Chapter 13: Conspiracy Theory
Okay here's chapter thirteen. This chapter's timeline is a bit weird. It starts right after the attack at the festival. That means that it's before Kurama meets Shihiko at school. Alrighty then, chapter thirteen everybody...
Huge shout out, once again to Insane Rurounis hands her Hiei and Yoko plushies I'm with you on that though I.R. I don't know why people aren't reviewing. I cry about it every night though sniffles just kidding! I can only hope that more people will review and regularly. Oh well, enjoy the chapter!
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The Reikai Palace: Midnight
"Alright Koenma, what's the deal!!!" an enraged Yusuke stormed into the Reikai prince's office in a nearly uncontrollable rage.
Koenma nearly fell out of his chair out of shock from Yusuke's wild and sudden appearance.
"Yu-Yusuke, what brings you here?" Koenma asked a little jittery. He looked into Yusuke's fiery eyes and then materialized a cup of tea accompanied by a multitude of biscuits, "tea?"
"I DON'T WANT TEA!!! I want to know what that bitch meant about you being tied to their cause for massacring hundreds of people!!! What the hell do you have to do with any of this?"
Koenma's face nearly turned white while listening to Yusuke. He knew, of course, exactly what he was talking about; he just couldn't tell THEM about it. Doing so might jeopardize everything Reikai had accomplished and could accomplish in the future. Not to mention, telling Yusuke the truth could also jeopardize the well being of his precious backside. He quickly planted an oh-so-fake smile on his face to hide is obvious concern over Yusuke's sudden burst of knowledge.
"Oh Yusuke, you know the enemy will say anything to turn us against each other."
"Wrong answer pacifier breath!!!" Yusuke then slammed his fist into Koenma's desk and broke it into a million a million shards as if it were made of naught but paper Mache.
Botan walked into the office just in time to see Yusuke turn Koenma's once grand gold and mahogany desk into toothpicks. "Yusuke!!! What are you doing?!" Botan ran in front of Yusuke and put both of her hands up at her sides as if to block any forthcoming attack from the incensed spirit detective.
"Save it Botan. That toddler is part of some kinda conspiracy with these dragons. You heard it yourself from Jun Pei! He's been holding out on us, and because did, Hiei's missing and probably dead, Kurama's no where to be found, who knows that chick he brought could've been one of them and done him in. Not to mention hundreds of people are dead and I nearly got flambéed by an entire demon army! So as far as I'm concerned, the almighty baby over there," Yusuke said while pointing to Koenma crouched over on his knees with hands on his ears and his eyes closed, "better spill his guts or I'll do it for him...literally"
"Alright Alright!!!! I'll tell you...I'll tell you everything," Koenma said, given into his fear of Yusuke's tirade. He walked out of the ruble that was once his desk, "you are correct Yusuke to assume that there is another side to this story...a darker, hidden side, known only to my father, king Enma and my self."
He looked up into Yusuke's eyes and Yusuke looked into his. As if snapped out of a trance, Yusuke could see the traces of exasperation, fatigue and sorrow in the young ruler's eyes, "I am sorry for all of the pain that I have caused everyone for not confiding in you, but, I did not think that the matter would go this far," Koenma lowered his childlike face in sorrow. All present, knew of course, that he was speaking of Hiei's disappearance.
"Koenma," Botan whispered sadly. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Koenma lied to them...lied to her.
"Gather Kurama and Kuwabara, and meet back at Genkai's temple," at Yusuke's questioning glance towards gathering Kurama, Koenma added, "he is alive, you'll find him traveling on his way home. Bring him to the temple, and there I will tell you all."
"...right..." Yusuke said, and then hurried out of the office.
After Yusuke's departure, Botan stared at Koenma, and Koenma could do naught but stare at her. He lied to her, and he knew that she was hurt by that. However, she will be even more hurt after she discovers the extent to which he had lied to her...to the tentei and everyone else in Reikai.
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1:30 am
Kurama walked down the empty street of a quaint residential area in the silence of the night. His red hair and beautiful facial features shown magnificently in the moonlight making him resemble his original, steamy, persona, Yoko Kurama.
