InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Dreams of Red ❯ Fox, Bat, Dog and Ice ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter 3: Fox, Bat, Dog and Ice

 

“What a waste of our time.” Youko Kurama said as he stalked ahead of Kuronue. “I was sure that Yomi would have known something. I hope that Yusuke and Hiei have found something of more use.” It had already been a week and it would be a few more days before they made it back. Then the fox demon paused as he heard two voices shouting two different names and headed towards them. He recognised the shortest of the pair as being Touya, the ice master and Jin's companion. It seemed strange that he was now looking for his partner, the other person that Touya was with seemed to be a dog demon, although not entirely by his scent. He was a hanyou half dog demon and half human, just as Yusuke was half Toushin and half human. “Who are you looking for?” He asked as he showed himself. “Maybe we could offer our assistance.”

 

It took a moment for Touya to recognise Youko Kurama, but his face showed relief when he did. “Thank goodness its you, Youko Kurama, I can't find Jin anywhere. Last time I saw him, he was following somebody who looked like your friend, Kuwabara. He said that Kuwabara was carrying… well… you.” Youko Kurama's eyes opened wide in shock. “It happened just outside Mukuro's place.” Youko nodded before turning his gaze to Touya's companion.

 

“What about you, half breed?” He asked as memories started to surface. He didn't hear the other's answer as he dropped to the ground.

 

 

Flashback

 

Kurama ran through the streets. He was being chased, and his pursuer was still on the tail. He heard the gruff voice call his Spirit Sword, his Rei no Ken, and knew that he would have to fight his chaser. Releasing his inner fox mid stride, he pulled a rose from his hair, however before it changed into the Rose Whip he felt two slashes in an `X' over his back. Turning, he finally changed the rose into the whip, however his attacker avoided the crack. He knew the attacker well. It was none other than Kazuma Kuwabara, Yukina's boyfriend. His eyes were glazed and unfocused, as though he wasn't in control of his actions. Who ever was in control seemed to be a master swordsman; he gave Youko no room to attack but landing plenty of slashes. The attacks led up to the final, deep, abdominal wound and being knocked unconscious by being thrown, head first, into a brick wall.

 

End Flashback

 

 

Youko Kurama opened his eyes to find himself being carried over the edge of Yomi's territory. He then felt the dog demon drop him to the ground. “If you're awake, then you can walk.” He said, his own eyes scanning the area. “We have a long way to go and you have slowed us down by sleeping most of the day.” The others started to run ahead, Youko following close behind. It took two days to get to the portal to take them back to Ningenkai.

 

“I'll go on ahead to tell Yusuke and Hiei that we have returned with a few people to help us look.” Youko Kurama said as he disappeared into the night. Yusuke and Hiei lived in one of the more lavish parts of Tokyo; at least Youko thought that it was lavish. It had three bedrooms, each fully furnished to sleep two people. He stopped in front of the apartment block that Yusuke's apartment was among, but couldn't remember if he was in 14 or 15. Shrugging he opened the door to number 15 and before he knew what was happening a girl screaming `Inuyasha' and threw herself into his arms.

 

Hearing the shout the three others ran to the apartment in time to see the girl landing a kiss on the shocked Youko's lips. “Kagome?” The dog demon asked. “Kagome, is that you? Why are you kissing that kitsune?” The girl pulled away and looked over at the door to see the shorter, stockier, dog demon and blushed. She ran over to the dog demon, embarrassment forgotten, as she whispered his name. He hugged the human girl. “It's a long story.” He said before they asked. “One that is best kept for a rainy night.” He tightened the hold on the human. “Now, you were going to introduce me to this Yusuke and Hiei?”

 

“That would be us, I'm sorry, Youko, but I couldn't help myself.” Yusuke said as he showed the instant picture that he had taken. Seeing Youko's reaction, Yusuke stepped behind the smaller Hiei. The fire youkai snickered.

