Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Like A Bird ❯ Revealed ( Chapter 3 )

Like A Bird

 

 

 

Ooo Yukina Ooo

 

It was a week after the incident in the lake. Genkai didn't find out, since I had turned the water into frozen crystals on my kimono. Genkai had just raised her brow and shook her head. Today, Keiko was visiting. It would be pleasant to talk to a female for a change instead of a male. It was nice talking to Kuroi, but it wasn't the same as talking to a girl. I finished dusting. I smiled to myself. It was an unspoken thing. While I was sweeping, Kuroi would sneak into the kitchen when he could and wash and dry the dishes then go out and do a rather large portion of the garden. When I asked how come he was so good at gardening, he simply said his thieving partner used to have one. I shook my head, sea green hair falling in front of my eyes.

 

“ Yukina-chan! Where are you?” Keiko's voice rang out through the shrine.

 

“ She's loud,” Kuroi complained.

 

“ Kuroi, can you please be quiet?” Kuroi grunted.

 

“ In here, Keiko-chan,” I replied. Keiko appeared, brown hair ruffled, her clothes in disarray.

 

“ Sorry, I was yelling at some friends of mine before I came here. You know how I get,” Keiko smiled sheepishly. I smiled back.

 

“ Of course. Sit down Keiko-chan. Would you like some tea?” Keiko plopped herself down.

 

“ Sure. Thank you Yukina-chan. It must get lonely here with just Genkai. I'm not saying she's bad company, but you know…” Keiko trailed off as I poured her some of the brown liquid.

 

“ It's alright Keiko-chan, I know what you're talking about,” I told her. Keiko smiled.

 

“ So, Yukina-chan, who were you talking to in here earlier?”

 

“ Me,” Kuroi said. Keiko snapped her head up and looked around.

 

“ Who's `me' and where are you?” I sighed.

 

“ I don't know his real name, so I just call him Kuroi. Kuroi is a bat youkai. You can't find him because he is using his natural abilities to hide himself in the shadows. He's rather shy,” I said.

 

“ Either that, he's ugly,” Keiko said.

 

“ I am not shy nor ugly. I'll have you know females used to fawn over me all the time before I went into hiding! And I hide for a good reason. Someone might recognize me,” Kuroi said, clearly ruffled at our comments. Keiko snickered and I smiled behind my hand.

 

“ You're so funny Kuroi-chan,” The bat demon just grumbled.

 

“ Anyway, I don't mean to be rude Kuroi, but we need to have some female talk,” Keiko explained to the bat demon.

 

“ So? Talk,” Kuroi replied.

 

“ I mean alone,” Keiko said, her voice getting dangerous.

 

“ I'll explain it to you since no one told you. I am Yukina's bodyguard. I can't leave her alone, even if it is with you. I'm sorry about my bluntness, but I don't trust you yet and so I won't leave you alone with Yukina. As her friend, I can give you the benefit of the doubt, but I won't let her get hurt because of a foolish mistake. However, bat demons do have selective hearing,” Kuroi said. Keiko looked shocked for a moment before smiling again.

 

“ Okay. I'm sorry Kuroi. Just, use your selective hearing for the next half an hour,” Keiko said. Kuroi grunted. Soon, Keiko and I were catching up with each other.

 

“ …and you remember Matsuhiro? The guy I told you about? He actually started hitting on me! Yusuke is going to kill him if he finds out,” Keiko said, ending in half giggles, half in anger.

 

“ Your school sounds so fun. I wish I could go,” I said wistfully.

 

“ No,” Kuroi said firmly.

 

“ Huh? Hey! You were listening the whole time!” Keiko accused. I had the impression Kuroi was rolling his eyes.

 

“ No I wasn't. I heard the last part however. About school. I have been told of your ningen schools where there are hundreds of you. You are in a room all day and are taught things humans need to know to get through their lives. Some are bright, some are friendly, but some are very dangerous. I can't risk letting Yukina get hurt. There is a large chance we may get separated in this school. Besides, I can't go,” Kuroi explained.

 

“ Why not Kuroi?” I asked.

