Wrapping this story up I just want to take the time to say how much I appreciate everyone who read this story, over seven hundred hits, and especially everyone who submitted their reviews. I'm surprised that I got such a huge response from this, much bigger than I anticipated. Since I know I can write a story such as this I think I'll do more, perhaps with Full Metal Alchemist….hmmmm….we'll see.
"How has she been?" Kurama asked Shizeru as she led him upstairs to Keaka's room.
"She's as good as could be expected." She said shortly. Kurama nodded his head once and decided to leave it at that. Shizeru knocked on the door lightly and opened it when she got no response. Keaka sat out on her balcony railing staring at the sky motionless. Shizeru shut the door behind her leaving Kurama alone in the room. He walked over to her following her gaze.
"I'm sorry I didn't call you back kitsune. I've been um, busy." She stated absent mindedly.
"That's alright. I just thought I would check up on you is all." He said.
"Hiei's been stopping by at night." She said as an after thought.
"Yes I know." Kurama replied. Keaka shut her eyes and smiled a bit.
"Strange that no one has really brought up what happened back there or what happened at all." She said softly. Kurama glanced at her.
"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked not pushing the matter. She remained silent. Kurama watched her intently letting his mind wander to the week before. After Yumi had disappeared Keaka had just stood there staring at the demon they had encountered before entering the cave, Shura. He had expected her to run joyously into his own arms as she always did but this was not the case. She had barely even acknowledged any of them were there. After trying to get a reaction out of her Kuwabara had simply picked up his small sister and they had left.
"I didn't love him but I did care about him. He brought me comfort when I needed it most and I'm grateful for that." She said beginning to tremble a little.
"What exactly happened Keaka?" Kurama asked becoming intrigued.
"Between Shura and myself?" She asked. Kurama nodded.
"Nothing. He went into my mind where ever it was I was and he…he kissed me and I let him." She said finally bringing her gaze to Kurama's face. His emerald eyes sparkled threatening to water over. Keaka grinned at him.
"I never forgot about you." She stated swiping his bangs aside to get a better look at his face. Kurama sighed a small breath of relief and smiled slightly.
"Are you angry with me for kissing him?" She asked softly. He shook his head with a look of slight surprise.
"No. Not at all why would I be?" He asked. She shrugged.
"I don't know." She said.
"I couldn't possibly be angry with you after all the worrying I did over your disappearance. At first I figured we would find you with out a problem but when I walked into your room and sensed such a strong demonic presence I knew something was terribly wrong. I went into a state of denial really to the point that I didn't know what would become of me should you be killed or we simply never found you." He stated his eyes clouding over. Keaka brought her hand to his cheek and stroked it gently. Kurama sobbed slightly and grasped her hand tightly.
"I'm just glad you're safe now." He said closing his eyes relishing in her touch.
"Yes I am but I can't help but feel depressed." She said. Kurama reopened his eyes and took her into his arms holding her close to him.
"More than likely you will for some time. That's why I want you to know I'm here, I'll always be here." Kurama whispered softly. Keaka sighed as she listened to his steady heart beat feeling his warmth and that wonderful comfort wash over her as it always did.
"Has Reikai intelligence figured out why I was taken in the first place?" Keaka asked suddenly.
"They have deduced that it was done under the pretense that you would be easy to subdue. It was not in their knowledge until later on that you are a tantai. After that their actions became sloppy and rushed knowing that we were onto them." He replied. Keaka nodded her head and shut her eyes.
"It feels good to have things make sense again although I can't help but get this sneaking suspicion that all of this is just a fantasy." Keaka stated.
"There have been many through out the centuries and still to this day that would argue that life is an illusion and our dreams are reality." Kurama said. Keaka pondered that for a minute feeling her eyes become heavier.
"When was the last time you slept?" Kurama asked.
"I've been kind of afraid too." She said.
"Nothing will happen to you Keaka. It's over. I'm right here." Kurama said holding her tighter. Keaka sighed and nodded closing her eyes letting sleep envelop her.
This place was bright and had a sense of warmth to it but still Keaka couldn't shake the darkness that was slowly creeping into her very being. She convinced herself that this wasn't real, that it was all a dream but it felt like before. The panicked suspicion sunk into her heart making her feel anxious. Her body trembled at the thought no matter how hard she tried to shake it. She recognized her surroundings yet at the same time nothing seemed to register in her mind. Familiar objects that a two year old could name left her mind grasping and her mouth mute. This place that she had come across defiantly had a dark overture to it but also some warmth which sparked through the air with such electricity contradicting each other. A tall male stood with his long black hair swaying elegantly in the light breeze. Keaka's heart pumped in her chest.
"Shura!" Keaka yelled happily running towards him. The more she ran the further he seemed to get. Keaka's frustration increased drastically with each passing minute that she couldn't reach him.
"Don't you understand girl? No matter how hard you try my brother will forever be out of your reach." Kamowe's voice suddenly crept into her ear. Keaka tripped and toppled over at the shock of hearing and feeling him so close. The very essence of her nightmares. Keaka looked frantically around breathing heavily looking for him but didn't see him. Rough hands grabbed her from behind forcing her down on the ground.
"These are the purification grounds tantai." Kamowe said straddling her with his legs as he crushed his weight down on her much smaller body. Keaka looked to the side and saw Shura watching everything.
"Shura! Help me please! Shura!" She sobbed. Shura shook his head once.
"I'm sorry my love but you are out of my reach." He said softly. Kamowe placed a hand over her mouth covering her cries.
"The sacrifice will commence." He stated darkly. His eyes clouded over with concentration as he produced a dagger bringing it to her throat.
"Keaka! Keaka! Kuwabara! Wake up!" Kurama shouted shaking her roughly. He had been dozing himself next to Keaka on her bed when her screams had pierced the room. In the two years he had known her he had never heard her utter such a blood curdling cry that froze his blood making his heart skip beats. Her screams continued as she began to gag making Kurama's body tremble.
'Something is killing her.' He thought to himself. Despite himself Kurama slapped her across her face hard enough to leave a bright welt and split her lip. Her screams stopped as she opened her eyes in a panicked frenzy as she sobbed and trembled. Kurama gathered her into his arms.
"It's alright. I'm here Keaka-chan, I'm here."