 

“You got yourself in this mess, therefore you can get yourself out of it. However if he decides that he wants more than a few drops of your blood, I'll step in.” His red eyes looked the other hanyou over. “I, however, am more interested in the reason Sesshomaru's hanyou, younger, brother is doing in the human world.” Inuyasha glared at Hiei, who stared calmly back. He saw Inuyasha's hand move to his sword. In a flicker of movement Hiei's sword was at Inuyasha's throat. “Now, now Inuyasha.” Hiei said bemused. “Never attempt to draw your weapon on me, or mine. Not unless you are prepared for the consequences of that action.” Proving his point, he pressed the blade slightly harder against the skin, slightly cutting it enough for blood to run over the blade. Another flick and the sword was replaced back in its scabbard, and Hiei turned his back on the hanyou. “I am faster, and stronger, than you are, Inuyasha. I can defeat 500 demons of your class in one sitting. My mate, younger than I, is equal in strength to Yomi. What would you expect of the true descendant of Raizen, once ruler of all Makai?”

 

Inuyasha's eyes flickered from one face to the next. He had heard of a small group of elite warriors that were powerful enough to defeat some of the most powerful youkai known in the worlds. He had heard of Yusuke Urameshi, the leader of the team who won the last Ankoku Butsukai. Was this Yusuke the same as that one? He had heard of the others too: a banished half-breed Koorime, a reborn kitsune, one of the previous winners of the Dark Tournament and a dumb human. He looked at the door and saw a girl looking in; the one named Hiei approached her and told her to go back to the apartment. That sealed the facts. These were the same group, no matter how the facts were dressed up. “Hiei Jaganshi, Yusuke Urameshi. Two members of the infamous Team Urameshi.” Hiei smiled slightly as he pulled off the wrappings that sealed his Jagan Eye and stared outside. Back in the room Inuyasha could only stare at Hiei's back. He was in the same room as Mukuro's chosen heir. Kagome tugged on Inuyasha's arm.

 

“You know them?” She asked quietly. She had lived next to Yusuke and Hiei for only a few days and knew them to only keep themselves to themselves. She never realised that they, like Inuyasha, were demons, or part demons at least.

 

“I know of them. Hiei is a Jaganshi, a master of the Jagan Eye. He has honed the full extent of the powers of the fake eye that he had implanted in his forehead. He can do something that no other person has lived to claim to have done. He has a semblance of control over the most uncontrollable attack available to a fire demon, the Dragon of the Darkness Flame. Not only is it uncontrollable, but also Hiei isn't even a full fire demon either, it is said that he is half Koorime, half Ice Maiden. It is said that 20 years ago a child was discarded from the Ice Lands, a child born of a Koorime, and imbued with the power of his sire, a powerful fire youkai.” He turned her to face Yusuke Urameshi. “He is Yusuke Urameshi. If what Hiei said is true, then he is half demon, like myself. With one exception: he is the descendant of a Toushin demon by the name of Raizen, until a few years ago he was one of the Three Kings of Makai, the Demon World, and up until 300 years ago, he was the only king of the Makai. As his body lost strength so did his group. He became malnourished when he refused the staple food of his kind, humans. When he died Yusuke became King in his place, and it was left down to him to hold the uneasy peace between the three kingdoms. Instead he held a tournament to see who would be the best ruler. Before the demons had always been ruled by the strongest and Yusuke brought it back below that singular control.”

 

“I have been living next to royalty and I never knew!” Kagome said, as she looked Yusuke up and down. “If I had known…”

 

“You wouldn't get close enough to do anything more than bow.” Inuyasha said looking at Hiei. “He wouldn't have let you. Look at Yusuke's right shoulder and tell me what you see.” She looked and saw a mark. Telling Inuyasha he nodded. “It means that Yusuke already belongs to someone, and not just to anyone, to one of equal strength or greater. In this case his mate is in this very room, and if you still have no idea which one he is, it's Hiei.” He watched as Hiei left the window, shaking his head.

 

“Then I guess that we go to Makai.” Yusuke said simply. “We don't have a lot of choice. Every day is ripping into Yukina's heart. I don't know what you both feel for Kur… Shuichi but things are getting out of hand now.”