As Kurama walked his thoughts were focused upon one topic, Yumi Nakamura. He didn't know what to make of her; was she friend or foe? More importantly he didn't know what to make of his feeling towards her, yes, he was suspicious of her being linked to the dragon keepers, yes, he was almost certain that she was not human, and yes he also knew that she had a dual nature; however, he couldn't put aside the nagging feelings of desire that swam through his senses when he was near her. Her scent, which was akin to freesia after a light shower, clouded his mind and his judgment, and made it difficult to see reason that she could be a potential enemy, 'I must rid myself of these thoughts and feelings if I am to be of any help, right now I am not only a danger to myself but to my friends and team as well,'
Kurama turned, and walked down the pathway leading to his home. He was almost at the front door when he heard someone yelling at him from a distance, "Oy Kurama!!!!!" It was Yusuke.
Kurama sighed inaudibly, 'why does he not use my human name when he's screaming like a maniac in the streets?'
"Thank God you're ok," he said.
"Yes, I'm fine. What is it?" Kurama asked.
Yusuke narrowed his eyes at Kurama and watched him contemplatively, "Hey Kurama, you alright?" asked Yusuke a little concerned. He noticed that Kurama looked a little worn out and that his nerves seemed a bit frayed. He was actually showing signs of exasperation, an indication that everything was not all peaches and cream with the kitsune- turned –human.
Kurama seemed a bit shocked by the question, but then smiled slightly, "I'm just somewhat tired, it's been a long night,"
Yusuke snorted at that remark. He had always admired Kurama's subtlety and tact with a phrase, "that's an understatement if I ever heard one. Anyway, we gotta head to Grandma's. Ole pacifier breath is finally gonna tell us all the secrets surrounding Reikai's involvement with the dragon keepers."
"Secrets..." Kurama said, his mind drifting back to Yumi. Yusuke watched Kurama as he once again became lost in his thoughts.
"Kurama? Ready?" Kurama looked up and nodded, "Oh yeah, by the way, whatever happened to that chick you brought to the fair with you? Y'know Yumi. Is she a part of it?"
Kurama sighed again, thinking of the puzzle that was Yumi, "I don't know what she is, her actions and her words seem genuine, but there is something about her that gives me an uneasy feeling,"
"Well, hopefully we'll get some answers at grandma's,"
= Genkai's Temple 2:30 a.m.
"HIEI!!! YOU'RE ALIVE!!!!" Yusuke ran into Yukina's room where the fire demon sat sentry in the window sill, looking down at his sleeping sister.
Hiei sneered "Can you possibly be any louder?" he asked, annoyed that Yusuke had almost woken up his sister, "and yes, I am alive. I've survived much worse scrapes than that,"
Yusuke couldn't help the smile that came across his face. He had missed the little fire demon in the short time he had been missing. It was rather...nice to hear his rude, yet, welcomed retorts again.
Hiei couldn't see Yusuke's smile because his eyes were still fixed on his sister.
Kurama walked into the room as quiet and graceful as ever, and smiled warmly when he saw Hiei. His smile faded, however, when he caught sight of a slight scar on Hiei's left cheek. Even though the scar was faint, it wasn't present the last time he saw Hiei, which meant he must've been injured between now and then; and it wasn't like Hiei to be injured in battle, especially after becoming one with the dark dragon.
"Hiei, what happened?" Hiei didn't turn around when Kurama asked the question. His eyes remained on Yukina.
"Kai," he said silently.
Kurama seemed stunned by his answer and Yusuke seemed confused, "Who the hell is Kai?" he asked.
"Kai, the black dragon keeper, we met her a few nights back. How long ago was your battle Hiei?" Kurama asked.
"Three days ago,"
"Wait a minute, three days ago?" said Yusuke, "then where the heck were y-," Yusuke stopped when he noticed faint scars on Hiei's arm and one on his face. He also noticed that he seemed a bit more silent than usual, almost depressed or dejected.
"How did you get back here?" asked Kurama.
Hiei was silent for about a minute, "She found me," he said almost inaudibly, his gaze softening a bit upon the visage of the one he cared for the most. Finally, he looked up towards Kurama and Yusuke, "these demons are formidable...she used the Kokuryuha against me. Fire doesn't work against them, they're fueled by it and their speed is incredible,"
"Damn, so how in the hell did you survive?" asked Yusuke.
