InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Dreams of Red ❯ The Rooms Where Nightmares Are Made ( Chapter 6 )

Chapter 6: The Rooms Where Nightmares Are Made

 

Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

 

It took a few hours of straight running for the group to get to Kagotsuchi's mountain `retreat'. Standing out with the fortress the group stared in awe. Without help it would be difficult to get anywhere near the group held captive. At first the whole area seemed barren of any kind of plant life. However Youko's plight seemed to reach deep within the burned plant life, making it spring to life once more, to the Youko's call. Reaching out to the plants, Youko could `see' an underground passageway leading into the fortress, however it could be extremely dangerous. If Kagotsuchi was aware of their presence, being trapped underground could spell the group's doom. Anything could happen, and how could they hope to face a God's wrath if they did. Especially if he was a spirit like Shuichi had said.

 

“There is an underground passage leading in, however it is dangerous to attempt, especially if the God holding our friends captive knows about its presence.” Kurama said, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. “To get within that way we would need a distraction on the outside.” Yusuke and Hiei nodded in unison.

 

“Leave that to us, Youko Kurama.” Hiei said as he looked at Yusuke, whose arm had snaked around his waist. “Although we would prefer to get in with you, we would happily remain here and provide the distraction that you need.” Hiei bared the Jagan Eye once more and also reached for the seal holding the Dragon quiet, when Kagome stopped him.

 

“Let me try something first.” She said as she reached for the bow and quiver of arrows that she had taken with her. “I need some rope, or something similar.” Youko removed a seed from his hair; it was a poison green in colour and when activated by his youki, a long, twisted vine was a result. “Even better.” She said as she tied one end of the vine to an arrow. “Keep a hold of that end please.” She then took aim with the bow. “Answer to my need, please get over the drawbridge!” She said as she fired the arrow, and as the miko asked, the arrow flew over the top of the drawbridge. “The rest is up to you, Youko Kurama.” She said, and Kurama manoeuvred the vine to move along the inside of the drawbridge until it found the lever to open the drawbridge with, and then it turned the lever until the drawbridge opened, allowing them access.

 

“Good thinking.” Youko said simply as he recalled the vine, turning it back into the seed it had been. “Now all we need to do is find our friends and get away.” The kitsune said as he crossed the drawbridge, and the moment he entered the fortress, the heat stunned him. The fortress was burning hot. The moment that the others entered they felt the same, apart from Yukina, Touya and Hiei, who seemed to cope with the excruciating heat with ease. However they got blessed relief when the two ice demons called on their element to ease their burden. Now able to walk along the corridors, they arrived to their second obstacle, A wall of fire stood in their path.

 

“This is mine.” Hiei said as he approached the wall. “Being a mix of fire and ice does have its advantages as you surely remember, Yusuke.” He said seeing Yusuke running forward. “Zeru's fire barely touched me, and Seiryu's ice never remained long. I'll find out what is on the other side of this wall.” With that Hiei walked through the inferno and laughed. “My, my, this is only an illusion.” He said from the other side. “There is no fire on this side at all.” With that the others followed Hiei through. “I think this is a God that has learned a few things from the kitsune.” The group continued until they came across eight doors and statue in the centre. Hiei read out what was inscribed. “Welcome to the castle of illusion and flames.” He started. “I hope that you find it as amusing as I do watching its victims suffer. You must separate up and enter these rooms. More I shall not say.” Yusuke glared at the statue.

 

“I don't like this at all.” He said as he looked at the doors. What was Kagotsuchi trying to accomplish. “What has he planned for all of us?” He held Hiei tightly to him. “What do these rooms do, and why are they here?” He punched the floor, making others wince. “I hate it when things are like this.” Hiei laughed at Yusuke's tirade.

 

“What did I tell you before, Detective? You rely too much on the help of others.” He looked around the group. “This looks to be the only way to get through the corridor.” He looked at the doors. “Kagotsuchi left us with plenty of clues as to what to expect from here on in. `Welcome to the castle of illusion and flames'.” He quoted. “Once we go through these doors we cannot truly believe a word any of us say. We could be illusions, and to that end we need to be careful.” Without any further words, Hiei opened the first door and closed it behind him, the others followed soon after.

