I'm back!!!! I'm so sorry it took me so long to update but I have valid
reasons...really I do!!! Well for starters I was in summer school taking
precal and I had to devote the majority of my time on that. Secondly after
I finished summer school, I went out of town on a vacation, which I have
just returned from, yesterday. Thirdly, this was the longest, hardest damn
chapter I have ever written. Do you all realize that I have been writing
this for a couple of weeks now!!! But I had to do it, 'cause, you guys are
worth it!!!
I'd like to send a shout out to insane rurounis for reviewing. Thank you sooooooooooooooooo much!!!
Now with no further ado (I think that's how it goes scratches head) on with chapter...uh...oh well on with the chapter!!!
P.s. this chapter contains some lemony goodness, just a warning...hey this fic IS rated R.
=
Chapter 12 Memories part 3
'I remembered that journey like it was yesterday; the journey to acquire the Shaii and all of its power; the journey that would lead to my triumph over Sai Uli and to my revenge.' Shihiko leaned back into her crème leather couch cradling a deep, garnet flower, resembling an East Indian lotus. The flower was a deep garnet at the base, almost purple in color, and gradually lightened until it was a red orange color at the top of the blossom. Each petal had intermittent speckles of gold running through it along the edges.
She stroked the delicate petals gently, feeling the silky texture of it, 'the journey that would lead to my first heartbreak.' She brought the flower up to her chest and covered it with both of her hands, "Yoko," she whispered sadly.
==Memory==
They walked through the darkened forest; demonic beings were present yet hidden everywhere. Shihiko lead Kurama and Kuronue through the darkness to the ruins of the ancient phoenix city. It had taken them an entire week just to reach halfway to the city; a week which included batting off the comings on of a certain over-sexed, gorgeous kitsune. Shihiko had to admit that it had been hard to resist him, for he was a master in the art of seduction. One blatant seductive act or well placed touch or glance sent her mind spiraling into hot and hazy thoughts of she and the silver haired kitsune entangled, sweating and panting under the starlit night of Makai. Kuronue had often teased her about her inability to hide her lust and emotions over Kurama.
"Hmmm, you know, that world weary front you put up is so phony. Your reactions put me in the mind of an inexperienced, tittering, school girl on the verge of her first sightings of a naked man."
This, of course would garner a potent evil glare from the white dragon and a quick retort which usually sounded like, "Well, just don't forget that it was this so-called 'inexperienced, tittering, schoolgirl' who seduced your sorry ass and knocked you witless in the dirt," she would say calmly, batting her eyelashes mockingly. With a twitch of his left eye Kuronue would walk away.
"Ch, whatever,"
It was then, when they were all alone that the fox's seduction would commence. Shihiko remembered the night she gave into him and his lustful demands. It was approximately one week after they had begun their journey; Kuronue had disappeared after their little spat and left them alone. They sat in the middle of the forest, a blazing fire roared between them, the Yoko on one side of the blaze and she on the other. She tried to look anywhere except across the fire where she knew he was. She could feel his hot gaze intent upon her, for it was a very palpable thing.
"Tell me Shihiko," his deep, purring voice lulled her to look his way. Reluctantly she turned, her gaze finding his. The intense golden orbs were glowing slightly in the night, "how long do you plan on resisting this thing between us?"
her breath caught in her throat as she examined him as he spoke. The darkly handsome masculine features of his face glowed softly from the light of the fire. He leaned back gently against a tree that was behind him; the action caused his shirt to gape open and reveal hard, smooth, muscled plane of his torso and chest area. The golden tan sight was enough to cause the pent up breath in her throat to escape in a gentle, yet audible sigh.
A slow satisfied smile spread across his arresting features. The act made her blush in embarrassment and lust, and rise up to leave. She couldn't fathom how the fox had driven her into a sexual frenzy. Her body longed and ached for him in a way that she never knew existed. All of her sexual experiences had been ones of torture and rape. Never had she enjoyed or felt pleasure during sex. Never had she known that there existed mutual satisfaction and pleasure. The youko presented her with new feelings and emotions that she thought she would never be capable of feeling due to her past experiences. Feelings and emotions which she wanted to explore, but, knew not how to go about doing so.
She found herself in front of a small body of water in a clearing of the forest. She took off her shoe and placed her foot in the water partially. The water was very cold, but instead of agitating her, it calmed and soothed her. She proceeded to remove her other shoe and the rest of her clothes and climbed into the arctic water. She waded deeper into the pool until she was waist deep in its frosty depths. She gazed up at the full moon, its silvery light placing everything in an ethereal and whitish glow. She closed her eyes as the chilling effects of the water began to calm her demonic urges.
She was startled out of her reverie as two very toasty hands snaked around her waist. Appalled that anyone would have the audacity to come upon her while she was bathing, she rose her ki level and formed a white ball of energy in her right hand, "insect!" she hissed as she turned around, preparing to deliver her wrath onto her intruder. However, before the flaming ball of energy came into contact with the other, a strong hand clasped around her wrist preventing her from going any further. She looked up with fury in her eyes at the face of this interloper. Her eyes caught the sight of a stunning gold and long vibrant silver locks.
Kurama.
The energy in her hand disappeared slowly as if to mirror her uncertain emotions and hesitation. "Wha- what are you..." she stopped suddenly as she began to notice his nude form and then she suddenly remembered the extent of her nudity as well. Her cheeks turned crimson at their situation. Kurama continued to stare down into her eyes. The traces of the cocky, cajoling fox were all gone from his visage, all that she could read from his hazy, passionate eyes was what he wanted and his determination to get it.
He slid his warm hand from around her wrist and up her arm, enjoying the feel of her smooth, silky skin. He continued his path to her neck where the eye, which was all she had on, rested. However, he did not linger there; his hand moved to the downy softness of her left cheek and stroked it gently. She expelled a shaky breath as she felt him caressing her. The path of his hand left her skin scorching hot and needy for his touch again.
His other hand moved from her waist, where he had been massaging the small of her back, and traveled slowly up her back, enjoying the feel of her long silky hair mixed the feel of her now dampening skin. His hand reached the back of her scalp and began messaging there as well. A soft moan escaped her lips from the combination of his wandering, messaging hands and his intense golden eyes upon her. She couldn't deny what she wanted any longer, she wanted to be with him, she wanted to know what it felt like to be made love to; she wanted to know mutual pleasure. Unable to restrain herself any longer, she closed her eyes and tilted her head upwards towards him.