"...divine intervention," Hiei said dryly.
Yusuke and Kurama were speechless. The fact that someone could defeat Hiei so easily was unimaginable. Hiei, an A class demon, the only member of the Reikai Tentei that didn't lose a single match during the dark tournament; Hiei the only demon alive who ever mastered the darkness technique and became one with the dark dragon, one of the most powerful demons who ever walked the Earth. If someone like that was on the enemy's side, how could they ever stand a chance?
Just then Botan walked into the room to announce that Koenma had arrived. The four walked out of Yukina's room and into the main den of Genkai's temple. Kuwabara and Keiko, who had been dropped off at Genkai's after the attack at the carnival, sat in the den along with Genkai, Botan, George, and Koenma in his teenage form.
Hiei, Yusuke, Botan and Kurama joined the group, which sat in the middle of the main den. As soon as everyone was seated, Koenma stood and began immediately, "As you all know, you are here because I have...neglected to mention some things to you before you were sent on this mission," he paused, seeming a bit nervous, but he endeavored to continue, "After you all hear this, it is quite possible that you will not want to be a part of the Reikai Tentei any longer...well here goes. This mission was assigned to you, for the purpose of carrying out a personal vendetta for my father king Enma Daiou. This battle...this war between Reikai and the dragon keepers goes back many millennia, and was started by Reikai. We attacked them first."
Everyone was a bit speechless; they couldn't believe what they were hearing. Kurama was the first one to speak up, "What could you possibly have gained from going against them?"
Koenma sighed, "Nigenkai,"
"What!!!" everyone said stunned.
"Nigenkai is the true land of the dragons and the dragon keepers; it always has been; even before humans roamed this realm. There was a time when the dragons were becoming a powerful force, powerful enough to challenge Reikai. My father, of course, was not pleased with this. He wanted Reikai to be unmatched, and to accomplish this he went through...extreme measures." He sighed, not wanting to continue the story, but knowing he must.
"I don't understand, what extreme measures?" asked Yusuke.
"...creating the human race..." as another outburst of stunned replies ensued, Koenma calmly placed one hand up to silence them, "There's more I'm afraid. According to my father, the creation of the human race was a means to the end of gaining absolute power and control of Nigenkai.
"In order to create the new race, he abducted a multitude of lower class dragons, many of which were too young or too old to fight back, and purified their DNA and spirit of any draconic blood or ryuuki that was within them. The absolute purification of the body and spirit of its draconic essence resulted in the energy which now courses through each and every human being in Nigenkai...reiki.
"King Enma then placed these weaker beings in Nigenkai and then drew up a law stating that these beings, the humans, were property of Reikai and that any attack on them would be a direct assault on Reikai as well.
"Of course the dragons had no wish to fight Reikai, nor did they have any qualms about sharing Nigenkai with the humans. However, the humans did mind sharing living space with the dragons. They feared the dragons and did whatever they could to make their lives miserable. They even went as far as to hunt them down and try to kill them. Eventually, it came to a point where the dragons began to retaliate, which was, according to my father's law a direct assault upon Reikai itself. It was then that Reikai declared war on the dragons. That was the main reason why my father created the humans; he knew what their reactions towards the dragons would be and he knew that eventually the dragons would have to retaliate in order to survive. Humans were created to be and continue to be the pawns of King Enma Daiou.
"When the war started, the dragons and Reikai were equal in strength; and normally, the dragons would not have had any problems defeating Reikai. However, one facet to this scenario was overlooked, the humans. You see inside of each and every human being was a small trace of draconic blood and ryuuki that was 'overlooked' during the purification process. This small trace of power gave the humans unnatural abilities, similar to that of Yusuke's and Kuwabara's. It was this power, along with the power of Reikai, which crippled the dragons and forced them to retreat from Nigenkai and into the deepest pits of Makai."
After Koenma finished, everyone sat in silence, allowing the information that they just heard to sink in.