 

~Hiei's `trial'~

 

Hiei looked around the room he had entered, and around him was a group of people, hate burning in their eyes, their hate aimed towards him. A chant started of `Kill him' started, however Hiei walked through them, keeping a hand on his sword the whole time. That seemed to make them afraid. When he got to the centre of the room, there he saw the most horrific scene of his nightmares. Before him, pinned down and close to death, were both his sister and his mate. They both called out for him to help them, but Hiei knew that if he did, that he would only join them. Instead he forced his body to ignore their pained calls, chanting `It's only an illusion' to himself as he forged ahead, determined to get out of this hellhole. However he couldn't help but allow a single tear to fall from his eyes as he left them to their fate. They may be illusions but they were illusions of those he loved dearly.

 

 

Hiei exited the room without too much bother. He knew that it was an illusion, and nothing more. His mate and sister would never be caught by mere humans the way that they had. Yusuke would lay them out cold before that happened. He turned and saw seven other doors and knew that this was the exit of the rooms; sitting on the floor he awaited the arrival of the others.

 

~Yusuke's `trial'~

 

Yusuke entered the second door and found himself in Koenma's office. It looked so real that he almost thought that he was there, except that the Koenma behind the desk was in his teenage form, not the toddler like one that he was usually wearing when in private. “Yusuke, did you hear anything of what I said?” `Koenma' asked. “I said that Hiei has to be eliminated. He has killed a human. He has killed Keiko, your pregnant wife.” Yusuke's blood ran cold. Something wasn't right about this, Hiei was the one that he was mated to, and Keiko was nothing more than an ex-fiancée. Even Koenma knew about that.

 

“Fuck off, illusionary bastard.” Yusuke said, his glowing in anger. “I am not that easy to fool. I am Hiei's mate, not Keiko's husband.” With that he turned and walked out of the room, knowing that at least that illusion was a dud. However he couldn't but think of what Koenma had said. Hiei could easily kill humans without a second thought; or rather he would have done in the past. He knew that Hiei had changed and nothing that Kagotsuchi could make up could change that fact.

 

 

Leaving the room, he saw Hiei sitting on the floor, resting his head on his arms. Yusuke made his way over to Hiei and pulled Hiei into his arms. He didn't know whether Hiei was real or not, but he did know that he wanted to hold his fiery apparition, and if this was a fake then it was better than nothing.

 

~Kuronue's `trial'~

 

Kuronue took the third door, and found himself back in the bamboo forest, the place of his death. He was running by Youko Kurama's side once more. Leaping over the next trap hole in the ground, the pair stopped for a rest, Kurama showing off the magic mirror that they had stolen from the castle. On this occasion they had stolen the mirror for another, and they would be well paid when they returned with it. However once they started to run again, the mirror dropped from Youko's hands. “Damn!” Youko shouted as he stopped and turned back.

 

“No, Kurama, it's too dangerous for you to go back there!” Kuronue shouted, but the shout seemed to have no effect on the kitsune. “Why should we risk our lives for that thing? We can get it back later. For now, let us save our own lives.” Kuronue started running again, but it quickly became obvious that Kurama wasn't following him. He stopped in time to hear a cry of pain. “Kurama!” He ran back the way he came, in time to see bamboo shoots flying towards his kitsune lover being run through by many of the shoots. He ran forward to try to free Kurama, not seeing the other bamboo flying towards him until it was too late. With a gargled scream he felt the shoots stab through vital organs. Hiei's words rang deeply in his mind then. `Kagotsuchi got me!' He sent telepathically to all that would listen to him. `I am sorry, my beloved Youko.' And with that Kuronue took his last breath.

 

 

In the centre of his darkened room of illusion lay Kuronue, his body pierced through by bamboo shoots. The sprites of death clung to his still form, feasting off of his remaining youki and soul.

 

-Intermission-

 

Kagotsuchi watched as the first three faced their fears in his rooms of nightmares. “Hmm, that Hiei is quite intelligent.” Kagotsuchi thought to himself. “Yet his warnings went unheeded by the bat demon. This is actually fun to watch.” He piped the scenes in the rooms to his captives' room, quickly showing what had occurred and waited.

 

In the captive's room the four watched as their friends took on Kagotsuchi's trial, and when Kuronue `failed' Shuichi cried out in pain. He cried not only for himself but also for Youko Kurama who would feel the pain too. The others could only hope and pray that the others would listen to what Hiei had said.

 

-Back to the trials-

 

~Yukina's `trial'~

 

Yukina took the next door, and the sight before her was a familiar one. It was of the sacrificial cliff where any male children born to a Koorime was… disposed of, but what was she doing here? That was quickly answered.

