Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ The Worthless Humans ❯ One Blames the Other ( Chapter 24 )

Nari was forced to put down Okuro as her arms were trembling too much and she feared dropping her only son. Her fingers embracing the necklace she made for the bat demon, the young woman unable to wrap her mind around the fact that Kuronue was dead. “No,” she insisted through her sobbing, “Kuronue is not dead! You do not know that!”

 

“I was there to find only his necklace and Kuronue was nowhere in sight,” Yoko Kurama replied, hating to admit to it. “Sensui finished him off before I got there, but I am not sure what he did with the body…”

 

“You liar!” Nari cried, running up to the fox demon to beat her fist upon his chest.

 

Yoko Kurama didn't hesitate to slap Nari across the face for her actions and accusations. The force of the slap caused Nari to head back down towards the ground with a grunt from the impact when she landed on her front. “Don't you dare speak out of line! As long as you are in Makai, you are still my slave!”

 

Nari clutched her fists there upon the ground whilst her long, shaggy unkempt hair cascaded over her shoulders to hide her overwhelming sadness and anger. Looking over her damaged shoulder slowly, Nari could only glare at the demon through her stringy hair, not caring what he said or did at this point. “How could you do that? How could you just let Kuronue die?!”

 

“I was busy pulling your worthless ass away from the scene under Kuronue's wishes, if you care to remember—you and your brat!” Yoko Kurama hissed, the two pretty much blaming one another for Kuronue's death at this point.

 

Okuro looked between the two from where he now stood in front of one of the trees outlining the demonic city just behind them. He wanted to go and help his mother, but he feared Yoko Kurama and the actions he might take upon his intrusion.

 

Nari felt so lost and destroyed upon realizing that Kuronue wasn't going to come back for her this round. Clutching her fists so tight that her nails dug into her skin and prompted blood forth, Nari sobbed harder there on the ground she fell upon not wishing to get up for anything or anybody in the world. Kuronue…why did you leave me?

 

The silver haired fox demon grabbed onto Nari's wrist tightly to harshly pull her to her feet. Yoko Kurama growled a bit at her since his anger was the best thing he could express over the sadness and disappoint at losing his closest friend. “Come on, you wench,” he hissed, his silver ears flattened against his skull. “We have to go and meet with the others as I had planned to do. Since Kuronue is no longer here, you are to remain with me and Yomi. Now get your brat and come with me.”

 

With her wrist released, Nari embraced it gently since Yoko Kurama held onto it too tightly. Sniffling back her sadness best she could, she knelt down before her frightened son and waved him over to her. “Come on, Okuro…we have to leave now.”

 

Okuro raised his left fox ear slightly as the other remained resting out to the right to show his confusion in the matter. The young mix looked left and right inhaling the Makai wind through his nostrils to try and catch wind of his father, but received nothing as he did before. “Where's daddy?”

 

“Honey, we'll have to talk about that—later,” Nari insisted through her tears, waving for her son to get back into her arms.

 

Embracing his mother's neck finally, Okuro situated himself within her arms where he was originally still confused as to where the demon he called his father went to.

 

“Since I don't have your chain with me, I will have to assume you won't run off without my consent,” Yoko Kurama remarked, pushing Nari ahead of him. “I would advise that you didn't, for if you try, I will make your life a living hell when we get settled once more.”

 

Nari hurried in front of Yoko Kurama as he wanted her to, holding onto her son gently as they headed away from the outskirts of the demonic city to the area the fox demon had in mind to meet up with the others. Embracing her mix-bred son gently within her arms, she could only try to hide her tears within his wild light blond hair. What did I ever do to deserve this…?

 

 

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The doors to Koenma's office soon flew open as George came running in quickly, nearly stumbling upon himself as he did so. “Lord Koenma,” the ogre began frantically before slamming his hands upon the desk of the young ruler. “One of the members is here!”

 

The teenage Koenma shot his head up upon the sudden intrusion of his right hand ogre before his face broke into a bit of shock and confusion. “You mean, one of the members of the guild was found?”

