AN: Hello once more, my fellow YYH Fans. I hope you like it so far. I have the first three books in the series completed and typed up so far, but no worries, I'll put one on at a time.
Chapter Five
Han sat quietly, watching Kunanai through the semi-darkness. She was dreaming and it caused only slight twitches of her hands. Kunanai was getting stronger by the minute though not enough to do any real damage to Yananu or Dananu. Already Han was tired of the dark, cold, and musty dungeon that was to be her home for however long. It was not that she thought the plan Maki came up with was poorly developed but that she thought it impossible for Kunanai to kill two people after most likely fighting her way to them.
She pulled on the chains only to find them stuck tight. She imagined Kunanai's were just as bad or perhaps even worse since she had been here close to two months. She knew only a little of Kunanai; that which Lord Inari told her seemed to ring true. Yet something about her gave off the air of a lonely, frightened child. It would be reasonable, the feeling of that since Kunanai had to mature too quickly for anyone; Ningen, Youkai, or Hanyou.
She laid her head back on the wall hoping Inari would soon find her missing.
Kunanai found her memories plaguing her dreams as well as her reality. It brought a new kind of pain, a pain that broke her very soul.
Flashback
They walked quietly behind Sensui trying to keep from speaking about the murder. Sensui gave off a strange aura that did not give them a good feeling. He left them just outside the palace. Kunanai sighed, trying not the show how frightened she had been.
"Well, that certainly was fun, now wasn't it?" she asked a smile on her face.
Kurama glared, his fist clenching at his side, "You almost got yourself killed by saying that you did kill him! Do I have to tell you how stupid you are to even think of doing something like that!"
She smacked him, not thinking twice, "I didn't see you thinking of any bright ideas! Besides it's better that I spoke up before you could get us all in trouble by coming up with a lie! All they had to do was test me and they would know it was my by my signature! So excuse me for following what our parents taught us about honesty! You know I don't even know you anymore!"
She turned away, leaving Kurama gaping after her. Kuronue patted him on the back, hurrying to go calm Kunanai down before she became destructive. It ran on her Mother's side of the family.
"Well, she certainly put you in your place, didn't she?"
Kurama nodded looking up at the sound of the new voice. Beside him stood another Kitsune. She had strawberry blonde hair. Her skin was lightly tanned and seemed unblemished. Her eyes were a deep golden hue that sent shivers through him when they met his. She was a chestnut brown fox, her ears twitching slightly as her tail blew in the wind. She wore a tight pink shirt with a black trim and semi-tight white pants that flowed around her feet.
She smiled staring at him since she only reached him shoulder. He could not help but smile back at her.
"I'm Kurama. That was my little sister, Kunanai and our partner, Kuronue," he motioned to the two now arguing figures.
"Traveling with family, huh? I'm Kikiyo Yashime," they shook hands, their eyes never leaving the others.
"Look, I was wondering. We're just kinda wandering around Hell and.. Would you like to travel with us?"
She smiled, glancing at their hands; Kurama's grasp not relenting.
"Well, I'd love to but I have a few things to take care of first but then perhaps. Let's set up a time to meet and a place then I'll see," she answered.
He nodded, trying to make himself let go. He finally convinced himself, reluctantly stepping towards his companions.
"Where are you headed?" he asked quietly noticing his friends attentions were now on them.
"I'm heading out towards Jantu. How about we meet at Lord Inari's temple, just outside the Forest of Nirva."
He nodded, "Till then."
She laughed, "You forgot the day."
He stopped, shrugging it off.
"I'll meet you there in a week. Wait two days there if I don't show then you know I couldn't come."
He nodded again, slowly watching her walk away.
Kunanai looked at Kuronue finding it extremely hard to keep from not trusting him. She planned on getting a promise from him, a promise that would hopefully keep him at bay from any sexual assaults against her. She did find it flattering that people older than her found her so attractive and desirable but there were things called self-control.
"Kuronue, don't they look cute together?"
He nodded, checking her out, "So are all female Kitsune's beautiful because I've only seen two and both were way hot."
She glared at him, stepping away from him as if for protection.
"Okay, Perv. Let's get something straight here and now. We are nothing more than partners. Hell, you can even think of us as relatives, now promise to behave," she said, her arms crossed and eyes narrowed.
He smirked and pulled her into a light hug, "I'm getting used to your mix blood and the effect you two have on people but when it comes down to it, it's only lust."
"So?" she prompted staring up at him.
"So I promise. You're safe from me but I plan on staying close to you. We've got to stick together."
He winked at her before letting her go as Kurama came up beside them. He glanced up when he ran into them.
"Oh, hey guys. We're heading out. Let's go."
"Where are we going exactly?" she questioned refusing to move or forgive him.
