Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Between Death and Reality ❯ The Bite of Betrayal ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho. If I did, Kurama would be all over my room… Wait, he is… but I still don't own it.

 

 

Chapter 3

 

The Bite of Betrayal

 

 

“And you have no idea what is causing these dreams?” Genkai asked, though she already knew the answer. Kurama shook his head. Confusion was clouding his eyes; an expression Genkai was not used to seeing on the normally controlled red-head.

 

“It's been the same dream for weeks… except…” Kurama began, but trailed off.

 

“Except…?” Genkai encouraged.

 

“A few nights ago,” he replied. “Hiei was in it. But the next night, the dream went back to how it was before.” Unconsciously, he touched a hand to the scratch on his cheek. Genkai knew he was in trouble when he was radiating his emotions so obviously. That was not the fox's style.

 

“Only…” Genkai filled in the unspoken continuation of Kurama's sentence.

 

“Only, I woke up with this,” he said, then jerked slightly in surprise as if he just realized he was touching the scratch. He looked at his hand for a moment, before balling it into a fist and placing it in his lap. He sighed and turned back to the psychic.

 

“I'm sorry, Genkai. I'm such a mess.” She waved off his apology with her hand.

 

“Don't apologize. You're under a lot of stress right now. It's understandable.” Kurama smiled weakly at her acceptance.

 

“Is there anything I can do to stop these dreams?” he asked finally. Genkai frowned.

 

“Haven't you tried any plants?”

 

“Of course. Both of the Human and Demon realms that are supposed to make powerful sleeping potions… dreamless sleeping potions. But they haven't been working.”

 

“So whatever is causing these dreams must be external,” Genkai mused.

 

“I believe so. How else could it disrupt my plants so easily?”

 

“To tell you the truth, I've never heard of such a thing. In all my years, never.” Kurama frowned.

 

“So you don't…”

 

“I'm afraid not. If any of your plant mixtures can be easily overcome, none of my suggestions would work either, I'm sure.”

 

“I see.” Kurama slowly rose from his seat.

 

“But I'll look into it. See if I can find anything useful.” The red-head gave the psychic a grateful smile.

 

“Thank you, Genkai,” he said politely with a slight bow, then left the temple. Genkai followed him to the door and watched him head down the steps.

 

“Well?” she said at a sound behind her.

 

“Well what?” Yu Kaito asked.

 

“What do you think?” she clarified.

 

“Interesting,” was the one word reply. She turned to look at the boy and raised a questioning eyebrow. “It seems even the great Suuichi Minamino, Kurama, whatever, has a weakness.” He smiled slightly. “That was unexpected.”

 

“Well, don't get used to it,” Genkai snorted. “Kurama is a very old and experienced demon. He can handle himself when it comes down to it.” Kaito frowned at the now vacant top of the steps out the door.

 

“From where I was standing, he looked like a 16 year old boy,” he said softly. “One whose foundations have been shaken.” He turned to Genkai. “He may be a very old demon, but I think you're forgetting the variable.”

 

“What's that?”

 

“His human side.” Genkai gave the boy a small smile.

 

“Perhaps you're smarter than I'm giving you credit for, Kaito.”

 

 

Kurama descended the steps of the temple slowly. He was lost in thought; an occurrence that was becoming more and more common since the dreams began. When he reached the bottom of the steps, he noticed Hiei sitting in a nearby tree. Or, more precisely, Hiei allowed himself to be noticed.

 

“It seems I have a shadow,” Kurama commented lightly. Hiei dropped from the tree in front of the fox demon.

 

“No luck?” he asked. Kurama shook his head, not bothering to ask how Hiei knew what he had been up to at the temple.

 

“I'm afraid not.” Kurama began to walk and Hiei fell in step with him.

 

“How are you holding up?” Hiei asked after a long period of silence.

 

“I've been better,” the fox replied honestly. “But I'll be okay.”

 

“Hn.” Kurama raised an eyebrow at the fire demon.

 

“You don't believe me.” Hiei stopped walking and turned to his friend.

 

“I think it's more serious than you seem to.” Anger flashed in Kurama's eyes as the emerald tinted gold.

 

“And how serious do you think I think this is?” he replied angrily. Hiei blinked at Kurama's outburst then frowned.

 

“Not very. You seem to be shaking it off as no big deal. A human flaw, no doubt.”

 

“Well, perhaps you don't know as much as you think you do, Hiei.”

 

“Perhaps. Then again, perhaps not,” Hiei replied evenly.

 

“What does that mean?” Kurama demanded.

