Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ The Fox Princess ❯ Farewell to Father ( Chapter 2 )

The next few days were painful for Esmé. Day by day, he grew weaker and day by day, his life drew closer to its conclusion. Esmé sat outside on the swing as she watched the morning sunrise. She thought of her father and what Yurime had said. He may not get well. He may die soon. ::: My papa will die soon. When that happens I’ll have to take over as the new leader. I’ll lead it just like papa. Oh daddy, why do you have to go so soon? :::

Esmé walked back to her room and crawled into bed. She needed her rest. Just as Esmé was falling asleep, a tap was heard on her window. She snatched her silk robe and walked to the window. There, she came face to face with the silver youko. “My princess.”

“What the hell are you doing?? Get away from my window or I’ll come out there and-”

“Silence! Come with me. You’ll want to see this.”

Esmé gritted her teeth and followed Kurama out of her room. He had taken her to her father’s room. There, Esmé discovered that her father was missing from bed. “Kurama where is he?? Why didn’t you show me this sooner???”

“Calm down Esmé. I don’t know where he is. I was going to check on him when I found him gone. I searched the entire castle but there wasn’t even a trace of him.”

That was suspicious. How could a sick youko climb out of bed and wander off? Where had he gone? He wasn’t anywhere inside the castle, nor was he outside. Esmé panicked as she thought about the possibilities that could happen to her weak father. “Did you check everywhere? The garden? Training grounds, dining hall, study, meeting room? Are you positive that you checked everywhere??”

“Yes princess. I checked them all and he was not there. The only thing we can do is wait until he turns up.”

Esmé couldn’t just wait. Her dying father was missing. Where could he have gone? And why? He knew he was dying, he knew his body was growing weaker. What could have made him leave his bed? Esmé quickly changed her nightgown into silk pants and a top that went around her neck. Before Kurama could stop her, she raced out of the castle in search of her father. ::: I’ll find him on my own. I don’t need Kurama or anyone. I’ll be damned before I stay in that castle and wait for him to come back. :::

When Esmé had returned, all the foxes had come. Some were silent, some were crying. What had happen while she had been away? Esmé walked passed them and headed straight for her father’s room. When she got inside, Yurime, Eiji and Kurama were standing by Shinosuke’s bedside. “Papa! You’re home! I was so worried about you. What made you run off like that? Why did you-”

“Esmé, I’m sorry. Your father leaves you his love.”

Esmé shook her head. She tried to fight the tears but they streamed down her cheeks. Her father was dead now. She tried to run to him but Kurama held her back. She pounded on his chest, slapped him, still he held on tight. “Stop it Esmé, he’s dead and that’s that. You have to move on and be strong for your people.” Kurama said.

“I hate to make matters worse for Esmé but its best if she knows now. Esmé will not automatically receive leadership now. Anyone who wishes to challenge her for the right to be Queen may do so.”

Esmé couldn’t believe her ears. Her father had changed the law seconds before is death. But why not in her favor? She was the princess! Why should she have to fight for what rightfully belonged to her? She was Shinosuke’s daughter. Later that day, after the funeral, the clan pack got together and held a conference. “That’s the new law. Shinosuke said that anyone has the right to challenge Esmé for the right to leadership. Does anyone wish to challenge her?” Yurime asked. The blue haired fox Juri stood up and spoke. “I would never want to challenge Esmé. She is like her mother, elegant, graceful and beautiful. I know she will lead us in the right path the same way her father did. I will side by Esmé until the very end.” She said. Other foxes agreed with Juri, all except Conya. “Ha! I’ll show you that Esmé is a false leader. She will lead us into despair. I challenge her for the right to leadership. When do you get to take this bitch out?” Conya asked. Esmé clenched her fist. She wanted to slaughter Conya that very moment. Yurime looked at Esmé with a frown on her face. “You will have your chance under the blue moon Conya. In two months, you may challenge Esmé.” Yurime informed. Conya just smirked at Esmé triumphantly. “Finally, I’ll expose you for the weak piece of shit that you are.”

“We’ll see who the piece of shit is under the blue moon.”

Later that evening, Esmé dressed in the same white robes she had worn to the funeral. With white roses in hand, she knelt down to the soil and sat on her knees. She tried to fight back the tears but the poured from her eyes. “I don’t understand. You knew you were sick! You knew it! Yet you left your bed and went Inari-sama knows where. Why? How could you have been so careless with your condition?? I took care of you! Nursed you! If you stayed I bed like I said you may have had a chance to overcome your sickness. You are a fool! You are stupid! You were-”

“Enough princess.”

Behind Esmé stood Kurama. He walked by her side and gazed down at the grave. “Cursing your father won’t bring him back. He lived his life to the fullest. He loved you with every ounce of his being. Do you think this is the way to repay him? By cursing him at his own grave?” Kurama asked. Esmé jumped to her feet immediately. With anger in her eyes, she hit Kurama squarely across the face. “How dare you! How dare you tell your princess what to do! You...you perverted youko. You waltz around my castle, charming various women and have the nerve to tell me what to do? Who the fuck are you?”

“I’m someone who can respect their dead king. Who are you? What princess comes to their king’s grave and curses him like you do? He was your father Esmé. You have no honor...”

Those very words destroyed Esmé. She turned quickly, trying to hide her tears, but Kurama had seen them. He wrapped his arms around her, trying to soothe her pain away. “What did I do wrong? What did I do to have my father taken from me? I...I did all that I could and yet it wasn’t enough.” She sobbed. Kurama stroked her back slowly and kissed her neck softly. “Don’t cry my dear. You did the best you could. There was nothing any of us could have done. But now, you have to get train so that you can defeat Conya.” He whispered. Esmé nodded. She would defeat Conya and take her place as Queen. To hell with whoever won the title as her king, she’d reject whoever it was. She’d rule strong and alone like her father did. As Kurama placed soft kisses on Esmé, Conya watched them from a window inside. She clenched her fist as she watched Kurama do so. “Hmph, does she really think she’s going to rule then clan next? She’s deluding herself if she believes she will. Kurama will win the match between the males and once I defeat the princess bitch, I’ll have the delicious youko and power all to myself. That bitch can wash dishes or something.” Conya said to herself. Outside, Kurama released Esmé and walked inside. Once in the hallway, he stopped. “Jealous?”

“Of what? Far as I’m concern you can fuck the little whore now if you want. But once I win my match, you’ll warm my bed.”

Kurama turned to Conya with narrowed gold eyes. “I’m nobody’s toy Conya. If I do happen to win the title as king, you’ll warm my bedroom floor.”

Conya gritted her teeth as Kurama walked passed her. “Believe me when I tell you fox. I will be the queen. And when that happens, I’ll grind you and your precious Esmé into dirt beneath my boot.”




Lil Lovely Angel: That’s the end of chappie 2. Please R&R and tell me what ya think!