Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Like Sakura Petals Falling... ❯ Echoes ( Chapter 4 )

Blanket Disclaimer: InuYasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi, YuYu Hakusho belongs to Yoshihiro Togashi. Perverse bastardizations of both can be blamed on me.

"She reads the minds of all the people as they pass her by, hoping someone will save her." - 'The Fragile' by Nine Inch Nails

Chapter Four (Echoes)

The life-sized statue of the feudal miko, shimmered like an ephemeral guardian over the mulling tourists and visitors, wandering through the exhibit in small groups. Hushed murmurs of conversations, and the occasional flare of a camera's flash drifted about the kitsune unheeded and ignored.

Kurama stood gazing at some scrolls and typed notes, reading with mild interest. Most of the content centered on a lost legend centering around a jewel, the Shikon-no-Tama, and the mikos that had a hand in both its creation and finally, in an epic battle against a formidable evil, destroyed the jewel and its taint. Thus saving the world, how novel.

It was pretty standard for a myth: archetypal themes and personas ran throughout; but something about the story rang true and familiar to the kistune. What exactly that something was, Kurama couldn't quite place.

Kurama suddenly snorted in distaste at a certain passage he came across.

Why the hell would any self-respecting kitsune embroil itself in the mess of this myth? Either the author was low on ideas for fantastic characters in the Hero Department, or the fox--- kit, no less--- was one of those damned myobu. The fox servants of Inari always were, and always will be, gluttons for punishment when it came to fighting the good fight.

Though, wasn't that what Kurama, himself, had become? Perhaps, not a servant of Inari, but, nonetheless, somewhere along the lines he'd become a tamed fox aligned with the side of good, and protecting the innocent. Gone were his days of evil and mayhem.

Truth be told, he was content with that. Even happy with the mostly human life he'd settled into. He, Kurama the Youko, had come a long way from his humble beginnings as a mere mountain fox--- even from his years as a roguish Ma-kai thief.

How exactly Kurama had came to be, well, a youko, he could not remember. Simply that one day he was. It was odd how his endless curiosity never turned inward for very long.

Kurama turned away from the display case, scanning the crowed for his step-brother. He quickly spotted Shuuichi staring at a display case housing some war-worn weapons and feudal armor. Smiling softly, he quickly spotted another familiar head.

His famed curiosity quickly won out, as Kurama made his way stealthily to the figure radiating annoyance and frustrated, undirected rage.

"Yuusuke," Kurama greeted pleasantly. "You're in a museum." He observed tilting his head slightly to one side inquisitively.

"Oh, stuff it, Fox!" Yuusuke snapped, though his eyes betrayed the gruff tone with a look more akin to relief. "What are you doing here?"

"Shuuichi needed to visit the exhibit for a school assignment." Kurama answered easily. "He didn't want to come alone."

"Damn." Yuusuke swore with a laugh. "Keiko dragged me out here." He volunteered with a resigned shake of his head. "I suppose I should be grateful it's not another foreign art film, but---" He trailed off with a roll of the eye and shrug of the shoulder.

"But you're bored out of your mind." Kurama supplied with a soft chuckle, politely hidden behind his hand.

"Exactly!" Yuusuke agreed, shooting his finger like a gun in a "dead on!" gesture. "Remind me why I put up with this again?" He complained with an expansive gesture to the exhibit around them.

"Because you love her." Kurama answered sagely with a faint smile.

"Ri-ight, that." Yuusuke speculated sarcastically.

"And you're a glutton for punishment." Kurama added, his green eyes glinting in mischief. "That or a closet culture whore, yourself."

"Watch it, Fox!" Yuusuke snapped back teasingly.

"Kurama?" Urameshi called out, when he noticed the kitsune was not paying attention.

Kurama blinked in distraction, and frowned. Where had that scent come from? He had been bantering playfully with Yuusuke when he'd suddenly found himself drowning in the scent of sakura petals and pampas grass.

"I'm sorry," Kurama murmured, still distracted in trying to relocated the scent again.

"You okay?" Yuusuke asked, his brow furrowing at the kitsune's sudden shift in demeanor. "You're staring at that statue like your wanting to bore holes into it."

"Statue?" Kurama asked, genuinely confused by the observation until he realized he was, in fact, staring at the statue. "Oh, I-- I'm not sure." He answered honestly, turning to Yuusuke with a frown. "You didn't smell that then, I take it." He stated flatly.

"Smell what?" Yuusuke frowned back at the fox.

"Have you spoken to either Kuwabara or Hiei?" Kurama asked, changing the subject quickly.

