Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Home is Where the Heart is Hidden ❯ Chapter 6

Niara: Hello all, lovely whether down here in the South at the moment. It is not supposed to be this cold! I just went and bought the second half of Gundam Wing on DVD, so I'm going to be slow in updating. Thanks to those who have reviewed, and I'm still looking for images so that I can mostly portray the way people are supposed to look.

 

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, so why bother saying otherwise?

 

Chapter 6

 

 

Kagome frowned as she followed Kurama down the streets of the small village, her blue eyes on his back. There was something different about him, something that had changed so much from how he had been in her home, something that made him seem more…dangerous.

 

The red-head glanced over his shoulder at her, an amused look in his eyes. “Is something the matter, Kagome?”

 

“Oh, no,” she said hurriedly, tugging at the reigns of Rain to encourage him to walk a little faster. “I was just wondering how you knew the son of the Lord of the North.”

 

Kurama chuckled, eyes glittering at some joke that only he was privy to. “It was an accident, actually. Yusuke and I were searching for the same thing and we ended up helping each other.” He smiled at her, grabbing her hand to guide her to his side. “Where did you find such a majestic beast?”

 

The priestess smiled sadly, her eyes growing slightly distant. An image of her beloved father passed before her eyes for just a moment before she spoke, her voice softer than normal. “Rain was my father's horse. He's had him ever since I can remember and he once told me that Rain was given to him by a very good friend.”

 

Kurama released her hand and set his hand on her shoulder, portraying a measure of comfort. “I'm sorry to have brought that up. Forgive me.”

 

Kagome smiled at him, the sunlight casting an ethereal beauty across her young face. “It's alright, Shuichi. I don't mind. I should probably talk about it sometime and better sooner than later.”

 

The red-head laughed, his eyes streaked with burnished gold. “Kagome, I've told you before to just call me Kurama. In fact, as of today, I'm going to have to insist. Most of the people that we are going to meet who know me refer to me as Kurama instead of Shuichi.”

 

“Why?” Kagome studied her friend's face as they stopped the horses at the edge of the town and mounted, both swinging up with practiced and fluid ease. “Why would you insist on being called something so similar to Youko Inarius' alias?”

 

Kurama turned his sharply to stare at her, his eyes almost completely gold. “How did you know that?”

 

Kagome blinked as they set their horses in motion, the large steeds covering the flat grassland that spread to the base of the line of mountains that marked the southern edge of the Northern Lands. “What? About the alias?” At the crimson haired man's nod, she sighed. “Father was the one who mentioned it to me. Well, he never mentioned it, but he would always laugh about how people in the village always wanted to see the notorious bandit and one of the princes of the East in combat. He claimed that it was truly ironic that the most hated son of the Lord of the East was also the most famous one.”

 

“Your father was a wise man,” Kurama said softly, his eyes returning to their normal green. “I wish that I could have had a civil conversation with him before this had happened.”

 

With a laugh, the priestess leaned against Rain's neck, allowing the horse to run just a little faster. “I doubt he would have wanted to. He could sense the same thing that I can in you and he trusted you far less than I did for it.”

 

“And what did you sense in me?” was the mild reply, carefully cultivated to hide his worry. Kagome leaned back and smiled at him, her face lighting up. She held up a slim hand, her palm up slightly to reveal the glowing orb of violet pink-violet energy held suspended in her open palm.

 

“A demon.” Kurama stared at her even as the horses continued to plow ahead, plowing across the open field like bats out of Hell.

 

*****

 

Hiei brought his sword down, slicing the moving corpse from shoulder to hip, what little blood that hadn't fled the body with the undead's first death splashing onto the ground. He whirled around, even as he moved forward, and blocked the blow from the soldier that staggered up behind him. A growl was torn from his throat, crimson eyes blazing in outrage.

 

He didn't have time for this.

 

Ripping the warded bandana off of his forehead, Hiei leapt straight up, the three swords that had been falling towards him crashing into the ground. The Jagan Eye began to glow, the violet orb turning red as its malice was unleashed. Two of the zombies turned on their allies, hacking at them with the same fervor they had attacked him with. Using the distraction and his speed, Hiei ran, fleeing the battlefield, his afterimage creating new shadows in the air around him.

 

The hybrid demon ran along the network of interlocked tree branches that blocked the sunlight from the ground, his crimson eyes scanning the ground and area in front of him while the evil eye in his forehead scanned the area behind and in front of him. Another growl was ripped from his throat as he sped through the forest that marked the eastern-most edge of the Eastern Lands, his eyes almost glowing a vibrant red in the darkness of the woods.

 

He was going to kill that damn fox when he finally found him.

 

*****

 

“He WHAT?!” The violet-eyed demon rolled his eyes heavenward and rubbed his pointed ears, wondering just where the hanyou had developed his lungs. Said hanyou was currently going through every swear word he knew, as well as inventing several, while his older brother, a full-blooded demon, scowled at the bat demon.

 

“Inuyasha, be quiet,” the older brother said in his calm, almost monotonous voice. He shoved a thick chuck of his ivory hair out of his beautiful face, the navy crescent on his forehead thrown into sharp relief. “What are this Sesshomaru and Inuyasha expected to do?”

 

The bat shrugged, his ebony hair slipping off his shoulders and down his back. “I think he wants to move the meeting to the Northern Lands. At least he gave us some advance warning this time.”

 

Inuyasha snorted, his golden eyes flashing dangerously. “Feh. He could have given us a reason for it as well. Does the midget know?”