A gentle smile tugged at the youko's lips at her innocent actions. With one last caress of her cheek, he brought his hand back to her waist and drew her in closer for a kiss. He leaned down and pressed his lips softly onto hers. He moved away from her lips and began to nibble and deliver soft, feathery kisses around them and down her jaw line and neck. He drew back a little to gage her reaction. Her eyes fluttered open slowly and she gave him a somewhat questioning gaze. Before she could inquire as to why he stopped he brought his finger gently up to her mouth to silence her. He arched his eyebrow and then gave her a look which clearly said, 'if you wish this to go any further, then you must take control.' She bit her lip pensively for she knew exactly what her wanted, but how would she go about...
Suddenly an idea presented itself; she gave him a mischievous look and brought her right hand up to his lower abdomen. She felt the muscles there slightly jump at her touch; she brought her other hand around his back. She then leaned her head towards his chest (remember Yoko is very tall) and began to lick a path upward between the muscles of his torso and his chest. She felt him shudder at the sensation of being licked by her. Her hands began moving all over his body as her mouth found his nipple. As she began to gently draw on it he wrapped his arms around her to pull her closer to him, "Koibito," (1.) he moaned gently. She smiled gently against his skin at his reactions. As she began to nibble and draw harder on him, his breathing turned from a calmed one to shallow panting.
She moved away from his chest and stood on tip toe to reach his neck. Sensing her need, he lifted her up to him, her body sliding almost unbearably against his manhood. He felt her mouth latch onto his throat and her teeth grazing against the sensitive skin there. He was beyond all thinking as he too began to nibble and suck on her neck. She ceased her exploration of him as a result of the divine feelings he was making her experience. As he tasted of her, he felt her nails score his shoulders and his back, and an all too animalistic nature took hold of him. Unable to bear being apart from her any longer he scooped her up in his arms, bridle style, and walked deeper into the pool. He shifted her weight so that he could hold her with one arm; with the other arm he positioned her legs around his waist to make her more accessible to him. While he was adjusting her position on him, she took up the nerve to kiss him again, only this time her shyness and hesitation and his control had all but disappeared. Their kiss this time was unrestrained, wild and passionate. She could find no words to explain the sensations she was feeling. Never, in all of her years of living, nor in any of her sexual experiences had she felt the euphoria that plagued her in Kurama's arms. She had never known that making love could be so wondrous or pleasurable. She had never known that she could find happiness in a man's arms.
Later that night as she lay with him she no longer thought of her past misfortunes, she no longer thought of Sai Uli's terror, she no longer thought of Rain or Loriel, all she thought and all she felt was him.
For the next week and a half they were consumed with each other, each time they made love proved to be more passionate and emotion filled than the last. Each time they lay together afterward he seemed to open up more and accept her more in his life. Each moment they spent together seemed to make the prospect of becoming his more plausible.
'So why then did you...'
==end memory==
"Shihiko," a male voice pulled her out of her trance. She was at school and it was lunch time. She had decided to avoid her 'fan club' today so she went up to the roof of the building for lunch to find solitude; and now after all of her efforts to escape someone had managed to find her. By Ryuushi! These humans were becoming more annoying to her by the second. The voice sounded again only this time it held a hint of concern. She pulled her gaze away from the scenery of the front yard of the school to view this intruder upon her seclusion.
She couldn't have been more shocked or put out by who she saw. Speak of the devil, it was Kurama, or Suuichi as he is called in this realm. He could not have come at a more inopportune time; right at the moment where her thoughts of him were beginning to turn sour. "Suuichi," she almost whispered as she planted a sickly smile on her face.
He looked so concerned, "are you alright?" he asked.
'Am I alright?' she thought bitterly. 'If only you knew' "Hai! Why do you ask?" she said not so convincingly.
Kurama watched her meditatively, something was wrong with her. It was as if everything she said was calculated, measured so that she wouldn't let anything slip out. She was also very withdrawn today, 'probably because last night's events,' he thought to himself. He knew that he was acting a bit more yoko-ish last night and that he had probably scared the hell out of her.
He began to walk towards her and all she could do was watch him. All she could do was to find some traces of the man, the youko, who had given her so much pleasure and so much pain. When he came near me he sat on the ledge by me. He looked down at the court yard, "an interesting view," he said matter-of-factly, "why have you isolated yourself here?"
"I just needed some time to be alone, some time to think, that's all," she said not looking him in the eye.
"Yes," he said, he turned to her, his penetrating emerald gaze peering down into her, "I've noticed you're a bit with drawn, would that have anything to do with last night's proceedings?"
She shrugged, "it's not everyday that you witness something so horrific," she turned to look him dead in the eyes, "or to witness demons in human form roam about, their presence only capable of destroying the lives they touch, both physically and emotionally...don't you agree...Yoko,"
Physically, he did not flinch, but something in his eyes did change. His beautiful green irises were now tinged with gold, a color which symbolized the demonic presence within him. He drew back slightly; his face now hardened and emotionless, "who are you?" he said in a deadly whisper.
She closed her eyes, straining to hold back the emotions so ready to spew forth from her: 'Who am I? Who am I? I am the woman whom you abandoned a century ago; the woman whose heart you stole; the woman who nearly stole your heart in turn...can't you see...'
==Memory again ==
They entered the city. It was a desolate place, even though it was day, the skies were black with grey clouds, the sun never shown itself in this ruined city. The three ventured further until they reached the center of the city, the supposed resting place of the Shaii. Suddenly a string chilling wind swept through the area. It was the kind of breeze that went right though you; the kind that let you know that preternatural beings dwelled in the vicinity.
"What the fuck was that?" Kuronue asked.
"I think we're about to find out," said Kurama.
Out of no where about 200 apparitions appeared, surrounding them. They all were dressed in ancient armor that looked somewhat Chinese and their physiques were also in a state which suggested that the apparitions were no longer alive.