"No," Yuusuke replied with narrowed eyes. "Why?" He asked in open suspicion.

"Kuwabara's noticed something strange about the shrine murders." Kurama stated with another frown marring his handsome features.

"Kuwabara's strange!" Urameshi retorted shortly.

"The attacks are demonic in nature." Kurama clarified patiently.

"What?" Yuusuke barked. "Oh, come on! Koenma would have said something by now, if they were." He dismissed flatly.

"Would he?" Kurama asked skeptically. "Apparently there's also someone or something purifying these demons."

"Purifying?" Yuusuke repeated perplexed. "Like a priest or something?"

"Kuwabara doesn't know." Kurama answered.

"Well, what good does that do?" Yuusuke demanded in exasperation.

"Have you not noticed anything strange while here in Ueno?" Kurama continued, ignoring the spirit detective's outburst.

"Me? No." Urameshi replied. "Why? You think your mystery scent is related?" He asked incredulously.

"I don't know." Kurama replied, shaking his head in distracted thought. "It was a very--- pure scent."

"Pure scent?" Yuusuke echoed. "Kurama that makes no sense."

Kurama frowned at the spirit detective. "It may be unrelated."

~*~

The Higurashi shrine? Visit Souta? Shuuichi grimaced slightly at the sudden impulse to visit his soccer teammate. He stared blankly at a rusty katana as his thought drifted away whith a sudden urge to check on his friend's welfare.

Turning suddenly, Shuuichi scanned the crowd for Minamino, already moving toward the red head before he even realized his course of actions.

"Shuuichi-kun?" Shuuichi called, once he reached his step-brother. He blushed guiltily when he realized he was interrupting a conversation between Minamino and his friend Urameshi-san.

"Yes, Shuuich. Is something wrong?" Minamino replied, green eyes softening in inquiry.

"I was wondering if we could visit my friend, Souta." Shuuichi requested sheepishly. "He was injured during practice yesterday. I wanted to see if he was alright." Shuuichi explained, feeling as though he were oddly rehearsed even as he spouted out the first things to come to mind.

"Very well," Minamino assented with a curt nod. "Let me know when you're ready to leave." He added obligingly.

"Whenever you are." Shuuichi replied quickly, eyes widening in worry. He didn't want to cut short his step-brother's conversation with his friend.

"We can leave now, then," Minamino replied affably, before turning to Urameshi. "It was good catching up with you. Tell Keiko, I said 'Hello.'" Minamino spoke to his friend with a nod of dismissal.

"Yeah, yeah. See ya later, then." Urameshi dismissed in his usual brash manner, waving them off before walking away himself.

Turning back to Shuuich, Minamino smiled mildly. "Ready to go?"

"Sure." Shuuich agreed still feeling somewhat guilty for intruding on his step-brother and friend.

Following Minamino out of the exhibit's wing, Shuuichi was hit with another wave of urgency toward his friend. Glancing back at the statue, Shuuichi froze lost in thought.

"Shuuichi?" Minamino called softly, his voice laced with concern. "Is anything the matter?"

Jumping in start, Shuuichi turned a broad, embarrassed smile on his step-brother. "It's fine." He effused nervously, before turning sharply on his heel leaving a baffled Minamino behind as he headed for the museum's exit.

~*~

Kuwabara stood outside the door of the hospital room with his partner, Kanzaki. Taking a deep breath before knocking politely on the door, then opening it and entering the small observation room.

Finally, one of the surviving victims from the shrine murders had awoke. Kuwabara entered the room prepared to meet with a Kitajima Maya with a mixture of dread and curiosity. How the hell was he going to pull this line of questioning off with Kanzaki present and still get the answers he wanted?

Shit, shit, shit! Kazuma chanted in a mental mantra as he paced to the bedside of the petite young woman in question.

"Kitajima-san?" He inquired professionally with a small bow.

"Yes?" The young woman replied wanly.

"Good afternoon. My name is Detective Kuwabara. This is my partner, Kanzaki." He greeted with a nod to his partner as Kanzaki in turn bowed to the girl.

"Good afternoon." Kanzaki greeted.

"We'd like to ask you a few questions about the incident at the Hanazono Inari shrine on the twelfth of this month." Kuwabara continued, consulting a small notepad he'd taken from the breast pocket of his suit jacket.

"Alright." Kitajima replied, sitting up straighter in her hospital bed, clearing her throat nervously. She tucked strands of wispy, black hair behind her ears as she regarded the two detectives apprehensively.

