*chibi sad* How come you gals listen to these two bakas *points Youko and Kuronue* but not ME!!!!! *anime tears*
Youko & Kuro: *wrap their arms around my shoulders, grins* Cause we're better than you. And they LOVE~ us!
Me: *anrgy chibi pout*
In the last chapter, a review got my attention. "Youko seems more flirtatious in the dreams, does he not? And Kuronue is just kinda like...there. Haha. Actually, he's getting a bit
creepy/smart-alec-esque, though we don't really see much of him. Ah, well, I guess he's for later chapters?" DarkXLightxmagique.
Youko is more flirtatious in the dreams because he has an 'image to uphold' and he's a high class demon - flirting with a human in relaity would ruin his image and lower his class. Kuronue is in this chapter a lot more, and you all will be seeing much more of him. (If things go as planned....)
Key:
"blah, blah, blah" = talking
blah, blah, blah = thinking
'blah, blah, blah' = involuntary mind-reading
"blah, blah, blah = crystal talking... though there is a part where it isn't....
Ch. 11: Here, Kitty, Kitty, Kitty!
Kuronue's POV
I kick the side of our, now, dead comrade. Turning him onto his back I tilt my head at the sight. Unlike the other one, this guy's intestines are out and butchered. The gash goes up to his sternum; slightly showing his ribs and still green lungs. And, as if that wasn't enough, the guy's throat is sliced.
"The person didn't do a bad job." I state, inquiring the now dead demons.
"Un," Kurama sounds from the other side of the opening, examining the other dead teammate.
"I'm rather surprised that we didn't sense anything…." I look over to him. Kurama has been awfully quiet since he awoke. Surely he doesn't miss them that much? I think to myself, wondering if the deaths of our comrades have affected him so extensively. They were low class after all, though they fought rather well.
Kurama seems to be deep in thought. He closes his eyes and sighs. "It would seem-"
"Kurama-sama!! OI, Kurama-sama!!" another demon comes running out of the hideout. I look over my shoulder to see who it is.
I forget the guy's name but he seems to be rather interesting. Teal, warty, skin is covered by the white 'uniform,' and there are orange bandages over the lower part of his arms. His hair is shaggy and dark blue though odd it is nothing like mine and Kurama's, our hair gleams in the sunlight while his remains dull. Coming out of the cave he goes over to the silver kitsune but bends his upper half, places his nasty yellow clawed hands on his knees, and pants. Note: that his tresses fail to shine. Where ears are normally, for humans, placed fish-like ears are there teal and purple. His large nose is smashed into his oval shaped head and his lips at dry, large, and purple.
The phrase 'Fish out of water' comes to mind.
"K… K… K… urama-sa-ma," the fish pants. "The-The ningens aren't in their rooms."
"Of course they aren't." Kurama's golden eyes glare down at the fish demon's own. I walk around the two, just to see the fish's expression. I lightly smirk in satisfaction; his large green fish-glass eyes are widening with shock and his mouth hangs agape.
"They've escaped." Kurama continues.
"NANI?!?!?!" a chorus sounds all around us. I raise a brow at Kurama, his face empty of all emotion.
He knew? I barely tilt my head; my indigo blue eyes gain a curiosity in their depths.
Kurama's eyes glared at the others; they freeze instantly. "Where are the ones that were supposed to be standing guard outside the humans' quarters?" his voice roared.
Visibly the men flinch but two, unfortunate, souls step forward. Both seem to be air demons, judging by their appearance. Looking back at Kurama I see specks of red in his golden eyes.
Not good…. I take LARGE side step, away from my old friend. The wind around him picks up, his youki flaring; it pushes, lifts, and ruffles his silver tresses. His facial expression is unemotional, though you can smell that he is beyond mad. I look over to the two demons. They're shaking in their shoes.
While Kurama continues to 'discipline' them I pick up my pendant. My reflection becomes visible in the red, blood colored, stone. My rough fingers grip on the sides of the silver necklace. This pendant helps me trick the enemy, with illusions. My father gave me this before he passed on; his father (my grandfather) gave it to him, and so on. So, when I have a son I'll give it to him before I die.
"Hmmm…" my fingers trace the necklace. I drop my medallion; it falls in the middle of my sternum. "Wonder where they could be."
