Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Shura's Quest - The forbidden Forest ❯ Scene 4 ( Chapter 4 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Sorry I took so long to update. I've had to deal with a really hard situation lately, but I'm going to be okay.

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Scene 4 ------------------------------------------- The Forbidden Forest

* As the group travels along Kurama begins to notice the tension mounting among them. He, himself, has become the sole interest for Lazurama. But it is the attention that Yusuke is garnering from the others that makes him stop walking. Yusuke stops beside him and does his best to remain calm.


Yusuke- (Quietly) You feel this, too?


* Kurama sighs deeply then nods.


Kurama- (Quietly) Yes.

Lazurama- Why are we stopping? Too scared to go..?


* Kurama looks directly at Lazurama with a look that silences the younger silver kitsune.


Kurama- It's not our concern for ourselves that stops us.

Shishi- Well, then.. What is your concern?


* Shishi's tone surprises Kurama, but he refuses to take his eyes off of Lazurama. Yusuke turns to calmly meet Shishi's eyes.


Yusuke- That we'll have to kill.. someone to protect ourselves here.

Kurama- Perhaps it will ease your.. tension.. if you all voice the feelings you're harboring.. Then we can continue.

Lazurama- Why should we tell you anything,..?


* Kurama notes that Lazurama has to clamp his mouth shut on the word he was going to call him. But since they are siblings and in such close company Kurama hears the word 'coward' clear enough. Still he manages to keep his control displaying his strength against the forces of this dark place.


Kurama- Because.. the further we go in, the harder it will be for you all to control these.. desires.


* Kurama notes, with slight amusement, the way Shishi and Touya glance at each other when the last word is mentioned. The two demons then quickly look away from each other clearly embarrassed. Kurama looks at Yusuke. The Toushin's nerves are becoming a bit touchy since this is his first time experiencing this place.


Yusuke- What? I just want to find this stupid Bikini Cave..

Kurama- Bukimi.

Yusuke- What-the-h--- ever.. I just want to get there and get out of here.

Kurama- You have nothing else bothering you?

Yusuke- Besides knowing I got a half a dozen so-called friends that want to roast me? H--- no.. Aren't you concerned? I mean that one..


* Yusuke motions toward Touya.


Yusuke- Even tried to shishkibob you with icicles a few years ago.


* Touya steps forward in front of Kurama glaring at Yusuke.


Touya- I'd lay my life down for Kurama.. Against you.. or anyone else here.


* Touya turns his cold gaze toward Lazurama. Jin raises up and swishes over to hover in front of Yusuke with his arms crossed.


Jin- I be a-feelin' th' same aboot Yusuke.. Who dares t' try anythin' first?


* Yusuke is dumbfounded at first but then he takes a couple steps back when the air begins to stir up the leaves around Jin. Lazurama rolls his eyes at the display.


Lazurama- I have nothing against the Mazoku.. H---, I barely know him.. But I do have something against cowards that decide to hide themselves in human flesh..


* Kurama touches Touya's arm when the air suddenly grows a bit more chilly than it was a moment ago.


Kurama- No, Touya.. We must resist acting on these impulses.


* Suzuki sighs and moves away to lean against a tree. Kurama almost smirks as he watches the former Shinobi, knowing that he thinks of himself as his own best company. Kurama then looks back at Lazurama who has lowered his eyes guiltily.


Kurama- Laz, whether I'm in this form or my human form.. I am still your elder brother.


* The younger kitsune takes a step back.


Kurama- There must be desires deeper than the ones you're feeling now, brother.


* After a couple moments Lazurama shrugs.


Lazurama- You and I.. were once very close.. Then all of a sudden you up and left the clan to become this great thief..


* He glares at Kurama again.


Lazurama- You left us.. Me! - To make that great name for yourself! - You have no idea.. what I went through..

Kurama- Then tell me.

Lazurama- First.. You tell me.. Why? Why did you leave?!


* Kurama takes a deep breath and moves Touya aside gently so he can stand face to face with his brother.


Kurama- As you know, Father was killed.

Lazurama- Hai.. The clan needed you.. I needed you so I wouldn't have had to..


* Lazurama lowers his eyes again. Kurama reaches out and touches one of his arms gently.


Kurama- Tell me, Little Brother.


* Lazurama swallows hard and finds his voice again.


Lazurama- When you left Galarama assumed the leadership.. He boasted about defeating you and chasing you off.. He gave the rest of us two choices.. Leave.. or stay and be his servants.. Padurama, Kasurama.. all of them left.. but me.. I couldn't leave.. I was too young.. I was scared to leave..


* Lazurama balls his fists until he gets himself back under control.


Lazurama- I was the coward.. I had to endure Gal's treachery for eight hundred years.


