Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ The Worthless Humans ❯ Shades of Gray ( Chapter 29 )

Author Notes: I have to say right now guys that I am more than tired with how I am being treated on some IM conversations. When I get on AOL or YIM the first thing that I get IMed with is if I have updated this story or when will I or when will I be well enough to do so or am I working on it as we speak.

 

Please do not add me on AOL/YIM if your only goal is to bug me about the progress of the story. I don't want that. My IM places are for meeting new people and gaining friends and for me to relax. This story is not my life—it's something I am doing because I enjoyed it but not when I am being bugged about it every waking hour. X~X

 

I am glad you love it and I love hearing that you do, but the constant IMs about when I will update is not needed. A nice `hello' or `how are you' is always a good thing to receive with online conversation other than about when I will update the story that I have grown tired of actually and have considered dropping because of lack of interest. I will update it when I want to or can. Deal? If you have to get it out of your system that you want me to update or when will I, e-mail me or leave a review—but please no more annoying IMs about it. IMs = pleasant chat/randomness/Role-playing/story questions or comments. No demanding on progress of stories. I hope that made sense. Thankies. =3

 

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The storm continued to rage outside all about Makai making it prompt Suzuka to hurry to his open window to work on closing it so that his papers on his desk would stop escaping through the rough winds blowing about. His arms frantically overlapped over the papers that were about to retreat from him before he managed to grab the window and latch it shut. Suzuka released a sigh of relief as he tried to put things back on his desk that he had managed to save from the horrible storm. Shishiwakamaru remained close by in the main room where Suzuka's belongings were as he looked awkwardly up at the ceiling as if to pretend he didn't see the narcissi's blunder.

 

“Dammit,” he hissed as he shook one of the damp papers in his hand that was soaking wet from the torrential rain. “That storm pretty much came out of nowhere.”

 

Shishi shifted his attention back down to the annoyed Suzuka as he shook his head from side to side, scoffing at his actions. “For someone who is supposedly intelligent, you sure make a lot of boneheaded mistakes.”

 

“Hey!” Suzuka growled as he looked over his shoulder at his partner while holding his messy papers in his hands. “I am an expert on weapons and potions to deal blows to enemies or to enhance someone's strength! I am not a weather demon!”

 

As Suzuka worked on drying out his messy papers he had on his desk in front of the window, a tapping sound echoed throughout the room catching both demon's attention. Both turned their focus on the window that Suzuka had previously locked to see the cockatiel back at the window, wanting in with an eager chirp.

 

“That bird is back again,” Shishi responded unenthusiastically.

 

“Don't just stand there, Shishi, open the window for Coo-coo!” Suzuka ordered as he kept his papers anchored down on his bed. He had been working on weapon designs for what felt like an eternity and he was sick of his progress being deterred. He couldn't afford more rain worsening the already smudged ink on the papers he now held.

 

Shishiwakamaru merely scoffed at Suzuka as he walked over to the locked window to allow the bird inside. The rough wind blew harshly inside of the room, almost forcing Shishi off of his feet as he managed to close the window and lock it once the creature made it inside. His lavender hair now soaking wet and tossed all about, Shishi only felt like standing there as he eyed the bird in disdain for now making his hair he took pride in to be a complete mess. He didn't care for human birds so it was a no wonder that he treated the poor creature's presents with such distaste. Throwing his tied back hair over his shoulder, the demon worked on ringing it out before eyeing the window once more that was threatening to blow open any minute now. “That storm doesn't seem natural to me,” Shishiwakamaru muttered almost inaudibly.

 

Suzuka looked back out the window where he could see the rain tapping furiously upon the tough glass as well as hear the wind howling just outside of his small home upon catching his partner's silent words. Humming in thought, he cocked a brow at the strange weather before extending his hand to the damp bird that just barely made it in the storm. “You are right…something about it doesn't seem normal to me. It's almost swarming in demonic energy.”

