AN: Hey, welcome to my new story. This is he first part in a series of six books. So hope you like.
Chapter One
Kunanai was thrown back, the last of her strength completely drained from struggling to be released from the chains. She rested against the wall, her head downcast in grief. She had finally chosen to give up; her life was pointless as those she had thought would never betray her stole the last of her family from her. Yet here she was chained in the worst dungeon Jantu had to offer. Sadly Inari had not been informed about her arrest or he would have killed Yananu and Dananu.
Youko Kurama, her brother had raised her since her parents had been murdered for obeying Inari. They both grew to be thieves and lost contact with all tribes of Angels. They only cared for the other but things changed. Kurama developed a friendship with another Demon named Kuronue, also a thief. She let her head fall back as she stared out into the dark. Her eyes burned with tears that she refused to release.
She had hoped, even though they both led different lives that she would be able to go to her brother. She wanted to have him chase away her fears, surround her with love. She would even learn to put up with his lover, Kikiyo if she had to. Now however that would be impossible.
She changed her train of thoughts to her memories, trying to think of her first memory. Really, all she could do was remember her life. She did not know when they would finally come for her but for now she could use the time to remember happier times.
Flashback
Kunanai raced through the forest, her eyes brimmed with tears as she hurried from the cloud of smoke. She finally fell to the ground, her head resting on her arms as she cried. Her whole body shook with sobs as she tried to erase the memories, the scenes of her parent's deaths.
"Kunanai! Where are you!" a familiar voice yelled from behind her.
She quickly tried to wipe the tears from her face though it was useless since more only fell in their absence. Kurama, her only brother and last living relative approached from behind her.
He was older by nearly fifteen years. He stood 6'3 with silky silver hair to his mid back. He had creamy pale skin without a single blemish. His eyes were a radiant gold like the morning sun and shined with secrets he kept from the world. He was a silver Kitsune, which explained the silver fox ears and silver fox tail. He was clothed in a loose white shirt and loose white pants.
He knelt down in front of her, pulling her into her arms, "Nai, it's okay to cry. Just let it out."
She froze in his arms as she realized he too was crying. The strongest person she knew was crying. She grabbed him, hugging him tightly while crying into his chest.
"Ku, they're dead. Why? Why did they leave us?" she whimpered.
Kunanai stood 5'9 and was a black silver Kitsune. She had long silky black hair to her waist. She also had creamy pale skin though hers much like the moonlight shining off freshly fallen snow. Her eyes were also a radiant gold though dulled by her sadness. She had back ears with silver tips and a black tail with a silver tip.
He rubbed light circles over her back, slowly lolling her to sleep in his arms. Her breathing slowed and became even as her hold on him loosened. He lifted her easily, cradling her to his chest as he came to a cave. He let her sleep with him, his little sister curled up on his lap. It was hard to believe their parents were dead and even worse was that Kunanai had seen them murdered before her eyes.
She yawned in her sleep, clenching the fabric of his shirt in her hand as she struggled with nightmares. He knew he should awaken her but he could not bring himself to let her see him cry. He brushed some hair from her face, feeling new tears begin to fall as he watched her. Now she would be unable to come home and show her parents the prizes she had stolen. He hastily wiped them away as she began to wake.
"Ku? Are Mother and Father going to watch over us forever?"
He looked at her, their eyes meeting in sadness, "Do you remember what Father taught us? About those who follow Lord Inari?"
She nodded, "They receive a place in the stars to watch over their loved ones."
He continued, "Mother and Father followed Lord Inari and were loyal to him. They have a place in the stars while those that killed them, the Nogitsune's," he spat the last word, "they will be sentenced to be punished."
She quickly asked the question she feared, "What will become of us?"
She shut her eyes, waiting for their sentence that she most surely believed would be death.
"I'll teach you to be a theif then we'll survive on what we are able to steal," he smoothed down her hair, "Don't worry, Nai, I'll protect you. We'll make it."
She nodded, laying her head back down on his chest even though she would be unable to sleep with the visions of her parent's death. He however fell into a light sleep, his mind keeping track of Kunanai's movements.
She was able though to sneak away as Kurama searched for food. She moved up the hill and sat watching the stars. Kurama always chose to steal at night. She counted the stars, looking to see if there were any new ones. From what she could tell there were not any new, only the same ones as before. She laid back, her eyes continually staring at the sky.