"So," Kurama said, "the human race came from the dragons,"
"Well more specifically, they evolved from the dragon keepers. You see, dragons cannot take human form, only dragon keepers have that ability. They also have the ability to change into their full dragon forms; however, this process takes a lot of power and is very painful. It is because of this that not many attempt to pull off the transformation."
"Wait, I don't understand, if every human has traces of draconic blood and ryuuki in them, why can't we sense it?" asked Botan.
"Over the millennia, the draconic presence that coursed through the humans diminished through generations of breeding. It is still present in them, however, it is dormant.
"And with all that in mind, my father stumbled upon another creation that would serve to secure place as the most powerful ruler. He set upon creating a task force, a group of fighters that would become so powerful that, just in case the dragons were to retaliate again, would be able to stand up to them and destroy them. this group of fighters is you all, the Reikai Tentei. All of the trials and missions that you have been sent on have been meant for one thing, to make you stronger, strong enough to rid my father of his greatest adversary, the dragons."
"It's like a bad dream or something," said Keiko.
"Yeah, I know. Al this time I thought we were the good guys," said Kuwabara.
Koenma sighed, "Yes, I know how angry you all must feel. My father has used you all and myself as his pawns to gain absolute power...but now...I am sorry once again, for I must ask you all something of dire importance. And if you all decline...then I will understand. Will you stand with Reikai...no with me, one last time and help to defeat the dragon keepers? I'll leave you all to think about this. When you have an answer, contact me with the communication mirrors," with that, the Reikai prince disappeared.
"Hmph, so what do you boys plan on doing, sitting around on your high and mighty laurels, waiting for Ningenkai to be taken over to get back at Reikai, or will you swallow your pride and help the almighty toddler?" asked Genkai.
"Do we really have a choice," said Kurama, "if we don't fight then all we know and love could be destroyed."
"Hiei?" asked Genkai .
"Hn, I could care less about Reikai's disputes, all I want is to even the score with that bitch Kai," he said nonchalantly.
"Kuwabara?"
"Yeah, I'm in. It is, after all, my duty as a man to protect my realm with all my manly power," said Kuwabara with his head held high and his eyes closed in foolish self pride.
A slight snort was heard in the background, "Hn, you mean it's your job to get your ass kicked and for us to do all of the work," Hiei retorted.
"WHAT!!! Take that back you mouse!!!" screamed Kuwabara.
"ENOUGH OF THIS NONSENSE," yelled Genkai to a fuming Kuwabara glaring at a smug Hiei. He so loved to torment the fool. "so dimwit, it's your turn now. What are you going to do?"
Yusuke sat Indian style with his legs and his arms folded and his eyes closed, "Like Kurama said, we don't have a choice," he said quietly as he got up and walked out of the shrine.
"...Yusuke?" Keiko whispered, as she watched the retreat of her boyfriend.
Before she could get up to follow him, she felt a hand on her shoulder forestalling her. It was Kuwabara. She read the look in his eyes clear, 'he just needs to be alone Keiko,' is what they said. She sat back down leaving Yusuke to his thoughts.
After what seemed an eternity of silent staring, Botan contacted Koenma and informed him of their decision.
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8:30 am Meiou High (I think that's how you spell Kurama's school name)
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Kurama sat in his seat at Meiou high, class had already begun and his teacher was lecturing about the theory of stereochemistry, but he wasn't really listening to the lecture. A first, to say the least, for him. His mind was still fixed on all that he had found out earlier this morning, as well as Yumi.
His eyes found themselves staring at the empty seat in front of him, 'where are you?' he thought.
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12:00 pm: lunch
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Kurama walked out of class at the sound of the lunch bell ringing. He was instantly bombarded by his 'fan club' the leader of whom was no other than Aya Tanaka. "Suuichi-kun, where are you going?"
Kurama tried his best not to sound annoyed or disgusted, being that he only got about three hours of sleep this morning, "I'm going to lunch, where else?" he said.
All of the girls giggled as if he had told some gut busting- funny joke. He planted a fake smile on his face, "Aya, you haven't by chance seen Yumi around today have you?"