"These must be the guardians of the Shaii," Shihiko whispered to the others, "they are the ones who died protecting the city and the sword before the race destroyed,"
"That is correct child," echoed one apparition who seemed to be the leader by the look of his somewhat 'grander' clothing. "And if you three wish to possess the Shaii you must defeat us, and even if you do, somehow, manage the task of overcoming us, you will never be able to wield the Shaii, for all the spirits contained in the sword will rise up against you and devour your soul,"
"Shit," Kuronue said wide eyed, "so little- miss- levity, how are you going to deal with that?"
Shihiko looked over her shoulder at Kuronue and gave him a cocky grin, "don't worry batsy (2.), that's already taken care of,"
"Hn, I knew a stickler like you would already have it figured out. So you guys ready to kick some ghostly ass?" said Kuronue as he pulled out his two miniature scythes.
Kurama chuckled slightly, "that's so like you Kuronue, always hard up for a battle," he said as he pulled a seed from his hair. With a flex of his energy, the seed blossomed into a huge white flower with long ropey vines that wrapped around Kurama's entire right arm. "What is THAT? It's huge!" Shihiko asked astonished.
"Remind you of something?" he joked, her face turned crimson instantly at his blunt connotation, "it's a special flower called the Ohmphala. It allows me to transmit the energy I place into the plant to be used as an energy blast," he took aim suddenly, "watch,"
With that he began to accumulate his energy into the flower and out of the blue intermittent sparks of energy began to fly around the blossom, "Ohmphala blast!!!" he said, then all of the energy surrounding his arm formed into a huge blazing white energy orb. Without warning he launched it into the heart of the phantom army and as soon as the blast hit the ground it exploded into a blinding white light. The explosion seemed to trigger a chain reaction which resulted in the destruction of the entire army, including the ones that were behind them. All that could be heard was the piercing screams of the apparitions as they met with their end. When the light died away all that was left was a huge crater that surrounded them.
Shihiko stood with her mouth gaped open at the sight, and Kuronue whistled at his partner's thorough job, "and you say I'm hard up for battle?"
He smiled mockingly at Kuronue as he retracted his weapon, "shall we go then,"
"Not so fast demon," a voice echoed from out of no where.
"It can't be," Kurama whispered.
"Wait a minute," Shihiko said, "they can't be defeated that way because their already dead,"
"I know that. That's why I used this particular plant; it works on both the living and the dead,"
One by one the ghosts rose from the ground, "Well apparently it does not," she said, 'damn this means that I'll have to take matters into my own hands,' she thought reluctantly. Suddenly the apparitions charged them. Each now bearing weapons which were indeed real. As the army came abreast of them Kuronue opened his wings and took to the sky as a wave of ghosts locked onto him. While in the air he launched his faithful chained miniature scythes at the enemy. Each one screaming in agony as the scythes ripped through them, making them disappear. However after he injured and 'killed' on it would only come back as if nothing had happened.
Shihiko and Kurama had their hands full as well. Kurama had materialized a long, sharp, wooden plant which he wielded like a sword, cutting down any apparition that dared to attack him. Along side of him Shihiko held her own as she delivered wave upon wave of energy blasts, knocking back her opponents. They too, however, met with the same misfortune as Kuronue as the demons they 'killed,' rematerialized and launched another assault upon them.
"Damn, there's no end to them," Kuronue voiced.
In an act of heroism that she knew she would regret later Shihiko took charge, "Kuronue, Kurama, get back, let me take care of them," she said while still fending off against the unending torrent of phantoms.
"Are you crazy," Kurama hissed.
"No! I have a plan...uhg...trust me!!!" she said. She could see in his eyes that he was reluctant to do as she requested but unexpectedly he turned to her slightly
"I do trust you," he said a little hesitantly, "fine I'll go... be careful," after he said that he leapt away gracefully. Before she had time to let it sink in what he was saying to her, she was brought back into the battle as she felt a blade pierce the fleshy part of her right shoulder. She tried not to cry out in pain, she would not show these monsters any weakness on her part.
"You all," she said in between delivering blows to the overwhelming number of enemies, "are really...starting...to PISS...ME...OFF!!! Energy Shield!!!" suddenly a huge bright blue sphere surrounded her knocking back all of the demons pressed against her, without wasting any time Shihiko took an unusual position clasping her hands together bringing them up towards her face. She extended her index and middle finger on both her hands and began chanting (A/N: no this is not Genkai's spirit wave). "Ohm-awa-ryin-obishi- sowaka!!!" before the apparitions knew what she was doing, it was already too late. Each one of them began dropping like flies, and this time their deaths were different. Each phantom went up in a blaze of scalding white fire. Within one minute the entire army was gone-for good.
When Kuronue and Kurama reached her, they noticed her labored breath and the sweat on her brow. "You're injured, we should treat that now," said Kurama. He was forestalled, however when she raised her hand in protest.
"I'm fine. I assure you. We must not rest now, not when we are so close," she indicated to the ruined temple ahead which housed the Shaii.
The three of them headed to the temple. When they entered all of them gasped at what they saw. Floating in the center of the temple glowing in all of its silver and white glory was the sword of Shaii. The sword resembled a Katana due to its thin, long, and slightly curved blade; however the hilt of the sword was more decorative. On each side of the hilt were long, outstretched, silver wings with a sharp talon at the end of each wing.
Kuronue and Kurama were so caught up in reverence of the beautiful sword that they barely even noticed Shihiko moving towards it. She knew of the test that she would have to endure in order to become the true wielder of the sword. Surviving the test was plausible, that is, it was plausible before she used the balk of her energy defeating the phantom army. However, now...she shook her head to rid herself of such thoughts, it was too late to turn back now; she had run out of time. Now was the time for her to acquire the power to defeat her foes and get her revenge.
Without warning to the other party Shihiko lunged outward and grasped the sword. The last thing she hear before the spirits overcame her was Kurama's warning," and then she was gone to the physical world.
She looked around her and everything, including the floor, if you can call it a floor, was a complete void. Suddenly a huge golden and silver blaze appeared before her. A warm multi-tonal voice, which she could only surmise to be the voices of the all the spirits of the extinct phoenix race, emerged from the fire.
"We are the entity phoenix; it is our task to test those who wish to wield the power of the Shaii." Said the voices, "the only way for you to acquire our power is to survive the same plagues that devastated our people. Do you still wish to continue on this path?"
