against an air-conditioning unit mounted on the roof and curled his tail over his feet, his knees tucked tightly against his chest. What was this, this feeling? Kurama had never felt anything like it before. Could it be…he couldn't be lonely. There were too many things for him to explore here to be lonely, too many distractions. He rubbed his eyes forcefully with his arm.

A faint surge of power distracted Kurama from his thoughts. Something all too familiar about that power kept the demon's attention before he realized that he shouldn't be feeling demon energy at all. That could only mean one thing: "Kuronue's here!"

Kurama leapt up, overjoyed to finally sense his friend's energy. Jumping into the air he covered the distance back to the park in record time, tracing Kuronue's energy. It still confused him that Kuronue hadn't found how to pass through before, but he didn't dwell on it too long. Landing on the grass in a thankfully deserted area, the fox demon saw a sight that made his blood run cold.

Kuronue felt a searing pain in his chest and knew something was wrong. He tried to look back at Hyoga, but the opening that he'd just passed through wasn't visible any longer. Looking back toward his destination, an open field, Kuronue felt a sharp pain in his legs, as though he was being pulled from both directions. The wind was roaring in his ears. What was happening?

Kurama saw Kuronue held immobile in the large swirling void and tried to force his deadened legs to run to him. Kuronue's face was contorted in pain and it sickened his friend to see him in such a way. "Kuronue!" Dashing forward, Kurama grabbed his friend's hand and pulled him as hard as he could. His hand was sliding along Kuronue's sweaty palm; he didn't have the strength to pull him free.

Kuronue felt someone grab his hand and forced his eyes open. It was Kurama! He tried to call out, but only managed a weak cry, barely audible over the roaring in his ears. Throwing his other hand out wildly, his nails raked the back of the fox's hand, leaving red trails of blood from his claws. The fox demon was sweating and Kuronue felt his grip loosening. "Kurama!"

It was over before either demon knew what had happened. Kurama collapsed on the ground, all his strength spent, sweat pouring off his brow. Between his ragged gasps the fox weakly called his friend's name. There was no answering cry. The fox demon closed his fists and slammed them into the ground angrily. He was gone, Kuronue hadn't made it. He had been so close! An angry tear trickled down Kurama's cheek but he made no effort to brush it away. His claws were digging into his palms from his tense fists.

A bright glare flashed in Kurama's eye and he looked up. Something on the ground was reflecting the last of the day's sunlight. Raking his claws through the grass the fox demon's hand closed on a stone, smooth and hard. He rubbed his thumb against it, not focusing as he scraped away the mud. It wasn't until he uncovered something red that Kurama blinked and took a closer look at the trinket he'd found.

"This is Kuronue's necklace, the one he always wears." The fox's hand closed around the blood-red stone and he slammed the fist holding it back into the ground. Kuronue was probably dead by now. He could still hear him, echoing in his ears: "Kurama!" He'd been so close, so stupidly close! Kurama gently fastened the necklace around his own neck and pushed himself from his knees to his feet.

The sun had completely set by then and it was dark. The fox walked aimlessly through the park as though in a dream, his eyes slightly out of focus. The trees around him became more closely grown and cast strange shadows with their upper branches on his face, but he didn't care. Without a sound he sprung into a tree and slumped on one of the branches, the leaves rustling softly from his jump. He could feel the cold metal of Kuronue's amulet against his chest, the last reminder of his life in the Makai. The moonlight was reflecting off the red stone set in the center, casting a reddish glow on Kurama's face. Red, like blood.

Kurama's thoughts were haunted by Kuronue's pained face and he got no sleep that night. Just before sunrise he retreated from the cover of his tree and dropped to the ground. The surroundings the fox found himself in were strangely familiar; he was back at the playground where he'd been before. He hadn't noticed in the dark. Kurama spotted Akiko coming toward him and immediately changed his direction, hoping she wouldn't notice him and wondering why she was in the park before dawn. Of course, following the luck he'd had the past day, she looked directly at him and changed her own course.

There you are," she exclaimed, hurrying over toward him. "I was so worried after what happened yesterday." Akiko halted when she saw Kurama's mournful eyes. "What happened?"

The fox sighed and turned away, his eyes tightly closed. He couldn't, he couldn't tell her what had happened the night before; couldn't tell her his friend was dead. When Kurama opened his eyes he saw Akiko, closer to him than she'd ever been, looking up in his face with concerned eyes. He took a step back and Akiko didn't pursue him, instead waiting where she stood for him to reveal some information. When he didn't say anything, Akiko turned her back and made to leave, hoping her feigned absence would draw some details from Kurama.

"Kurama?" Akiko asked when she was sure he wasn't going to say anything, "Rena came up to me yesterday and asked about you. She's astounded that you turned her down."

"So?" the demon snapped bitterly and Akiko turned back around in surprise. "That little bitch got what she deserved. Clingy human slut." Kurama growled and bared his fangs in Rena's memory.

"What is with you today? Something happened yesterday, didn't it?" Akiko pressed carefully, watching as Kurama's eyes, already hardened with anger, narrowed into his darkest glare. Then, to her immense surprise, he turned his back, his eyes shadowed by his long, silver bangs.

"You really want to know?" he asked her darkly, and Akiko mentally decided she didn't want to know, though she said nothing to Kurama. "You really want to know, do you? The portal that sent me here opened again last night. My friend got trapped in the middle and is probably dead by now." He gritted his teeth as a fresh wave of tears built up in his eyes. "And you know why? Because I was too slow to save him! I was right there, right there, and I couldn't even pull him free!" Kurama cursed silently as a tear made the jump from his eye down his cheek.

Akiko was speechless. It must have been horrible! She watched helplessly as Kurama glared at the base of the nearest tree. He looked so alone. Before she knew what she was doing, Akiko stepped alongside the fox that had become her newest friend and took his hand in her own. He jumped and looked down at her, but Akiko wasn't looking back, instead watching the tree. Kurama forced himself to breathe and calmed his racing heart, suddenly aware Akiko was resting her head against his arm. A warm glow was circulating his body from where Akiko had his hand. Before he knew it, his hand had closed around her own and his head drooped to rest on hers.