 

“Look at yourself. You're spilling an emotion like an enemy's blood. That isn't like you,” the black-haired demon said. Kurama blinked and took in a sharp breath. His eyes returned to their normal emerald. He sat down on a nearby bench and put his face in his hands; a gesture he would not do in front of just anyone.

 

“What is happening to me, Hiei?” he asked wearily.

 

“Something is messing with your head,” the fire demon replied, sitting down next to his friend.

 

“How could I let this happen?” Kurama muttered.

 

“What makes you think you could have stopped it?” Hiei returned. Kurama lifted his head and studied his friend before frowning.

 

“There has to have been something I could have done…”

 

“It's not your fault,” Hiei replied a tad harsher than he intended.

 

“Are we really sure of that?” Hiei have Kurama a questioning glance. “He's been overtaking my dreams, and I… I've been afraid. I haven't done a damn thing to stop it. I've let my fear take control of me,” the fox admitted, growling frustratedly by the end. “I just feel somehow this is my fault, whatever it is, and I need to fix it myself.”

 

“But you don't even know what you need to fix,” Hiei finished.

 

“Exactly.” Kurama slumped against the back of the bench and looked up at the blue midday sky. He watched as a white puffy cloud lazily made its way across the endless sea of sky. A slight breeze ruffled a red bang into his face and he blew from his eyes with a puff of air. “I hate not knowing,” he muttered finally, still looking at the sky.

 

“We'll figure something out,” Hiei replied before disappearing in the traditional Hiei fashion. Kurama sighed. Easy for him to say.

 

 

Several days and, more importantly, nights passed. Kurama sat at his desk in his bedroom, school books open in front of him. He blinked when he realized he had read the same passage at least a dozen times now without retaining any of the information. Groaning to himself, the fox leaned back in his chair and dropped his head back. He closed his weary eyes as he rubbed his throbbing temples. Finally opening his eyes once more, Kurama checked his watch. 2:04 a.m. it read.

 

Sighing, he stood up and walked to the bathroom where he studied himself in the mirror. The number of scratches on his face had risen to three now, each a little deeper than the last. Suppressing an urge to touch them, Kurama turned the faucet on and splashed cold water on his face. If nothing else could keep him from dreaming, perhaps not sleeping at all would do the trick.

 

A small part of his mind told him what he was doing was foolish. Even demons needed their rest, and he would have to sleep sooner or later. However, another side argued, how valuable is the sleep that is riddled with nightmares?

 

Drying his face with a towel, Kurama studied himself in the mirror once more. His normally alert and vibrant emerald eyes were becoming dull and tired, a reflection of his entire being. He knew it was becoming apparent to those around him that something was wrong. No doubt Hiei had already talked to Yusuke (and therefore Kuwabara) and Genkai. The fox could not help but get the sense that Genkai had already known about the dreams before he had gone to speak with her. However, if Hiei had told the others, they had made no mention of it; to his face anyway.

 

Kurama turned the bathroom light off and returned to his bedroom desk. Sitting in front of his book, he set to reading that paragraph for the thirteenth time. Lucky thirteen, the fox thought idly. Demons were, for the most part, quite superstitious, and even after all his many years in both Human and Demon World, Kurama could not quite fully shake the instinct. Old habits die hard. The red-head felt his eyelids drooping as his eyes lazily passed over word after agonizing word. Was I really this tired before? he thought as the sudden fatigue began to completely overtake him. Before he could stop himself, he felt his held fall forward onto his desk as his vision went black.

 

Kurama blinked a few times before registering his surroundings. This was not the same desert as all the other times. No, he stood ringside with his friends. He followed their serious gazes to the ring where the fox saw… himself. Looking down at himself, Kurama realized he was transparent. He was a spectator at his own match against none other than Karasu.

 

The match began as Kurama summoned his `Petals and Thorns' technique. However, as Karasu began to walk into the cloud of petals, the setting changed once more. Kurama now stood opposite Karasu, the crow at the head of an alley. Taking quick stock of his surroundings, Kurama realized he stood with his back to the alley wall.

 

“There's nowhere left to run, Kurama,” Karasu crooned. Kurama took a deep breath in an effort to force the fear that was steadily climbing in his stomach back down.

 

“Geez Kurama. I thought you were supposed to be the smart one,” a familiar voice said from the head of the alley. Kurama looked up to see Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Hiei standing behind Karasu as if the crow did not exist. “Even I know not to back myself into a corner,” Kuwabara continued, sounding disgusted. Kurama felt as if he had been slapped in the face by the comment.

 

“What happened to a cornered fox showing his teeth?” Hiei demanded. A punch to the gut.

 

“Yeah, Kurama. I can't always be around to save your ass,” Yusuke added. A knife to the heart. Was he really such a burden to the group? To his friends?