Kurama shouts the names of our allies to stay and watch the hideout, while the ones he doesn't call are suppose to follow him. Kurama sprints off into the woods; I run after him, not bothering to look at the bloody bodies. No soon after I go with Kurama, I sense others come along.
+Rebecca's POV+
"Ookami--" Gloria whines. "We've been walking for hours, can't we take a break?"
'My poor, innocent feet are killing me!' I can hear her mind's voice complain.
I smile at my friend's childish antics. "Mark, she's right. We need a break – these shoes are really meant for traveling, for so long."
I see his shoulders hunch forward and hear him grumble. "Why couldn't I've been the type of guy to have guy friends, and not girl ones?"
I chuckle. "Because, you love~ us~," I grin at his back.
Some more than others…. I look over to a tired Gloria, my grin going into a gentle smile. She lets out a sleepy sigh. Sometimes I'm led to believe that she's bipolar; one minute she is very connected with her emotions, but then it seems that she has concrete in between them.
Ookami grumbles. "Fine."
'Besides, the sun is setting anyways.'
I look up, after I hear his thought. Through the many leaves I see traces of the darkly painted sky.
"You two, stay here. I'm going to go get something – to eat." Mark tells us. He doesn't look back he walks into the darkening woods.
"We better start a fire now – rather than later." I begin to walk, but stop short. I look down at my wrist and blink; seeing Kitsune's fingers wrapped around it. I lift my gaze, only to meet brown bangs hiding matching eyes.
I begin to concentrate on her. Her thoughts are jumbled together; just mumbling, speeding, words. Though, through it all I hear the words: 'What will she say?' Then after that more and more hushed whispers followed.
"Kitty-Cat," Gloria's voice is… shy?
"Hai?"
"I… I got a question for you…."
Kitsune's grip on my wrist slacks, I pull it back and begin to walk around the semi-clearing while gathering wood and stones.
I straighten my back and gaze over my shoulder; I see Gloria wring her hands. "Nan desu ka, Kitsune," I crouch down and drop the objects I've gathered. I place the stones in a circle and criss-cross the wood.
"Anno…" I raise my light blue eyes; looking up the older female I see a blush go across her pale cheeks. She is at my side in an instant – in the same position as me, only she twiddling her fingers. "Uhh…. Ahem! Is-Is it possible to-to uhhh…" she looks down at the unlit wood.
"Should I just read your thoughts?" I ask her, I say more to myself. Though it will be hard with all these floating, jumbled up, words.
"No," Gloria shakes her head and lets out a sigh. "Is it possible to…," she swallows a lump in her throat. I inwardly drum my fingers on my knees. "Lose your first kiss in a dream – figuratively speaking, of course."
"Of course," I nod. Though, I know, by her facial expression, that she did dream of kissing a guy. But 'who' is the question. I can only hope that it's a certain guy friend of ours.
"Hmm… I really wouldn't consider it losing your first real kiss. But maybe your first dream one." I give her a grin. "So you don't have to worry, but," I change my position, so now my body is facing her. "Why are you asking?" a bright red blush explodes on to her face.
"Uhh…" her fingers knot together. "Cause."
"That's a good reason."
"I thought so." Kitsune begins to play with the twigs, a blush still on her face. "W-We better get this fire started."
"Right," Seeing that she doesn't want to talk about it anymore I leave the subject as is, and hit two rocks together; getting a fire in the process after the fourth attempt.
+??? POV+
"Milord, we've found those humans – you've taken an interest in." A large, but lean, silhouette of a man bows at the doors entrance. His right arm bends so that his fist is over his chest.
A man, in a golden throne, hums.
In front of the lord is a, levitating, glowing, crystal ball. Below the ball is a golden stand: it stands on four circular, tightly curled, ends. As the shimmering strands go up, they intertwine together, almost like stems of a rose bush, but on all four sides leave a figure eight pictures. The top matches the bottom (four tightly wound curls, only going inward), the inside of it has silver thorns going around it, from each of the multiple tips lighting shoots out and to the other one across it.
"Really now," his right leg crosses over his left and his left fist supports his head, a smug smirk is on his lips as he watches the two human females around a roaring fire.
"Hai, what are your orders, Milord?" the servant, warrior, doesn't move from his position.
The lord's right middle finger draws out small circles, on the metal arm chair. "Hmmm… leave them."
"Milord?" the warrior raises his head, the slightest bit, and his eyes gleaming with curiosity.