"Yes, I will become the master of the Shaii...I must. So bring it on," she said.
The blaze chuckled slightly, "very well foolish girl, feel our wrath," with that Shihiko was sucked into the blaze. And all that was heard for hours in the void was her piercing screams.
===later
Shihiko opened her eyes weakly. She didn't know how much time had past her by or remember exactly where she was. All she knew and all she could feel was the pain from the test thrumming throughout her body. She heard voices. The voice sounded distant, and the words were vague. She moved her eyes to the side and saw the blurry vision of silver, gold and blue beside her, and then everything went black.
Suddenly a huge, blinding, flaming phoenix burned in her mind. It screamed a piercing screech before, in a flash of light, it disappeared.
Shihiko shot up from the mat she was laying on. She clutched her head as the memories of what she endured assailed her. Being burned alive by the scalding fires of the phoenix, undergoing the arctic temperature of the phoenix's breath until their talons scratched her frozen body until in cracked up into a million pieces. When they were done with that, they put her back together again for another round of torture, she was impaled by ice picks, pecked by their beaks, beaten to a bloody pulp (literally), and then after she endured their power, she had to go through and relive every death of each and every spirit that inhabited the sword. It was a miracle that she had survived it all, and her body was still in tact, for everything she endured occurred to her spiritual body.
She felt a warm hand on her shoulder. She looked up and saw Kuronue looking down at her, "hey kid, how are you," he said.
She laughed weakly, "alive," she said. She looked around, ignoring the dull pain in her body, "where is Kurama?"
Kuronue looked away slightly, "outside," with that he got up and walked away. She looked questioningly at him, but shrugged it off as one of his inexplicable vagaries. She got up and walked towards the opening of the temple. She didn't see Kurama anywhere in sight, so she stretched out her senses and felt his ki nearby.
She found him sitting on a log in a nearby forest cradling something in his hands. He looked up slightly when she came near him and then looked away. "so you are finally awake,"
"finally?"
"Yes, you've been sleeping for about a week now," he said without any emotion in his voice. She could sense that something wasn't right with him. He wasn't acting like himself. "so, did you find what you were looking for?" he asked.
She hesitated a little, not knowing what had triggered this change in him or how to handle it, "yes, I have acquired the power of the phoenix race,"
"I thought you needed the Shaii?"
"Wielding the Shaii was only a test to see if I could handle their power, and it seems that I am in fact capable," she said, giving him a reassuring smile. But, he wasn't looking at her, in fact he barely glanced at her since she found him, all he kept staring at was the object in his hands. "What is the matter with you, you're acting strange," she said.
He stood up and faced her, "I'm leaving, I trust you do not require my services anymore."
She stared at him, dumbfounded, unable to take in what he was telling her, "but..."
"But nothing! What did you think this was? Love? Did you think we would run away together and live happily ever after?"
She could say nothing. She looked away when she felt her eyes stinging with repressed tears. "so then, leave..." she said quietly.
For a while neither of them did anything, she continued to look away and he, for all she could guess, stared at her. After a few minutes, she heard him approach. She felt him tuck something in her hair and then he left.
It seemed as thought she stood there for hours after he left, however it could've been only a few minutes, who knew, and she didn't care. All she cared about, all she was aware of was the pain. Never in her life had she known such heartache. Even when she was being taken advantage of by Sai Uli and his cronies, she could always manage to block out the pain, to make herself numb. But this...this was a different pain this was unbearable. She felt herself collapse; she wrapped her arms around herself tightly as her body was wracked with tears.
Sometime later she found the strength to repress her feelings and get up to return to her living hell. When she returned to the dragon lands, she found Rain, and the two of them together tore down the entire dragon empire and mounted Sai Uli's head on a steak for all of his followers and those who were oppressed by him to see.
After that day, she never saw Rain again, another crushing blow delivered to her heart. It was that day, the day when the last of her precious world collapsed, that she left behind the role of priestess and took up another role...the conqueror, the warrior. She united the eastern dragon lands under one flag, appointed a new government, which was similar to a democratic monarchy, in which she was the right hand and the protector of.
She harnessed her skills as a white dragon and acquired new, more powerful skills which were unheard of by any dragon in all four worlds. She became unique, powerful, and the beloved of the new king of the dragons, Kairen, the golden dragon. However, deep in her heart, there still remained a longing for those whom she loved, Rain and Kurama. The frustration, love and anger she felt towards them fueled her progress, drove her to success and power which could be matched by only a select few in the dragon lands.
She had to continue, to push herself so that she wouldn't feel the pain of all she had lost; So that she wouldn't remember the love she once felt for the silver haired kitsune.
=====
"Who am I? ... Oh, where do I begin? How can you not remember? I suppose I can understand it though, after all you never loved me...did you?" she opened her eyes and stared up at the body that the kitsune now inhabited.
Kurama watched her, unable to understand what or who she was. Yes, he knew that he had known her, but, when and how, that was the question.
She closed her eyes and suddenly began to glow. Her body becoming an entity of white light. Kurama got up and moved away from her, he pulled out a seed from his hair and materialized his famous rose whip, preparing to do battle. But the attack he was anticipating never came, instead the bright light being emitted from her melted away like hot wax, and as it melted away so to did the façade of the wavy haired brunette student melt away. In its place appeared lustrous white hair, and golden crème skin which held a pearlescent appearance. Her ears were replaced by elfin ears with two golden rings and a fang in each lobe along with two golden rings in the tops of her ears.
Kurama gasped as he saw her. She opened her eyes, which were now more brilliant and demonic than before, holding even amount of gold as blush. From her hand, she materialized the dark red lotus she had been cradling that morning.
Kurama recognized it immediately. His mind flashed back one century ago. He remembered everything, him in his Youko form gazing intently upon her saddened form.
'so leave then...' she had said back then.
He walked towards her with an object in his hand. He looked down at its beautiful form once again before raising it to tuck protectively in her hair. It was the Makai lotus, a very rare and very beautiful flower which reminded him of her. It was the exact flower which she now held in her hand.
He looked at her beautiful form seated on the school ledge once again and he could only utter one word, for the emotions which consumed him at the moment prevented him from saying any more, "Shihiko," he whispered.