 

“You're beginning to doubt yourself,” Karasu said, a lustful glint bouncing in his eyes. He began to walk forward, yet Kurama felt frozen to the spot by the words his friends had spoken. He could do nothing but watch as Karasu approached. When the crow reached him, he traced a long, pale finger down the fox's cheek. A shiver ran down Kurama's spine at the touch. His breathing quickened and his brow began to dampen with sweat.

 

“It will make you that much easier to break,” Karasu continued. Suddenly vanishing from Kurama's view, the crow reappeared behind him. He leaned over. “You have such a strong spirit. But your friend's betray you,” he whispered into Kurama's ear. Kurama felt a drop of sweat drip down his cheek as he stood frozen, watching the figures of his friends, all looking on disgustedly at the scene in front of them. He wanted nothing more to call for their help, but he could not. Not only was he frozen by fear of Karasu, the potential reactions of his friends also kept his voice locked away in his throat.

 

“You will be mine, my kitsune. And I will slowly break you.” Karasu leaned forward and bit him on the neck. Kurama cried out in pain as he felt the blood begin to flow. He felt Karasu lick blood from the wound. “Actually, I've already begun,” the crow laughed slowly in Kurama's ear before vanishing. Kurama could hear the scorning comments of his friends as he dropped to his knees and swayed, before falling all the way forward as his vision blurred then faded to black.

 

Kurama's eyes bolted open and he gasped, breathing quickly as he jerked his head off of his desk. The first ting he felt was pain in his neck. Touching his hand to it, he felt the warm stickiness of his blood. Looking down at the book in front of him on his desk, he saw a small pool of red on the open page. It was flowing enough to pool, the fox thought worriedly. Keeping his hand pressed to the wound, he made his way to the bathroom. Taking his hand away from his neck, he saw in the mirror a bloody wound where Karasu had bit him in his dream. Taking care to wash the wound out completely, Kurama finally reached the source: a deep bite mark.

 

 

Hiei frowned at the memory of his incarnation in Kurama's dream. Did Kurama really see him like that? Did Kurama see himself like that? Hiei shook his head. No. Those were not of Kurama's imagining. That came from whatever was attacking his mind, and now his body. There was some connection to Karasu in all of this, that much Hiei was sure of. But the crow was dead, his soul in Spirit World. How could he be attacking Kurama? Something was missing.

 

Hiei made a move to leave, but stopped when he felt a familiar dark presence. The one from Kurama's earlier dream. Hiei reached out with his mind to find the source of the aura, but could not find a sole spot. It seemed to be everywhere at once. It had definitely gotten stronger since Hiei had last experienced it. Frowning at his inability to identify the source, Hiei vanished into the night.

 

 

“According to all our reading, that being is becoming stronger,” Botan explained to the Tantei. “However, it still does not have a distinct form, so we are unable to pinpoint an exact position for it.”

 

“So what are we supposed to do about it?” Yusuke demanded from his seat on a park bench.

 

“This is still not an official case, Yusuke,” Botan reminded the head Detective. “Right now, you're only supposed to be looking for strange occurrences or creatures. The best reading we can get says this being is somewhere near the city.”

 

“How close is `near'?” Hiei asked from his tree perch, though today he sat on a low branch just above Kurama, who sat against the trunk, eyes closed. The ferry girl had noticed Hiei give Kurama a quick glance when she had mentioned strange occurrences.

 

“One hundred kilometers, give or take,” she replied.

 

“One hundred kilometers?” Kuwabara exclaimed, earning him some strange looks from passing park visitors. “You call that near?”

 

“That's the best we can do right now, I'm afraid,” Botan replied. “But we're working on it.”

 

“Whatever. Let me know when to begin caring,” Yusuke said with a wide yawn. Botan put her hands on her hips and squared to face the Detective.

 

“Yusuke, this is serious!” she said sharply. “This thing could be very dangerous. And have you forgotten where it came from?” Yusuke blinked.

 

“Alright, alright. No need to go postal, Botan. We're taking this seriously. Really!”

 

“You better be!” Sighing, Botan sat down on the bench next to the Spirit Detective. She snuck a glance at Kurama, who still sat with his eyes closed against the tree that Hiei was occupying. She could tell by his posture how exhausted he really was. Despite the fact that it was a warm spring day, the red-head was wearing a turtleneck. The black sweater contrasted sharply with his red hair. It was a nice look on him. Botan paused as she noticed something white sticking out from the neck of his shirt. It was a bandage. She was about to comment when Hiei stopped her.

 

Don't ask.

 

What? Why?

 

It was another dream.

