Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ The Tale of a Theif ❯ Chapter Four ( Chapter 4 )

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

The sun was barely over the eastern hills when Kurama was gently shaken awake. Hono greeted him with a warm smile telling him it was time to rise. They had a small breakfast of biscuits and fruit before Hono bid his mate farewell and kissed his still sleeping children on the forehead.
Once the trading goods were packed and shouldered, the two men began their trek to the town. Kurama had never felt more like a pack mule than he did now with the large pack upon his back. If this was only half of the goods Hono carried to the town, then the man was stronger than he was letting on. Kurama’s normally perk ears were unusually droopy, his eyes glued to the path he walked on.
Though he looked as if he were simply staring off into space, the wheels in his mind were rapidly turning. Once he got into town what would he do? He had no gold to get supplies with nor did he have housing. The only thing he owned now was the pants he wore, not something to be proud about.
Since ‘if worse come to worse’ has already passed, he would have to resort to stealing the gold he needed to purchase a few items. Lord, his mother would kill him if she were still alive. He could almost hear her screeching now imagining her backing him against a wall, her tail swishing angrily.
‘Kurama! I taught you better than that, what in the seven levels of Makai would posses you to steal? Have I taught you nothing?’
Needless to say, it wasn’t a pretty picture. The female kitsune had been a gorgeous one, many female youkai were jealous of her looks. Her silver hair fell past her waist, her tail was always prim looking, not a hair out of place on either tail nor head. She held herself with pride and grace, her movements reminding him of water. Her golden eyes were always soft and kind, but sparked a raging fire when she was mad. Her touch was as soft as a feather; he could remember the feel of her hands when she would clean his scrapes and cuts. He could remember when she used to ruffle his mop of silver hair lovingly or when she would embrace him. Her voice was melodic, he could faintly remember the lullaby she would sing to him at night and when nightmares plagued his dreams.
Not only was she pretty, but she was smart as well. Not once could his father pull the wool over her eyes, so to speak. She had been gentle and kind, always seeming to know when something was wrong. However, once she had been set off run for the hills, the woman had a temper unlike any other. Not many were stupid enough to set her off…besides his father that is. She was one of a kind, many had respected her.
“So,” Hono interrupted his thoughts. “What business have you in the town anyhow?”
“I’m going to gather supplies, I'm just a simple traveler,” Kurama lied through his teeth. He was slightly surprised how easily the words had come out, even more so that Hono had believed him.
“Ah, can’t stay put eh?” Hono chuckled. “I used to be the same way, but once I met Akai I couldn’t bear to leave her. My father used to say; once you find someone worthwhile don’t let them slip away or you’ll come to regret it.” Kurama nodded his head, filing away those words for later reference if he ever needed such a…lovey dovey line.
A small flare of youki made Kurama stop and stiffen, his ears swiveled around listening for anything out of place. It must be a bounty hunter; the youki was coming closer at an alarmingly quick rate. He had endangered Hono and his family just by being around them, a bounty hunter would see their housing him as treason whether or not they knew.
“Forgive me Hono,” Kurama spoke suddenly as he placed the pack on the ground. “I have placed you and your family in danger just by staying with you. Take your family, hide for now; you will not be worth their trouble. Return to your home in a weeks time, they will have stopped looking for you by then.”
“Who are you really Youko?” Hono questioned. Kurama looked at Hono, something unknown flashed within the golden orbs.
“I thank you for your hospitality; I hope I can one day re-pay you for your kindness. Now go! You have a family to protect!” Kurama barked before running off in a completely different direction than they had been heading. Off of the path, the foliage was thick and dark. The plants seemed to be alive, throbbing with dark energy. The only time plants become possessed by such dark energy is when youkai are frequently murdered and buried in the area. Obviously this was the case as a root twisted around Kurama’s leg causing him to crash ungracefully to the ground.
‘How did they find me so quickly?’ He thought furiously as he clawed at the root clutching onto his leg. He tried to coax it to let go, but the dark energy within the root refused to listen to him. The closer the youki got, the more panicked he became. His heart pounded against his chest, his breathing became quickened, and his eyes constantly darted around trying to figure out where the youkai would come from. He clawed and pulled and bit at the root, but it refused to let go, tightening if anything. He tried to pull his other leg away as a root tried to bind that as well, however his efforts were in vain.
Before he knew what was going on the roots were pulling him to god only knew where! He dug his claws into the ground, trying to keep from being pulled into possible oblivion. Two more roots shot up and tied his arms to his sides, effectively pinning them in place. The last one wound around his mouth making it impossible to talk, scream, or anything of the sort. He could only watch in horror as he was dragged off by the evil plants; not knowing if he would survive.
He was pulled into the hallow of a large tree, two bushes moved to cover the hallow so he could not be seen. Was this the hunters plan? Now he was to await his imminent death? Suddenly, Kurama felt exhausted as all of his energy was drained right from him. God, could this get any worse?
‘Apparently it can,’ he thought as he sensed the youkai near the place he was trapped. Kurama closed his eyes and awaited the killing blow; hopefully the hunter would just kill him quickly and be done with it. However, the blow never came. The youkai seemed to sigh as he turned around and left the same way he came. This had Kurama completely baffled, didn’t the hunter sense him? The roots loosened their grip on the kitsune and he was able to free himself of his bindings. In the corner of the trees hallow, Kurama saw, was a deep purple plant with white flowers. He got a closer look at the flowers; inside they held orange pollen. Nothing else around him could have drained away his energy so quickly…wait that must have been why the hunter didn’t find him! His energy was no higher than a kit at the current moment.
Kurama stood and began to walk away from the tree, but was over come by a bought of dizziness. He placed a hand against his head as he steadied himself, cursing inwardly.
‘I'm lost, I have next to no energy, and bounty hunters are in the forest! This is just freaking great!’ he growled. Going against his protesting body, he continued to move in the direction he hoped would lead to the town. Staying in the immediate area would only get him found and killed, not something he wanted to happen.