"We're going where ever nature calls us. Now let's move," he growled.
"No, you're going where the girl wants you to go. We don't need some stupid girl joining our group."
"You're right, we already have one. I say we're going and that's final. Now either you come willingly or I'll drag you there by your tail."
She glared at him, "You know you're really immature when it comes to girls."
"Let's go," he said leaving no room for argument.
He transformed into his fox form and began running off towards the east. Kuronue shrugged to her before taking to the air. She growled, transforming as well and hurrying after her brother.
She stumbled as fatigue set in, yet Kurama showed no signs of relenting. She finally collapsed, transforming back painfully as her energy was completely wasted. She held back a cry, her vision blurring as she slipped into the realm between consciousness and unconsciousness. She was well aware of everything going on outside of her mind.
She was unable to move let alone try to come into the world of the living. Her energy was hardly even able to recollect after her dragon incident and already what she had stored up was completely gone.
"Well, what have we got here? A young Kitsune?" a voice said, lightly pushing the hair from her face. "Poor thing, she's completely exhausted."
She felt strong arms wrap around her and lift her up off the ground. He pulled her through the foliage with ease, mumbling to himself about how great her power, how much he hated when young girls were pushed past their limit and then left to die. She could soon feel the warmth of a fire and a soft silk blanket.
"Now, my dear, I know you can hear me. I'm going to give you this rejuvenating potion. It'll bring all of your energy back in the next day. I suggest you stay bed ridden for at least a week. Now drink it, " he tilted her head and placed the lip of the bowl to her lips.
She felt it roll into her mouth, flowing over her tongue and then down her throat. Her muscles tightened on her abdomen as she felt herself wishing to retch as the bitter, foul taste filled her mouth. He lightly rubbed a cinnamon smelling slave on her stomach, soothing the muscles. She struggled to see him but found her eyelids were unable to open.
"My…Brother…" she whimpered.
He hushed her, closing her eyes while he put a warm cloth on her forehead, "I will wake you when it is time to eat."
She nodded, struggling into the blankets. Her dreams were glimpses of what was going on outside of the room. The man who had saved her was looking, searching for her brother. Somehow she knew Kurama was not near her, nor was he searching for her but instead waiting for the girl from the palace. She felt the stranger wake her but could not recall what it was that she had eaten.
A week passed before she realized what was happening.
"Come, you must rise and walk or you're muscles will dissolve to nothing," he said lightly shaking her.
She opened her eyes quickly taking in the room around her. It was a small room with a few richly made furnitures filling it. She laid on a massive four-poster with a jungle of pillows and silks colored blood red. The floor was stone with a light shine.
"Here, let me help you outside," he said pulling one of her arms over his shoulder.
It took her a moment before she got her legs under her and was able to hold herself up. Still he kept her close as if knowing she would fall soon. They stepped outside together allowing the sunlight to bathe them in its warmth.
"Open your eyes, all of you," he said quietly, his voice carrying across the clearing.
Kunanai opened her eyes to find Kuronue standing across from her.
"Hey little sister. How are you feeling? Maki here wouldn't let you out the last week and a half," he said avoiding the obvious.
"Where's Ku at?" she whispered adverting her eyes.
Kuronue hugged her taking her from Maki's grasp, "He's resting. You remember that girl outside the palace? Well, she came."
She buried her head in his shoulder suddenly feeling alone like never before. She turned away and fled into the house, throwing herself onto the bed though knowing no tears would come.
"Kit, it's alright. Shush, I'm here. I'll be here for you," he lightly stroked her back.
"You don't understand, he's supposed to be here for me. He promised the night after our parents died."
"Oh, so you're trusting a promise made over two years ago?" he replied snidely.
She looked at him shocked, "But a promise within our family last lifetimes, not days."
He nodded pulling her into his arms, trying to soothe her. She allowed him to rock her to sleep as she felt her anger bottle inside of her. She nodded off, unknowingly, allowing Kuronue to steal a quick kiss.
They left two days later; Kuronue refusing to let Kunanai walk. She snuggled into his arms against the cool autumn air. Kuronue smiled at her, laying the hat he had bought in the nearby village over her. It was made of soft fabric designed in the shape of a pointed hat with a wide rim though now the top was ripped through to give his hair free rein.
Kurama was asleep, a fur draped over his stomach and to his knees. He groaned as they entered the camp, slowly sitting up.
"Geez Kurama, get some clothes on. Where's your damn lover?" he asked covering Kunanai's eyes.
She kept still until the hand was removed so she could see. Kurama turned to look in the other direction, seemingly not noticing Kunanai.
"Kikiyo, they're back! Come up and meet them!"
Kunanai glared as a fox came running into the clearing. She jumped into his arms, transforming back into her other form with her legs wrapped around his waist.