* He raises his matching golden eyes to glare at Kurama again.


Lazurama- Eight.. hundred.. years! All because you left.. I never once believed that Gal chased you away..

Kurama- I didn't want to leave, Laz.. But it surprised me when Gal showed up that day to challenge me.. I refused to kill my own brother so I.. I left.. The shame and guilt of not being able to defend my position.. of giving up my rights to the clan.. This is what drove me to become more ruthless.. I was trying to toughen myself up so I could return and..

Lazurama- Kill Gal?

Kurama- (Sighs) Yes.


* Everyone standing around exchanges glances as they continue listening to the two brothers.


Lazurama- Well, I did it for you.


* For several moments the two kitsunes stare at each other before Lazurama continues.


Lazurama- He was.. beating on me that day.. His punishment had started to fall on me for no reason.. I was becoming older, maybe it was his way of just trying to keep me beneath him.. The beatings became worse and starting lasting longer.. Finally, I.. I just snapped.. When I came back to myself Gal was dead.. I had ripped his throat out.. I was the new leader of our clan..


* Lazurama takes a deep breath to gather himself, then shrugs and continues again as he focuses his eyes away from Kurama's.


Lazurama- Everything was peaceful for a few years.. Then Pad suddenly showed up again.. He challenged me.. I had to take him out because I was scared that if I lost..

Kurama- That you'd be forced back into slavery..

Lazurama- Or worse.. We fought hard.. He refused to give up so we continued fighting until I..

Kurama- Now you understand why I decided to leave.. I didn't want to kill my brother.. I knew that if I did kill Gal.. the rest of my life would be spent battling to keep that position.. I'd seen how much Father had to fight to keep the clan..


* Kurama pauses to tilt his head thoughtfully.


Kurama- Perhaps you were right, Laz.. I was a coward..

Lazurama- Once I killed Pad, though, I received no more challenges.. I ran the clan as peacefully as I could.. I found that hidden valley on a hunting trip and moved the clan there.. We lived in peace until that mage and the other demon found us..


* Everyone watches Kurama guide his brother over to a log so they can sit. They all exchange glances as the two brothers continue chatting as if they've got nothing better to do.


Kurama- On one of my raids I ran into Kasurama.. He told me that you had become a great leader for the clan.. It was then that I decided to give up my goal of returning for the position I left.. Suddenly, thieving was not just a hobby for me anymore. It became my only life.


* Lazurama places one of his hands on Kurama's closest knee.


Lazurama- All of this is history, Brother.. The only thing left of my clan now are my two kits.. and you..

Kurama- I have no desire to take your position by force, Laz.


* Lazurama knows that Kurama is telling the truth. The despair of the true meaning behind Kurama's words hits the younger kitsune and he looks away from Kurama.


Lazurama- We both know that you won't have to..

Kurama- Can we put this behind us now?


* Lazurama nods, stands, and offers Kurama a hand.


Lazurama- Hai.. we'll get through this place together, Brother.


* Kurama nods and accepts the hand. When Lazurama suddenly pulls Kurama right up against him their eyes lock intensely. The action startles everyone, but Touya and Jin reach out to stop Yusuke from interferring in the kitsune posturing. Golden eyes stay locked as the two kitsunes move in a tight circle. When they stop it surprises Kurama when Lazurama lowers his eyes first.


Kurama- Laz,..

Lazurama- I give my position to you willingly, Elder.. To put things in order as they should be.. Please accept my yielding.


* After a couple tense moments, Kurama relaxes and leans closer to nuzzle Lazurama's exposed neck. Assured now of his brother's sincerity, Kurama shows his acceptance by giving Lazurama's cheek an affectionate lick. Yusuke tilts his head to look at the others when the kitsunes both wag their tails happily. Nobody speaks, not wanting to break the feeling of peace that surrounds them all, though.


Kurama- We will fight as brothers.. together.. Understand me?


* Lazurama nods.


Lazurama- Hai, Brother.. We will fight together for as long as..


* Lazurama lets the sentence trail. Kurama turns and lets his eyes fall on Yusuke.


Kurama- We will all fight together now.. as we did before.


* Yusuke nods firmly.


Yusuke- We'll kick that brat's a--.


* Kurama nods.


Kurama- Shall we continue? There's still some daylight left.


* When nobody voices any objections at the moment they all turn and continue their trek deeper into the woods.

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Wow, I know that was long, but it's still divided from the paper version. Angst will resume in the next scene. So, now we've gotten to know Lazurama a bit better, hmm? Demon culture wasn't always a bed of roses in past centuries. I see it sortof as our own history, ya know? There was a time when the human race wasn't quite so civilized.. In some cases, it still isn't.