=
Whew!!!! That was a long ass chapter, the longest I've ever written, about 5,500 words. I was about to divide it into two chapters, but I was tired of doing that. So you know what to do, tell me what you think and REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!!!!
Koibito means lover or sweetheart in Japanese
2.) She refers to Kuronue as batsy because he's a bat demon
I'd like to send a shout out to insane rurounis for reviewing. Thank you sooooooooooooooooo much!!!
Now with no further ado (I think that's how it goes scratches head) on with chapter...uh...oh well on with the chapter!!!
P.s. this chapter contains some lemony goodness, just a warning...hey this fic IS rated R.
=
Chapter 12 Memories part 3
'I remembered that journey like it was yesterday; the journey to acquire the Shaii and all of its power; the journey that would lead to my triumph over Sai Uli and to my revenge.' Shihiko leaned back into her crème leather couch cradling a deep, garnet flower, resembling an East Indian lotus. The flower was a deep garnet at the base, almost purple in color, and gradually lightened until it was a red orange color at the top of the blossom. Each petal had intermittent speckles of gold running through it along the edges.
She stroked the delicate petals gently, feeling the silky texture of it, 'the journey that would lead to my first heartbreak.' She brought the flower up to her chest and covered it with both of her hands, "Yoko," she whispered sadly.
==Memory==
They walked through the darkened forest; demonic beings were present yet hidden everywhere. Shihiko lead Kurama and Kuronue through the darkness to the ruins of the ancient phoenix city. It had taken them an entire week just to reach halfway to the city; a week which included batting off the comings on of a certain over-sexed, gorgeous kitsune. Shihiko had to admit that it had been hard to resist him, for he was a master in the art of seduction. One blatant seductive act or well placed touch or glance sent her mind spiraling into hot and hazy thoughts of she and the silver haired kitsune entangled, sweating and panting under the starlit night of Makai. Kuronue had often teased her about her inability to hide her lust and emotions over Kurama.
"Hmmm, you know, that world weary front you put up is so phony. Your reactions put me in the mind of an inexperienced, tittering, school girl on the verge of her first sightings of a naked man."
This, of course would garner a potent evil glare from the white dragon and a quick retort which usually sounded like, "Well, just don't forget that it was this so-called 'inexperienced, tittering, schoolgirl' who seduced your sorry ass and knocked you witless in the dirt," she would say calmly, batting her eyelashes mockingly. With a twitch of his left eye Kuronue would walk away.
"Ch, whatever,"
It was then, when they were all alone that the fox's seduction would commence. Shihiko remembered the night she gave into him and his lustful demands. It was approximately one week after they had begun their journey; Kuronue had disappeared after their little spat and left them alone. They sat in the middle of the forest, a blazing fire roared between them, the Yoko on one side of the blaze and she on the other. She tried to look anywhere except across the fire where she knew he was. She could feel his hot gaze intent upon her, for it was a very palpable thing.
"Tell me Shihiko," his deep, purring voice lulled her to look his way. Reluctantly she turned, her gaze finding his. The intense golden orbs were glowing slightly in the night, "how long do you plan on resisting this thing between us?"
her breath caught in her throat as she examined him as he spoke. The darkly handsome masculine features of his face glowed softly from the light of the fire. He leaned back gently against a tree that was behind him; the action caused his shirt to gape open and reveal hard, smooth, muscled plane of his torso and chest area. The golden tan sight was enough to cause the pent up breath in her throat to escape in a gentle, yet audible sigh.
A slow satisfied smile spread across his arresting features. The act made her blush in embarrassment and lust, and rise up to leave. She couldn't fathom how the fox had driven her into a sexual frenzy. Her body longed and ached for him in a way that she never knew existed. All of her sexual experiences had been ones of torture and rape. Never had she enjoyed or felt pleasure during sex. Never had she known that there existed mutual satisfaction and pleasure. The youko presented her with new feelings and emotions that she thought she would never be capable of feeling due to her past experiences. Feelings and emotions which she wanted to explore, but, knew not how to go about doing so.
She found herself in front of a small body of water in a clearing of the forest. She took off her shoe and placed her foot in the water partially. The water was very cold, but instead of agitating her, it calmed and soothed her. She proceeded to remove her other shoe and the rest of her clothes and climbed into the arctic water. She waded deeper into the pool until she was waist deep in its frosty depths. She gazed up at the full moon, its silvery light placing everything in an ethereal and whitish glow. She closed her eyes as the chilling effects of the water began to calm her demonic urges.
She was startled out of her reverie as two very toasty hands snaked around her waist. Appalled that anyone would have the audacity to come upon her while she was bathing, she rose her ki level and formed a white ball of energy in her right hand, "insect!" she hissed as she turned around, preparing to deliver her wrath onto her intruder. However, before the flaming ball of energy came into contact with the other, a strong hand clasped around her wrist preventing her from going any further. She looked up with fury in her eyes at the face of this interloper. Her eyes caught the sight of a stunning gold and long vibrant silver locks.
Kurama.
The energy in her hand disappeared slowly as if to mirror her uncertain emotions and hesitation. "Wha- what are you..." she stopped suddenly as she began to notice his nude form and then she suddenly remembered the extent of her nudity as well. Her cheeks turned crimson at their situation. Kurama continued to stare down into her eyes. The traces of the cocky, cajoling fox were all gone from his visage, all that she could read from his hazy, passionate eyes was what he wanted and his determination to get it.
He slid his warm hand from around her wrist and up her arm, enjoying the feel of her smooth, silky skin. He continued his path to her neck where the eye, which was all she had on, rested. However, he did not linger there; his hand moved to the downy softness of her left cheek and stroked it gently. She expelled a shaky breath as she felt him caressing her. The path of his hand left her skin scorching hot and needy for his touch again.
His other hand moved from her waist, where he had been massaging the small of her back, and traveled slowly up her back, enjoying the feel of her long silky hair mixed the feel of her now dampening skin. His hand reached the back of her scalp and began messaging there as well. A soft moan escaped her lips from the combination of his wandering, messaging hands and his intense golden eyes upon her. She couldn't deny what she wanted any longer, she wanted to be with him, she wanted to know what it felt like to be made love to; she wanted to know mutual pleasure. Unable to restrain herself any longer, she closed her eyes and tilted her head upwards towards him.