"Why were you at the shrine the day of the murder?" Kuwabara asked evenly.

"I often go there to think." Kitajima replied simply, batting at another strand of hair nervously.

"How often?" Kazuma asked, making quick notes in his pad.

"It varies, depending on my schedule. Sometimes daily." Kitajima answered with a meek smile.

Kuwabara nodded thoughtful, shill scribbling in his pad. "And what can you tell me about that day?" He asked dryly.

"I--- uh, was sitting on a bench, thinking. I don't know for how long. Then I heard a scream.

"I don't know why I got up and followed the sounds. They were horrifying." Kitajima shivered at the memory blinking back tears.

"Then--- uh--- I guess, I found the--- Oh Gods! There was so much blood!" She spoke brokenly. "And this--- thing! It was eating, I think, one of the shrine priests." The young woman paused taking a deep tremulous breath that rattled in her chest as she tried to calm herself.

"Then it saw me." She continued once she'd regained some composure. "It screamed at me, then made like it was going to attack.

"I screamed, and threw up my arms in defense. Only, it never attacked me." She finished somewhat dreamily. "It was just--- gone."

"Just gone." Kuwabara repeated emotionlessly at the young woman by way of requesting further clarification.

"I don't know where it went." Kitajima replied, frowning. "I can't remember. It all happened so fast." She added dazedly, turning wide eyes up to the two stone-faced detectives.

"I understand, Kitajima-san." Kuwabara replied patiently with a kind smile. "But I do have two more questions to ask."

"Oh, okay." Kitajima replied, wetting her lips with her tongue.

"Did you get a good look at you assailant, Kitajima-san?" Kuwabara asked politely, prepared to jot down her response.

"This is going to sound crazy," Kitajima laughed humorlessly. "But it looked like some giant rat-man. Like an oni." She spoke seriously.

"An oni?" Kuwabara repeated carefully.

"Sounds crazy, doesn't it." Kitajima replied with a nervous laugh.

"No," Kuwabara reassured her civilly. "My other question is: Did you see anyone else there that evening? Another witness?"

"No. But---" Kitajima trailed off frowning in concentration. "I think, I think I might have heard someone. A girl? Maybe my age, a little younger." She offered vaguely. "I don't know. It could have been my imagination." She dismissed with a shake of her head.

Kuwabara nodded, repocketing his notepad, and pulled out a business card.

"Thank you for your time and cooperation, Kitajima-san." Kazuma breezed through the standard lines with a practices efficiency. "If you have any questions, or think of anything else; feel free to contact me here." He said, handing her his card. "Have a good day, and please get well." He dismissed himself politely with another bow.

"Thank you for your time, Kitajima-san." Kanzaki echoed in his gruff voice.

"Glad I could help." Kitajima replied, nodding her good-bye to the departing detectives.

~*~

Kurama slowly walked the grounds of the small family-run shrine, idly taking in the warm spring sun and plant-life surround him. He came to a stop before a tree entitled the "Goshinboku," and smiled up at the ancient tree. It was older than even he, and its aura reflected a quiet peace that was inherently soothing to Kurama's senses. Little wonder it was so revered.

"I see you've found our God Tree."

Kurama turned politely to the elderly priest that had ambled up to the kitsune, with a broom in his hand.

"Yes." Kurama replied, bowing respectfully to the elder before him. "It is very--- peaceful." He added musingly in an effort at polite conversation with, not doubt, the head priest.

"That it is, that it is." The old man agreed, a strange gleam in his eye. "And protective, too!" The old priest added animatedly. "It's watched over out family for some five-hundred years."

"I see," Kurama replied with a polite smile.

«Lonely.»

Indeed. Kurama agreed with the thought before recognizing its speaker. The youko? He wondered, sparing a sideways glance to the head priest regaling on about the Goshinboku's history with a zeal that belied his old age.

He must not have many to tell his stories to. Kurama offered tentatively to his suddenly talkative side. He smiled and agreed to whatever the now jovial priest had spoken before nudging Kurama with a conspiratorial chuckle.

«Not the weird old man.» The now disgusted youko shot back in annoyance. «Have you grown stupid?»

Kurama frowned inwardly. Then--- the tree.

«It mourns. This whole shrine--- mourns.» Youko agreed.

Why are you awake? Kurama asked his baser self. After the final Ma-kai tournament, Kurama had finally managed to calm the youko and regain complete control over himself. Or so he thought.

«She called to us.» Youko replied dismissively. «You wouldn't listen. But I could help but hear her cries.»

