Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Grief ❯ Three Golden Chairs ( Chapter 7 )

Seven

3 Golden Chairs

 

Sho… Sho…please…don't forget… We're still here…we're still waiting…

* * *

Kurama padded softly down the hall towards the room where Yusuke and himself had left Sho with Jin only about an hour before. He reached the door, and slid it open only a sliver, his golden eyes falling on the sleeping forms of the redhead and the brunette. The kitsune opened the door wider and slipped in with but a whisper of a sound—easing the frame closed gently behind him.

The room was shrouded in shadows; complete and utter silence filled the air. Kurama walked quietly to the far wall, leaned against it, and sat on the cool wooden floor.

His golden eyes pierced the shadows like a lamp, giving him a distinct—if slightly shrouded—view of the slumbering pair. As he watched, Sho made a slight movement, and the fox found himself instinctively creeping closer to her.

Sho's entire body was trembling uncontrollably as her eyes flitted frantically beneath her tightly closed eyelids.

She must be dreaming… He thought to himself in slight worry—images of the last time she had been sleeping and had begun to dream. But this time Hiei wasn't there to help the fox; the Jaganshi wouldn't of assisted him a second time anyways.

Kurama reached out a slender hand to hopefully shake Sho from her sleep. But he halted suddenly, pulling back his hand as the Wind Master unconsciously wrapped his arms protectively around her, and pulled the trembling young woman close.

The kitsune smiled softly as Sho gradually calmed in Jin's arms. Kurama continued to sit on the floor next to Sho as he studied the pair inquisitively. His mind still racing through thoughts, and halfway “looking” at the two demons, Kurama raised his own, clawed hand before his eyes—flicking his tail behind him, making sure it wasn't a dream. Before, when he had still been trapped inside the much weaker Shuichi, Kurama would've been at least a century or two younger than his former student. But now…as he looked down upon the pair…he realized how young they really were…how old he really was…

As a matter of fact, Sho had only been fourteen when she had stopped training with him…

She had been only around eighteen when she had been murdered.

A pain lingered in his old kitsune heart. Sho indeed was like his daughter…but yet, in so many ways, —after everything that had scarred the young demoness's soul—she seemed so much older than him…older than his few decades...

Kurama let the thought linger for a while around his head as he watched Sho sleep—occasionally twitching or murmuring something incoherent as her dream continued to unfold…

* * *

Sho's Subconscious…

Sho looked around in dread. She was back in the darkness. She felt herself go weak as she slumped to the ground—her muscles and nerves shuddering without her consent.

Just as despair had almost completely consumed her, a golden shimmer caught her eye, and Sho looked up wearily at a strange sight—

Three, golden chairs…

She began to turn away, not wanting to see yet another painful vision, when a warm feeling enveloped her like a blanket, and her doubts and trembling were swept away without a tangible reason as to what had caused the warmth. Slowly, the poison demoness stood, facing the chairs with doubtful, yet curious, interest.

With hesitant steps, Sho approached the chairs, and reached out to grab a hold of the chair nearest to her. She blinked, and was suddenly seated in it.

Even if it were a trick, or a vision, it was too late to escape it now.

As soon as Sho was seated, a pair of shadowed figures occupied the opposite two chairs.

The first—in the chair to her right—was about Sho's height, and had a katana belted comfortably on her hip. The second—in the left chair—was considerably shorter; her feet not even reaching the ground.

`Hello?' Sho said aloud—her voice a drifting whisper in the endless chasm of her shrouded subconscious.

The pair didn't answer, didn't move.

`Who are…' Sho began, only to be cut-off as the figure on her right shifted, and spoke.

Didn't think that we could really be forgotten so easily… The voice was feminine, and cold. It fought for recognition against the brick wall that seemed to be built around her memories.

Too much has been happening…her mind is tired…we're overestimating her…

A different feminine, yet child-like, voice filled Sho's ears as it battled alongside the first voice against the wall.

`Who are…you two?' she asked of the figures.

Sho isn't ready yet, the child's voice spoke softly, sadly. We should leave for-

Shut-up!

Sho's memories seemed to flicker angrily against the wall as well as words tried to form on her lips, only to fail miserably.

But, Sho-`

Damn you, girl! And damn all your sincerity!! Sho is not a weak-minded fool like you, and half of your kind! If she has forgotten us, it is NOT because we have “overestimated her.”'

The words pushed forcefully at her lips, trying their hardest to become heard. But they only came out as an exhale of sharp air.

It is because she chose to forget us!

But…Shod—

NO! I am tired of listening to your idealistic words! You are useless to me, and Sho!! You are no-

`Shodi…shut your mouth right now…before I am forced to shut it for you…'

The words escaped Sho in a low and threatening hiss—all her memories flooding back into her in a flood of images and words. Shodi looked to where Sho had been sitting, only to catch sight of the young woman holding a now sobbing Shoshoku to her chest comfortingly. Sho's crimson eyes pierced through Shodi like the blade on her hip—waiting patiently to be unsheathed and to bite into another being's flesh.

Shoshoku stopped crying, and with a loud sniff, smiled at Sho thankfully—knowingly. Shoshoku sat back in her golden seat while Sho stood to her feet once more—ruffling the young girl's blonde hair playfully before turning her cold glare back on Shodi.

`Do not yell at a child just because you have issues with your own weaknesses.'

Shodi scowled darkly but averted her eyes from the two angrily.

Sorry… she muttered.

It's ok. I know you didn't mean it. Shoshoku replied with a soft smile.

Before Shodi could turn angrily on the girl again—she'd be damned if she hadn't meant it! —a bright orange light filled her mind, and Sho wrapped her arms around her spirit companion's neck in a friendly embrace. Shoshoku joined the two, and soon, the dark haze that had still been slightly lingering in Sho's mind vanished completely. At last she felt complete again…

It's good to have you back, Sho…

* * *

“My Lord…our spies have returned. They have confirmed what you predicted…”

“So…she is still alive?”

“Yes, sire. Her and the Wind Master.”

“Well then…you know what to do…”

“Lord?”

“I don't care what happens to that damned wind-boy, but I want my daughter delivered to me alive! Do you understand me?!”

“Y-yes my lord. R-right away.”

“In fact…”

“Sire?”

“Send out Ijin.”

“Ijin?! B-but I thought you wanted her alive?!”

“Do you dare question my wishes?!”

“N-no my lord! Your will be done! Your name be praised, mighty one…”

“Good.”