Author's Note: So I was going to update twice for the holidays, but saw how desperately behind I was in writing this story outside of FF. Because of that, I can only give one but I will promise now that Christmas will have more to offer than that. I'm already in the Christmas spirit, you see, but updates between now and them might be sparing. I have a LOT to get done for the next big holiday. Anyways, enjoy darling.
DoppleGengar: XD That's honestly one of the reasons I used him. No one would expect me to bring back that gnashing jerk- I love him so- when Kotone is revealed to be dragging back demons from the undead. That, and you're right... I can't wait to right Mukuro and Yomi's reactions. It's going to be priceless! XD Heh... Oodles of love to my most avid reviewer and my friend, darling! -huggles-
Song for Chapter:
Higher Than Hope - Nightwish, Once
Chapter Twelve: Foreboding
"Damn it!" Jin swore loudly as he stared at the almost-familiar scene before him.
Touya and the Windmaster had tracked Kotone's wind to the one place in Tourin they had most expected to find her- Yuji's grave. Unfortunately for the pair, the walked in on a macabre scene of blood and gore.
Before noticing anything else, Jin had roamed his eyes across the dead to try and spot a head of familiar red hair. When no such color was found, he breathed a heaving sigh of relief and took to checking the area with his companion.
The two found a few disturbing clues, some of which were nearly identical to the last scene. Traces of thick blood in two select spots- though there was only one in the previous stop- and a hole in the ground directly above Yuji's resting spot. They had also found strange wounds in the tree behind the tombstone, as if something had been nailed there, and otherwise the usual battle experience could be figured from the slaughter.
"Kinda spooky," Jin grumbled, still irritated that they had not found his sister. "Yuji's grave all dug up an' what's-it."
"You don't think she's found a way to bring back the dead, do you?" Touya gently touched the dirt, hoping to find traces of dark magic. When his fingers came back unscathed, his brow furrowed. "I don't get it."
"There be no way ta bring back the corpses, nope." Jin fought to find more clues and came up empty-handed. "Her wind goes further in ta Tourin. Gonna have ta keep movin', Touya."
"Remind me if we ever find Kotone, I need to smack her over the head," huffed the Ice Master. "Well, let's get going. I wonder if she went back to the main battle?"
"It heads that way, it does."
"Great, just great."
~:.:{The Hopes Were High, The Choirs Were Vast}:.:~
Hatsukichi was barely faring better than the moment she received the wound. Her body was pale and the vines around her waist had been explained in greater detail. Apparently, the plant was suckling the blood as it dribbled from the slowly closing wound, only to refund it into one of her veins in the middle of her back. To say Hajime and Daiki had been disgusted was an understatement, but they kept their sick thoughts to themselves to hopefully save face with the lovely demoness.
The fox had been appalled when the brute ceased his avid run to rest, secretly doing so to keep the demoness from dying on their hands. If she did, the fox clan would surely blame the two newcomers that stole her away, not the army of a mad-demon.
Despite the argument that bloomed, Hatsukichi had consented and was leaning heavily against the wall of the cave, a blanket draped over the chilled demoness to try and retain what little warmth could be found. A fire had been lit, thanks to Daiki, and they roasted a freshly slain boar demon across the open flame.
"Do you two have mates?" Hatsukichi asked to break the silence. Well, in reality the two males had been quietly conversing and she felt extremely left out. "I mean, obviously you are fighting for children and I believe Haji mentioned the two of you did before. I would simply like to know about them."
A speck of joy lightened the males' faces at the thought of their loved ones. Daiki answered first, "I don't have brats yet, but I have a smokin' hot fire demoness as my mate. Her name's Akiye and she's one hell of a woman."
Hatsu laughed pleasantly, her own face brightening at his robust way of speaking. Hajime briefly recalled his own woman, "I'm mated to a hawk hanyou and she's carrying my first child, a son. Her name is Mizue, and she's the greatest thing to ever happen to me."
"They sound beautiful," cooed the usual temptress, though her vicious tendencies had calmed when the mission began. "Please, tell me about this Kotone I'm going to meet. I need to know what to expect."
Daiki and Hajime shared a glance, then the two laughed whole-heartedly. "She's nothing like you would fucking expect, trust me. Hell, she's a crazy bitch."
"She likes to kill anything in her path," Hajime elaborated to her. "I've known Ko longer than Mizue, honestly. We met when we were fugitives, running from Reikai long ago."
The fox blinked when he mentioned that, and then it was her turn to giggle. "Ah, I have heard of you. I thought it was merely a coincidence that your names were the same as the old fugitives of Makai. Your stories are legends here, like that of heroes."
