Riz:
Sorry Asilin; it's a three to one vote on no. Please don't kill me! So no Sara. But I will a One-Shot on her with a little bit of stuff on her which I was intending to put in here. But here is the next chapter with a bit of family history... Of shorts.
Chapter Seventeen: Golden Eclipse; Alignment of Destinies
Shoving away the mass of rubble the four followed in heavy silence behind Youko. They were all waiting for some kind of explanation for this "mission" and what exactly they were doing. Picking her way across the battered floor Roviel could not help but give a wry grin. Mission... How long since it's been that she's last heard of the word? Ever since that fated incident which destroyed all of Nigenkai the word have become a unconscious taboo among the Reikai Tentai. Not that there was some any actual rules stating that they could not say the word; it just happened. Ironic really; ever since that mission the youkai had sworn never to risk her own life for the likes of humans. But here she was now, stumbling down a darkened tunnel to heaven-knows-where and facing a foe of unknown strength. And all for what? She snorted; why is life as it is?
"Thief, just in case I failed to catch it earlier, just tell us again why we are doing this?"
When the whole world changes, Hiei would still stay the same. Kurama grinned at the dripping sarcasm of those words. But it was true; they all needed to know the details of this... expedition. They've been walking aimlessly (or seemingly so) down to some pitiful level of Makai and then crawling down some mountain-side cave that looked as if it was going to collapse anytime. So there should at least some kind of... story to this, right?
Youko stayed silent and continued to move forward. For some time the thief continued to ignore those behind him. But as a corner loomed over them before them the fox stopped suddenly. They all stopped, three sets of curious eyes and one pair of angry one locked onto the white-clad figure.
"...It was so long ago, I had almost forgotten about it..."
-
Tucking back locks of misted gold Koruku leaned back against the bedpost.
"We met her one day when we were on another hunt. It was an accident; we carelessly thought that no one was following us and so slackened on our guard. Next thing we knew someone was trying to kill us with their piercing yells and sword-slashes. I managed to get a hold of our attacker and interrogate her. Seemed that she was suppose to be the guard for that night, a wager with her family that if she could keep the treasures safe from thieves for one year then she could escape some kind of contract of some sort. I was tempted to give back our hoard to her, but Youko stubbornly refused. And so she followed us, vowing to tag us for the rest of our days until we gave back what's rightfully hers."
Yuki listened intently, storm clouded orbs wide as she listened to this strange story. What does this have anything to do with her? The woman's concentration was broken as the binding around her suddenly fell. Picking up the rope, Koruku handed Yuki a glass of water, amber-laced orbs gazing down at her in clouded thoughts.
"Drink? I'm afraid that I had to tie you up just then to assess your powers and see if you would be able to escape."
Gulping down the water, Yuki frowned up at the golden fox.
"Are you saying that I'm weak? Just let me get my strength back and I'll show you just how weak I am!"
Shifting eyes crinkled in silent laughter. A slow smile spread across his face as the fox took in this human. Her angry glare brought back memories, thoughts that were like honeyed poison to his mind, a tantalizing snare which embrace his soul in its soft prison.
He shook his head and broke away from the train of thoughts. Not now, he can't give up now. He's gone so far to get here, and it is almost complete. He can't let her personality and appearance break through his resolve...
-
Biting back a string of curses Roviel shuffled across the ledge bordering an infinite abyss. Gritting her teeth against the urge to kill something the youkai glared at Youko's back. Or tried to; Kuwabara easily blocked her line of sight in this narrow outcrop.
"Well? Keep going thief! A story right now would be just the thing to keep our minds off this bottomless pit we are walking across."
"Fine. I just thought that you might need some concentration to cross this."
"Well you thought wrong kitsune. Now get talking."
Sigh...
"Her name was Shikari. I think Fate has been playing me, for she is nearly the same as Yuki in nearly every perspective. She held true to her word and tailed my brother and I for over a century. Eventually she joined us on our hunts and saved our hides not a few times. I think that eventually Shikari forgot the real reason she stayed with us. It was fun, if not very loud and painful, to be around her. We had such good times...
I don't know how it exactly all started. At first it was just a simple smile and occasional joke. But as time went on, I became more attached to her. It wasn't only me; Koruku was also trying to attract her attention..."
-
"So... you both liked this Shikari person?"
Koruku nodded, white gold ears twitching in the air. Perhaps she was going mad, but Yuki was starting to think that Youko's half-brother was as hot, if not hotter, than the thief. His polite manners and courteous ways reminded her very much of Kurama... Hm, interesting.
"Um... So what happened next? To Shikari, I mean."
The fox stared off into space. Then suddenly he started to laugh. A cold, spiteful laugh filled with regret and loss. This was a startling contrast to his appearance, all graceful and lazing and basking under the sun in sleepy nothingness. Shaking his head again the fox turned his attention out to the bright day outside.
"I was stupid, not telling how I really felt. Not saying those three little words, instead hoping that she would come to realize them herself. I did love her, more than anything Makai or any world could offer. But I was too scared, too selfish even, to tell her. Instead it hung between us; a silent anticipation, teeming precariously over the edge of emotion and logic. If only...
Then one day she just... At first I couldn't understand why, but soon it was obvious that she had deserted me for Youko. My brother with his charming ways and silver tongue told her what she wanted to hear, gave her what she wanted. She was happy, and because of that I did nothing but just stood by and watched. As long as she was happy, even if it was with someone else, I was content. As long as they gave her the attention and love and respect and devotion that she deserved.
I should have known better. After all, Youko was my brother. I should have known what he had planned out for her, like so many of the women who yielded to his delightful ways. But I refused to believe that he would do that, for she was special.
