Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Betrayal of Swords ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

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

Betrayal of Swords

Chapter 2: Messages

 

He seeks you. A silver ear twitched in the direction of the earthy, gravelly voice, pale lids lifting slightly to reveal bored, uninterested gold. One slender, pale skinned hand reached out lazily, long, delicate, almost feminine fingers uncurling slightly so that the fragile flower could brush his skin, absorbing the tiniest traces of his addicting youki. His eyes are constantly hunting.

“Do I care?” He voice was deeper than normal with fatigue and apathy. All about him, weaving in the gleaming silver hair that fanned about him, brushing against his flawless skin, twining in his tail, fauna rustling in a worried manner, seeking to soothe one whose very soul refused the affection. In his mind, stirred by the worry of their many pets and sole companion, his other self stirred, making his presence felt for the first time in over a decade.

Are they still fretting over that? Even the mental, soundless voice of his other half was listless and dull, lacking the vibrancy that had once seemed to draw others to him like moths. The fox shrugged and rolled onto his side before rising up and resting on his elbow, tailing flicking lazily back and forth in the fallen leaves and petals that littered their resting grounds. “They have for the last few months. He has grown more active, it would seem.”

The other was silent, almost letting the demon believe he had returned to sleep, before a transparent form settled against his back, head resting on the curve of his side so that his blood colored mane fell over the demon's stomach. Decidedly feminine fingers, containing only the frailest hint of solidity, wove through the fur of his tail, stroking languidly, as he gazed off at the surrounding forest. “Are you going to do something?”

“No,” the demon stated flatly, caressing the delicate bell flower that rested against his hand. “Our most auspicious Lord and Master can deal with him on his own.”

It was unnecessary for the demon to look to see the amused, frigid smile that twisted his companion's pink lips, to witness that searing ice that had turned those once warm and caring eyes to stone. After all, to see it, all he needed to do was gaze upon his features in that moment.

******

Red hair flew wildly as the young kitsune bolted through the trees, not daring to look behind her to see if she had lost the many pursuers. The tiniest branches clawed at her feet, bending to ensnare her slender ankles, the wide branches creaking angrily as she leapt from limb to limb, never lingering long enough for the trees to strike, not willing to pause for even an instant to breathe. Power itched beneath her skin, her chest burning with the desire to just burst from the constraints placed upon her, but she dared not, terrified of the consequences of failure.

Tucked away within the inner pocket of her jacket, the slender scroll and wooden box rattled together, the contents sliding back and forth with her every movement. Her master had entrusted her with these two treasures, instructed her to carry them to the one place her pursuer would never dare set foot, not yet. Adrenaline flooded her veins as the sight of her master, his many coats ripped and stained with blood, his dark skin dangerously pale, bright blood painting his face comically, flickered across her mind, his words echoing in her ears, clear through the thunderous pounding of her own heart.

“Find the Temple of the Ninth in the far south. Entrust these only to the one who resides there and no other. He will know what to do with them. Leave them with him and depart. Do not linger! GO!” He had thrust these two items, treasures he had guarded jealously, into her hands and sent her away, gracing her with scarcely a minutes head start over the beast that served the one that had attacked them. The sound of howling reached her ears and she pushed herself faster, fire dancing on her finger tips, begging to be released.

Screams reached her ears, anguished and agonized, but she dared not stop, for fear of an illusion, a trick, for fear of failing her master, for fear of death itself.

As the screams grew louder, the kitsune ran faster.

******

Steam curled lazily above the china cup as the ancient and withered psychic sat at the low table across from the current Spirit Detective and the Prince of Reikai himself. To her left and right, Shizuru Kuwabara, just shy of eighty and still carrying herself with the air of twenty, and Yukina, the fragile and sad eyed koorime that lived in the temple with them, waited, the air between the five gathered heavy and oppressive. The Spirit Detective, a young man of twenty-nine named Ichiro Hatanaka, fidgeted nervously, uncertain under the scrutinizing gazes of the three across from him and his boss.

Koenma sipped his tea carefully before setting the cup down, eyes never rising from the heated depths of the china glass. “I assume you heard about the declaration delivered by this Hikorei.”

Genkai nodded, her head. “I have also assumed that your father is planning on attempting to handle things himself.”

“And you would be correct,” Koenma replied. “He plans to allow as little demon involvement in the handling of the situation as possible.”

Yukina fiddled with the delicate cords that dangled from the end of her kimono sleeves, frowning slightly. “Is he that confidant in the weakness of this enemy's strength?”

Ichiro was about to speak before Koenma sighed. “He is, but I am not.”

Genkai picked up her glass and glanced at Shizuru, wondering what the woman was thinking. Shizuru was frowning, eyes slightly distant. “Why is that? Are you going to defy him once more or do you have a real reason?”

“They aren't bluffing,” the demi-god replied shortly, raising his gaze to meet each of theirs, his brown eyes far colder than they once were. “Hikorei will return in a few days for our answer and my father refuses to allow outside involvement in something that should be looked at far more carefully.”

“Do you think they're bluffing?” Shizuru demanded. Koenma was silent for a minute before shaking his head.

“No, I don't,” he stated. “Each of the declarations that Hikorei made concerning recent events has come to pass. That isn't a bluff. They have power and are unafraid of using it at whatever the cost.”

Silence reigned in the room, only the sound of the outside world daring to disturb the air, five beings scarcely daring to voice the thoughts that roamed through their minds. After a time, Genkai reached forward and lifted her cup, sipping the still warm beverage, eyes meeting Koenma's, expression severe.

“What will you do?”

******

Clear, crystalline water trickled through the numerous cracks in the earth, twisting and weaving eerily as they crept along the stone surface to join at the pool resting at the rear of the hidden cavern. Strong, thorn and leaf drench vines crawled over every surface around the pool, the rich, heavy perfume of the numerous blossoms that littered the dark display saturating the air. Heat, oppressive heat that seemed to freeze the moment it touched the skin, hung everywhere, stifling any breath that might have been drawn in the abandoned cavern. Low rumbles shook the walls of the cavern, the walls echoing with mournful, despairing, hate-filled cries, loose rocks and earth falling, though none dared to touch the fauna-encircled pond, nor the far wall from which the strangely clear water ran.

In the heavy air, the outline of the great phoenix cried, its stone wings trembling as the restraints that held it fast gained the faintest chink.

 

Niara: Yes, I know that I'm making Genkai something like 150 years old, but can you honestly see her being dead? Anyway, thanks for reading!