 

Yukina could feel herself being carried to the edge of the cliff, held in Rui's arms along with her older twin. Why was she being carried here with her brother? What had she done that was so bad? “Let the choosing of the Imiko and the one that shared the womb with him commence.” The old Elder said, and she could hear Hina, their mother crying out for her and her twin, and she replied by crying for her mother. Her twin, Hiei, was silently accepting his fate. The seals on the wrappings held his silence as well as his fire abilities. Rui laid the twins on the icy floor and tucked the tear gem into her wrappings as well as Hiei's. “Hina, you can choose which of the children you carried that you wish to keep. The other shall be sacrificed, the choice is yours, Hina.”

 

The Koorime was dragged forward towards both of her babies, and she knelt before her son and daughter. “I can have many daughters, but I shall have only one son.” Yukina heard her mother say as she lifted Hiei into her arms, holding him tightly to her breast. “I won't let you sacrifice him.” With that Hina turned her back on her daughter and left, leaving her screaming daughter behind. When Rui lifted her again, she could only see the cold, icy, face of her mother's best friend.

 

“You can't do this!” She tried to scream out, but it was only the terrified wail of a baby that knew of its fate. “Rui, I am a Koorime! I'm like you and mother! It should be Hiei here and not me!” However it didn't stop Rui from kissing her forehead and dropping her over the edge.

 

 

In the centre of the darkened room lay a broken body her blood pooled around her still frame. The beloved Koorime looked to have been thrown from a great height, her sweet mouth opened in a scream, and her eyes wide with fear.

 

~Inuyasha's `trial'~

 

Inuyasha took the fifth door and as he entered he recognised the scene. This was back when the Dark Priestess Tsubaki had placed her curse on Kagome using the shards of the Shikon no Tama.

 

Kagome's eyes were glazed over, and he could see the place where the shards of the Shikon no Tama had entered her body. She had her bow drawn and an arrow ready to kill him. “I will kill you, Inuyasha!” She shouted. That made Inuyasha pause. That wasn't right. Last time Kagome was telling him to run. “I will kill you, despicable half breed!” With that she fired the bolt, and Inuyasha barely dodged the attack. This wasn't the Kagome that he knew and he was afraid. The Kagome he knew wouldn't act like this. He knew that he had two choices; he could fight, and possibly kill, her or he could run. He then made the decision to run. He couldn't do anything dead, and the moment that he reached the door, Kagome shot another arrow at him. Barely making it out in time, Inuyasha could hear Kagome scream in agony and he then knew what had happened.

 

Leaving the room had caused Kagome's death, and when he moved to enter the room again, he found himself outside in the corridor with Yusuke and Hiei. It seemed that some of their party was still in their trials, including Kagome. So Inuyasha, too, waited.

 

~Touya's `trial'~

 

The ice Shinobi entered the sixth room, his boots crunching over glass and rubble. He knew this place. He had been held captive here long ago. He remembered his stepfather sending him here after his mother had died. Like Yusuke and Inuyasha he was half human, his parent demon having been a male ice apparition. This was his cell… his room as his captors called it. However his cell door was open, almost as if it were deliberately left so, but Touya took the chance and fled the cell.

 

It didn't take the captors long before they sent dogs after him. Touya hated them even more than the humans that held him captive, and their excited barking made him run faster, until he realised that the dogs were `herding' him somewhere. However when he realised that, it was too late, four strong hands grabbed the hanyou and dragged him into the room he had stopped outside of. “My, you never learn, does you?” the chief captor said with a nasty grin as the two men accompanying him held him to the table, the chief removing his captive's clothing. “Your father said I could do anything to you if you tried to escape again, now can you imagine what that is?” Touya whimpered as he tried to curl up to make his body as inaccessible as possible. “Boys.” The other two forced Touya to straighten out as the chief approached, dropping his pants. “Don't worry, Touya, this will be fun… for me that is.”

 

The monster then approached the captive with a wide grin on his face. “I have been waiting a long time for this, Touya, and I am sure that you will become used to servicing my desires… or not it depends on how good you are at servicing our needs today.” That made the half-breed squirm against the strong hands of the adult men. The sight made the monster's grin widen. “My, we are eager.” He said with a nasty smirk, as he squeezed Touya's ass. “I am sure that you will provide a lot of pleasure.” With that he pressed his erection against the boy's opening and pushed in, loving the sound of the boy's cries, but they became annoying after some time. “Kotama, gag the fucker!” He ordered and the other male grinned as he removed his own pants. “If you bite, I'll feed you your own cock, understand?” Touya nodded as tears ran down his eyes. By then, Touya had been ripped inside, and blood was lubricating the passage for the monster's massive member, and he was manoeuvred so that the two men could rape him anally and orally.