 

“ Yeah. Do you have some youkai features you can't hide or something?” Keiko inquired.

 

“ I can disguise myself as a human just fine, and for a rather long time too. But no, one of the things that humans are required to do, I can't. Which is rather embarassing since all other youkai like me can do,” Kuroi replied.

 

“ What can't you do?” Keiko wondered.

 

“ I can't say it in front of Yukina,” Kuroi said. A slight pang of hurt flashed through me.

 

“ I won't laugh Kuroi, if that's what you mean. You know that better than anyone,” I told him. I heard a slight rustle.

 

“ I can't…” Kuroi mumbled something.

 

“ Huh?” Keiko said.

 

“ I said I can't read the ningen language!” Kuroi snapped. It was the first time he had ever taken that tone, so it was obvious to me he was bothered by that fact.

 

“ Kuroi, not many common youkai can read the ningen language,” I tried to console him.

 

“ That's it! I'm the leader of all bats. Any kind of bat tribe, they all should listen to me. But because I wanted to change things, and no one else did, I had to run, since at the time, I wasn't strong enough! That's how I became a thief, assassin, and bodyguard!” Kuroi said, his voice becoming louder. I froze. Then, tears gathered in my eyes.

 

“ Oh Kuroi…how sad. No wonder you won't show yourself. I'm sorry. I can teach you to read though,” I offered. I heard Kuroi's slightly labored breathing.

 

“ Yeah. I still have some books from when I was a kid and trying to read. I can teach you everything, especially since I am a ningen,” Keiko joined in.

 

“ Yes. All I want is to see you. Just once,” I pleaded.

 

“ I don't know. Which form do you want to see? My true form, or my humanoid form?” Kuroi shot back.

 

“ Your humanoid form,” I replied. Kuroi was about to reply when there was a large crash. Keiko and I ran outside. Three youkai stood before us. All three had green eyes and lavender hair. Fangs and claws were there as well. Keiko clutched her bag to her.

 

“ Stay away from us!” Keiko cried. The middle youkai laughed.

 

“ We don't want anything with you, you stupid human. We want the Ice Maiden,” He sneered. I swallowed.

 

“ Go away,” I said softly. I knew my eyes were glowing slightly.

 

“ I think not,” The tallest and right one said. All three youkai lunged for us. Keiko pulled her arm back, ready to hit them with her bag when a black streak shot out and plowed right through all the youkai. At first I thought it was Hiei, but I realized the blur was too big. The dust cleared and revealed an incredibly tall bat demon. His wings were folded behind him elegantly and his long hair swung by his waist in a high ponytail. He wore all black except for the white swath of clothing that fell to his shins. He was well muscled, but not overly so, and had well tanned skin.

 

“ You bastard…who are you?” The last youkai asked as he stood.

 

“ Kuronue,” Kuronue's voice was angry and dark. Obviously, he was angry. The first youkai lunged. Kuronue grabbed his arm and instead of swinging him away like I expected, he broke it. He kicked the third in the stomach and stopped and grinned at the second, baring deadly fangs.

 

“ What's wrong? You were going to try and take Yukina, am I not correct? Or are you going to be so cowardly as to abandon your objective only halfway through because some obstacle stands in your way?” Kuronue taunted him. The youkai gritted his teeth angrily and took the lure. He too, lunged and Kuronue dodged deftly and kicked him in the back. He fell with a thud.

 

“ Hmpf. I'll have to haul you into the Spirit World now,” Kuronue said with obvious distaste. He turned to us.

 

“ You girls okay?” Kuronue asked. I nodded.

 

“ Kuronue…I've heard about you. Outcast of the Bats. Legendary thief, second only to Youko Kurama. But, you died nearly thirty years ago,” I said, almost disbelievingly. Kuronue chuckled, the sound rolling over me in waves.

 

“ Yeah. That was when I went into hiding, as I described it. I died, Koenma sentenced me to Limbo. He brought me back recently to protect you since the Spirit Detectives are gone to often to do so. If I don't obey him, he sends out the SDF and I'm thrown back in Limbo for a thousand years. Besides, you're fun to talk to,” Kuronue grinned. One of the youkai groaned and raised his head. Kuronue turned.