Kurama could've sworn he saw the veins on the side of her head about to pop out and her eyes go ablaze, "yesssssssss, I saw her," she all but hissed, "the nerve of her actually cutting class today, hmph!" she lifted her head haughtily and closed her sniffing with disdain, "really Suuichi-kun I don't know what it is you see in her."
"mmm hmmm," all of the girls behind Aya nodded their heads in unison.
"an actual personality," he said as he began to walk off. All of the girls gasped at Suuichi's unorthodox behavior and Aya's eyes were throwing daggers at his retreating figure.
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Kurama walked outside, thoughts of Aya and her groupies already gone from his mind, 'she's here, but where could she be?" Kurama concentrated on Yumi's energy signature and got a lock on it. He looked up to the roof of the school and saw slight figure with their back facing him, sitting on the ledge of the roof. He made his way up there, not really knowing why he was looking for her, or what he would say to her when he found her.
He opened the door to the roof top and there, sitting on the ledge in all of her glory was Yumi. She was staring down at the school courtyard and didn't notice or didn't bother to acknowledge his presence. "Shihiko," he said, trying to gain her attention. There was no reaction that he could see on her part, yet he knew that she had heard him. He wondered what exactly was wrong with her, "Shihiko," he said again, his voice holding a bit of concern in its tone.
She turned her head around slowly, almost reluctantly and stared at him. A subtle look of irony crossed her features, "Suuichi," she whispered almost sadly. He saw that she tried to smile but it too came across as sad.
"Are you alright?"
She stared at him for a while as if his question were mundane, "Hai, why do you ask," she said not 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 walked towards her, with one hand in his pocket, and then he sat on the ledge next to her, her scent, a light freesia, plaguing his senses, he tried his best to ignore it and looked out at the courtyard, "an interesting view," He said, "Why have you isolated yourself here?"
He saw her look off to the side somewhere through his peripheral vision. He knew she was trying to avoid his gaze for some reason. A sure sign that she was hiding something from him, "I just needed some time to be alone, some time to think that's all," she said quietly.
"Yes," he pulled his gaze from the courtyard to stare at her beautiful features, "I've noticed that you're a bit withdrawn today. Would that have anything to do with last night's proceedings?"
She shrugged nonchalantly, "it's not everyday that you witness something so horrific," she turned, facing him. Her blush and golden eyes peering deeply into his emerald ones, "or to witness demons in human form roam about," she emphasized this and stared at him pointedly, as if she knew him for, exactly, what he was, "there presence only capable of destroying the lives they touch, both physically and emotionally...don't you agree?" her eyes hid nothing from him now, she knew...she knew he was different. Every single word she spoke slashed right through him, making him more aware of the fact that she was aware that he was not what he seemed. The next word she spoke confirmed all of his lingering suspicions, confirmed all of his feelings of familiarity, "...Yoko..."
When she uttered that name, Kurama could've sworn that all of the color drained from his face, even though his face showed no emotion. He felt a tinge of anger and violation at the fact that she knew his true identity. He withdrew from her both physically and emotionally- his face a hardened mask to belie the angered demon within. "Who are you?" he whispered lethally.
She closed her eyes, not saying anything for a while. His patience growing to an end Kurama voiced his question once again, holding a hint warning in his tone.
"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 Kurama.
He 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. In its place appeared a girl with lustrous white hair, and golden crème skin which held a pearlescent appearance. Her human ears were replaced by delicate elfin ones 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 an equal amount of gold as blush. From her hand, she materialized a dark red lotus which Kurama had recognized almost immediately. His mind flashed back one century ago. He remembered everything, him in his Youko form gazing intently upon her saddened form.
'so then leave...' 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.
The woman he had abandoned for all of the wrong reasons a century ago had returned as his enemy.
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well I know that that was a bit anti climatic, mainly because it was already done last chapter, but it had to be rewritten in Kurama's point of view, and you all needed to know about all of the back handed, sneaky stunts Enma Daiou pilled on the dragon keepers. Well that's all for now, I'm going in to have surgery tomorrow so hopefully I'll be able to update soon.
BUT the next chapter, 'the truth emerges' will have more Shihiko x Kurama goodness and the TRUE plan of the dragon keepers will be revealed, also be expecting some seasonal changes wink wink
Till the next chapter!!!