"Hello. It's nice to finally meet you," she said not taking her eyes off of Kurama.
Kunanai jumped down transforming but refusing to look at the other two, "I'm going to go explore, be back soon."
She pulled Kuronue down and kissed him on the cheek. Kuronue blushed lightly, adverting his eyes from Kurama as he glared at him. She calmly walked away, not looking back. The only place she found interesting was a beautiful waterfall. She seemed drawn to it.
The grass surrounding the clear blue water was soft and cushioned her movements, almost silencing them. The water cascaded silently over the cliff some ten feet up, a light sheen of steam covering where the waters met. She touched the water with her hand, closing her eyes at the perfect temperature of the water. It was just right, not too cold, not too hot.
She slid from her clothes, a white cloth covering her across her breasts and draping from her hips to mid thigh. She stepped slowly into the water, enjoying the cool water as it relaxed her muscles. She swam out to the middle of the lake and relaxed, allowing the water to make her float. She sighed contently, her hair fanning out around her.
"Hey! What are you doing in my lake!" a voice yelled from the shore, the water rippling as he ran out into the water
She went under, surprised to be interrupted. When she came up, the little boy was struggling to stay afloat but to no avail. She quickly reached him and carried him to the shore. He coughed, loudly gasping for breath.
"Shh, it's alright. Breathe, just breathe," she said, falling down beside him.
"Who are you?" he asked in a low whisper.
"Kunanai, who are you?"
"My name's Yunsung. I own this land, it's my territory."
She nodded, laying her head back on the grass. She understood what he meant. His parents more than likely were either dead or had abandoned him.
"Well, I'm really sorry I invaded your territory. It's just I had to get away from two lovers," she sneered.
He made a sound of disgust as he sat up beside her, "Well, then you can stay. I just thought you were going to drown because you were so close to the steam cloud."
She smiled; he wore all black and kept his face covered as if he were a warrior. She heard something approaching and jumped to her feet. She shoved Yun into the brush beside where they had been resting. A group of three men stepped out scanning the clearing.
"Are you sure the kid's here?" one asked, his armor gleaming in the light that penetrated the semi-dense canopy.
They froze staring at Kunanai, "Sire, I think you should see this."
"What is it?" a voice yelled from behind, shoving his way to the front.
It was, of course, Yananu though he was quite young. His eyes widened as he let them roam over her. She quickly snatched up her clothes but was unable to put them on as Yananu grabbed her, swinging her around.
"Well, what do we have here? I'm Yananu, Prince Yananu. And you are, love?" he nuzzled her neck.
She pushed away from him, glaring, "Kunanai. Now if you'll excuse me…"
"No, I don't think I will. You see, I get whatever I want and right now, I want you," he snapped his fingers and two of the men grabbed her arms roughly.
She struggled lightly, pretending to be unable to protect herself against them. She glared at him, feeling her anger begin to become the dark fire and silver ice that captivated her whole person. He walked up and kissed her full on the mouth much to her disgust. To make matters worse, he tried to stick his tongue in her mouth.
She quickly kneed him in the groin, the flame and ice throwing the other two away. She stood, her whole form bathed in the soft, dark energy as she moved towards the squirming form of Yananu.
"Now I asked politely yet you have no manners and refused to allow me passage. So I believe it is in my right to punish you," she poised her flaming hand over his throat, "Or perhaps I won't."
She pulled back and stood, quickly putting her clothes on before turning and leaving.
End Flashback
She shot awake and knew right away her energy was not yet completely restored. She rested her head back against the wall and noticed one thing. Someone had taken Kurama's body away, leaving the room clean of all the smells except those natural to the dungeons. She smiled slightly, feeling the dagger's cold steel on her thigh.
"Han? What's it like outside? I can't quite remember how the sun feels, how the wind lightly flirts with your face."
Han knelt beside her having escaped her shackles, "It's wonderful but soon we'll be out there. Soon you can go on with life, start a family if you want."
Kunanai looked up at her, "First, I have to deal with two Youkai that don't deserve to live any longer."
Han nodded, watching her closely, "You know, Lord Inari really cares about you. I think he even fell in love with you."
"He is a great friend and father to me," she sighed, "but even he does not see this happening."
Han sat down beside her, drawing her stiletto out and running it over the floor, "There's still time for him to find us."
She shook her head, "I hope he doesn't. I don't want him to see me kill some of our own kind."
She stared up at the ceiling noticing then the slight points as the water continued to drip in some far off corner of the dungeon.
AN: Well, Fifth Chapter done. I think this has like 15 chapters including epilogue. Whatever. Anywho, review and tell me your thoughts, I'd love to hear them. Much Love, S. Hunter.