 

“I wouldn't call him that to his face, hanyou,” Sesshomaru interjected coldly, ignoring the annoyed look his younger brother gave him. “Hiei is an opponent that I would not wish upon my worst enemy. But, Inuyasha has a point, Kuronue. Has he been informed of the change?”

 

Kuronue grinned, his fangs glittering in the dawn light. “Oh yes, he has indeed. Went hunting for my beloved partner, as I recall. He'll meet up with us when we finally run into Youko.”

 

The Inu Brothers nodded, neither of them willing to voice the fears that they secretly felt.

 

*****

 

Black fire licked at the edges of the fireplace, charring the stones that kept it contained. The woman sitting in the large, cushioned chair in front of the fire frowned, her dark brown eyes trapping the light of the flames. Most of her hair was pulled out of her youthful face, the raven strands enhancing the paleness of her skin. Behind her, a child-like girl stood waiting, the black surface of the mirror in her hands reflecting the thin visage of her mistress.

 

“Kanna,” the woman said softly, her melodic voice cold. “Come here, Kanna.”

 

The albino demon stepped forward, her black gaze never changing as she came to stand beside the dark priestess. Raising one hand, an orb of pale blue energy gathered in the palm of the miko's hand. The orb floated from her hand to the mirror, the liquid glass rattling in Kanna's fragile grasp. “Show me what I seek.”

 

The image of a tall man, his raven hair flecked with grey, chained to the wall of the dungeon deep below her castle, appeared in the mirror. The man's head was bowed, blood running down the demon's wrists and chest where the miko's soldiers had torn at his body. Sensing her gaze, Sasaki Kagenohi lifted his head, grey eyes flashing scarlet with his fury. Grey flames wrapped around his hands, licking violently at the steel manacles that held both him and his power at bay.

 

The miko smirked, knowing that her prisoner knew that he was at her mercy. How she would enjoy killing this troublesome thorn. The image wavered, ripples flowing from the center of the mirror before it settled once more, this time revealing a small demon with raven hair that swept up his head in a flame, a white starburst hidden in the ebony fire. His scarlet eyes were constantly moving, the violet eye set in the center of his forehead glowing with an unholy light.

 

He was running, the area around him blurring as the mirror kept up with the Forbidden Child. His growl warned the observer of just how unaware of her presence he really was almost a second before the image burst into flames. The priestess giggled in delight, her brown eyes lighting up. This one would give her a great show when he died.

 

The image of the flames vanished before reforming once more, this time on two people instead of one. The priestess was only interested in one of the two, her mind immediately dismissing the human as a nuisance and, therefore, of no concern. The one she studied was the brunette.

 

For all intents and purposes, he looked human, even had a human aura, but she could see the raw, demonic power that he had, his image just barely shackled to his human visage. His cocky attitude would be a problem, the priestess admitted to herself, but she could manipulate it to her advantage easily. He too looked up, sensing her eyes upon him. His brown eyes turned gold, navy markings beginning to emerge on his tanned skin.

 

The final image that she summoned was one of two people, a tall red-head and, to her surprise, a priestess. The red-head whirled around the second the image completely formed, his emerald eyes flashing a burnished gold. The priestess turned as well, her blue eyes wide.

 

A shriek rang throughout the halls of the palace, the tone filled with hatred and outrage that seeped into the very soul. Kikyo Higurashi grasped the bottle that had been set down beside her chair, her entire body glowing with her power. She threw the bottle at the image that was still reflected in Kanna's mirror, the crimson fluid staining the white kimono. Kikyo glared at the image of her younger sister, her eyes filled with hatred and her stomach twisting with fear.

 

Kikyo's face twisted into an ugly expression, her eyes blazing dangerously. “Kanna, tell Kagura and Karasu to gather their force and head towards the Northern Border, now! I want the head of the priestess that travels with the avatar of Youko Kurama!”

 

*****

 

“Kurama? What was that?” Kurama continued to gaze at the air, his eyes still a deep gold. After a minute, he whirled around, his eyes streaked with emerald.

 

“We need to cross the border tonight. We don't have time to wait,” he said, deftly and efficiently packing up everything that had been set out for the night. Kagome began to help, saddling the horses and throwing on the packs as Kurama finished with them. “Kikyo is using some form of demonic magic to watch over everyone that she sees as a threat or as an opponent. We were hoping that she wouldn't take an interest in me, but she must have latched onto Youko's soul in order to track him because she couldn't find his physical form.”

 

Kagome frowned, swinging onto Rain at the same time as Kurama swung onto his mount. “What does that have to do with anything?”

 

Kurama seemed to think for a minute as he turned his horse, snapping the reigns sharply. “Because Youko Kurama Inarius died when one of Enma's Hunters was tracking him. He separated his soul from his dieing body and merged it with the embryo of a human child. I was what resulted from the merging of Youko's soul and a human body. He lives inside of me and can take control of our body if he wishes.”

 

Kagome frowned as she let Rain run beside him, her long hair whipping behind her. She had been taught that Youko Kurama was one of the most dangerous warriors in the lands, a thief of lives, hearts, and precious treasures. Her father had always said that she could not place her trust in a demon such as him, but did she really have choice, this time?

 

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Niara: yea, another one done…can you people tell that I am lacking in an outline for this story? Thought so…

 

Anyway, I would appreciate reviews if you feel like leaving them, and could someone please send me the descriptions I asked for back in the last chapter? I'm still looking for them. Good-bye for now and happy Valentines Day for when I haven't updated by then.