 

“Yes, sir, but we're not sure how,” George remarked, looking over his shoulder at the closed doors behind him that were attempting to block out the sounds of the enraged demon.

 

Keeping his eyes set on the doors behind George, Koenma eventually nodded at the ogre, “Let him in then. I want to speak with him.”

 

Before George could even hope to say anything, the doors flew open regardless as the enraged bat demon tried to break free from the chains Sensui's right hand man had given him as a parting gift. Falling to his knees, Kuronue bared his large demonic teeth enraged at the whole situation as he now knelt before the leader of Spirit World. George quickly fled behind the chair of the teenage ruler as Koenma tried to remain calm at the presents of an A class demon being nearby and obviously not happy. The two ogres that found the demon just outside the door kept a tight grip on the chains that the hooded man gave to them, making sure he could not escape.

 

Koenma excused himself from his chair as he made his way towards the front of his desk, knowing it was best not to get too close to the rattled demon. “So, you are part of Yoko Kurama's thief guild.”

 

Looking up through his visor and dark cobalt bangs, Kuronue contorted his face to that of a furious frown as he stayed there upon the tile floor. “What do you want with me? Why didn't you have your renegade Spirit Detective kill me?”

 

Koenma couldn't help but looked confused for a moment, “Renegade Spirit Detective?”

 

“You know who I speak of,” Kuronue growled through his tightly clutched teeth. “The male detective with slick black hair and he goes by the name of Sensui!”

 

Having the name Sensui grace his ears prompted Koenma to inhale sharply seeing as how Sensui seemed to disappear without a trace years ago. “Are you saying Sensui actually captured you?” Pointing to the ogres that brought in the bat demon, Koenma couldn't help but ask, “Who was it that brought you this demon?”

 

The two creatures looked at one another with a mirror shrug before looking back to Koenma. “We don't know. He kept his hood up and over his face. We didn't get a good look at him.”

 

Koenma didn't know what to say to this for it was all too confusing especially concerning the tape that Sensui left with and the questions he bothered him with almost daily. Shifting his attention back to the angered demon, Koenma sighed through his nostrils before kneeling upon one knee to at least be able to look the demon in the eye. “Tell me who you are.”

 

“That's none of your damn business,” Kuronue grumbled, keeping the same furious look he had before.

 

“You know Yoko Kurama, don't you?” Koenma pried trying not to falter in appearance. “I want to know where he is and where his slave operation is located.”

 

“Sensui destroyed it,” Kuronue answered half truthfully not wishing to sell out his friend. “There is nothing left of our hideout or some of our slaves.”

 

Koenma flinched at the sound of that, knowing that Sensui would possibly be brash in killing everyone and everything, but he knew the legendary thief wouldn't give in so easily and the two were almost equally matched in strength. “Where is Yoko Kurama? I know he is alive and I know you know this.”

 

“I told you before, you son of a bitch, I am not telling you!” Kuronue hissed with a snap of his fangs. “Now let me go!”

 

“We cannot let you go, demon, because you are apart in the human trafficking,” Koenma replied before hefting himself upright. “This has gone on long enough and we want it to stop. Humans are not slaves. They belong in Human World, but your friends have overstepped that boundary for long enough. If you refuse to help us in the matter, we will be forced to keep you here or destroy you if need be.”

 

Kuronue knew he couldn't stand being there in Spirit World and he couldn't handle his own punishment in the human salve operation his friends and him had dealt in for so long. He was immediately reminded of Nari and Okuro and became worried over what may happen to them without him there beside them. But he refused to speak up on the subject knowing Spirit World wouldn't make things easier on him if he announced his attraction to a woman that was still considered human even if immortal.

 

The teenage ruler headed back to his seat before taking it to write upon a piece of paper that rested upon his desk. “Since you don't want to cooperate with us, I will be forced to keep you withheld here until further notice. When you want to talk up and decide to, then we will determine your fate. Take him away.”

