Author's Note: Here's chapter four! I've been listening to some new music (for me, at least) on Pandora and I think I've found a few new bands that'll be great for chappie songs this go around. I'm trying to find my muse for this story again, though it is written up to chapter 22, in the least. I want to thank everyone for the awesome, positive feedback. I love you guys!
Vallerria: Welcome back darling! I'm playing off Mukuro's lust to obtain her goals and have made her a bit nutso if you get my meaning. I mean, as you said, attacking Hiei and Kotone's family is completely suicidal in every aspect. Especially when you see how badass Avaron and Yuji JR are. I love them soooo much! -huggles the children- XD Imagine Dragons is pretty good... buuuuut I don't think it'll fit the theme of this story, heh. It's more of a rock genre kinda thing, ya know? OMG lmfao! GISHWHES is not a goldfish virus, darling! It's the 'Greatest International Scavenger Hunt the World Has Ever Seen', hosted by Supernatural's Misha Collins. We had a damn good run this year, but we haven't found out the winning team yet. -crosses fingers- I had to swim in a damned dumpster (it was horrible) with floaties, so I better get at least a 'great job' from the man. Heh... I have a few ideas in mind on the fight with Mukuro, but I can already promise you it won't be Kotone that kills her off, if she is ever killed. That might be considered a spoiler, but when you see what I have in store you'll understand. XD Oh, and you can ramble all you want! I love your ramblings! XD They make me think, or they make me laugh... Kudos! I hope you like all that is to come... And not kill me? Well, you didn't kill me in PFC so I think I'll live till the end of this one. Thank you for the review, sweetheart! Enjoy!
Ariya: Ahh! I'm glad you liked PFC! That was one of the big hits, from what I've been told, with my readers. It makes me happy to know that you love Kotone and her team as much as I did. I simply can't stand an OC that does not fit in well with a story, regardless of the genre. Thus, I try as hard as I can to make my OCs decent enough to work with the cannon characters properly. Oh dear, I'm rambling. Anyways, thanks for the positive review; it made my day a little brighter. ^^ I hope you enjoy my stories, sweetheart. xoxo
Song for Chapter:
Call Me Alive - Icon For Hire, Icon For Hire
Chapter Four: Fortunate
"Where are we?" Akiye whispered into the still night, following behind the wind demoness. They had been moving for hours, relentlessly trekking across the lands of Makai. None really knew where they were going, save the redhead that led them.
Kotone stopped outside of a cave with an enormous rock covering the entrance. Without waiting to answer Akiye, she churned the wind around them in a fierce typhoon, successfully pushing the boulder from the entrance just as a grin played across her face.
It was then the woman turned to face her three companions, eyes alight and stopping short on Yukina. "I'm getting all of you to safety. There is only one place in the three worlds I would go right now."
"Where is that?" Mizue mumbled, gently setting the koorime down on her feet. "I recognize this place."
"This is the way to the barrier that separates Makai from Ningenkai," Kotone explained before pulling out a few devices from her bag. They were grotesque looking creatures, throbbing and pulsing. She ushered the group inside and sealed off the barrier once more. "A little light, Akiye?"
"Yes, of course."
A flame ignited in the darkness and cast an eerie glow across the group. The strange, writhing creatures seemed even more macabre in such little light. "Akiye, remove your shirt. Mizue, Yukina, the two of you should be fine to cross the barrier. Unfortunately, Akiye and I are a little higher up on the food chain and must wear these to get through."
"Just what is that thing?" Akiye mumbled, refusing to step closer to it.
"It's something Yusuke told me about a long time ago. Just put the thing on, would you?" Kotone stepped closer to the fire demon, allowing the woman time enough to pull up her loose top. When bare flesh was exposed, the creature greedily attached itself to her back.
"I feel it suckling my youkai," grumbled Akiye before casting her red eyes on Kotone. "I'll put this thing on you if necessary."
"No, I'll do it." Yukina moved forward and gingerly removed the beast from Kotone's fingers. "All of you have carried me over thousands of miles without rest. I owe you all at least this."
