Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Fox Hunt ❯ Truth ( Chapter 4 )

Hiei moved smoothly through his practice routine. Slashing with lightning fast accuracy then leaping to parry attacks from his imagined opponents. His body glistened with perspiration in the late morning sun. Kurama watched from the edge of the practice area. His mind not quite on the task before him.

"I trust your elevator ride was enlightening." Hiei smirked as he fetched a towel to wipe his face. "Yet I can see by your expression that the outcome was not quite what you expected. Or was it?"

"You have been correct from the beginning. All those rumors about Team Gorenja have been true. Juri has been instrumental in causing dissention between the members of many teams. It appears that we are next. I must apologize to you for not taking your warnings more seriously. Yet, I still believe there is more to this story than meets the eye."

"You will never learn, Kurama. Obviously this is your human side speaking out. I have no doubt that Youko would have snapped this tasty little morsel in two at the very beginning. Then we would not even be having this conversation. Prepare yourself." Hiei moved to an attack position. "You just need to have some sense pounded back into you." And evil gleam lurked in Hiei's ruby eyes.

Kurama removed his own tunic and called forth his rose whip.

"Perhaps." Kurama's stare held its own promise of pain. "You are certainly welcome to try."

And the two demons spent the remainder of the morning honing their skills in hopes to live through the upcoming ordeal.

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The day was certainly not turning out the way I had planned. After exiting the elevator, I returned to my room. I felt, unclean. No matter how many times I showered, I knew I would never be truly clean again. Filling the bath tub with hot water I added fragrant bath oil. Gingerly, I settled into the steamy, hot water and rested my head against the rim of the tub. My thoughts began to wander as I soaked.

My life up to now had been filled with violence of every sort. Some had been perpetrated on me and some I had caused to others. Never before had my conscience been troubled In truth, it was a heady feeling of power, being involved in the deaths of so many beings, human and demon alike. Why then, was I having these thoughts of guilt and reluctance now? Desperately I longed for the return of my cynical, hardened exterior.

The water cooled as my reverie ended. I rose from the bath tub and patted myself dry with a large, fluffy towel. Wanting only to be comfortable, I choose a full, deep rose colored skirt and off the shoulder peasant top in a pale pink color. The bite mark was already only visible close up, so I pulled my hair to one side, draping it to conceal the mark. Slipping sandals on my feet I took my book and a blanket and proceeded to a secluded area on the hotel grounds.

It truly was a beautiful day. The sky was a brilliant shade of blue accented by puffy white clouds with a pleasant, warm breeze. I spread my blanket under a tree enjoying the feel of dappled sunlight on my face.

Stretching out on my stomach, I rested my head on my crossed arms, and thought back over the morning's events. I have really botched things royally this time. Becoming interested romantically with the prey had never been part of the plan. I had to convince myself that was all Kurama represented. It was the only way my mother and I would ever survive this assignment.

I must have dozed off because I suddenly became aware of a presence near me in the clearing. Kurama stood at the edge of my blanket and looked down at me with an inscrutable expression on his face. My breath caught in my throat and I sat up, swinging my legs to one side on the blanket.

"I have come to hear what you need to tell me." Kurama's voice was soft, but determined.

Where do I start? I took a deep breath and began.

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My father had been a trusted, human, lieutenant in Teruganay's organization. He was very ambitious and had a reputation for being quite ruthless. Tall and handsome, many women fought to gain his attention. He took it all as his due.

Mother is a full fledged demon. In her day she was quite beautiful by any standards with a creamy, ivory complexion and flowing pale green hair. It was said the man who slept with her at night would be endowed with incredible prestige, power and wealth. She was my father's only weakness. Not because he loved her, but because of her "special" abilities. Since she came from an impoverished family, he was a dream come true. They were a perfect match.

