Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Blood Game ❯ Chapter I ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho, so, no, you can't sue me.

Summary: Revenge can be sweet, but blood is much sweeter. The game of life has begun.

Rating: R for language, violence, and content.

Warning: This story is AU. The speech of the characters may change and characters that are dead in the series may have returned. I will try to stick with the basic facts, i.e. Kurama will remain a kitsune and Hiei will still have the Jagan. Please, no flames. Comments, criticism, and good reviews are welcome. Only constructive criticism, if that is possible.

Chapter I

900+ Years Ago in the Makai

The night sky was dark, as was typical for the Makai. The full moon shimmered in silver and its light left a trail open upon the dying grass of the plain. A roughly hundred-year-old Youko Kurama wandered by himself for a time before heading back toward the trees. His nose was turned to the south, an odd scent filling his nostrils. He could smell another youko but there was something else. Something that he could not quite put his finger on. He followed it and ducked behind some bushes, so no one would know he was there.

He saw the youko, bleeding profusely from a wound through his shoulder, his hand gripping it as he struggled to keep his opponent from attacking him again. The other demon stood several yards off to the left, observing her handiwork. Youko Kurama saw her sword, dripping crimson from the other's blood. She brought it to her lips and licked it clean, savoring the coppery sweet taste of the other youko's blood. Her opponent glared icily at her before unleashing some of his rarest and deadliest seeds at her.

She laughed coldly, her eyes beginning to glow red. She raised a blonde eyebrow and laughed again at the youko's shocked expression. The moonlight caused her hair to glisten, nearly blinding Youko Kurama. The blade of the sword glinted as she moved it back to her side and in the moonlight. The plants sprung to life but refused to attack. They remained poised, trying to seek out the form of the other demon.

"What did you do to them? Why aren't they attacking?" The other demon smirked and raised her hand. A small sphere appeared in her palm. She aimed it at him and he managed to get away from the blast.

"You are not very good at picking out opponents, now are you? You forget. Not every demon is the same. And here I thought that a youko, such as yourself, would be a challenge. I was wrong." The youko stiffened at the snide remark and stared hard at her. His deep green eyes narrowed. He lunged and she stepped to the side to avoid the blow.

A rose appeared in the other's hand and he quickly transformed it into a whip. He lashed out, nearly catching the demon off guard. Still, she was too fast for him. Youko Kurama felt his hands clench into fists as he watched the battle going on with one of his kind. He turned his amber eyes over to where the other demon was. Her movements seemed flawless. There had to be a breach somewhere.

The other youko threw out another handful of seeds and they sprouted just as quickly as the others had. Youko Kurama almost gave away his position when he gasped. Those plants were rare. An animal spirit usually did not use them unless one of the undead was nearby. He looked at the demon and saw her eyes grow ever so slightly before narrowing dangerously. The youko was watching her but no emotion showed on his face.

"You seem to think highly of yourself, Vampire. You forget that as a youko, I can bring forth plants that you would have trouble escaping." He saw her flinch as one came closer and caught her forearm. Blood welled up from the cut and dripped to the ground. Her eyes shifted to the plants as they all flocked to her, smelling her blood and her demon scent. The youko was just as quick and lashed out with his whip again. The green, thorny stem wrapped around her sword arm and dug in deep. She glanced back up at him, her eyes turning black.

"You should learn to never piss off one of the Original. You might have lived longer." She suddenly vanished, a dense mist beginning to form around the clearing. She reappeared in front of the youko and grasped him by the throat. Youko Kurama's eyes widened in surprise. The plants were slowly backing away from her and he could sense her energy rising steeply. Fangs slipped over her red lips and shined in the moonlight. She smirked and threw the youko several yards into a tree. She was back in front of again, a mere shadow as she moved.

"I hope this will teach you a lesson, Youko." She hissed sharply and her fangs plunged into his neck. He cried out softly in pain and soon fell limp. Youko Kurama took off, not wanting her to find him. A shadow appeared in front of him. He saw the face of a young girl. Humans were never in the Makai. Blood leaked slowly from her arms. He gasped and turned back but hands wrapped around his waist and pulled him close. He was her height exactly. He had not reached his seven-foot status yet.

"You are afraid, Fox. I understand that." Her voice was now melodious and he shuddered. This was not good for him and he knew it. "It is all right. Nothing will harm you, my dear. Nothing at all." She toyed with the locks of silver hair. Beads of sweat slowly rolled down his face. A cold hand touched his cheek and he shook it away. He was turned around and she looked at him fully, her eyes deep with concern and compassion.

She suddenly hugged him and he felt her fingers tangling themselves in his hair and her hand patting his back. She brushed against his neck but he had no time to move. She tipped it to the side and held there with strength she did not look like she could have possessed. Her lips brushed his ear as she spoke again.

"Do not worry. I promise nothing will harm you, my dear. You are too dear to me to die just yet." He gasped as she sunk her fangs, now, into his neck. He felt weak and slowly, his eyes drifted close. A soft giggle filled the air but he knew not where it came from.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Present Time in Japan

Kurama sat up in his bed. Unconsciously, he felt his neck. Nothing was there. The dream, it felt so real, so damn real. He leaned back against the headboard and took a few deep breaths. He heard footsteps on the stairs and checked his alarm clock. It was only two-thirty. A knock came at his door and he closed his eyes for a second before answering.

"Yes," he looked toward the door and saw his mother open it. She looked at with worry.

"Are you all right, Shuichi?" She sounded tired and scared for him. He glanced back at her and smiled reassuringly.

"Yes, Mother, I am fine. It was just a bad dream. Please, go back to sleep." She turned to leave and gently began closing the door.

"All right, Shuichi. Good night." She left.

"Good night." He closed his eyes again and shuddered as he pictured the demon's face. He was sure that it was real. It was a memory of Youko Kurama's, a memory that he had preferred to stay buried for a while. She had killed one of his own kind. And yet, she spared him. Why would she bother doing that? She had him there.

"Nothing will harm you, my dear. Nothing at all."

Her voice had sounded so sweet, so pleasant, so sorrowful. He heard something click against his window and reluctantly got up to see what it was. Yusuke Urameshi stood there, his black leather jacket zipped up to keep out the cold. He opened the window and peered down. Yusuke looked up and sighed.

"It's about time, Kurama. I've been out here for nearly an hour. You said that you would sneak out at 1:30. It's almost three." Kurama blinked a few times before remembering that he had promised to help Yusuke with the hunting. The days were growing longer in Japan now. More vampires had escaped and hidden among the citizens. They were nearly impossible to find now.

"I'll be right down." Yusuke looked about ready to say something but Kurama had shut the window before he could and quickly dressed in jeans and a black shirt. He grabbed his jacket and slipped it on as he opened the window again. He eased out and was on the ground in a few seconds. Yusuke began walking off and Kurama followed him.

Several figures stood in the middle of the street some yards away. They watched as the two hunters came towards them, silver stakes in their hands. Another observed from the rooftop of a house, an amused smirk on his face. His green eyes shimmered in the light of the waning moon. He licked his lips and leaned closer to get a better look. Those vampires were from an opposing clan. He would have to report this to Seregia, to his mother, to his. . .creator. I will be home soon enough with news, Seregia. I promise your Damien will be home.