InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Mending a broken heart ❯ Confrontation ( Chapter 2 )

Mending a broken heart

Summary: Youko makes a mistake, but he has five hundred years to think it over.

Chapter 2: Confrontation

A/N: Thank you so very much to everyone who reviewed! I am sorry I have taken a long time to update, but I have been busy with school and what not! Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter, and drop a line telling me what you think please. I would really like to improve my writing skills. Thanks!

 

“I can smell the stench of that human on you.” Yomi sneered as Youko strode into the camp.

“I assure you, this is the last time that you will smell her scent upon me.”

Slightly amazed, Yomi moved to meet their leader. “Your claim upon her is no more?”

A small growl reverberated through Youko's throat, but he managed to respond. “No, it has been relinquished.”

“I think this is reason enough for a celebration!” The demons around them cheered as they moved to the sake.

Before he could even take one drink, Kuronue stopped his hand short of the goblet. “You think this wise?”

An undecipherable look passed over Youko's features. “I did what I had to do, and now I will drink.”

Kuronue gave a curt nod before Youko indulged in the sake that was set before him.

Tonight he would drink himself to sleep.

He was free.

He had no ties to Kagome.

It was truly something to be celebrated.

He grinned.

Tomorrow would be a very good day. Tomorrow he would once again let his beast sate its thirst.

Unbeknownst to him, Yomi was smiling and celebrating for far different reasons.

 

2 weeks later

The constant stream of rumors was hard to ignore.

It was the topic of every demon's conversation. There was not one demon in all of Japan that was unaware. It was infecting everyone. No one was immune to the disease that is gossip.

At first, he had disregarded the rumors. He believed that there was no truth behind the gossip. It wasn't until a member of the band of thieves informed him that it was indeed true, did he start to believe in the horrifying possibility that the rumors had any merit.

Apparently, the notorious band of thieves was on the move.

This fact in itself was no cause for worry. However, it was the second part that had every demon alive riled up.

They were on the move and without the presence of a beautiful human miko. They were traveling without the Shikon Miko, the intended mate of Youko Kurama.

There were only a few reasons for why she would not be with them, and Kouga knew that they planned on waiting to perform the ceremony, so that could only mean one thing.

“I see that you're trespassing.” Youko said, emerging from the dense brush of the forest.

Kouga disregarded the comment and instead shocked Youko with his angry cry of, “Where is she?”

“Kagome,” Youko almost looked confused. “I assume she is at the village.”

“So it's true then,” Kouga was trying desperately to reel in the anger that plagued his being, but it was impossible to do when the fox looked so damned smug.

“And what would that be?” Youko was having a bit of fun at Kouga's expense.

“ You've turned her away?” His voice was dark and full of thunder, but Youko didn't even bat an eyelash at the murderous tone.

“She had no place here.” Was that a smirk playing on his lips? Did Youko find his appearance there amusing?

The wolf prince shook with unkempt rage. “Do you know what you've done? What irreparable damage you have caused at the expense of one fragile human woman?”

“You know nothing of the situation,” Youko paused, carefully choosing his next words. “There were matters that were beyond my control.” Kouga scoffed.

He didn't believe it.

Foxes were known for their trickery, and as far as Kouga was concerned, Youko was no different. Youko had fooled everyone, himself included. He had lulled everyone into a false sense of security until it suited him to reveal his true colors.

“No, you threw her away like a piece of trash once she sated your unquenchable thirst for curiosity.”

“As I've told you Kouga, you know nothing of the situation.”

A vicious grin pulled at the corners of Kouga's lips. “You're no better than Inuyasha was.” He knew it was a dirty thing to say, but he had entrusted Kagome's well being to that no good Spirit Kitsune and look what he had done.

“Did you have a good time toying with her emotions? Were her reactions enough to satisfy your sadistic needs?”

A feral growl was torn from Youko's throat as he advanced forward ever so slightly.

“Wolf, I'd watch your tongue if I were you.” Red was starting to bleed into Youko's eyes, but Kouga disregarded that fact and continued on.

“Did you already share this tale with your band of thieves? Did you give them the whole scene in detail? Tell them how she was so utterly broken over you, and how foolish human women can be when they think they have fallen in love?”

Youko only growled low in his throat at the accusations. “I'm really curious Youko.”

“Wolf, prepare to die.”

Kouga only chuckled darkly. “Youko, I'd gladly fight you on behalf of Kagome,” his tail swished violently. “Someone has to put you in your place.”

Before they could even land one blow, Kuronue intervened.

“We do not have time for this.” He shot Youko a pointed look.

Kuronue then turned toward the wolf prince. “Kouga, take your fellow clan members and leave. You're on our territory, and we will not hesitate to strike you down if need be.”

Kouga looked torn.

His pride forbade him from walking away when he knew Youko was at fault, but he couldn't risk a war with the thieves either.

Ginta and Hakkaku, who had been silently observing the whole confrontation, just looked to their leader for instructions.

“Ginta, Hakkaku, let's go.” His lackeys turned tail and ran, leaving him momentarily alone with both leaders. “Youko, she trusted you with every fiber in her being. She handed over her heart as though she had never loved another, and you shattered it.”

“You have fifteen seconds to get out of this forest before my death tree swallows you whole.”

“She would have given you everything she had if you had given her the chance.” and with that he was nothing but a blur in the distance.

A stiff silence fell over the two companions as they stared after the reckless leader of the Wolf Tribe. It was several moments before Youko broke the heavy silence.

“Kuronue, you should not have interfered.”

“I didn't do it because of you,” Youko would have feigned hurt if his anger was not overwhelming him. “If the two of you engaged in a fight right now, I am unsure if I would have been able to support you.”

Youko tore his steely gaze away from the direction where Kouga had just disappeared and turned toward Kuronue with a look akin to horror on his face.

“You'd support that insolent whelp?”

“On this matter? Yes,” He turned away from Youko, preparing to head back to the camp. “He was right you know, and on more than one account.”

Youko looked stricken. Never in all of the years they had known one another had Kuronue ever disagreed with his actions. Quickly composing himself he repeated the mantra he had been telling himself for the last two weeks.

“You know that she posed a problem to us. I had no other choice.”

“It matters not. What's done is done.” Unfazed, Kuronue continued on, “Oh, and those matters that are `beyond your control' are calling again.”

Youko was silent for a long time. Finally, with a resigned sigh, he uttered, “I leave at midnight.”