A swell came to the fire apparition's chest, "Well, we didn't do the damn deeds we were framed for, but thanks."
"Yes, we were framed and became even more legendary from it thanks to the TouMa nearly a century ago." Hajime ripped a leg from the boar and chunked it at the woman. She caught it in nimble fingers. "So, then you know about Kotone, I bet?"
"She is said to be fierce and everything right in a demoness," grinned the female, tearing into her lunch. "If I was not said to be the same, I would look up to her. Of course, I dwarf the girl in age, but what does that matter anymore? She was a hero of some of my people, along with you two and the other guy that ran with her. Yuji, wasn't it?"
Silence overwhelmed the group and the two males stared at the fire with emotions Hatsu had not yet seen from them. It was a myriad, none staying for more than a second before another, more powerful emotion took its place. She yearned to ask more, but held her tongue and instead busied her fangs with the slab of meat.
"He framed us," Hajime murmured, his heart heavy, "and then he killed Kotone. We never knew until the last battle, but he was not evil."
"He certainly sounds it." She wished she had not said it aloud the moment those glares were fixated on her. "I'm sorry, do continue."
"The bastard had some demented sword that made him coo-coo." Daiki leaned back, resting against the cold stone of their cave. "He'd had it longer than he knew us, and apparently it made him go abso-fucking-lutely crazy. He staged our crimes and then made us a team."
"I couldn't be more thankful for it, really," Hajime quickly added, hoping to cut off the demoness. "Ko was brought back to life and revealed everything to us when she set eyes on him. They dueled, the sword was blasted into nonexistence, and then he died at her sword the man we loved, the one that Daiki and I knew only from when he did not carry that blade. The same demon that Kotone had once been in love with."
"It sounds both romantic and devastating. Would they have been mates?" Hatsu made sure her voice was far more sincere, genuinely curious over the whole story. She had heard it many times, but never like this. This was not the grandeur she had been told, the unrelenting darkness that swarmed four people and made them legends amongst the wicked demon-kind.
"No, not ever." Daiki closed his eyes, a grin on the corners of his mouth. "Kotone and Yuji would never have worked. She was wild nuts, he was just fucking nuts most of the time. Quiet, intelligent, but wacked out."
"What he means is, she found someone that she cared for instead. We believe it is what made Yuji finally lose it during the TouMa. That is where she found Hiei."
"Second of Alaric, correct?" The nod she received made her eyes grow. "So they are a strong match and Yuji was jealous?" She found that her body had straightened and she was leaning closer, trying to catch every detail. Fox demons were curious by nature, after all.
"That's exactly the damn case. Yuj wound up killing her off, she came back and killed him, and we all balled like shitheads," Daiki mumbled, drifting off to sleep. "Keep watch, eh Haji?"
"Yeah, yeah, just shut up and go to sleep."
"Dick for brains." After the insult, Daiki was snoring gently to himself.
"Anyways, we've all lived in relative peacefulness since then, until this war. We miss Yuji, yes, but he's in a better place. In fact, I nearly died from the whole experience." Hajime motioned to his hair and his eyes. "A soul demon named Akihiko actually gave up part of his soul to me, turning me into what I am now. I'm one of the last, even if I am not a whole soul demon."
"Yes, I noticed your power in that fight that caused this." Hatsu's hand rubbed across her stomach, the vines shivering at her touch. "What of your families? I'm sure they are somewhere, right? I don't mean your mates or children or anything either."
"My brother and Daiki's mother live in different parts of the worlds. Konichi is traveling Ningenkai with a woman named Shizuru right now. Daname lives with her clan, but they roam a lot. They visit each other once a year." Hajime noticed the woman yawn. "Get some rest, Hatsu. Otherwise, you won't be up for the journey. We are only a few weeks in and I know we have a long way to go."
"Yes, you're right. Sleep would help the healing process," she mumbled, closing her eyes and ending the conversation.
Hajime merely leaned against the wall, staring out into the sunny forest below them with a pained smile on his lips. Too much rode on this war, and he had everything and more to fight for.
~:.:{Passiontide, An Angel By My Side}:.:~
Four teenagers quietly approached a thriving city, slinking through the shadows and cursing how soon they had arrived. Daylight was not supposed to be upon them by now, but they would work with what they had.
"We can't just walk up in there," growled Shoichi, banging a fist against his head. "They'll try to kill us."
"This is the last remaining clan of wind demons. We need their aid," Yuji whispered in response, rubbing his own temples. "We are low on supplies and cannot turn back now that we are here."
"I say we just walk in." Avaron, now irritable from lack of food and sleep, snorted and crossed her arms. "Izume?"
"I'm starving, so I don't care as long as we get food," said the Mazoku female.