Who? Kurama asked blankly.

«Her!» The youko within him suddenly stretched and flared against his aura. «We smelled her, remember? But then you let the humans distract you.»

You're making no sense. Kurama mentally sighed in exasperation.

«Never-mind. Pay attention.» Youko ordered.

What? Kurama thought, glancing sharply at the priest's wisened face.

"A hanyou?" Kurama asked the elderly priest for clarification.

"Yes, my boy! An inu hanyou pinned to his very tree by a powerful miko and the protectress of the Shikon-no-Tama.! The priest cajoled proudly. "Five-hundred years ago, and he remained there sleeping for fifty years ago, until---"

"Father!" A matronly woman approached the two in hurried steps.

«She interrupted him!» Youko blurted out in disbelief and mild annoyance.

You wanted to hear that story? Kurama asked bewildered.

«It was familiar.» Youko speculated in a purr. «Like the scrolls.»

You're right. Kurama agreed as the woman admonished the argumentative old priest, before pointing out patrons at the souvenirs' booth effectively distracting the priest.

"You must forgive him. My father can get carried away." She apologized with an embarrassed flush.

"It's quite alright. I found them most engaging." He lied smoothly, with a courteous bow.

"Them?" The woman exclaimed. "Oh, dear."

Kurama laughed softly from behind his hand. "It was really no inconvenience." Kurama insisted gently. "I have been waiting for my stepbrother. Your father was a welcome distraction." He assured her.

"A step-brother?" The woman blinked at him in surprise. "Shuuichi-kun?" She asked.

"Yes." Kurama confirmed with a dip of his head.

"Oh, so you must be---" She trailed off as invitation for his name.

"Minamino Shuuichi." Kurama introduced.

"Both with the same given name. It must get confusing." The woman mused with wide brown eyes, then shook herself. "Forgive me. I am Souta's mother. It's so nice to meet you Minamino-san. I've heard many kind thing about you."

"Likewise, Higurashi-san." Kurama replied with another respectful bow.

«Don't talk to her. Talk to the old man.» Youko broke into the fore with a loud whine. «Oh! Here he comes.» He enthused just as Kurama received a pat on the back.

"Now where were we, boy?" The old priest said thoughtfully. "Aah, yes. The Shikon-no-tama..."

~*~

The silence of the old storage shed was suddenly disrupted by a rattling and buzzing that steadily grew. A shelf at the far end of the small out building began to tremor as a box jerked and rattled its way over the edge and crashed to the floor. As the storage box hit the packed earth flooring, the dried old wood splintered apart tearing the ofudas plastered to the box's outer sides in the process.

From the box, rose a dark swarm humming ominously as it sped toward the building's only small window, in a seeming endless stream of black.

~*~

Shuuichi sat on the porch with Souta, frowning in concern. "How serious is the tear?" He asked.

"Ah, it's not too bad." Souta laughed a little embarrassed as he scratched the back of his head. "Just got to stay off of it for a couple weeks." He explained with a gesture to his knee stretched out inside the immobilizer.

"Stairs are a bitch, though." Souta added after a minute with another laugh.

"I bet." Shuuichi agreed, eying the massive blue thing wrapped around two-thirds of the other boy's leg.

"Hey, do you hear that?" Souta asked suddenly, struggling to his feet. Using his good leg, and a nearby porch post to lever himself up onto his feet with a dramatic huff.

"Yeah, it sounds like..." Shuuichi trailed off in concentration.

"Bees." Both boys spoke in unison, glancing at each other in confusion.

As though on cue, a black, undulating cloud came rushing toward the boys, buzzing filled the air, drowning out all other sounds.

"What the---" Shuuichi cried out in alarm, then froze, eyes widening as though he'd been shocked. Glancing down her found a twig in his hand.

How'd that get there? He thought distractedly.

«Place it in the ground.»

"Huh?" Shuuichi grunted at the voice cutting through the din of the oncoming swarm.

«Now! Don't waste time!» The voice ordered sharply. Yet somehow it managed to maintain it's soft, girlish lilt.

Automatically, Shuuichi did as he was told. "Now what?" He muttered glancing off to the side. For a moment, he thought he had glimpsed a flash of white and red in the shadows of a nearby copse of trees.

"Shuuichi?" Souta's call went unnoticed as Shuuichi focused his attention on the pristine voice.

«Repeat exactly what I say, and do as I do.» Spoke the voice as a girl dressed like a miko appeared before him. Quickly, Shuuichi set to he task of mimicking the miko before him.