Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Betrayal of Swords ❯ Chapter 1 ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: I do not own, nor claim to own, the manga or anime known as Yu Yu Hakusho.

Betrayal of Swords

Chapter 1: Fallout

 

The stale, bitter alcohol in the mug swirled lightly as he moved the item lightly, the tattered hood of his cloak and frayed mask hiding the direction of his gaze, his ears tuned to the many conversations around him. Rumors had traveled through the earth and sky, reaching even his ears; rumors of a war that had been declared against all three worlds.

He had felt the changes, just as everyone else had, had heard the screams of anguish from the temples as the powers of the gods faded away, lingering only in those objects that had been permanently separated from the gods; however, even those had diminished in strength. Even here, in the remote parts of northern Makai, where few dared to live, the rumors had spread, bringing news that had roused him from his solitude.

“I heard King Enma is goin' to force Mukuro, Yomi, Enki, and all them to stay outta this, whether they want to or not,” one of the demons, a cat demon, declared, slamming her mug down soundly. “He's sayin' that the SDF can handle it!”

`More like get their useless asses kicked,' the cloaked demon thought, almost snorting into his untouched drink. The concept of the Reikai Special Defense Forces doing something that remotely resembled useful was laughable, in his mind. Those sons of bitches couldn't find their own asses with a map and step by step direction.

“No way,” another demon growled. “Them S-Classes ain't gonna take that! Not e'en Enma can tell `em what ta do!”

Roars of agreement filled the bar, fists banging on tables, dishes rattling and feet stomping the ground in a wild frenzy. The cloaked demon rose and departed quickly, leaving a few coins on the table for his still-full drink. Outside, the biting wind snatched at his ragged cloak, the ragged and hole-spotted fabric flapping back to reveal a tall, dark skinned body littered with deep blue markings, distinguishing his clan and rank, before the cloak fell back into place, hiding him from view once more.

He stood in the open air outside the bar for a single instant before vanishing, a peculiar swooshing noise filling the air for a moment, the after image blurring and disappearing as the demon ran, unseen and unsensed as he crossed the barren land towards the broken mountains that he had come to refer to as home. He had found what he had set out to find and was satisfied with the results. Things would continue in the course that they were going and he would wait it out, just as he had for nearly half a century.

After all, this ceased to be his affair long ago.

The cloak flew back one last time in the wind that kicked up once he stopped outside of his home, his hair and the fabric pulled aside by nature to reveal the long, thick scar that extended from right should to left hip along his back. The angry red color of the old wound spoke of its depth and the ferocity of the attack that had delivered the fatal blow, and of his own will to survive. About his neck, a shard of pure, clear crystal caught the light of the ever present lightning, illuminating his shadowed eyes and the long strands of dark hair that fell in his face from the depths of the cloak.

He stepped into the ancient stone room that his father had lived and practically died in, the cloak settling about his form, hiding it from even his view once more. Darkness surrounded him as the doors behind him slammed shut, sealing him away from the world once more.

-*-*-*-*-*-

“'By the order of King Enma' my ass,” Mukuro growled as she stormed through the corridors of the palace in Gandara, straight towards Yomi's office, a piece of parchment clenched tightly in her natural fist. “I like I'm going to listen to anything that fat bastard of a god has to say.”

Beside her, Hokushin nodded his agreement, even if he did not necessarily share the Demon Lord's sentiments. He had his own, personal reasons for disliking any orders from Reikai in general these days. “It would seem he still believes he has some power and influence in Makai.”

The demoness scoffed at the mere thought, her natural eye narrowed in outrage. “Fucking pig. After the last order from Reikai that we heeded, he honestly thinks that we are just going to do as he wants? Fucking hypocrite.”

“Be that as it may,” Yomi stated as the doors to his office were flung open by the enraged telepath, “we can do nothing against these orders, really. Besides, if he wants to send his Special Forces to their deaths, I'm more than willing to sit on the sidelines and let him.”