"Alright, we'll try just walking in, but we will be ambushed." Yuji, eldest child of the proud Hiei and the wild Kotone, stood tall and turned around, walking determinedly towards the edge of the trees. He stopped when he did not feel the others behind him. "Well, come on. We need to do this now."
"But we are weak!" Avaron ground out, her fangs bared. "If they attack, we'll be killed."
"Exactly," came the cryptic response and Yuji strode out into the open sun. The three others shared a worried look before following close behind the brave wind demon. Well, they still weren't sure if he was more brave or stupid. Unfortunately, his intelligence rivaled theirs combined, so they had to deal with his plan.
"Intruders!" A flock of wind demons were on them the moment they were seen, surrounding them with gale forces rivaling a maelstrom.
"Please, listen to us before you kill us," Yuji calmly said, staring straight at the man behind the wind in front of him. "I must speak to your leader."
"What do you want of him?" The male stalked closer to the shield. "We do not allow any that are not our own kind in our city."
"Lucky for us-" began Avaron with a grin.
"We have just that," continued her older brother. As he spoke the wind died down and lapped at his skin lovingly. "It is important. Trust me when I say we are not capable of fighting now. Our bodies have not rested in over a week and our stomachs have been empty for half that."
The male murmured with the rest of the group before he turned to face the dark-haired wind demon. "Fine, but you will not leave our sight."
"Understood. Please, lead the way."
The four were guarded on every side, though Yuji walked in front of them. He had been right to say they were not capable to fight, but if necessary they would damn well take half of their enemy down with them.
They came to a house near the top of a hill, opened to allow the air to flow freely through it. It was grander than all the buildings, thus the children knew it was their destination.
Perched atop the makeshift throne was a man of lean stature. He seemed old, though no more than a few centuries at best. His hair was a wild mass of golden locks, tangling in all directions to his back, and two horns jutted out of his forehead. The moment he caught sight of the intruders, his blue eyes stayed locked on Yuji's.
"What is the meaning of intruders in our city?" His voice was light, breezy like his element. "You know our rules."
"The boy holds the capability of our people," the guard that spoke earlier addressed the man. "He bends wind as if he were ancient."
"I thought you were subpar at best when against Mom and Uncle Jin," Avaron mumbled, but her words were caught in the breeze.
"Jin? As in the Windmaster?" The leader stood from his throne and moved closer to the group. He did not stop until he stood directly in front of Yuji, though the dark-haired demon realized the male was shorter than him and far less intimidating. "Who are you four?"
"I am Yuji and this is my sister Avaron, offspring of Hiei of Alaric and Kotone Kaze Tsukai," he answered proudly, his chin held high.
"And we are the children of Yusuke Urameshi, King of Tourin, and his wife- er, mate- Keiko Urameshi," Shoichi added.
"Well, I'll be," the leader whispered under his breath. "Kotone and Jin? King Yusuke? We have celebrities in the Wind Clan Hall!"
The murmurs began triple-fold and it was likely the entire village would know within the hour. They did not know if the male before them was meaning his words as sarcasm or not, thanks to his blank face, but they would play it cool for the time being.
"It is an honor. Your mother and uncle are revered here, though they never come to this place. We have not seen them in over a century," the leader said, breaking into a small smile. "What brings you to my doorstep? Oh, I am Youma."
"Pleasure," Avaron snorted, but earned an elbow to the ribs by her brother. "Fine, I'll shut up."
"We need assistance," Yuji pleaded. "You know of the war in our lands and we fear it will destroy everything."
Youma waved his hands, "We do not dabble in the wars of others."
"Well, you'll be happy to know that this war is slowly spilling into every corner of Makai," Izume cut in, stepping forward bravely. "It is only a matter of time before, not only Ningenkai is invaded, but your region as well."
"What proof do you bring of this?" The leader crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes. Slowly, the group had begun to feel less welcomed.
"Our parents have told us what has happened. Our mother sent us here in hopes you would join her cause." Yuji did not back down, despite how threatening Youma had become. He was slightly intimidated, but he would not dare let this wind demon know it.
"Kotone thinks it will come here? Feh!" Youma turned and stalked back towards his throne. "You four are welcomed in my home for the night, but in the morning, you will need to be gone and not return with such frivolous stories. Kotone and Jin are great warriors, so I doubt they would send for us when they could demolish entire cities with one blow. Be gone from me."
The four gaped at the leader and were forcibly escorted out into another hallway. They did not speak until showed to a room they would share, food already spilling over from the table in the middle.
"Could it be poisoned?" Avaron prodded the nearest hunk of meat. "How do we tell?"