 

Oh.

 

“Well, I don't know about you guys, but I'm up for a round at the arcade,” Yusuke said, standing up. “`Goblin City' is calling my name.”

 

“I'm with you there, Urameshi!” Kuwabara said, also rising.

 

“Kurama? Hiei?” Yusuke offered. Hiei gave Yusuke a glare. “I'll take that as a no then, Hiei. How about you, Kurama?” One emerald orb opened and appraised the Spirit Detective.

 

“Maybe another time, Yusuke,” he said softly. Yusuke shrugged and Kurama closed his eye once more.

 

“Botan?” Yusuke tried. She shook her head.

 

“Sorry, Yusuke. I need to get back to Spirit World.”

 

“Your loss.” He trotted off with Kuwabara in the direction of the arcade. Looking around for onlookers, Botan summoned her oar. As she boarded, she was stopped once more by Hiei.

 

Anything on Kurama's dreams? he asked.

 

Afraid not. We've been looking long and hard, but haven't found a viable explanation.

 

This has to do with Karasu.

 

But, he's dead…

 

Maybe, but it still has something to do with him.

 

I don't know, Hiei…

 

Just tell Koenma what I said. Botan blinked.

 

Okay then. She flew off into the sky and disappeared.

 

 

Hiei watched as the ferry girl disappeared into the sky and soon disappeared, then turned his glance to the red-head beneath him. He was still leaning against the tree, eyes closed. After a moment, Kurama opened an eye and looked directly up at Hiei.

 

“What?” he asked.

 

“What `what'?” Hiei returned. Kurama opened the other eye.

 

“What are you looking at me like that for?”

 

“Like what?” Hiei evaded. Kurama sighed.

 

“I don't have the energy to play these games right now.” He closed his eyes once more. Hiei frowned.

 

They're getting worse, aren't they? Hiei prodded. No response. Hiei decided to change tactics. What happened to a cornered fox showing his teeth? The reminder of the dream had the desired effect; Kurama's eyes jolted open. He stared up at Hiei with that now familiar haunted look in his eyes.

 

“What did you say?” he whispered. Hiei felt a pang of guilt for bringing up the painful part of the fox's dream, but he needed to talk to him.

 

That was from your dream last night, wasn't it? Hiei demanded, though more softly than he might normally. Kurama slowly nodded. The way he did so suddenly reminded Hiei of a child seeking comfort from a mother. Kurama, however, was no child. He was a thousand-plus-year old demon. Yet… It seemed the fox was becoming more and more human through his years in “captivity.” These nightmares were becoming too much for the psyche of a 16-year old boy. It was a fine line, Kurama's existence. But he walked it everyday.

 

Kurama unconsciously reached for his bandaged neck, but stopped himself halfway. The wound had not completely closed yet; Hiei could still smell Kurama's blood. It was no wonder he had worn a shirt with a high neck today.

 

“You're not a burden to the group,” Hiei said after a moment, and Kurama's eyes widened in surprise. “And you know it. We don't see you like that dream.” Kurama's surprise gave way to recognition as his gaze traveled to Hiei's forehead.

 

“The Jagan… You were watching my dream.” It wasn't a question.

 

“I won't deny it.” Kurama nodded and the fire demon waited for some sort of response. According to the stories of Demon World, it was unwise to provoke Youko Kurama's anger. Hiei had never seen the fox in a rage, despite having known him longer than any of the others. He had seen him angry or frustrated, but never beyond the control of his emotions. He had a feeling that the sight would not be pretty. All those that had been foolish enough to enrage the fox thief were no longer capable of relating the tale.

 

“I'm not angry,” he said softly. “In fact, it's… it's almost a relief.”

 

“What?”

 

“Sometimes I'm afraid… I'm afraid I won't wake up at night all. Or that these,” he gestured toward his wounded neck and cheek, “will become too severe for me to heal on my own.” Hiei blinked in surprise. That was not the reaction he had been expecting.

 

“We'll figure this out,” the fire demon said, attempting to be comforting for his best friend- an area he was not especially experienced in.

 

“Indeed,” Kurama replied softly.

 

 

Author's Note: Writing this story always makes me want to listen to Kurama's image songs, especially “Nightmare,” as it's appropriate for this one. Every now and then I'll see a line in one of the songs that just seems so perfect for the story. Gives me shivers. But no one cares, so I'll just stop talking about that now.

 

Anyway, some of the parts of this chapter still seem a little iffy to me, but I'm going to leave them. So, to all my wonderful readers, please, leave me a review and inspire me to write and such. It feels so good to go into my mailbox and see lots of reviews coming in. So so so so inspiring.