 

The cockatiel quickly fluttered over to Suzuka's outstretched hand as he perched there in between his thumb and index finger. His feathers puffed up, the bird shook his dampened wings and body to remove the rain droplets form them that had mated onto his form. The beak gripped firmly onto the letter Nari had written, refusing to release it unless to Suzuka who currently held him. Coo-coo's dampened talons gripped as tightly as they could onto the demon's thick skin as he continued to shake the water out of his feathered body with a low tweet.

 

“I see you have another letter for me,” Suzuka remarked to the bird, bringing him closer so he could retrieve it. “I have to say, that woman sure does write fast.”

 

The house pet that had tried surviving out in the wild of Makai looked at the demon with his deep brown eyes before dropping the letter in Suzuka's opened hand. Lifting his wings, the bird flapped out of the demon's hand and made it onto his desk there at the locked window. The storm interested the bird as he stood near the windowsill with his topknot erected.

 

Shishi moved out of the way of the flying bird as he made his way over towards Suzuka who was now sitting at the foot of his bed. “What does it say?” He asked out of curiosity as Suzuka continued to eye the letter before him.

 

“Well,” Suzuka sighed running through the letter, “to sum it up, she wants to know potions or plants that are odorless and can be used to either kill a powerful demon or knock them out for periods of time.”

 

“There are so many of those here,” Shishiwakamaru pointed out as he turned his back to Suzuka to grab something to drink in the kitchen that was in the opposite room. His sandals tapped against the wooden floorboards as he made it to the kitchen to get water for the time being.

 

“At least she summed it down. The last letter was way too broad in topic,” Suzuka criticized as he worked on organizing his papers that he had on his bed. “Now to get this mess together no thanks to the storm.” The blond haired demon could only groan at the messy papers that now had ink dribbles all over it no thanks to the rain. If anything, he knew it was going to be a long night to try and rework his papers.

 

 

 

 

The lightening forked in the gray clouded sky followed by a loud thunder roll. The wind was fierce and blowing through the trees, breaking some in its path as it continued about Makai. The slaves in the barn near Yoko Kurama's new castle flinched from the storm, wishing they could find a way to close the barred windows. The rain was cold to their bare skin as they lied there within the hay filled stalls they were forced to remain within. The Australian woman that was Nari's neighbor couldn't help but flinch at the sound coming from outside of the barn seeing as she wasn't a fan of big storms either and this one threatened to transform into a hurricane if need be.

 

“This storm is getting worse by the minute,” Sally exclaimed best she could over the roaring wind. “Why are our masters letting us sit in here!”

 

Felix in the stall diagonal to Sally looked through the door bars that kept him from escaping as he watched the storm closely from where he was kneeling. “Why should they care?” He wondered aloud, his hair getting blown about a bit. “They are slowly killing us as is.”

 

Okuro remained in the stall he was left within without his mother as he pinned his ears back to try and block out the horrible sound occurring outside. It was beaten into his mind that if he ever whined or cried that his mother or him would be punished so the mix dared not make a sound as he remained there upon the dampened straw. His coal black tail fluffed up as he brought it close to his side to try and get warm. That sound is loud…where did they take my mommy now…? Sighing sorrowfully at being alone in the stall, Okuro's ears remained there against his head as he closed his eyes hoping that the horrible noise would disappear.

 

Nari remained within Yoko Kurama's room as the demon seemed to sit there thinking in his chair still. The storm that had worsened over the hours caught his attention from time to time as he eyed the windows there in his bedroom to keep a cautious eye upon it. His silver ears shifted over to the glass that allowed him a peek into the outside world from time to time to show even if he wasn't watching the storm, he was listening to it.

 

The young Nari looked out the window on occasion to keep an eye on the storm as well, wishing she could go back to the barn to comfort her son she feared for. Her fingers running through her ratty hair, she sniffled back her sinuses wondering why her master was so content to just keep her inside at the moment. Normally he would have me stand outside to freeze in that downpour, she thought as she kept her eyes locked on the windows just to her left a few feet away. Considering what Yomi just told him, I don't know why he doesn't consider it.