 

“Then we should separate into two parties.” Kuronue said. “Hiei in one party and your demon compass in the other, Yusuke.” Yusuke shook his head.

 

“The compass was taken back when I lost my position as Reikai Tantei.” Yusuke said. “Unless we have another Jaganshi hidden in our number then splitting up is going to be useless.”

 

“Maybe I could help. I don't know how much you know of Feudal Japan, but my soul was once that of a priestess guarding the Shikon No Tama, the Jewel of Four Souls. Some of Kikyo's abilities still remain, and although they haven't been used in a while, I am sure I can brush them off. Have you anything that belongs to the missing ones?” She asked. Yusuke ran from the room, returning with the red hair found in Mukuro's place. Taking the single hair from Yusuke she closed her eyes and concentrated. The picture she saw from it shocked her. “A kitsune! This hair belongs to a kitsune, very similar to you.” She said pointing to Youko Kurama. “Maybe not as tall, but definitely like you, only red.” Youko covered his mouth. Had his demon energy changed the human so much as to make him a demon?

 

“Maybe we should wait before some time before leaving. It seems that Kurama needs some time to get used to the look of his other half.” Yusuke said as he touched the shoulder of the stunned Youko. “Let's leave noon tomorrow, it gives us plenty of time to get things ready. So we have two able to sense the missing demons, Hiei and Kagome. I'm not leaving Hiei so you can stop thinking of separating us.”

 

“I have travelled with Kagome before, and I shall do so again.” Inuyasha said, not wanting to leave the young human's side.

 

“I and Youko Kurama shall travel with Inuyasha and the human, Yukina should accompany you, Hiei. If you take Mukuro's old lands we shall take Yomi's. I take it that you already have your spies searching for them, Yusuke?” Kuronue asked. Yusuke nodded.

 

“I do, however Hokushin doesn't know the new developments. Not only is he looking for two humans, but also he doesn't know about the two demons that we are now also looking for. However all I need to do is call him once we are in Makai and I can update him. We won't have to worry about my lands needing to be searched. Hokushin is very reliable. He was Raizen's second, and he is also mine.” He saw Hiei glare at him. “I can't expect you to turn your back on Mukuro, Hiei, and I know that you would never turn your back on me. That is why I cannot allow you to be my second. It compromises both Mukuro and myself. My mate and also her heir, it is hard to be both.”

 

“There is no choice. You are mine and, in return, I am yours. So what if I am Mukuro's heir? If she attacks your lands, it is an attack on you, an attack on my mate. My priority is you, and Mukuro knows that. I won't support any attack against her lands, but I also cannot turn my back on you because of it.” Hiei said as he left the apartment, returning to Yusuke's. Yusuke stared after his mate and looked at Youko. Youko shrugged, saying nothing and Yusuke left the room too, following his mate.

 

 

Later that night Kagome went for a walk in the nearby park, stopping under a tree she looked up at the stars. She had never thought that her path and Inuyasha's would ever entwine again, not to mention that of many other demons too. She had never thought that there was a world that was full of demons, yet the group had spoken of it as though it was nothing. She realised that it probably was nothing, considering that all of her new companions seemed to be demons. She then noticed that a leg seemed to be hanging down from one of the branches and climbed the tree to see who it was. Once at the branch she saw Yusuke and Hiei sound asleep, Hiei holding Yusuke in his arms. They looked so sweet together. “What's the matter, Kagome?” Hiei asked opening an eye as Yusuke slept on, unaware of the conversation.

 

“I couldn't sleep and thought a walk would do me some good. I guess you both couldn't sleep either.” She said as she sat on the branch.

 

“I don't like crowds. Yusuke followed me.” Hiei said as he stroked Yusuke's hair, making the half-breed nuzzle his chest. “You should go back in, Kagome. There are dangers out here at nights, and I don't think that you would like to be caught by one of the demons that lurks in the streets after dark.” Kagome nodded and returned home as fast as she could.

 

Author's Note: And the moral of this chapter: Never walk into an apartment that you are unsure of, lest you get confused with the gorgeous hanyou that the maiden left 500 years previous. Again please read and review!