 

Kuronue tried to break free or at least lunge at the ruler of Spirit World though was stopped thanks to his restraints and the ogres that dragged him off to where he would be contained until Koenma said otherwise.

 

“Lord Koenma, you don't expect for that beast to actually speak up, do you?” George wondered from behind the chair he felt safest even after Kuronue's departure.

 

“No, I don't,” Koenma sighed, closing his eyes to think a moment on the situation before reopening them slowly. “He is obviously a loyal member of Yoko Kurama's guild and doesn't want to tell me where they relocated after Sensui's attack. I know Sensui is a strong former detective, but I doubt he is that strong to take on the legendary thief in Makai.” Turning his chair around so that he could look out at the night sky forming just outside his windows, Koenma continued, “But I feel he is hiding something and a part of him wants to tell us. I don't know what it is, but he looked worried there for a moment—maybe it's nothing, but we will find out in due time.”

 

George followed Koenma's gaze, but said not a thing knowing how important it was to Koenma to end this case of women and men disappearing all over the earth and being dragged to Makai to be nothing but slaves under demon control. And what was worse of all, these humans being slaves to the strongest and most ruthless demons in all Makai.

 

 

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Nari could barely handle the walk anymore that they made through the mountains as Yoko Kurama took it slow for some reason to the far north with his slave and her son. The cold around the ice capped mountains was really getting to her and the sorrow she had felt for the past three days of traveling at her master's speed was beginning to wear her to the point of just collapsing and giving in to death's grip that felt as though was circling about her body.

 

The demon could see that Nari was slowing up and she threatening to just roll over and die right at the very spot they were at. Knowing she could make it regardless being Nari was immortal, Yoko Kurama knew they didn't have time for this and so he just scooped her up into his arms without a word to her before heading quickly through the rugged mountain area being they were almost there.

 

Nari closed her eyes, not questioning her master's generosity at the moment seeing as she was too tired to care to. A single tear made its way through her closed eyes as her heart began to pain her once more over the thought of Kuronue being dead and not coming to rescue her as he promised he always would. It made Nari's heart grow colder at the mere thought of living in Makai forever without him and at the moment she wished more than ever that her heart would just stop beating not even caring to think of her son she held.

 

Hurrying through the next thicket that embraced him once more, Yoko Kurama dashed as quickly as he could from tree to tree towards the large power clutter he could feel not too far away now. That has to be them, he assured himself as the trees were now just a green and brown blur to anyone to look at the scenery at his speed.

 

The crashing of a waterfall woke Nari soon enough as the three of them finally made it to the serene clearing consisting of tropical like foliage and the large crashing waterfall that rested a mile high at least. The constant whispering and talking back and forth between the many demons halted when the silver fox finally made his entrance once he was through the bushes that were in his way.

 

“There he is!” A male demon remarked, as everyone cheered with relief to see him alive.

 

“We thought for sure that human had gotten a hold of you,” Suzu remarked as she slithered her way up towards the fox demon. Seeing the female woman within his arms and the runt as well prompted the snake to hiss a bit and show her distaste in Nari and Okuro being alive. “You kept the bitch and her runt, I see.”

 

“Of course I did,” Yoko Kurama remarked, putting Nari back on her feet when she showed signs of being awake finally. “I didn't make her immortal for nothing. Besides, I couldn't let Sensui get a hold of her seeing as he could have used her to ruin us.”

 

Yomi watched everyone celebrating Yoko Kurama's safe return from a tree he was leaning against with his arms crossed, looking not too happy at the moment. His narrow eyes seemed to squint in an inner rage though he was quick to hide it once he pushed himself from the tree he was at. “Welcome back, Yoko Kurama. I thought for sure you were done for. And—where is Kuronue?”

 

The sound of his friend's name struck a slight cord of pain Yoko Kurama thought he would never feel in the long years he had lived. His grin turning into a serious frown, the fox shook his head slightly, “He is dead. Sensui killed him as we tried to make our escape.”

 

Everyone inhaled surprisingly at these turn of events both human and demon alike. The demons among the guild were worried while Yomi and Suzu seemed to smirk inwardly about the situation and direct their attention upon the frightened and equally saddened Nari who leaned on her child for the support she wanted.