 

When the chief came within his body, the third man took his position, and started where the chief left off, however when Kotama came, Touya was unready and inhaled the sticky fluid rather than swallow it… a mistake when he couldn't breath the three men never noticed Touya's death until he had gone blue.

 

 

On the floor lay a lifeless body, thoroughly used and abused; the third victim to his own nightmares.

 

-Intermission-

 

Kagotsuchi watched in fascination as the next three's worst nightmares cane to fruition. One lived and two died. He had never known that the rooms would be so… perfect; Six down and two to go. He couldn't wait to see what Youko Kurama and the witch dreamed of.

 

-End Intermission-

 

Youko Kurama took the seventh door and entered it with the grace any would have expected of the proud kitsune. In there he watched as Shuichi raised a dagger into the air and brought it down, and spilled blood, the blood of the remaining members of the Youko tribe, the remaining members of his people, and they weren't even fighting him… somehow he must have drugged them. “Come along, Youko Kurama, you're next.” Shuichi said as he allowed a flare of youki to entrap Kurama, however Kurama wasn't that stupid. He avoided the attack, using his own youki to entrap the red kitsune.

 

Once that had been done, Kurama approached him. “Don't forget that you are part of this race, Shuichi. Kill yourself if you want to be rid of the Youko blood because as long as you live, the Youko blood will forever survive.” With that Youko Kurama passed him, leaving the bloody ground, and finding the exit to his room. He had treated Shuichi with his usual cold touch. His goal was to free Shuichi, not to bow down to a nightmare that was impossible to have happened.

 

 

Leaving the room he saw that he was one of four to have left. “Where are the others?” He asked as he approached Hiei and Yusuke. “Aren't they out yet?” Yusuke shook his head.

 

“Not yet… I hope that nothing bad has happened to them.” He said as Hiei whimpered in his sleep. “Because if something has happened to them, I wouldn't like to be Kagotsuchi when Hiei has awoken.”

 

~Kagome's `trial'~

 

Seeing that she was alone made Kagome enter the last door and she found herself in a meadow. She looked in her hand and saw the Shikon no Tama, beautiful and whole, in her hand. She was going to give it to Inuyasha; after all he wanted to be human. `Wait a moment!' Kagome thought. `This isn't me! This is Kikyo!' However even that revelation didn't stop her movements; it was as though she was compelled to follow the history. From nowhere she felt claws rip through her body.

 

“Thanks, Kikyo, you know I never wanted to become human.” However Kagome pulled in all her willpower and shouted that she wasn't Kikyo, making Naraku laugh.

 

“I will kill you, Naraku!” She shouted and fired a sacred arrow which penetrated the demon's body and killed him, the dead hand dropped the Shikon no Tama, and then Kagome then died too.

 

 

The miko's body lay in a pool of her own blood, holding a pebble the size of the Sacred Jewel in her right hand.

 

-After the trials-

 

After waiting a further hour and still no sign of the others, they opened the doors on their side to see their other companions dead in the rooms. Hiei growled when he saw his sweet sister's body lying like a discarded doll on the floor. Hiei was in agony, but nothing could be changed now. Yusuke looked around the others. “Retrieve the bodies. Nothing can be done at the moment, but we need to get to our living friends.” Yusuke didn't mean to sound so insensitive but the dead was just that; dead. They couldn't come back and help them, not unless they had help from Koenma. “Now, come on. The others have to be around here somewhere.” Yusuke said as he started up the corridor.

 

The others had to think on it for a while. Only Hiei knew why Yusuke was acting like this, and he explained what Yusuke was feeling to the others, and leaving the others leaned against the wall the others followed Yusuke up the corridor. The sooner they freed the others, the sooner they could return to their fallen comrades and get out of the fortress.

 

END CHAPTER

 

Author's Note: I take it that `Youko Kurama' means Kurama of the Youko, I took this from when Raizen was once mentioned as `Toushin Raizen' which, again, I took to mean Raizen of the Toushin. If I am wrong I do apologise.

 

I am coming close to the fic, there isn't much left to do, just to save the others' asses. Roll on fic three of the series!