Kotone smiled grimly and turned, yanking her top up and waiting. Mizue spoke up before the beast was put on her back. "We must cut the bandages, Ko. Otherwise there's not enough room."
"Do it then."
The bandages restraining Kotone's breasts were cut, allowing them to breathe but also causing the wind demon to feel uncomfortable. She bit back any response, giving Yukina the go ahead to give the greedy creature a source to chew on. Small teeth dug into her spine and the slimy feeling of the little monster was enough to make Kotone's skin crawl.
"All done," Yukina whispered, though she helped the woman pull her shirt back down to cover it. Kotone accepted her help in wrapping the cloak around her body once more.
"Come on, it won't take long now." Kotone beamed, trying to lighten the women's hearts. She only hoped it had worked before they took off running through the cave.
~:.:{I Have Come Unwound Without Falling, Promise Me You Won't Back Down}:.:~
Four figures leapt through the barrier that separated the two worlds, once more in a cave and gasping for breath. Many would believe that traveling through the dimensions was nothing but a piece of cake, but those are the ones who had yet to experience it. It felt as if a constant pulling was ripping at every inch of your body, trying to lead you astray. It was nowhere near pleasant, especially for those that had to dull down their energy.
"And this is precisely why I never traveled with Daiki to Ningenkai," Akiye hissed, haphazardly picking herself up from the dirt. "I feel as if I've been in a nonstop fight for years."
"It has only been a day," Yukina informed her. The koorime was exhausted, but not nearly to the point that Mizue, Akiye, and Kotone were. The hawk hanyou had shouldered her the entire time they were in the barrier, trying to keep her close. "Thank you, Mizue."
"No problem, Yukina," gasped the hanyou. "Can we just get to wherever we are going so I can eat and rest?"
"Yes, and we must hurry. In the Human World, some of us will surely standout." From Kotone's long pointed ears, Yukina's vibrant hair, to Mizue's dress of feathers, they would certainly be noticed. The only one that looked even close to the normal here was Akiye.
This time, Kotone picked Yukina up under her legs and shoulders, unable to carry the girl on her back thanks to the beast still making her youkai a meal. They walked the expanse of the cave and into the night of Ningenkai. Nothing seemed amiss in this world, whereas Makai was crawling with troops and war. It was a welcomed change, but it still weighed heavy on their hearts.
"We still have a good few miles to go," Kotone informed the group. "Is everyone up for the run?"
"If it means food and a bed at the end, I am," Akiye snorted, forcing a smile. Her short auburn tresses caught the wind just right and caused it to flap incessantly around her ears.
"We run then. Keep up, because we have a ways to go," she whispered heatedly, her hold on Yukina strengthening enough to keep from dropping her without leaving marks. Even then, she did not worry over a few bruises when they had such an important journey ahead still.
No one spoke once more, allowing Kotone to relentlessly lead them through more foliage, though drastically different than what the Makai natives were used to. They painstakingly elongated their trip, all in hopes of avoiding the major cities and towns that sprung up on every side of them.
Dawn had begun to kiss the horizon by the time the wind demon started to slow her movements. Gingerly, she set the koorime on her feet, brushing the few leaves and twigs from her mated sister. Yukina smiled, politely nodding her head before Akiye and Mizue caught up to the two of them.
"Akiye, turn," ordered the redhead. Once she had done as she was told, Kotone coaxed the suckling monster from her back and shoved it deep into the once empty bag in her arms. "Will someone help?"
"I got it," Mizue murmured, stepping forth and assisting her long-time friend, shoving the beast alongside its kin. "Are we close? I'm famished."
"You haven't strained yourself, have you?" Akiye quickly added, rubbing Mizue's swollen stomach. "I can still feel his ki."
"He's fine. Though, I think he got a little antsy with the running. Demon babies, you know?" she beamed, the gesture crawling into her eyes. "Anyways, about that food?"