"Until the morning…." The demonic lord smirks, showing rows of white fangs.
"Hai."
"Leave me."
The loyal servant stands up, bends his upper half in a bow, and leaves. He closes the massive wooden, and metal, doors.
The demonic lord drums his fingers, his smirk still in place. His eyes glimmer at the sight of the two young women. But they harden at the sight of the man stumbling into the campsite. The tallest female, Gloria from what he gathered, gets up from her place beside the shortest of the lot, Rebecca, and helps the male, Mark. Mark laughs at something Gloria told him, pink dust across the male human's cheekbones and he walks toward the fire. He begins to cut the creature he killed. He lays the blood dripping meat on the heating stones. Rebecca, from time to time, flips the strips of meat. Gloria sits on her knees, while staring into the dancing flames, deep in thought he guesses.
White fangs slowly begin to show as tanned, smooth, lips pull back. "This will be very interesting…."
"You will not succeed…." A wary voice sounds in a dark corner.
"Hm?" the demon lord raises his eyes toward the old crow demoness. Her dark, large, feathery, wings are tied against to her, as well as her feet. Dried blood caked her face, beak, neck, and any skin exposing.
Her coal colored eyes began to dull and her black beak barely even moves. "The hearts will become one – when you fail to realize what you did."
The man hums and raises an eyebrow. He snorts at what the old woman tells him. A light fire engulfs Achlys.
"You will perish, J-…." Her voice hisses, her last breath; unable to say the demon lord's name.
The demonic lord simply smirks in satisfaction; now that the old, foolish, demoness is dead. He continues to watch the weak mortals.
+Rebecca's POV+
I flip another piece of the drying portion. I hope it tastes better than it looks… and where it came from. My face scrunches up a bit and I look over at the dead deer demon.
"So what were you talking about when I was gone?" Mark's green irises go from me to Gloria, and back again.
"Nothing," Gloria answers to quickly. A dark blush starts from her neck and stops at her hairline.
"Oh~?"
'Crap!' Gloria's mind squeaks. In a flash Ookami is by her side. His large hands on both of her shoulders, a sly grin on his lips, and he begins to shake Kitsune, bugging her to tell him – sometimes pinching her cheeks.
I laugh lightly at the sight. I bring my head down, shaking it. He is so flirting with her.
"ACK!" my eyes widen at the sound. I look up and see a slab of fresh, bloody, demon meat across Mark's dark green, closed eyes.
My hand flies up to my mouth and I laugh. Mark peals the meat of his eyes and tosses it into the roaring blaze. "Heh, you do realize that I'm gonna have to get you back now?"
Gloria lets out a squeal and runs away from him. Mark quickly gets up and chases after her. I grip the sides of my tummy, and double over, as I laugh.
"Oh, you think you're getting off easy?!" Mark shouts. I squeal and run away from him. Soon all three of us are playing a game of tag, or hug-attack tag.
..........
I lay with my back to the fire, my arm as my pillow. I stare straight ahead of myself, but not looking at anything. I hear the even, but rather loud, breathing of my friends. I close my eyes wanting sleep to come to me, but it doesn't.
"The men are dangerous."
I let out a sigh. These types of thoughts have been entering my mind since we left the hideout.
But which men are dangerous? Is it Kuronue, Youko, and the other demons, or someone else? I rub in between my eyes; feeling a headache creeping up. Can't these thoughts ever make any sense?
I roll over and look into the shirking flames. Heaviness begins to weigh down on my eyelids and I let out a long yawn. Sleep slowly begins to takes its hold on me.
+Morning+
A bird is going to die! I think to myself. I push myself up into a sitting position, on my calves due to this awesome yukata. I rub underneath my eyes and look around. Kitsune and Ookami are still sleeping, the fire died during the night's sleep, and the 'dinner' still has a lot of meat on it.
"The skies have eyes."
Again with the creepy thoughts…, I let out a sigh. But nonetheless I look upward… I don't see any eyes.
I scratch the top of my head and growler at the sky. My lower jaw slightly trembles, my hand goes up to cover my mouth as I yawn. I get up on shaky legs and walk over to Mark. Falling down to my knees I shake his shoulder.
He groans and shakes away my hand. "Five more minutes, Glow."
I smile and shake my head. Even in his sleep he thinks about her. I hear a groan from across the dead fire. Gloria rolls onto her back and rubs her eyes with the back of her hand.