A gentle smile tugged at the youko's lips at her innocent actions. With one last caress of her cheek, he brought his hand back to her waist and drew her in closer for a kiss. He leaned down and pressed his lips softly onto hers. He moved away from her lips and began to nibble and deliver soft, feathery kisses around them and down her jaw line and neck. He drew back a little to gage her reaction. Her eyes fluttered open slowly and she gave him a somewhat questioning gaze. Before she could inquire as to why he stopped he brought his finger gently up to her mouth to silence her. He arched his eyebrow and then gave her a look which clearly said, 'if you wish this to go any further, then you must take control.' She bit her lip pensively for she knew exactly what her wanted, but how would she go about...
Suddenly an idea presented itself; she gave him a mischievous look and brought her right hand up to his lower abdomen. She felt the muscles there slightly jump at her touch; she brought her other hand around his back. She then leaned her head towards his chest (remember Yoko is very tall) and began to lick a path upward between the muscles of his torso and his chest. She felt him shudder at the sensation of being licked by her. Her hands began moving all over his body as her mouth found his nipple. As she began to gently draw on it he wrapped his arms around her to pull her closer to him, "Koibito," (1.) he moaned gently. She smiled gently against his skin at his reactions. As she began to nibble and draw harder on him, his breathing turned from a calmed one to shallow panting.
She moved away from his chest and stood on tip toe to reach his neck. Sensing her need, he lifted her up to him, her body sliding almost unbearably against his manhood. He felt her mouth latch onto his throat and her teeth grazing against the sensitive skin there. He was beyond all thinking as he too began to nibble and suck on her neck. She ceased her exploration of him as a result of the divine feelings he was making her experience. As he tasted of her, he felt her nails score his shoulders and his back, and an all too animalistic nature took hold of him. Unable to bear being apart from her any longer he scooped her up in his arms, bridle style, and walked deeper into the pool. He shifted her weight so that he could hold her with one arm; with the other arm he positioned her legs around his waist to make her more accessible to him. While he was adjusting her position on him, she took up the nerve to kiss him again, only this time her shyness and hesitation and his control had all but disappeared. Their kiss this time was unrestrained, wild and passionate. She could find no words to explain the sensations she was feeling. Never, in all of her years of living, nor in any of her sexual experiences had she felt the euphoria that plagued her in Kurama's arms. She had never known that making love could be so wondrous or pleasurable. She had never known that she could find happiness in a man's arms.
Later that night as she lay with him she no longer thought of her past misfortunes, she no longer thought of Sai Uli's terror, she no longer thought of Rain or Loriel, all she thought and all she felt was him.
For the next week and a half they were consumed with each other, each time they made love proved to be more passionate and emotion filled than the last. Each time they lay together afterward he seemed to open up more and accept her more in his life. Each moment they spent together seemed to make the prospect of becoming his more plausible.
'So why then did you...'
==end memory==
"Shihiko," a male voice pulled her out of her trance. She was at school and it was lunch time. She had decided to avoid her 'fan club' today so she went up to the roof of the building for lunch to find solitude; and now after all of her efforts to escape someone had managed to find her. By Ryuushi! These humans were becoming more annoying to her by the second. The voice sounded again only this time it held a hint of concern. She pulled her gaze away from the scenery of the front yard of the school to view this intruder upon her seclusion.
She couldn't have been more shocked or put out by who she saw. Speak of the devil, it was Kurama, or Suuichi as he is called in this realm. He could not have come at a more inopportune time; right at the moment where her thoughts of him were beginning to turn sour. "Suuichi," she almost whispered as she planted a sickly smile on her face.
He looked so concerned, "are you alright?" he asked.
'Am I alright?' she thought bitterly. 'If only you knew' "Hai! Why do you ask?" she said not so convincingly.
Kurama watched her meditatively, something was wrong with her. It was as if everything she said was calculated, measured so that she wouldn't let anything slip out. She was also very withdrawn today, 'probably because last night's events,' he thought to himself. He knew that he was acting a bit more yoko-ish last night and that he had probably scared the hell out of her.
He began to walk towards her and all she could do was watch him. All she could do was to find some traces of the man, the youko, who had given her so much pleasure and so much pain. When he came near me he sat on the ledge by me. He looked down at the court yard, "an interesting view," he said matter-of-factly, "why have you isolated yourself here?"
"I just needed some time to be alone, some time to think, that's all," she said not looking him in the eye.
"Yes," he said, he turned to her, his penetrating emerald gaze peering down into her, "I've noticed you're a bit with drawn, would that have anything to do with last night's proceedings?"
She shrugged, "it's not everyday that you witness something so horrific," she turned to look him dead in the eyes, "or to witness demons in human form roam about, their presence only capable of destroying the lives they touch, both physically and emotionally...don't you agree...Yoko,"
Physically, he did not flinch, but something in his eyes did change. His beautiful green irises were now tinged with gold, a color which symbolized the demonic presence within him. He drew back slightly; his face now hardened and emotionless, "who are you?" he said in a deadly whisper.
She closed her eyes, straining to hold back the emotions so ready to spew forth from her: 'Who am I? Who am I? I am the woman whom you abandoned a century ago; the woman whose heart you stole; the woman who nearly stole your heart in turn...can't you see...'
==Memory again ==
They entered the city. It was a desolate place, even though it was day, the skies were black with grey clouds, the sun never shown itself in this ruined city. The three ventured further until they reached the center of the city, the supposed resting place of the Shaii. Suddenly a string chilling wind swept through the area. It was the kind of breeze that went right though you; the kind that let you know that preternatural beings dwelled in the vicinity.
"What the fuck was that?" Kuronue asked.
"I think we're about to find out," said Kurama.
Out of no where about 200 apparitions appeared, surrounding them. They all were dressed in ancient armor that looked somewhat Chinese and their physiques were also in a state which suggested that the apparitions were no longer alive.
"These must be the guardians of the Shaii," Shihiko whispered to the others, "they are the ones who died protecting the city and the sword before the race destroyed,"
"That is correct child," echoed one apparition who seemed to be the leader by the look of his somewhat 'grander' clothing. "And if you three wish to possess the Shaii you must defeat us, and even if you do, somehow, manage the task of overcoming us, you will never be able to wield the Shaii, for all the spirits contained in the sword will rise up against you and devour your soul,"
"Shit," Kuronue said wide eyed, "so little- miss- levity, how are you going to deal with that?"
