Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ The Tale of a Theif ❯ Chapter Two ( Chapter 2 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

It didn’t take him long to register something was wrong when the warning bell sounded; its loud ring thundered through the castle startling its occupants awake. Kurama stumbled out of bed and rushed over to the chair; he put his armor on in a rush and grabbed his sword, deciding to do without his helmet. As he rushed out of his room he saw that many of the others were doing the same, a few were pulling on their armor while going out their doors.
Their chief leader was waiting for them in the foyer, his expression set in a grim line. He looked to them, his arms folded behind his back.
“Karasu has escaped somehow; he has freed a few of the other prisoners as well. Go find the prisoners and bring them back before anything happens to innocent lives!” He ordered, with that they rushed out of the castle to do as told. “Kurama,” he beckoned the kitsune over to him. “Karasu hasn’t left the castle; I think he may intend to kill Lord Korowai and Little Lady Mai. I have already warned them through telepathy, they should be headed to the underground tunnels now. I want you to get Karasu at all costs, don’t let anything stop you!”
“Yes sir!” Kurama bowed before running off towards the royal chambers. No doubt Karasu would head there first, but he’d probably hidden himself near the area since the warning bell had rung. His bare feet padded across the wooden floor quietly, if anything would give him away; however, it was the clinking of his armor against the sheath of his sword.
A familiar chuckle reached his sensitive hearing, causing him to stop. His ears swiveled in the direction the sound came from as a threatening growl spilt from his lips.
“Eager to play our little game again Kurama?” Karasu taunted. Kurama looked around, but was unable to locate him. “What do you say we up the stakes this time? I will give you thirty minutes to find me, if you don’t this little girl here dies.”
“You bastard,” Kurama growled. “She’s just a little girl!”
“I fail to see your point. I am a criminal, I use whoever to get my way, and I kill whoever is in my way. Twenty-nine minutes now, best hurry if you value her life.” Kurama growled as he began his search, he wasn’t about to let her die, not if he could help it. It was his job to protect the royal family and protect them he will. Karasu had forgotten something of importance; people aren’t the only witnesses around. Within ten minutes he had gotten enough information to know exactly where Karasu was holding Little Lady Mai captive.
He went back down to the foyer and into the hallway that led to his room; Karasu was in the place Kurama would have undoubtedly looked last. He slowly opened the door to his room, the torches within had all been extinguished. He could see two outlines, one large and one small. As he walked into the room, the door was slammed shut behind him. His golden eyes glowed in the darkness; even the curtains had been drawn over the window so not even the moonlight could shine through.
“Well done Kurama, you came sooner than expected,” Karasu grinned.
“Let Lady Mai go,” Kurama growled.
“Oh don’t worry; I’ll let her go…that is, if you can kill me before I kill you.” Kurama drew his sword; unfortunately Karasu had the upper hand this time. He could see in the dark far better than Kurama, also being cloaked completely in black helped with blending in.
Kurama waited patiently, though he could not see half as well in the dark as Karasu, his hearing was far better. He closed his eyes as he waited for Karasu to move, finally he heard him move from behind. Wanted alive be damned, Karasu was going to die! He spun around and drove his sword through the crows gut. However, it was not Karasu’s cry of pain that he heard.
His door swung open, letting the light from the torches in the hall to flood into the dark room. Kurama’s heart practically stopped as he dropped the sword as if he had been scorched.
“Mai…my little Mai,” Lord Korowai sobbed as he moved closer to the small form of his daughter. The little girl was covered in her own blood, her eyes frozen open in fear. Kurama only stood, frozen in absolute shock. “What have you done? Why?” His tongue fell silent, not able to even form a word or sentence in his defense. The crimson blood that ran from her gapping wound covered his sword and hands, accusing eyes of rage finally were turned on him. “Seize him,” Korowai ordered.
Those words seemed to have woken Kurama up from whatever trance he had been in, all he knew now was he had to get away. He dodged two attempts to grab him, though he wanted to explain what had happened, he doubted anyone would listen. He had broken his vow to protect the royal family that alone spelt certain death.
He climbed out the open window, no doubt the same way Karasu had gone. The moment his feet touched the ground he ran out of the castle grounds, desperately trying to get away from the guards that pursued him. He leapt over the gate with relative ease and continued to run, not once daring to look back.
He ran through the middle of the village, not noticing the black shadow on the rooftops until it came to run beside him.
“What does it feel like to be running for your life?” Karasu smirked. Kurama growled and swiped at him with his claws, his eyes showing only pure hatred. “Easy now,” he said as he dodged the claws. “It wasn’t I who killed her. If you had opened your senses you would have noticed she was behind you, not me.” While Karasu had a point, Kurama didn’t want to hear it. He bent down and grabbed a few blades of grass, instantly forming it into a sword. He slashed at Karasu, only managing to leave a shallow cut on his stomach. “Really, if that is all you have then I'm going to have to find a decent fight elsewhere.” Kurama growled, his hatred fueling his attacks as he slashed blindly. Karasu was able to dodge him, obviously becoming bored. Finally he leapt into the air, striking the back of Kurama’s head with his foot. Kurama fell to the ground in a heap, breathing heavily as he stood up. Both turned their heads when the shouts of the guards were heard, if they continued to fight then they’d both be caught. “Good-bye Kurama, I do hope you live to see another day.” By the sound of his tone, Kurama highly doubted he meant it.
Deciding standing around was only going to get him killed; he began to run into the forest. Hopefully he could find somewhere to hide till morning, and then he’d go further away. His heart was thundering in his ears, he was almost certain that everyone within three mile radius could hear it. Never had he been the one hunted before, always the hunter. He decided he didn’t like it.
Once deep within the forest he leapt into a high tree, it would have to do for now. He doubted that they would go this far in the forest, not even he had been in this far until now. For the remainder of the night sleep was a stranger to him, worried about being struck down while he slept.