"That damn bird needs to shut the hell up," she growls. What type of teenager is a morning person?
She sits up: her dark brown hair is tussled, messed up. I chuckle seeing a bit of drool coming from the side of her mouth. I lightly dab the matching side of my mouth, with a grin on my lips. She uses the sleeve of her yukata to wipe away of the drool.
"Ookami hasn't woken up yet?" she rubs underneath her eye, the hand that doesn't have drool.
"Un," I nod my head and stare down at the snoring wolf guy.
"Just like in school – from what his teachers say." Gloria mumbles to herself. She gets up and stumbles over to us. She falls on her hands and knees and pokes Mark in the middle of his chest. "C'mon, Ookami, wake up…," she yawns.
Ookami swats away her hand; Gloria growls, her eyebrow twitches. "If only I had a pen – to flick his ear with…." Gloria snarls. She grips on the cloth that covers Ookami's shoulders twists her fists, getting a better hold on them, and shakes him. "MARK!!!!!!! YOU SON OF A BITCH!!!!!!!! WAKE-UP DAMN-IT!!!!!!!!!" Mark's head snaps back and forth.
To cover my laugh my hand flies up to my mouth. I see the white of his eyes.
"WAH!!!!" white, anime, tears erupt from his eyes. "I don't like this ride anymore!!!"
Gloria throws the poor guy to the ground. She bolts up and jogs toward the woods. "Kitsune," I get her attention. "Where are you going?"
"To the bathroom!" with that done she runs away. I chuckle light and shake my head. I look over to Mark, who is sitting up and yawning.
"How long do you think we have until we get caught?"
Ookami shrugs his shoulders. "I really don't know, Beck. But what I do know is that if we stay here for much longer; we'll get caught much faster."
I nod my head in understanding. I stand up and kick dirt on the dark red embers. Mark stands up and stretches. "We'll get going when Glow gets back from the… tree…." He and I both snicker.
Soon after our little fest is over, Gloria comes out of the woods grumbling.
"All better?" I ask. Gloria gazes up at me, grins, and nods. All three of us laugh. Once the cinders are covered with dirt we all walk away.
+Kuronue's POV+
Their scents are covering this little area. My nose lightly sniffs the atmosphere; the girls' and the guy's smell lay around here. One demon rolls one of the stones that are in the formation of a circle – their campfire.
Kurama walked away awhile ago, he told us not to follow him. Minutes later he comes back shaking his head and chuckling to himself.
"Kurama," I gain his attention. "What are you laughing about?"
"Nothing. Let's continue the search!!"
After he said that the men follow him. I linger at the human's campsite; getting an odd feeling, a feeling of being watched. But, soon I follow after them.
+Rebecca's POV+
The sound of rushing water runs through my ears. I look down on my left and stare at my, walking, reflection. Gray speeding fish swim in the opposite direction. I raise my gaze and absently stare at Ookami's back. It's been three hours and no creepy thoughts have entered my mind.
"In the river there is a beast: a terrible beast, a terrible beast that wants a feast."
My eyes widen. "Get away from the river!!" is the first thing that explodes from my mouth. Milliseconds later we all jump away and a large youkai erupts from the, once calm, river. All three of us run away.
Everything goes by in a blur. I stumble; stupid, awesome, yukata. I don't bother to look back.
"There is no youkai after the cat, there is a youkai chasing the fox, there is a youkai after the wolf. All of which are dangerous and want power."
I slowly come to a stop and look over my shoulder. Sure enough there isn't a youkai behind me. My breathing comes out in heavy pants and my chest heaves. I wipe sweat off my brow. "This is just too much." I whisper to myself.
The rustling of the bushes, to my right, makes my head snap towards the sound.
"Let us see who is faster. The human-cat or the killer?"
My heartbeat quickens at the thought and I sprint away. Blood slowly runs down my face, from the cuts the snapping twigs. Bits of bark enter my eyes, making them water. Thorn stickers dig their way into purple dragon stitched outfit.
A surprised squeal comes from me as I trip over an uprooted root. I ignore the pain and dash. Feeling the tiny hairs on the back of my neck; I make a sharp left.
Without moving my head I look up. The thought of jumping in the trees and losing it would be good. I continue to run, looking for a low enough branches to kick myself up.