Shihiko looked over her shoulder at Kuronue and gave him a cocky grin, "don't worry batsy (2.), that's already taken care of,"
"Hn, I knew a stickler like you would already have it figured out. So you guys ready to kick some ghostly ass?" said Kuronue as he pulled out his two miniature scythes.
Kurama chuckled slightly, "that's so like you Kuronue, always hard up for a battle," he said as he pulled a seed from his hair. With a flex of his energy, the seed blossomed into a huge white flower with long ropey vines that wrapped around Kurama's entire right arm. "What is THAT? It's huge!" Shihiko asked astonished.
"Remind you of something?" he joked, her face turned crimson instantly at his blunt connotation, "it's a special flower called the Ohmphala. It allows me to transmit the energy I place into the plant to be used as an energy blast," he took aim suddenly, "watch,"
With that he began to accumulate his energy into the flower and out of the blue intermittent sparks of energy began to fly around the blossom, "Ohmphala blast!!!" he said, then all of the energy surrounding his arm formed into a huge blazing white energy orb. Without warning he launched it into the heart of the phantom army and as soon as the blast hit the ground it exploded into a blinding white light. The explosion seemed to trigger a chain reaction which resulted in the destruction of the entire army, including the ones that were behind them. All that could be heard was the piercing screams of the apparitions as they met with their end. When the light died away all that was left was a huge crater that surrounded them.
Shihiko stood with her mouth gaped open at the sight, and Kuronue whistled at his partner's thorough job, "and you say I'm hard up for battle?"
He smiled mockingly at Kuronue as he retracted his weapon, "shall we go then,"
"Not so fast demon," a voice echoed from out of no where.
"It can't be," Kurama whispered.
"Wait a minute," Shihiko said, "they can't be defeated that way because their already dead,"
"I know that. That's why I used this particular plant; it works on both the living and the dead,"
One by one the ghosts rose from the ground, "Well apparently it does not," she said, 'damn this means that I'll have to take matters into my own hands,' she thought reluctantly. Suddenly the apparitions charged them. Each now bearing weapons which were indeed real. As the army came abreast of them Kuronue opened his wings and took to the sky as a wave of ghosts locked onto him. While in the air he launched his faithful chained miniature scythes at the enemy. Each one screaming in agony as the scythes ripped through them, making them disappear. However after he injured and 'killed' on it would only come back as if nothing had happened.
Shihiko and Kurama had their hands full as well. Kurama had materialized a long, sharp, wooden plant which he wielded like a sword, cutting down any apparition that dared to attack him. Along side of him Shihiko held her own as she delivered wave upon wave of energy blasts, knocking back her opponents. They too, however, met with the same misfortune as Kuronue as the demons they 'killed,' rematerialized and launched another assault upon them.
"Damn, there's no end to them," Kuronue voiced.
In an act of heroism that she knew she would regret later Shihiko took charge, "Kuronue, Kurama, get back, let me take care of them," she said while still fending off against the unending torrent of phantoms.
"Are you crazy," Kurama hissed.
"No! I have a plan...uhg...trust me!!!" she said. She could see in his eyes that he was reluctant to do as she requested but unexpectedly he turned to her slightly
"I do trust you," he said a little hesitantly, "fine I'll go... be careful," after he said that he leapt away gracefully. Before she had time to let it sink in what he was saying to her, she was brought back into the battle as she felt a blade pierce the fleshy part of her right shoulder. She tried not to cry out in pain, she would not show these monsters any weakness on her part.
"You all," she said in between delivering blows to the overwhelming number of enemies, "are really...starting...to PISS...ME...OFF!!! Energy Shield!!!" suddenly a huge bright blue sphere surrounded her knocking back all of the demons pressed against her, without wasting any time Shihiko took an unusual position clasping her hands together bringing them up towards her face. She extended her index and middle finger on both her hands and began chanting (A/N: no this is not Genkai's spirit wave). "Ohm-awa-ryin-obishi- sowaka!!!" before the apparitions knew what she was doing, it was already too late. Each one of them began dropping like flies, and this time their deaths were different. Each phantom went up in a blaze of scalding white fire. Within one minute the entire army was gone-for good.
When Kuronue and Kurama reached her, they noticed her labored breath and the sweat on her brow. "You're injured, we should treat that now," said Kurama. He was forestalled, however when she raised her hand in protest.
"I'm fine. I assure you. We must not rest now, not when we are so close," she indicated to the ruined temple ahead which housed the Shaii.
The three of them headed to the temple. When they entered all of them gasped at what they saw. Floating in the center of the temple glowing in all of its silver and white glory was the sword of Shaii. The sword resembled a Katana due to its thin, long, and slightly curved blade; however the hilt of the sword was more decorative. On each side of the hilt were long, outstretched, silver wings with a sharp talon at the end of each wing.
Kuronue and Kurama were so caught up in reverence of the beautiful sword that they barely even noticed Shihiko moving towards it. She knew of the test that she would have to endure in order to become the true wielder of the sword. Surviving the test was plausible, that is, it was plausible before she used the balk of her energy defeating the phantom army. However, now...she shook her head to rid herself of such thoughts, it was too late to turn back now; she had run out of time. Now was the time for her to acquire the power to defeat her foes and get her revenge.
Without warning to the other party Shihiko lunged outward and grasped the sword. The last thing she hear before the spirits overcame her was Kurama's warning," and then she was gone to the physical world.
She looked around her and everything, including the floor, if you can call it a floor, was a complete void. Suddenly a huge golden and silver blaze appeared before her. A warm multi-tonal voice, which she could only surmise to be the voices of the all the spirits of the extinct phoenix race, emerged from the fire.
"We are the entity phoenix; it is our task to test those who wish to wield the power of the Shaii." Said the voices, "the only way for you to acquire our power is to survive the same plagues that devastated our people. Do you still wish to continue on this path?"
"Yes, I will become the master of the Shaii...I must. So bring it on," she said.
The blaze chuckled slightly, "very well foolish girl, feel our wrath," with that Shihiko was sucked into the blaze. And all that was heard for hours in the void was her piercing screams.