Looking back now, I wonder sometimes just how I could have been so naive. Perhaps because she adored him, that they seemed so content in each other's company, that Youko acted as if he was truly in love. And because I believed him, I accepted the pain of loss and congratulated them two from the bottom of my heart."
He came closer, the placid eyes liquefying Yuki's form in the amber pools. The smile which graced his face was eerie, a mix of both twisted pain and sadist delight.
"You do look so much like Shikari, do you know? Like her, you devoted your life to Youko. And like her, you thought the best of my brother, not knowing all the evils which have manifested under his name. And like her, you will both share the same fate, a fate tied with love and hate. But one thing is going to be different; Youko is not going to be the one who kills you..."
-
Light welcomed them from the end of the tunnel, a pure clearness of bright daylight so rare in Makai opening its embrace and lighting the cavern with its uplifting song. Shuffling out of the god forsaken cave, everyone blinked against this sudden change in brightness. When they did, a very strange sight greeted the group of rescuers.
They were standing in the middle of the mountain. Or be exact, a crater in the middle of a dead volcano. Before them lush woodland spread its way across the fertile ground. In the middle of this expansion was a house... Well, as Roviel eyed this cottage with a mix of confused amusement and dark sarcasm she couldn't for the world believe that a half-brother of Youko was so humble. I mean, the thief lived in a house the size of a small school! The youkai hoped that Youko was right and that Yuki was in the small house and very much alive.
The golden eyes held the forest in its gaze. It was exactly like how he remembered this place; the woods without a single leaf out of place. He needn't look to know that a small creek flowed in a hidden brook to his right and that it ran through the mountain before finally pouring down into the infinite chasm they had just passed earlier. But no, it had a base otherwise how could Koruku have found the bracelet, the bracelet his brother had given to Shikari, the bracelet she had worn as she died...
-
He grinned at her. No, smirk was a better word. A fanged sneer of exasperated patience as Shikari stared at him in disbelief. By Inari, why can't this girl get it into her head already? He's already been explaining this over and over for god knows how long. Looked like he had to explain once again. Flicking away some annoying insect buzzing around him Youko sighed.
"Look. It's all very simple really; I do not think this getting along. It would be better if you just forget all about this whole thing."
Shikari continued to stare at him, a mixture of emotions flying across her features from amazement to sadness before quickly masked over by a blank look.
"...What do you mean? How could you say something like this?"
"Look, how many times do I have to say this until you get it? I do not like you; the last few days were nothing more than a mere flirtation on my part, nothing more. Why is it that you are the only female who doesn't understand? I thought you knew..."
The silver orbs closed, whether in pain or dawning of realization no one knows. But the eyes opened again, and this time the girl she was before was gone, replaced with a new soul, a soul of pain and hurt and anger and regret.
"Of cause. How could I not have realized it earlier? Of cause you were just playing; you are Youko, after all. I... Sorry, I was acting so stupid. Arg I must have been acting really silly and childish and all. Yes, I'll just go now. Thanks for telling me about it all."
-
They were just in the middle of finishing off a very tasty lunch when Koruku's head suddenly rose. The furred ears flickered and the golden fox stood. Gulping down her mouthful Yuki blinked at the handsome fox. She's been here for two days, and in the two days Koruku had not only explained in detail the blood-feud between him and Youko, but also treated her with uttermost respect and care. If it wasn't for the fact that he's kidnapped her for some evil reason (the only thing she doesn't know about) Yuki would have found these last few days perfect in every way. So what's happened now?
"Who? Id oming amen?"
What she meant to say under the mouthful of fish was; What? Did something happen? But he understood anyways.
"I see that my half-brother has arrived. And he had brought company."
He stood before the table eyes looking into the distance towards the gulf.
"I had hoped that it would not come to this. Or at least not until the full moon is here... But I suppose it is inevitable; Youko has always been clever in his own ways."
He turned to Yuki, all the gentle kindness in his eyes gone. Regret still remained in his gaze, but even that could not soften the cold glitter of revenge.
"Fate had seen it that your destiny was cruelly entwined with ours. Please do not hate me for doing this; it is destiny."
-
As they approached the cottage in wariness the door suddenly opened. They all jumped, each person nervous in this paradise in Makai. As they watched, two figures came out from the shadow of the door. As he saw Yuki well and healthy Roviel, Kurama, Kuwabara and Youko all let out a mental sigh of relief. Hiei stayed poised, hand inches away from his katana as crimson orbs burned their way into the golden fox who had his claws tight around the woman's throat. So, this is Koruku, the thief's half-brother and reason for this ridiculous mission? The fire apparition crouched lower; well let's see just how cool the fox would look after he gets a taste of Darkness Dragon. And by the look of things his "team" had the exact same thoughts running through their mind. Whip, sword and glaive were all out as the former Reikai Tentais shifted their way so that they surrounded Koruku and Yuki. But the fox only had eyes for his half-brother, his attention focused solely on Youko and nothing else. Watching this, the fire apparition could not help but smirk. And so it all begins, once again...
What can I say? This is Yuki's plot; I'm just writing this thing. Seriously, I don't know what the bloody hell I'm writing here. But it's... um... necessary... I need this for something in Act Three, which is, if my calculations is correct, only two chapters away.
On a side note I couldn't resist putting in something from Naruto. The destiny thing was just too good. Mm... Neji... Who cares about Tenten; I'll idolize you from a golden pedestol for the rest of my life. Hehehe...
I'll update... soon. If you didn't know, I have a new fanfic out. It's actually quite fun really; take a look if you have an open mind and do not have a phobia of satirical humour. With so many tests and assessments at school as well as a very bad Writer's Block... well, you can probably guess. But I will update within... nine days. So review people! I'm waiting!