I was raised within the Teruganay organization and treated as a favorite daughter by all. Looking back on it everyone spoiled me rotten. Even the demons. And I took full advantage of this; causing much mischief and mayhem. But in the back of my mind, I never felt comfortable around Teruganay and did everything possible to never be alone with him. My mother shared my feelings. Later I found out that my father and Teruganay had an understanding. When I reached maturity, I would be given over as his bride.

Then Toguro entered the organization. It seems that he was recommended by a wealthy, fellow Black Black Club member of Teruganay's as a "useful" member of any organization. He and my father never got along well and it was shortly after I discovered my father's plans for me, that Toguro killed him. I never knew the details, but after that discovery, I didn't care.

Sensing that a return to poverty was imminent, my mother approached Toguro. She offered herself to him in exchange for the continued safety and security which we now enjoyed. Toguro was not interested. She was damaged goods and he would not have her. He would, however, take me in her stead. Mother was appalled and refused.

On the night that Teruganay met his gruesome end, my mother came to me and told me we would escape. We had made it only as far as the front lawn when Toguro stopped us. Everything that had been Teruganay's now belonged to him; and that apparently included me.

The deal was simple really. As long as I cooperated by relenting to Toguro's lust, my mother would be allowed to live. Toguro's power is legendary and my talents for mischief and mayhem have been put to creative use. Again, the perfect match.

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Kurama listened in silence. At the first mention of Toguro's name his emerald green eyes had widened in surprise, but he had not interrupted me once. The quite of the afternoon lengthened as I began to worry over Kurama's response.

"There are ways to escape him you know. You do not have to remain his slave."

"I will be his until the day I die." In my heart I knew this to be true. Toguro would never let me go; his addiction to power was too great to give up any small part.

"You and Hiei, since I believe he knows much of this, are in very real danger. Karasu has been brought in especially to deal with you and is eager for your match. He is repulsive in ways I could never describe. That is where your focus should lie and any thoughts of me or my mother are inconsequential." Such conflicting thoughts. I couldn't meet Kurama's eyes so I began to gather my blanket and book to put distance between us. Tears were again threatening to spill from my eyes. I had to get away, now!

I ran blindly away from Kurama's position. I felt anger growing at myself for allowing these feelings in the first place and anger at Kurama for causing them.

"Juri wait."

I shook my head and continued forward. I had just reached the edge of the path when I heard a high pitched whistle and felt something cold and prickly wrap around my body, pinning my arms at my sides. Forward movement, it seems, had been momentarily stopped.

"Do not struggle and you will not be scratched," Kurama said as he wound his end of the rose whip into a coil. I squirmed anyway and was rewarded with painful pin pricks as Kurama sent a pulse of his spirit energy to the thorns. I stilled immediately.

Anger at him finally won the battle for my emotions. "Release me at once!" I demanded, hopefully sounding more forceful than I felt.

Kurama continued to advance towards me shaking his head. He would have to free me at some point, and I would make him pay dearly. My rage at being restrained flashed from my eyes.

"No. We have much unfinished business between us." Was it my imagination, or was there something besides concern lurking in his emerald green eyes?

"There is something about you, Juri, that I cannot describe. Undeniably you are beautiful and the physical attraction we have for one another is strong. I know of your true intent, yet I believe you are capable of great compassion if you would allow yourself." He had been pealing the thorns from a short section of the whip he held in his hands. Was he nervous as he gave his short speech?

"You need to understand something, Juri. Toguro will loose this tournament and then you will be free. How will you survive in the aftermath of his evil?" He stood very close to me as he said this; his breath was warm upon my face. I refused to let his words mollify me. I wanted to keep my anger in place and escape the feelings that were again beginning to stir. My hands clenched and unclenched in helplessness as I stood, trussed, before him.

"Let me go, Kurama." I desperately wanted to believe him. I did want to be free of Toguro, but I knew in the end, that was only a dream.

"No." He said simply.

Kurama used his free hand to tilt my face upwards and lowered his lips to mine.