 

“ Who do you work for?” His cold voice returned.

 

“ Ieyasu Masaya,” He said weakly.

 

“ Masaya…?” Kuronue asked wonderingly. “ Who is he?” The youkai spat at Kuronue's feet.

 

“ That's all you'll get out of me,” He said defiantly. Kuronue picked him up by his shirt.

 

“ I can get a lot more out of you the hard way if you don't tell me now. Put it this way, you'll live if I don't have to force it out of you,” Kuronue said threateningly. The youkai kept his mouth shut.

 

“ Please…don't kill my brother…Ieyasu Masaya is a thief. He currently runs the black market. People are saying he rivals even the great Youko Kurama in thievery,” One of the other youkai said. Kuronue snorted and dropped the youkai.

 

“ Listen up, no one rivals Youko Kurama in thievery except Yomi and me,” Kuronue said, clearly disbelieving the youkai. Kuronue dug into his pocket and pulled out his communicator.

 

“ Toddler?”

 

“ Yusuke Urameshi! How many times do I have to tell you not to call me toddler?!” Koenma screeched. Kuronue winced.

 

“ Shut up you idiot. I'm not Urameshi, I'm Kuronue you fool. I've got a report,” Kuronue said.

 

“ Kuronue! How dare you speak to me that way! You should be grateful I even brought you back you winged jerk! I'm gonna-“

 

“ Do you want the report or not?” Kuronue tapped his foot impatiently.

 

“ Report?! Why didn't you say so in the first place?” Koenma cried out.

 

“ I did, you were paying too much attention to my insults rather than the information. That is how you tell an idiot from someone intelligent,”

 

“ Just give me the damn report or I'll have your head!” Koenma shouted.

 

“ As if. Three youkai came and attempted to kidnap Yukina. They are subordinates of someone named Ieyasu Masaya. Masaya is currently head of the black market and a thief. Rumor has it he's as good as Youko. If he were, however, the SDF should have taken him out by now. Unfortunately, the Spirit World is rather inadept at making movements against Makai and their residents. Which is why I continued to steal from the Spirit world for nearly two decades. It was really fun watching all the ogres cry in frustration,” Kuronue grinned.

 

“ Kuronue!”

 

“ Whatever. If you want to find anything out about this Masaya guy, I suggest you give me leave to head to Makai. Because chances are, if he's in the black market, he's gonna keep comin' after Yukina and won't stop until he gets her,” Kuronue informed Koenma.

 

“ Absolutely not! You are Yukina's bodyguard, and if you think that Masaya is going to come after her again, you are to remain with her at all times! I will send someone to find out about Masaya myself,” Koenma said.

 

“ Listen Koenma, you're hearin' it from someone who has been livin' off the black market. If you want to find out about this guy, that's where you have to go. I know the right people to go to. And if they don't know anything, I have other sources,”

 

“ I already said no Kuronue. Don't disobey my orders,”

 

“ Whatever then. Just send someone to pick up these idiots over here. I'm not here to babysit idiots, I'm here to protect a lovely young lady who is-“

 

“ Kuronue! This is no time to flirt with Yukina!” Kuronue rolled his eyes.

 

“ Aw, why can't I take a look?”

 

“ Dammit Kuronue-“ Kuronue grinned as he shut the communicator off. I had a blush across my face.

 

“ You didn't really mean that, did you Kuronue?” I asked timidly. Kuronue's grin remained.

 

“ Of course I did! If there's one thing I don't lie about, its women!” Kuronue said. Keiko scowled.

 

“ Pervert,”

 

“ I know, don't you love it?” Kuronue said. One of the youkai made to get up. Kuronue pushed back down roughly.

 

“ Who said you could get up? We're waiting for the SDF to get you,” Kuronue barked.

 

Ooo Later Ooo

 

All four of us sat down at the table. Genkai looked somewhat angry.

 

“ So tell us again,” Kuronue sighed.