"Logically, they would not poison us, Sister, or the wrath of our families would reign on their land." Yuji did not hesitate to bite into a leg of unidentifiable meat.
The four feasted then, filling their bellies and stashing what they could in their packs for their journey later. The sun had begun to dip into the horizon when they finished, now ready to sleep. But Yuji had other plans.
"We have to make them believe," he uttered into the dark rooms. "We need to do it tonight."
"And how do you propose that?" Shoichi leaned forward, staring at the wind demon as if he had grown a second head. "We're kind of locked in, if you couldn't tell."
"We have to make it seem like the war is closer than they thought." Yuji rubbed his chin in deep thought, eyes closed in concentration. "I have an idea, but it might be a little dangerous."
"By a little, he means extremely," translated the fire demoness. "I like dangerous, Brother. What am I supposed to do?"
"I need you and Shoichi to create a fake battle. I mean, find some bodies of both sides and dump them nearby. Then, when you hear the wind demons coming, hurry away."
"Do I get to make some explosions?" Avaron began to grin maniacally.
"Oh, absolutely. I want it realistic, you know."
"But how do we get out? We're on top of a damn cliff, if you hadn't realized, dumbass." Shoichi pointed to the window to accent his point.
Yuji merely grinned and moments later, the two were positioned on the ground. He whispered into the wind and let it drift down the hundreds of feet to the duo. "When you need back up, whisper my name."
He vaguely saw the nod before they ran off into the darkness.
Yuji took a seat next to Izume, sleep now far from his mind as he whispered a silent prayer for this scheme to work. The woman beside him leaned against his shoulder, exhausted still, and he looped an arm around her.
"They will be alright," he quietly soothed, rubbing circles on her arm with his thumb. "Have no worries. If they are found, we'll kill any that stand in our way."
"You sound just like your parents," she laughed softly. "Thank you Yuji. I don't know what we would do without you."
A faint blush crawled onto his cheeks and the wind demon was suddenly thankful for the darkness surrounding them. "Anything, Izume."
She smiled.
~:.:{To Deliver My Soul From The Sword, Hope Has Shown Me A Scenery, Paradise Poetry}:.:~
A loud explosion rocketed Youma from his lavish bed, eyes wide and alert. He threw himself towards the balcony, searching the ground so far below for a source of the noise. He did not have to look far, as a plume of smoke was rising from a location just a mile east of his city. It billowed and the scent was so strong he could smell it clearly from here.
Death.
"MEN! GET TO THE SITE OF THAT EXPLOSION!" Youma screamed, hurrying to throw on some clothing and join his troops.
He met a large gathering outside, and together they flew to the scene of the smoke. Wind churned around them, clearing the air so they could breathe properly, and what met their eyes made even Youma's men queasy.
Dozens of bodies littered the ground, some of which were still on fire, and all of them irrevocably dead. The carnage was unlike anything he had seen so close to his home and a carnal rage built up inside the Wind Leader's still heart.
He stomped close to a nearby body, seeing an insignia across the collar and recognizing it. He did this to a few of the others, only to see different marks on some. He had been wrong...
War was closing in on his homeland.
"Those brats were right," he seethed, "and I've been too blinded to see it. Get rid of the flames and the bodies. I have business to attend to."
The demon hurried back to his large home, using the wind to fly him over. He did not answer the onslaught of questions from people living in his halls, dressed still in their night clothing or robes, and instead made his way to the intricately carved door near the end of the opposite side of the house.
He did not waste time knocking either, slamming it open with enough force to rattle the room. Four figures shot up from their varied resting places, wild-eyed with their hair askew. In any other circumstance, he might have laughed at how young those children seemed, but now was hardly the time. He certainly did not miss how many held weapons or elements, waiting to stop a coming attack. They were trained fighters, after all...
"You were right," he ground out, teeth trying to chip away at each other, "and I'll listen to your words, children. War is much closer than I thought, and should you have a safe location for my elderly and the young bloods, we will join you in this mayhem."
Yuji nodded, his face hard as stone. "What has changed your mind, Youma?"
"A battle took place just a mile from my city. We will be prepared to move by midday tomorrow. I suggest you do the same, and be ready with an answer to a location for my non-fighters." He turned and slammed the door behind.
Completely missing four confident, secretive smirks.
Next in 'Revelation, Defamation':
Kotone had never admitted to being intelligent, but she was also far from stupid. Her path had led her down a dark road with even darker entities that would have to join her, protect her and her loved ones, from a war to come. She might have chosen wrong, but she had faith that her ideas would come through, despite what a certain short, nagging creature said otherwise. And now, Reikai had her name on their roster for stealing souls that were never hers to take. Had she single-handedly given Enma a reason to join the fray?