Ch. 18 – Sweet Rememberance
A few hours later, Youko comes to a clearing in a forest, a small stream running through it. He scans the area to find Kuronue sitting near the water. Kuronue doesn't notice him as he seems to be holding something and talking to it. Youko hides in the closest tree, using the treetops to get closer. As he gets closer to where Kuronue is his eyes start to focus on a fuzzy image, whatever Kuronue is holding.
Kuronue stops talking and looks up. "I'm not stupid you know. I know you're watching us Youko. Either come out on your own or I'll make you come out."
"Who's your friend?" Youko doesn't move from his hiding place, making his voice ring out in order to avoid having his hiding spot detected.
"Care to find out?" Kuronue whispers something to the fuzzy image. A moment later Youko finds himself on the ground, the fuzzy image finally comes into focus as the transparent figure of a blue female fox demon with silver highlights and a pair of dark eyes hidden behind a set of lenses, a blue fireball in an outstretched hand as she pins him to the ground.
"… Kagome?"
Her eyes widen and her voice is only a whisper. "Who are you?" She suddenly vanishes before he has a chance to speak.
"Aw, you scared her." Kuronue appears in front of him. Youko notices Kagome holding onto Kuronue, his arm, and a wing, wrapped around her.
"Kagome…" Youko is immediately on his feet. He glares at Kuronue. "Unhand her."
"You said you came to find her. Now you have. So leave."
"I'm not leaving without her."
"She doesn't even remember who you are."
"She would, given the chance."
"I'm not giving you that chance. She belongs to me now. Go back to the World of the Living. You're not dead yet and this is not your place."
"If I remain here long enough I will be able to stay for eternity."
"Leave. Now."
"No."
I've given you fair warning. You do not want to challenge me. I have gotten stronger."
"I'm game. Bring it."
Kuronue starts to walk away from Kagome but she grabs hold of his arm. "Please don't go."
"This won't take long, I promise. Now let go."
"But –"
"Kagome…" He pulls her close and wraps his arms around her.
"I'll kill you…" Youko growls.
"It'll only take a few minutes ok? Don't worry. I'll come back."
"…ok." Kagome resigns.
"Good." Kuronue releases her and walks closer to Youko. "Now, to repay you for my death, I shall kill you and keep the treasure that you hold close to your heart. Prepare yourself, for this time you will remain dead so that I may drag you down to hell." Without warning Kuronue attacks Youko with a hidden short sword and the fight begins. Youko sees the silver glint of the blade at the last minute and tries to move back as fast as he can. But Kuronue anticipates his movements and follows him, aiming for a one hit kill. Youko moves out of the way of the blade but gets hit it the process. Blood dribbles down his side.
"You missed." Youko taunts. Kuronue becomes furious and stabs at Youko again and Youko gets hit on the arm again. "You got stronger Kuronue? I think you've just become more reckless." Youko sidesteps and swipes Kuronue in the face. Blood dies his shirt collar. Kuronue touches his face and looks at his fingertips.
"You got me! You bastard!"
"Give my Kagome back."
"Never." Kuronue steps towards Youko and slices his blade in the air. He turns to see where Youko is only to get a rose whip to his face. Blood gushes out of his eyes as he screams.
"My eyes!!!" Kuronue screams.
"You have lost Kuronue. Return to Spirit World." Youko states coldly. "Now you are as blind as a bat. This fight it over."
"Ku… Kuro-kun!" Youko looks shocked as Kagome runs past him to Kuronue, the smell of salt in the air. "Kuro-kun! You're bleeding! Why did you do that?" She glares at Youko. "Why did you hurt Kuro-kun?"
Youko looks over at her, his cold gaze softens as his eyes fill with concern. "You really don't remember anything."
"You hurt Kuro-kun! I hate you!" Screams.
Youko's eyes become full of deep sadness. "I came because I love you… I'm sorry." He throws something down at her feet before turning and walking away.
"…" Kagome slowly looks down to find a rose colored in a deep shade of red lying on the dead grass in front of her. She slowly bends down to pick it up and notices not a single thorn on its stem. Her thoughts of concern for Kuronue are suddenly forgotten as her mind is filled with curiosity. Something seems oddly familiar about the rose in her hand, but she can't seem to remember what it is.
"Kagome…" Kuronue senses her confusion.
"I'm sorry Kuro-kun. But I must know who he is. I have to catch him." Kagome disappears.
"Hmm… very well." Kuronue states to no one in particular. He wraps his wings around his body. The air around him picks up a wind speed and feathers float through the air. About 3 minutes later he stretches his wings out and the air dies down, the loose feathers spiraling to the ground. The marks from Youko are still visible as scars. But other then that all the blood is gone. "It was nice to see you again, my old friend. I am glad that you have not gone soft with your fighting. You may keep her for now, if you can help her find herself. I will check in on you again some other time." Kuronue smiles and flies off.
Youko pauses for a minute to calm down and stare up at the sky. "She… hates me…" Sadness overcomes him at the remembrance of her last words.
"Wait…" A whispering voice travels to him on the light wind. He turns to find the transparent form of Kagome standing behind him.
"…" Youko takes a moment to think before speaking. "What… can I do for you now? Do you still hate me?"
"Please… tell me. Who are you?"
"Why don't you try to remember."