 

“ Alright. Youko and I were on a heist when I got killed. Koenma sentenced me to Limbo. About thirty years later, now, he resurrects me to protect Yukina. I've been here for about nine days. My name is Kuronue. I am a bat demon. I should rule over the bat demons, but because I didn't believe in the old traditions, they cast me out when I was the equivalent of ten. I was an assassin and bodyguard, but after an incident, I quit that profession and became a thief. About three decades later I met Youko when I attempted to steal from him. We became fast friends and thieving partners. That's it,” Kuronue leaned back.

 

“ What are the old traditions?” Keiko asked.

 

“ Well, they are lots of them. A lot of it is rubbish. But, the one I don't like is the one about feeding,” Kuronue replied.

 

“ Feeding?” I asked.

 

“ Keiko, you know about those human legends about vampires?”

 

“ Yeah,” Keiko answered.

 

“ That's pretty much it. Except, we can withstand garlic and wooden stakes. And as you can see, we are not always as white as a sheet. Bat demons are one of the few types that feed on other living beings such as other youkai and humans. Even rarer still, we actually drink their blood. It is true, that if we drink the blood of a virgin, we do become stronger, but drinking one's blood can do a number of things, depending on what you do. Bat youkai gain power from drinking another's blood, and it heals wounds, replenishes energy, etcetera. However, we have certain traditions about doing this. It is required that bat demons do this, and like bats, we prefer the night to do this, where it is also harder to detect us. We have to drink blood twice a year. However, since we get stronger from drinking, tradition is we do it every new and full moon. Twenty-four times a year, not including eclipses and red moons. Then you have to add in whenever a bat just feels like drinking. The numbers have reached past one hundred feedings a year. I don't believe wasting life away like that, when they have no chance of fighting. All bat demons contain two types of venom in their fangs and claws. One used during fighting, and one that's like a drug. The second they can't control, it just comes out whenever you begin to feed. However, there is several types of the first one. It may be an acid, it could paralyze the heart, it depends on the kind of bat. The second vemon prevents the victim from fighting back allowing us to feed without much struggle. My own venom is like an acid. Once it is injected in the veins, it begins to melt everything from the inside out. No one has survived it. But this is basically the old traditions.

 

Some bat tribes have it where once a decade, the youngest child in the tribe is sacrificed in order to bring more power. All demons feed off of death. The more fearful and pure you are, the better. Because bat demons are the type that feed, we gain even more power from death. Youko Kurama is a demon that feeds. Unlike bat demons, silver foxes like him feed on life energy. That makes him more in tune with one's emotions. Because Youko lives in Suuichi Minamino, I am sure he has to feed only once about every three years. Normally, he would have to do it twice a year as well. Youko too, dislikes to feed. There are several old traditions I don't like. When I was forced to take up rule, I did a fairly good job until I had tried to change the traditions. Everyone rebelled against me, and I was too young and too weak to enforce my rules. Depending on which type of youkai you are, you have to have a certain type of government. The Koorime's have a single ruler, and then the court. The court votes on a decision, then tries to get the ruler to see their way and create the law. If the leader likes it, she will let it happen and enforce it. If she doesn't, she throws the idea out the window. Yukina is that ruler for the Koorime, however by their laws, she is currently too young to rule. For bat demons, you can take up rule anytime. If you wish to lead, defeat the leader. However, you cannot overthrow the leader of all bats, namely me. However, if I die without an heir or mate, then the males will fight for the position. My cousin is currently ruling in my stead. Bats live in dictatorship. What the rulers says is that. Can't change it. I wish to change that tradition too. Bat demons are now civilized enough to not need a dictatorship. Unfortunately, no sees my way,” Kuronue explained.

 

“ That's horrible,” Keiko murmured.

 

“ There are much worse demon tribes and species Keiko,” Genkai said. The old woman looked at me.

 

“ Well, I suppose if it is Koenma's orders, you can stay, but anything funny and you're out the door,” Genkai said sternly. I put on my innocent face.

 

“ Who me? Never!” I grinned. Yukina rolled her eyes.

 

“ You're so funny Kuronue-chan,” Yukina said.