Kotone did not speak, but instead traipsed a few feet further until her hand outstretched, removing a wild bush clean from the ground and throwing it away from the group. Hidden behind the destroyed foliage was a dojo, large and beautiful and in excellent shape for a place that was rarely touched any more, save the occasional visit.
"Welcome to Genkai's temple," she softly said, smiling in memory of a woman that had passed long before this war had even been dreamed up.
"I knew we were coming here." Yukina was the first to move forward, breaking through the tree line into the slowly brightening clearing, her companions following.
"Isn't it dangerous that we are here without those bug things on us?" Akiye stuck closer to Kotone than usual, red eyes darting around her in a sense of caution. "I mean, we could be attacked."
"Long have all demons that dared to stray into Ningenkai known that the territory belonging to the deceased Genkai and her successors is off limits," explained the wind demon, just as movement was caught by the door of the temple. "And now we get our show."
A flash erupted from the building, nothing more than a blur of swirling red and black. Kotone's arms opened on instinct as the force of the blow nearly toppled her over, though a set of limbs secured tightly around her waist, two pairs of feet grounding them. Scarlet hair with a few white pieces in the bangs obstructed her view, but the scent was one she knew well.
"Took you long enough," came a drawling voice, though the arms squeezed once more before releasing her.
Before Kotone could respond, a cry of joy sounded from Yukina. Her eyes ventured to the heartwarming sight of the koorime being embraced by her twins, the very pair she believed dead days ago.
"Tadao! Koume!" Yukina called, clinging to them as if their lives would fly away should she let go. "I believed you both dead!"
"Trust me, we did too." The girl that answered was nearly a replica of Yukina, from the sea foam hair to the blazing ruby of her eyes, whereas the other party carried more features of his father, save the unnatural beauty inherited from the demon hidden away in him.
"I'll explain inside," Kotone hollered, catching all their attention. She could see Yuji standing in the door, his lengthy black hair swaying in the wind and causing her grim frown to try and lift towards a smile. It did so, but not by much. "Is Keiko and the kids awake?"
"Right here," came the reply from behind Yuji, just as Keiko's head popped out from the side. "I'll put on some tea. Is anyone hungry?"
"Famished!" shrieked the only one heavy in her pregnancy. Mizue hurried into the unfamiliar dojo, followed shortly by the others.
"Come on, Mother." Avaron pulled her mother's arm and paced beside her into the kitchen. "Now can you explain what is going on?"
"Everyone, find room in here. I would like Keiko and Izume to hear this as well." Kotone sat at the head of the table, graciously accepting a hug from both of Yukina's children, her own son, and Keiko's pair. The two Urameshi females had already begun to make a large breakfast for the entourage, though considering the expanse of the kitchen they were plenty close enough to the tall table to hear.
"Mother, begin with the false attack," Yuji prompted, standing to her side so the women could take a seat.
Kotone gave a small nod, crossing her arms and glancing around the table. Shoichi, a brown-haired, hazel-eyed replica of Yusuke, and Tadao, a spikey and orange haired boy with dark eyes, were the only two that did not seem fully awake. She gave them a glare, urging the mischievous duo to wake up before she made them. They needed to hear all of what she had to say.
"Well, first of all, have you been informed of the recent news with the war, Keiko, Izume, Shoichi?"
"They told us everything they knew," Shoichi grumbled, motioning sleepily towards the other teens- well, teens in the standards of demons, at least.
"Good. I knew Mukuro had something planned from the get-go. She wants me out of the picture to get to Hiei-"
"That stupid bitch!" Avaron, as always, snarled.
Kotone gave her a fierce look, "Quiet, child. I am speaking. Anyways, to get to Hiei would mean not only getting rid of me, but our children as well. Thus, when she proposed that she would move not only Yuji and Avaron, but Tadao and Koume as well, to a safe location, it was obvious she had planned to 'dispose' of them. Naturally, we could not let that happen."
"You mean she was going to kill our children?" Yukina, whose voice was usually lilting and sweet, had taken a tone of malice. "Our CHILDREN?!"