 

Putting on a sorrowful face for the fox's sake, Suzu turned around towards Yoko Kurama as she leaned upon him to offer her condolences. “I am so sorry, Yoko Kurama. I know how close you and Kuronue were.”

 

Shrugging off the snake demon slightly since he was not in the mood, Yoko Kurama stepped forward. “That doesn't matter now. There is nothing we can do about these unfortunate turn of events. But we can rebuild what we lost and that is what we will do. I don't care if it takes years and endless days and nights, we will get our hideout back the way it was.”

 

“And how do you suspect we do that?” Yomi asked almost pessimistically.

 

“We will work together to get back a land to call our own,” Yoko Kurama answered, turning his attention to his now right hand man. “I know I can count on you above anyone else to help me lead this so that we can get finished faster and back to what we had.”

 

Yomi couldn't help but smirk at the title he felt was being handed to him with Kuronue now deceased. But he knew building tirelessly for days and nights was not his style and he was more for fighting than for working on the way up when it came to building something so trivial to him, “How about I do you one better? I know that just down the river from here there is a small water demon tribe that lives within a building that is slightly different and larger from our last one, but will do just as fine. How about we take over their land for our own seeing as we were wrongfully forced out of ours?”

 

Yoko Kurama could only think on this one with his hand cupping his chin in thought. “How strong are they? Did you scope out the area while I was away for so long?”

 

“I took the liberty of looking around when I assumed you were dead as well as Kuronue, so I know everything about the land. They are lower class beasts and will be easy to defeat,” Yomi insisted with a wide grin. “So, what do you say?”

 

Looking at the demons around him that seemed obviously pumped for the mission Yomi had probably psyched everyone up for while he was gone, Yoko Kurama nodded. “Alright, we will do it. But we will not attack today. I am worn from the travel and not at my peak at this time. It is best we wait until tomorrow when everyone is rested.”

 

Nari dangled the necklace she made for Kuronue in front of her to see that the side had been broken thanks to the necklace having seen better days and giving out on the bat demon. It broke—how did the chain break? Sitting down a moment, Nari put Okuro on the ground so she could tie the pieces together knowing she would have to look for a better chain.

 

Okuro watched his mother carefully from just over her shoulder as he stood behind her a moment. “What are you going to do with the necklace?”

 

Tying a small knot into the chain where it broke, Nari looked at her son with a weary and brief smile. “I don't know…I guess it can go to you as it was intended to be in the first place.” Slipping it over her son's neck since it was still big enough to fit around his skull and slide down to his neck, Nari stroked Okuro's peach colored cheek with her index finger. “There—your father would want you to have it.”

 

Cupping the tear drop shaped pendant that had his mother's blood within it, Okuro looked back at her still confused about everything that went on. “Mommy, what happened to him?”

 

Nari sniffled a bit, eyeing the crowd of demons still getting riled up about the production of their new hideout before looking back at her son. Pulling some of her unevenly cut tresses behind her ear, Nari gently grabbed onto Okuro's hands, “Baby…your father isn't coming back.” Having to admit that out loud forced Nari's voice to break instantly but she tried to keep herself under control for her son's sake. “He is—he is somewhere against his will because that guy back there with the black hair really hurt your father and he can no longer be with us because of it.” Nari couldn't bear to tell Okuro that Kuronue was dead so she reframed from saying that word to him.

 

“But—he said we were leaving,” Okuro remarked, looking up at Yoko Kurama.

 

“Well, sweetie,” Nari grumbled, looking at Yoko Kurama through her tears of anger, “you should know that he lies and to never listen to him. He is nothing but a worthless demon and if I had the strength and power, I would kill him myself.” Reaching for Okuro, Nari held him close to her as she kept her furious look set upon the silver haired demon's back wishing for his demise more than anything at that point. I will get you for this, Yoko Kurama…I swear that I will get you for not saving Kuronue and letting me be with him.