 

Suddenly the clock in the room chimed the hour, catching the wandering ears of the fox demon as they folded back to listen to the deep ringing of the clock there upon the wall. His golden eyes gazed over his shoulder as Yoko Kurama made sure it was truly the hour he was eagerly awaiting. “I guess time really does fly,” he seemed to mutter to himself as he got to his feet with the chain in his hand. “Come here, runt.”

 

Scrambling to her feet, Nari headed over to the bed where Yoko Kurama ended up stopping at. She watched from where she stood in her naked form as the demon wrapped the chain up tightly there on the bedpost before turning to face her with his finger pointed at her as if to scold her.

 

“You are to stay put and not to move an inch,” Yoko Kurama ordered as his hard eyes narrowed at her to freeze her into place. “If you so much as try to escape like you have done, I will make you regret it like the times before.” When Nari threatened to look away from the demon in shame, he quickly grabbed onto her chin to force her to look back at him as his thumb nail raked across a scar on the side of her face she had gained thanks to one of his punishments with his plants.

 

Feeling his finger trace the scar as a reminder, Nari knew she couldn't glare at Yoko Kurama unless she wanted him to go ahead and beat her for her attitude. To keep herself from doing so, she slowly closed her eyes to try and keep her resentment to him under control.

 

Yoko Kurama merely scoffed at her as he released her face in the same harsh manner he grabbed it in. Turning his back to the human he had mistreated for his own amusement, the fox demon headed for the door to his bedroom to leave Nari there alone once more for the day. The thief demon headed down the right hall that curved around to the front where he promised he would meet this demon he had searched for earlier that day.

 

The doors to the front blew open as soon as Yoko Kurama stood at the last step to the main room's lower floor. The wind blew about the demon's long silver hair as he stood there at the foot of the steps refusing to falter under the severe storm that was still bellowing outside. A few of the thieves that were loitering about in the main room quickly left the area thanks to the severe gale and the foreign demon now standing there before them that was covered in the darkness that swarmed the outside and inside of the mansion once all lit candles were blown out.

 

Yoko Kurama merely smirked as he tilted his head downward ever so slightly. “I've been waiting for you.” The fox demon turned his back to the other foreign demon that was standing within the storm still as he headed back up the stairs. “Come with me—we have things to discuss before he returns.”

 

 

 

The storm remained persistent throughout the nightly hours that Yoko Kurama was away, leaving Nari alone still in the bedroom to watch and listen to it from where she was chained. To keep warm from the slightly chilled room, Nari stayed curled up on the plush bedcovers for the time being wondering what possibly could be taking her master so long. The next thunder roll and lightening strike catching Nari's attention, she looked over her shoulder at the lengthy windows to sigh sorrowfully in thought of her son remaining at the barn alone.

 

Why am I still in here? I need to be watching over Okuro. Yoko Kurama has no use for me, so why am I in his damn bedroom? Nari wondered to herself as she put some of her shaggy hair behind her ear.

 

The branches of the demon trees raked across the windows causing a tapping sound every time they beat against the windows. Some times their raking on the glass would cause shivers up Nari's spine as it almost sounded like nails on a chalkboard though she tried her best to ignore the sounds the storm was causing. She was mostly worried and concerned about what all was going on around her that made little sense. She also wondered if the bird managed to make it to Suzuka in time with that letter since the storm swept in a little after the house pet took off to the demon's home. There were so many thoughts rushing through her mind that it almost made Nari's heart leap from her chest from the overwhelming feelings.

 

The tapping on the windows behind her came once more and Nari ignored it until it seemed to get louder and become unrelenting. Looking back over her shoulder once more the young slave's eyes widened in surprise as she gasped at the pair of eyes she could see gazing at her through the night's darkness. They were all she could see for, whoever it was, was clothed completely from head to toe in black. The person blended in well with the darkness that surrounded Makai though the occasional lightening would outline his figure. The eyes gazing back at her were cold, just like any other demon and were sky blue and narrow indicating from the look of it that it was possibly another demon.