A grim nod was her response before Kotone continued. "Well, I made sure that could not happen by shooting a letter to Kurama without Yomi, or anyone else for that matter, knowing. While our offspring were being transported, I asked him to take them out of harm's way. Obviously, despite the painfully short notice, he was able to do so. He was instructed to send them here with someone he trusted."
"Rinku showed us the way," Yuji added. "Our company was attacked in the dead of night by a bunch of plants and next thing we knew, Kurama had informed us of the situation in few words and the four of us helped get rid of the demons that were supposedly moving us to a safe and secret location."
"I burned the landscape to a crisp," Avaron proudly exclaimed.
"Kurama also brought some sort of mimicking plant with him that replicated our bodies before she burned them," explained Tadao, rubbing his eyes. "I chopped up some trees and we did a little more damage to look like the fight took a while. With Rinku and Kurama there, we hardly had a challenge."
"They did most of the dirty work," whispered Koume, grimacing. She had seen plenty of death in her time, but- like her mother- she preferred to be on the end that healed the dying instead of contributing. It was a wonder she and Avaron were so close.
"Did you stage your little freak out on Mukuro?" Akiye had begun to catch onto the plan far swifter than Kotone had believed. She had to give the saucy fire demoness some credit- she had to put up with Daiki and was literally his 'better half'.
"Absolutely. I'm surprised she did not try to kill me, though. Fortunately, she didn't because she needed to keep Hiei on her side. He stayed, as I asked, and I promised I would make sure all of you were safe," Kotone yawned, just as a steaming plate of food was placed in front of her. Izume smiled, her black hair pulled up and hazel eyes glimmering. "Thank you, 'zume."
"You're welcome, Aunt Ko."
Silence reigned as the hungry group immersed themselves in a delicious breakfast they had not been able to have in days. It had been rare they stopped for food, usually eating as they traveled, and their only stops had really been for Mizue's sake, due to her swollen stomach.
"So," the deafening quiet had been broken by Avaron no sooner than the plates had been cleared from the table, "what's next?"
Kotone frowned, hand positioned on her full stomach and eyes diverted to the peaceful morning shining through the window. Ningenkai had no idea what might spill into their borders. She could not let that happen, not when her children were here in hiding.
"I'll be staying to rest, but after that I am leaving. I will probably go by the cover of night this evening."
It caused an uproar.
"You can't just up and leave now!"
"Where the hell do you think you're going without me, Mother!"
"There's bound to be a reasonable second to that plan."
"It's dangerous out there now!"
So continued the the onslaught until Mizue, her brow twitching, stood and slammed her hand on the table. "Everyone, shut up! Shit! Kotone, do explain, would you?"
The redhead gave her a small smile in thanks before turning to the varied expressions of the large home. "I have an idea in mind that could help us end this war quicker, but to do that I need to go for now. The faster I get moving, the faster the war comes closer to its end. I'm sure it has already started now that the blame has been placed on Yomi for our children's supposed deaths."
"You can't go alone," Avaron glowered, her face nearly as red as her eyes, her hair. "I demand you take me with you."
"No."
"Damn it, I said-"
"Ava," Yuji warned before rounding on his parent. "Mother, would you at least give thought to taking us along? We cannot sit here and let our loved ones die without doing anything."
Kotone opened her mouth, snapped it closed, and then opened it once more, "I'll think on it."
"Mother-"
"I said, I'd think on it Avaron. Now still your tongue. The four of us need sleep." Kotone stood from the table, abrasively passing the group and heading towards the room that had long ago been dubbed Hiei's during his stay in the temple. It had been shared with the wind demon anytime they visited after their mating had occurred.
She was pleased to find a set of pajamas, along with a multiple of other sundries that would be necessary for her visits, washed and set out for her. Apparently Keiko had been smart enough to know Kotone would come to see her offspring the moment the opportunity presented itself.