"Why are you gone? I thought you promised to be there, to help us grow up to serve Lord Inari. Why did you betray us?" she whispered.
Something moved behind her causing her to jump landing behind a bush.
"It's alright, my child. I will not hurt you," someone said, his back leaning against the tree.
"Father?" she questioned cautiously moving forward.
He chuckled, "Of sorts, I am the Father of all Kitsune's."
She gasped before kneeling, "My Lord, why have you come?"
He pulled her up though sticking to the shadows, "You have drawn my interest. I have great plans for you and this event of your parents deaths will help you through."
She pulled away from him, glaring, "Then it was your fault they died. You betrayed them to fulfill your plan."
He shook his head, "No, they were my children, my loyal friends. It hurts me when any of my children die. Now listen closely. You and your brother must go to the city of Rainal. There you will meet Minare. He will teach you to control your energy."
She shrugged, "My brother will teach me."
He turned back towards the shadows, "Fine, do as you wish but if you do not get trained by Minare then you will never be able to avenge your parents death. Only you can do so."
He disappeared before she could speak, leaving her to think over what she was to do.
Kurama returned soon afterwards, bringing with him a large Makie-Demon, a large hog-like creature covered in armor. He spotted her on the hill some ways away, her stance wavering between impatient waiting to thoughtful with each passing minute. He waved up to her, the hog wrapped in his shirt as he pulled it to the cave, his muscles rippling with each step.
"Come help me clean this. Then we'll eat."
Kunanai turned to hurry down the hill only to trip up over a sack of fur. She opened it to find fruit and two cloaks, perfectly made for Kurama and herself. She threw it over her shoulder, clasping it in her hand as she jumped down next to Kurama.
"Look what I found atop the hill."
He took it from her and handed her a dagger, "Since you're so good with knives, please prepare this for us. I'll fix the rest of it."
Kunanai watched him carefully empty the bag, sniffing each piece of fruit thoroughly before setting them down. He shrugged it off though still eyed them suspiciously. Kunanai finally turned her attention to the Makie-Demon and removing the armor. She cut quick and precisely, peeling back the thick armor that protected the delicious and juicy meat.
Kurama returned only after the fire was started. She refrained from commenting about his blood red shirt that she would now have to clean thoroughly. He smiled; placing the Makie over the fire as it slowly began to cook.
Kunanai sat silently, her back facing him as she thought over what she was going to do with the rest of her time, contemplating what she was going to do with the instructions given to her by Lord Inari. It was difficult, if she chose to go then she would probably have to tell Kurama about the strange visit.
Kurama hugged her, nuzzling her check, "Nai, what's wrong? You seem troubled. Is it Mother and Father?"
She shook her head, "No… Ku, what's in Rainal?"
He leaned back, "If I'm right, a great warrior named Minone and his brother, Sensei Minare. Thy used to be the best in the whole three worlds but they lost one battle and lost their partner, Koshi. Now they're retired. Why?"
"I had a…. dream that we went to Rainal and stayed there for a few months."
He nodded, "Well, there are a lot of royals there with quite a few valuable things. And the Kitsune population in the area is high. How about we leave tomorrow?"
She nodded whispering, "The sooner we leave, the better."
He looked at her concerned though she failed to notice as she kept her back to him.
It was not until later that morning that Kurama woke Kunanai up. She slept comfortably on top of the hill. She slept curled in her fox form. This was the form they were born in. Hers was a small kit with black fur; one tail with a silver tip, and ears with silver tips plus on her neck was a silver diamond shaped spot. Her head rested calmly on her paws, her nose buried in her tail.
As Kurama approached, her ears pricked up at the noise he purposely made in his movement through he foliage. She peeked one eye open as he knelt before her, his hand running over her fur.
"Come on, Little One, it's time to move."
She yawned, her canine teeth gleaming white against the pink gums. She sleepily climbed to her feet and stretched before following him down the hill to the cave entrance.
She changed back with ease and watched Kurama collect all the supplies they needed on the road into a gigantic Venus Flytrap-like plant.
"My friend will meet us near the Maki Forest which is our first stop on the road."
She pulled a dagger from her waist and began cutting up an apple which she ate as Kurama hurried to get the rest of their stuff together. He had a make-shift vest made of fur he had found left from the carcass of an Inu, dog demon.
He winked at her, assuming the form he was born in as well. He was bigger in size then Kunanai though they hardly looked alike. Kurama had two tails and was completely silver. She laughed lightly before joining him in fox form. When in their original forms, they could only talk by mental communication.