My lungs and throat begin to burn, my legs begin to ach. A gasp escapes me as I see a low branch ahead of me. Pushing myself forward I gain speed and ready my hands, to push myself up. The tiny hairs on my neck stand up. I jump, grabbing the branch and hoisting myself up. I continue to climb, ignoring my tearing kimono, wanting to as much space from me and my pursuer. Looking down I see a streak of lightning bolt by.
I let out a quiet sigh.
"Here, Kitty, Kitty, Kitty…." A masculine voice sounds below me. I instinctively hold my breath, and look down. There's a male demon on the ground. He has long black hair in a thin ponytail. His complexion is deathly pale, but he has a dark teal tattoo on his left arm. His clothing is complex, but his sleeveless black shirt has gold borders. I can't see his pants due to cream colored, red bordered, cape-like-thing tied around his waist.
In his left hand is a bloody machete. The blood seems rather fresh. One word comes to my mind. Slasher…. I, somehow, know this man's name. Slasher walks away, repeating for the 'Kitty' to come to him.
"Here, Kitty, Kitty, Kitty." My mind mocks. Yeah, I don't think so, baka.
Thirty minutes go by. Unsure if he's in range I sluggishly go down the tree. Once my feet meet the ground I look around. Nothing but trees, bushes, flowers, trees, grass, blood, trees…!
"What!" I whisper. My breathing and steps echoes through my ears, as I walk to a tree. The blood looks aged. "This can't be the place where we found Gloria's. … Hers was a sea of it."
"This is Achlys'."
Achlys? Who the heck is that?
I lift my gaze to where Slasher went off to. I take a step back, not liking the feeling I'm getting. Completely turning around I sprint towards the river. Praying that someone, nearly anyone I know, would be there. A transparent image of Gloria, Mark, Grandma, Kuronue, and Youko all of their expressions are of complete joy. Two more people, two extremely important people, walk in. My mom and dad.
I stop dead. Tears brim my eyes, my throat tightens. I feel the warm waters escape my eyes and travel down my face. I let out a sob. I bring my head down, sadly shaking it.
"They're dead…. And it's my fault… it's my… fault." I let out another sob.
My eyes widen as something stabs my left breast. I cough; a thick, sticky, substance covers my chin. Terrified I look down. More blood flows down from my mouth, as I see a dagger in my chest.
Cold breath goes across my ear. "One down, two to go." A dark chuckle sounds from Slasher. Before I pass out I tell my friends, my brother and sister, a warning.
+Mark's POV+
My katana stabs the, blood covered, earth. My right hand lets go of the handle and grips my shirt, over my heart. Heavy pants escape me. Not from the battle I've just got done… but… this brutal pain I feel. My vision wavers.
"Damn-it!!!!!!!!" I yell. I screw my eyes shut; few tears escape. I let go of my heart and punch the ground. "Damn-it! Damn-it! Damn-it! Damn-it!!"
I haven't felt this type of pain since Gloria 'died'. My eyes widen.
She-They can't be… NO!!! My knuckles redden as my fist comes in contact with a stone. I bite lower lip, so hard that it draws a stream of blood.
"There's not a chance in hell that those two are gone."The thought of the girls dead slowly crawls into my mind.
"The Crystal of Healing, most likely not. Though, the other – the Crystal of Knowing – is a definite possibility."
Hearing an amused chuckle I raise my gaze. Joyful crimson orbs, snow white hair, pale skin, and a pleased grin fall into my line of vision.
"You bastard…." I growl. I release my weapon, from the ground, and lunge for the demon. He blocks it.
His red eyes fill with sick pleasure. "I'm going to enjoy killing you." He tells me.
"Like hell you are!!" I try to hit him again.
End Notes: XD In the beginning Kuronue is obsessed with hair shiny-ness!!!!
Kuro: *grummbles* You just had to put that.
Me: ^_^ Yup, 'sides you're always petting Youko-kun.
Kuro: *runs fingers through Youko's hair* I have no idea what you're talking about, Pup-chan.
Youko: *purring at the sensation of Kuro's fingers moving over his scalp and behind his ears*
Me: *tilts head, blinks, giggles*
*turns attention to readers* Please leave a nice review - I'm still waiting for a certain number of songs. Maybe next chapter there'll be a fight scene. *does weird eyebrow thing* Though I can't grantee that it'll be good - after all it's an unknown demon vs a human. I'll try to put in as much blood and pain in the next chapter.