===later
Shihiko opened her eyes weakly. She didn't know how much time had past her by or remember exactly where she was. All she knew and all she could feel was the pain from the test thrumming throughout her body. She heard voices. The voice sounded distant, and the words were vague. She moved her eyes to the side and saw the blurry vision of silver, gold and blue beside her, and then everything went black.
Suddenly a huge, blinding, flaming phoenix burned in her mind. It screamed a piercing screech before, in a flash of light, it disappeared.
Shihiko shot up from the mat she was laying on. She clutched her head as the memories of what she endured assailed her. Being burned alive by the scalding fires of the phoenix, undergoing the arctic temperature of the phoenix's breath until their talons scratched her frozen body until in cracked up into a million pieces. When they were done with that, they put her back together again for another round of torture, she was impaled by ice picks, pecked by their beaks, beaten to a bloody pulp (literally), and then after she endured their power, she had to go through and relive every death of each and every spirit that inhabited the sword. It was a miracle that she had survived it all, and her body was still in tact, for everything she endured occurred to her spiritual body.
She felt a warm hand on her shoulder. She looked up and saw Kuronue looking down at her, "hey kid, how are you," he said.
She laughed weakly, "alive," she said. She looked around, ignoring the dull pain in her body, "where is Kurama?"
Kuronue looked away slightly, "outside," with that he got up and walked away. She looked questioningly at him, but shrugged it off as one of his inexplicable vagaries. She got up and walked towards the opening of the temple. She didn't see Kurama anywhere in sight, so she stretched out her senses and felt his ki nearby.
She found him sitting on a log in a nearby forest cradling something in his hands. He looked up slightly when she came near him and then looked away. "so you are finally awake,"
"finally?"
"Yes, you've been sleeping for about a week now," he said without any emotion in his voice. She could sense that something wasn't right with him. He wasn't acting like himself. "so, did you find what you were looking for?" he asked.
She hesitated a little, not knowing what had triggered this change in him or how to handle it, "yes, I have acquired the power of the phoenix race,"
"I thought you needed the Shaii?"
"Wielding the Shaii was only a test to see if I could handle their power, and it seems that I am in fact capable," she said, giving him a reassuring smile. But, he wasn't looking at her, in fact he barely glanced at her since she found him, all he kept staring at was the object in his hands. "What is the matter with you, you're acting strange," she said.
He stood up and faced her, "I'm leaving, I trust you do not require my services anymore."
She stared at him, dumbfounded, unable to take in what he was telling her, "but..."
"But nothing! What did you think this was? Love? Did you think we would run away together and live happily ever after?"
She could say nothing. She looked away when she felt her eyes stinging with repressed tears. "so then, leave..." she said quietly.
For a while neither of them did anything, she continued to look away and he, for all she could guess, stared at her. After a few minutes, she heard him approach. She felt him tuck something in her hair and then he left.
It seemed as thought she stood there for hours after he left, however it could've been only a few minutes, who knew, and she didn't care. All she cared about, all she was aware of was the pain. Never in her life had she known such heartache. Even when she was being taken advantage of by Sai Uli and his cronies, she could always manage to block out the pain, to make herself numb. But this...this was a different pain this was unbearable. She felt herself collapse; she wrapped her arms around herself tightly as her body was wracked with tears.
Sometime later she found the strength to repress her feelings and get up to return to her living hell. When she returned to the dragon lands, she found Rain, and the two of them together tore down the entire dragon empire and mounted Sai Uli's head on a steak for all of his followers and those who were oppressed by him to see.
After that day, she never saw Rain again, another crushing blow delivered to her heart. It was that day, the day when the last of her precious world collapsed, that she left behind the role of priestess and took up another role...the conqueror, the warrior. She united the eastern dragon lands under one flag, appointed a new government, which was similar to a democratic monarchy, in which she was the right hand and the protector of.
She harnessed her skills as a white dragon and acquired new, more powerful skills which were unheard of by any dragon in all four worlds. She became unique, powerful, and the beloved of the new king of the dragons, Kairen, the golden dragon. However, deep in her heart, there still remained a longing for those whom she loved, Rain and Kurama. The frustration, love and anger she felt towards them fueled her progress, drove her to success and power which could be matched by only a select few in the dragon lands.
She had to continue, to push herself so that she wouldn't feel the pain of all she had lost; So that she wouldn't remember the love she once felt for the silver haired kitsune.
=====
"Who am I? ... Oh, where do I begin? How can you not remember? I suppose I can understand it though, after all you never loved me...did you?" she opened her eyes and stared up at the body that the kitsune now inhabited.
Kurama watched her, unable to understand what or who she was. Yes, he knew that he had known her, but, when and how, that was the question.
She closed her eyes and suddenly began to glow. Her body becoming an entity of white light. Kurama got up and moved away from her, he pulled out a seed from his hair and materialized his famous rose whip, preparing to do battle. But the attack he was anticipating never came, instead the bright light being emitted from her melted away like hot wax, and as it melted away so to did the façade of the wavy haired brunette student melt away. In its place appeared lustrous white hair, and golden crème skin which held a pearlescent appearance. Her ears were replaced by elfin ears with two golden rings and a fang in each lobe along with two golden rings in the tops of her ears.
Kurama gasped as he saw her. She opened her eyes, which were now more brilliant and demonic than before, holding even amount of gold as blush. From her hand, she materialized the dark red lotus she had been cradling that morning.
Kurama recognized it immediately. His mind flashed back one century ago. He remembered everything, him in his Youko form gazing intently upon her saddened form.
'so leave then...' she had said back then.
He walked towards her with an object in his hand. He looked down at its beautiful form once again before raising it to tuck protectively in her hair. It was the Makai lotus, a very rare and very beautiful flower which reminded him of her. It was the exact flower which she now held in her hand.
He looked at her beautiful form seated on the school ledge once again and he could only utter one word, for the emotions which consumed him at the moment prevented him from saying any more, "Shihiko," he whispered.
=
Whew!!!! That was a long ass chapter, the longest I've ever written, about 5,500 words. I was about to divide it into two chapters, but I was tired of doing that. So you know what to do, tell me what you think and REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!!!!
Koibito means lover or sweetheart in Japanese
2.) She refers to Kuronue as batsy because he's a bat demon