'Come on, we should hurry if we are to reach the forest by nightfall,' Kurama said as he began to run off.
Kunanai glanced back to see a large white fox with seven tails standing atop the hill staring at her. She narrowed her eyes before rushing after Kurama before the other fox decided to make her their breakfast.
End Flashback
Kunanai glanced up as the wooden door to the dungeon room was opened. She could hardly see the shape of Yananu as he threw something down to her.
"Figured you would want some company. I bet it's quite lonely down there in the dark. Oh, don't worry I highly doubt the thunderstorm will be heard down here," he chuckled as he shut the door.
Kunanai forced herself to look at the body that gave forth the putrid odor only death brought to the living world. Just as she laid her eyes on the ghostly pale form, she turned away, her eyes blurring with both tears and exhaustion. They were torturing her even as she fought to live on the small supply of food they gave her.
It had been two months since his death; it surprised her he was not completely decomposed. She wanted beyond anything else to receive death whether by starvation, murder, execution, or if it were possible to die with honor by fighting her way to death.
She closed her eyes, her body beginning to turn numb from the cold. Her arms felt only the dull ebb of pain as she had been hanging from the chains for almost two months. As much as if hurt, the pain drove the inner turmoil into a slightly calm state. She let her head fall back, her eyes staring blankly into the semidarkness.
"Why am I always left alone? Why did you all betray me?"
She pulled her knees to her chest and felt her eyes fall shut as she gave up to exhaustion.
Yananu marched down the hall, his hands shoved into his pockets as he went to his brother. He had brown hair cut short though the bangs fell into his violet eyes. His skin was tanned and muscles as he had been commander of the Demon Army until recently when he assumed leadership. On each of his cheeks, he had a single red claw-like mark symbolizing his age within the royal family.
He entered the throne room quickly, staring up at his brother. Dananu was ruler of Jantu. He had black hair to his shoulders, the bangs covering his darker purple eyes at the moment. He was pale and only slightly muscled since he lived within the confines of the castle.
"How is the prisoner? Has she given up yet? If we are going to kill her, it must be soon," Dananu spoke in a low monotone, his voice echoing across the room.
"Oh, she'll fall soon. I just brought her a present that will surely break her into nothing," he chuckled lightly, turning to leave.
Dananu angrily yelled, "Leave me! Now!"
The room emptied with his command, none wishing to anger the young king. He pulled a small picture from his pocket. He stared at it, his finger tracing the image.
"Love, you should really learn to choose your loyalties wisely. If I can I will marry you if just to save you," he sighed, leaning back so he could easily look at her.
The picture was that of Kunanai; her hair pulled back from her face in a low ponytail. She wore a tight white tank top and tight black jeans. Around her waist was a silver chain that held her two katana's in black dragon scaled sheaths.
Yananu narrowed his eyes through a small crack between the doors. He growled quietly deep within his throat before turning away. Kunanai was his old friend and he would kill her before Dananu would take her as his wife, the joint ruler of Jantu. She was a Forbidden Child and did not deserve to have any real relation to the royals except by being their servant.
Lord Inari sat on his throne waiting to find the location of Kurama's soul. For two months they had searched only to still come up empty handed in the matter. He hated to think that one of his children's souls was lost, never to be reborn or even found.
"There's no sign of his soul anywhere," his friend and loyal servant, Mahanri said.
He rubbed his hand over his face as he sighed, "I must find him or I'll never be able to return to Kunanai with the news."
Han shrugged; moving to sit on the steps and lightly fingered her stiletto, a small dagger. Her hair was messy and fell to her shoulders, green in color. Her eyes were purple and shined like she knew a joke no one else knew. Her skin was lightly tanned and unblemished, her always having the upper hand in fights. On her cheeks just below her eyes were two marks symbolizing her loyalty to him.
Lord Inari shook his head, leaning back completely in shadow.
"We'll find him no matter how long it takes. Until then I'll let Kunanai think everything is perfectly fine," he whispered.
Han looked up at him, feeling that Kunanai was in trouble and needed help. She was unable to figure out what the problem was. She shrugged it off knowing Kunanai could be in trouble because she as fighting in a battle. It would be normal since she was Shimora, leader of the Demon Army.
AN: Ah, nothing like the first chapter. Please review. I would appreciate anything at all in your reviews. Much Love, S. Hunter.