"Why did you give this to me?" She holds up his rose.
"Because it belongs to you."
"Belongs… to me… who are you?"
"A piece of your life from the Living World."
"Living? World?"
"You don't even remember dying?"
"I remember waking up in a lot of pain, the feeling seemed to go forever until Kuro-kun took me away. Then he brought me here, we talked for a while and became friends. But that doesn't tell me who you are." She looks up at him curiously. "Why were you looking for me?"
Youko uses his demon speed to quickly step forward and wrap his arms around her before she can back up. He sighs, leans down and kisses her gently on her forehead before letting her go. "I must no have been as important to you as I thought if you can't remember who I am. Goodbye my Kagome." He walks off.
"…" Kagome doesn't move, memories starting to come back to her.
Youko gets about half a mile away before he hears her call his name. He turns slowly, silently praying that this was not a mind trick. But he finds her once again standing behind him. "K -" He tries to speak but stops when Kagome flings herself into his arms.
"Youko… don't leave me…" She cries, her grip on his shirt tightening. "You… can't leave me."
He gently wraps his arms around her. "I would never do that Kagome." He speaks into her ear with a soothing voice. "I will never leave your side. I will always be here when you need me."
She slowly lets go of him. "Youko…"
"Yes?"
"… You're bleeding! Oh my gosh! What happened to you!?! You shouldn't be so reckless! You worry me!" She grabs hold of his arm and starts o heal him.
"Kagome!" He laughs. "Stop worrying about it. I can barely feel it anymore anyways."
"That's bad! You could've broken it! And you could bleed to death! No way am I letting you stay like this!"
"You worry too much. Besides, it was worth it… it helped me get you back."
"This is all my fault…"
"Don't blame yourself for this. It was my choice."
"I told you not to follow me. I didn't want you to get hurt. But nooo… you had to follow me anyways."
"You killed yourself! Did you think I wouldn't come find you?"
"I had good reason to do so. You on the other hand, don't deserve to be in this place. You should be in the World of the Living with our friends."
"You don't deserve to be here either. You should be with me at home. Not in this lonely realm. It was not your time yet. You haven't spent a lifetime by my side."
"… It was my responsibility."
"No it wasn't. It was Koenma's. He just handed it off to you, and you being who you are, took care of it for him at the extent of your own life."
"… I'm sorry." She finishes healing his arm.
Youko wraps her in a hug and holds her. "You should not be apologizing.
"But you are angry."
"You did not cause my anger. And besides, now that I have you back I can't possibly be angry anymore."
"I –"
"You found her!" Boton descends on her oar. "I was worried that time would run out and we'd have to leave without her."
-Remind me to pay her back for ruining my moment later.-
-That's not nice Youko.-
-I don't care Suichi! Every time I'm finally able to create a perfect moment someone ruins it! She was openly talking to me instead of trying to guard her words! She was about to say something! What if she was going to say that she loves me!?!-
-If that's the case then we'll just have to kill Boton. But we don't know that yet so settle down.-
"Time to leave already? I was enjoying the scenic view of this place." Youko states calmly.
"Yup! Time to leave! Grab her and let's go before the other souls start coming!"
"Why would other souls come?"
"Because they know we're leaving –"
"Bring me!" A transparent rat demon runs over.
"Nooo! I am more worthy!" A spider demon appears.
"Forget thossse idiotsss I can be of more ussse then they can." A snake demon slithers over.
Boton starts to raise the oar. "Let's go Youko! Grab her and hop on!"
"Time to go home Kagome." Youko wraps an arm around her waist, jumps up and grabs hold of the oar. Boton lifts them higher into the air to prevent the gathering souls from latching onto them.
"Ready?" Boton waits till Youko has situated himself on the oar, an arm griping the oar and the other still wrapped around Kagome. "And we're off!" They suddenly shoot up into the air, traveling at a rather fast speed. "Don't forget to hold your breath!"
"What?" Kagome asks curiously. But before she receives an answer they are surrounded by water. After several minutes the reach the surface, flying up into the air. Boton slows down they're speed as they heard towards the castle. Kagome looks over at Youko, his face a little pink. Her eyes fill with concern. "OH my gosh! Are you alright!?!"
"I'm fine." He laughs lightly. "I'm just not made to hold my breath that long. It's nothing to get all worried about."
"I'm sorry. I can't help it. I care."
"Don't be sorry about it." He hugs her and smiles. "You're so silly sometimes. You –"
"We're here!" Boton pipes up cheerfully.
-I wonder if Konton would do me a favor later…-
-Behave Youko.--Stop trying to hold me back Suichi. I've got the girl.-
Boton flies them through a high window and into Koenma's office. "About time you got here." Koenma walks over in teenage form. "I was getting worried that you may have run into trouble." Kagome and Youko dismount from the oar. As soon as she steps onto the floor she starts to fall through it. She squeaks in surprise. Youko quickly grabs hold of her and picks her up. "You have to hold her, she's a spirit so she'll go through everything that's not living."
"You could've told me that a split second earlier."
"May I have her please?" Koenma holds out his arms.
"What exactly are you going to do to her?" Youko holds onto Kagome protectively.
"I'm going to put her back." Koenma quickly swipes Kagome from Youko and carries her over to the door.
"Hey!" Youko growls.
"Stuff it Youko. Do you want her back or not?"