After a lengthy shower and in the fresh night clothes, the little wind demon sat herself upon the windowsill. It was cushioned and plenty large enough for her to perch, though she suspected the room had been given to Hiei just for this reason. The mere thought of her fire demon alongside Mukuro was maddening, her cheeks flaring red in a silent rage, but there was little she could do at this time.
Mukuro would undoubtedly make a move on her mate, as soon as she believed Kotone's scent had washed itself from him. She could only pray that Hiei would go along with Mukuro's advances, as she instructed, but she feared just how far the King of Alaric would try to take things. Kotone had made it known to Hiei that he would need to do anything to get the female king to believe he had joined her completely, but the length Mukuro would take things was beyond her.
'If she does what I believe she will do, I shall be the one to take her head.' Despite everything, no blame would be given to Hiei. She loved him much too dearly and knew he would do as she asked in respect of her.
A brief knock tore Kotone from her rampaging thoughts and without meaning it, she cast a glare upon the body that had opened her door and now leaned against the closed entrance. Keiko had made an appearance, though she seemed to have a war going on in her head the moment she caught the look the wind demon gave her. In response, Kotone softened the glare to nothing more than an empty smile. She was drained.
"Yes, Keiko?"
The brunette realized it was safe and moved further into the room, taking a seat upon the well-made bed. She held Kotone's gaze before saying, "I'm worried, you know?"
"We all are. We all have loved ones at stake and most of them are in the middle of the battle zone. If you need to talk, go ahead. I'm afraid I'm not good company right now," she explained softly, though moved her body to fully face the immortal human. The sunlight warmed her back significantly, causing a yawn to erupt from her mouth.
Keiko chewed on her lip, wringing her hands together. "I know Yusuke wouldn't leave me. He's done things I thought impossible before and yet he just keeps coming back. I mean, he's died twice already."
'They say the third time is the charm,' her subconscious screamed, and unbeknownst to Kotone, Keiko had the same thought. "And he'll keep all the others safe, I'm sure."
"It's just, well, Kurama, Yusuke, Hiei, and Kuwabara are such great friends and now they're pitted against each other," whispered the fragile woman. "The kids are safe and that much at least gives me some peace of mind, but I can't stop thinking something bad is going to happen."
Kotone slowly stood and sat beside Keiko, taking her shaking hands between her own. A small smile was given to the brunette, eyes sincere as she spoke, "I will do everything in my power to make sure no one dies this time, Keiko. I can't make promises, but know I'll do whatever I can, despite the risk."
"Ko, what are you doing when you leave? Please, I must know!" Keiko had tears in her eyes, ones that Kotone wanted to wipe away and tell her that everything would be fine. She could not lie to her friend, her family, like that.
"I cannot say, and you know that already. The less this house knows, the safer you all will be. Just know that I have a plan, and despite how crazy and possibly reckless it could be, I have to do it. I'll be gone for a long time, but when I come back, I swear I'll have something up my sleeve."
'If it works...'
Keiko nodded solemnly, squeezing Kotone's hands one last time before pulling away. She stood, preparing to leave, before the other stopped her in her tracks. "Before I leave tonight, I want all the adults to meet me in the sitting room. I'll call the kids in at the end, but in the mean time I need to talk to all of you in private."
"Yes, alright." Keiko quietly drew the curtains of the room shut before exiting, the door carefully shut behind her. "Sleep well, Kotone."
All she did was leave an unsure wind demoness to her own silently, worried thoughts.
Next in 'Revelation, Defamation':
From the moment she had been born to a wind demoness in Makai, Kotone had never been alone. She did not favor the loss of company, but the darker the days grow, the more she has to do. Her family would only get hurt if they stayed with her... or they would try to stop her. She had a plan, a shoddy one, but a plan that could very well turn the tide of this war. But, she knew she could not keep her children and their friends at bay for long; they were her offspring, after all, and would fight to join in this war. Thus, a few careful words and an intelligent son were all she needed to lay down the plans for more secret agendas, more lies. And as Kotone takes her solitary journey, Hajime and Daiki were ready to join in their part. The war was beginning; the secrets had become deep enough to drown in.