Mukuro and Hokushin sat on the mats provided by Yomi, the psychic folding her arms over her chest and scowling, the monk sitting straight and calm, his eyes betraying the only signs of his rage. Yomi waited until a servant had finished bringing them their tea before continuing, his blind eyes staring into the depths of the cup set before him as he gathered his thoughts. “We cannot actually stop Enma from trying to enforce his will, so why not let him waste his resources in this useless endeavor? We can pick up where his people fail once he realizes his own folly.”

Hokushin nodded in agreement, taking a sip of his tea before continuing. “A sound plan.”

The psychic growled softly in annoyance before nodding her agreement as well, tossing the crumpled letter on the table. She picked up her tea and began to drink, even as Yomi picked up the letter and ran his fingers over the pages, the subtle differences of ink and parchment allowing his sensitive fingertips to relay the message to him. “So, Enma plans to challenge them with warriors as the representatives of all three worlds. A foolish cause, seeing as humans can hardly protest and we are more than willing to wait this out.”

“He's convinced we can't see through his plots,” Hokushin stated. “Especially after what happened….”

The dishes on the table rattled loudly as Mukuro slammed her fist onto the wooden surface, an ominous cracking echoing through the room. “That son of a bitch thinks he can get away with whatever he fucking wants just because of that. It makes me sick!”

Yomi sighed and collected his glass of tea, sipping the warm beverage carefully. “Still no word, I take it.”

“Almost fifty years,” the psychic growled, “and we can't even find Hiei's fucking sword, let alone any sign of their fucking bodies!”

Hokushin nodded once more. “The other monks and I have searched the wreckage of the castle they were sent to several times and we have been unable to find anything. Even a search of the outlying region proved useless.”

“Those frigid bitches didn't help any,” Mukuro stated. Yomi sighed and set his tea down again. He rose gracefully, signaling that their meeting had come to a close. As the other two rose, he turned his sightless eyes to them.

“There is no point in dwelling on the matter at this time,” the current King of Makai stated. “We have work that must be done to prepare for this and little time to accomplish it. I will inform King Enma that we will respect his wishes for now.”

As the three demon prepared to depart, a faint crack filled the suddenly still air as all three of the cups that they had been drinking from split along one side.

-*-*-*-*-*-

“The Makai will allow Reikai to carry out its plans, my Lord.” The Lord, a tall, golden haired man with smooth, sun bronzed skin, continued to lounge in his throne, eyes closed and the long, silken tail flicking back and forth contentedly. The demon that knelt before him, the ever loyal Hikorei, watched his master's beautiful face carefully, waiting for the moment the more powerful demon would stir. At last, his wait was ended.

The kitsune set his bare feet on the cold stone that comprised the floor and rose to his full height, carelessly flicking golden hair from his shoulders as he glided to the windows that lined one entire wall, his bare feet and flowing pants silent as he moved with his unnatural grace. “Have they, now?”

Hikorei rose and joined his lord, shifting the ever present katana from his hand to his back, the worn grip and sheath gleaming in the torchlight. “Shall I return and announce the place and time to them?”

Silence lingered between them for a moment before the kitsune nodded his consent, opening his eyes to reveal eyes the color of silver, cold and wild, a faint glow accenting the paleness of those glaring orbs. “Wait to announce the final twist at the tournament. I want to see their faces for myself.”

Hikorei nodded and bowed, stepping away in preparation of departing to the Reikai once more to deliver his master's will. “Hikorei.”

The fire demon paused, blinking as he looked at his lord. “Yes, my Lord?”

A cold, cruel smile twisted the kitsune's lips. “Be certain to get the list from them.”

Blinking, the fire demon bowed and nodded. “As you wish, my Lord.”

Once the doors to the chamber slammed shut behind his servant, the kitsune glared out at the vast forest of Makai that were visible through the windows, silver eyes burning as his hunted for a form that he knew he would not see.

“Where are you hiding, Brother?”

That's that. Gee, did I make it too obvious who was under that cloak? Anyway, this is the fastest I have ever updated a story, so yeah…

Thanks for the time!