 

Nari threatened to scream, not trusting another evil creature nearby fearing he would try to kill her. But she kept a close watch on the demon on the other side of the window as he showed signs of wanting in by pointing to the latch that kept the window shut. Looking at the creature like he was crazy, Nari shook her head as she mouthed the word `no'. She dared not let an intruder in that was demonic, besides, if she did so, she could be punished if her master were to find out. “Get out of here!” She demanded in a hiss, waving her hand off to the side.

 

The demon refused as he remained where he was in the horrible storm, narrowing his eyes further at the human woman who wasn't making his task any easier. Raising his cloak that he was wearing up against the direction the rain was being blown towards, before fishing into his attire to pull out a piece of paper he was given to place against the window he was standing before to show to the woman on the other side.

 

Nari could just see the piece of white paper against the glass window. Wondering what could possibly be on the paper, she pried herself boldly off of the bed to look at the words printed upon it. The chain, however, that latched onto the bedpost allowed her to only go so far though far enough to look upon the sheet there pressed firmly before her so she could see. Seeing what was there made Nari's ivy green eyes widen in shock as they danced from the fourteen year old image of herself and the information that had been gathered up to the year she was kidnapped and dragged to Makai. Having to be presented this made her look into the eyes of the beast on the other side in disbelief. “What…how…!” She stammered wondering how a demon got a hold of that.

 

The demon put away the piece of paper once more before pointing back at the latch that kept the window shut. He was hoping this time that the woman would comply seeing as he was on a schedule here. He knew that the demon, Yoko Kurama, had gone off to raid and he only had so much time to perform his task before it was too late.

 

Nari was still hesitant as she looked from the demon to the lock that kept the window closed. If she let the demon in, Yoko Kurama would be able to tell and she would be punished severely for it. Looking back at the door that she feared would open any second now, Nari eventually found the rushing courage to quickly unlatch the window and step back to let the demon inside.

 

The cloaked demon helped himself inside once the window was obviously unlatched. The wind and rain entered with him, blowing out some of the candles that were lit there within the room. The feet of the demon touched the now dampened floorboards before bothering to shut the window he entered through behind him. His piercing eyes gazing at Nari next through the darkness of the room that now shrouded them both, seeing as the lightening and fire were the only light now. He walked towards the frightened woman slowly. The nameless demon watched closely as she scrambled onto the bed before bothering to speak. “You are Nari Kudo, aren't you?”

 

“What's it to you?” Nari asked defensively as she backed up into the center of the bed she sometimes shared with Yoko Kurama.

 

“I was asked by Koenma to come here and find someone by the name of Nari Kudo who was said to be in the great bandit's possession,” the demon explained as he stood far from the fragile woman. “My team and I tracked him down to this spot so I will ask again, are you Nari Kudo, the supposed fourteen year old in this slip of paper I showed you earlier?” It was hard for the demon to tell. The fourteen year old in the picture had short, board straight hair with a younger looking structure than this woman. This woman had wild, broken hair that was cut uneven with the longest strand reaching her lower back. Scars littered her body and her facial structure seemed much different than the girl on the paper.

 

Nari wasn't sure what to say to the demon that was awfully demanding to know who she was. It raised suspicion to her more so than hope, especially since she didn't know who Koenma was. Taking in a deep breath and releasing it through her nostrils, Nari eventually nodded. “Yes…I am Nari Kudo…or rather, used to be.” Remaining there upon the bed, Nari kept a close watch on the ominous demon in the dark room. “Who is Koenma and why does he care about me?”

 

“Don't flatter yourself, human,” the demon remarked coldly. “It's not just you he is searching for, it is all the others that have been taken from Human World. You just happen to be the one that came up first out of the ones taken.” The demon remained there against the wall facing the left side of the bed as his eyes kept a firm grip upon Nari's bare form. “As for whom Koenma is, he is the ruler of Spirit World. He watches over the people on earth and makes sure that Makai demons don't make it to Human World though he obviously failed.”

 

“So, he's God?” Nari questioned, not believing this to really be true after the hell she had been dragged through.

 

“I don't know what `God' is,” the demon smirked with a slight shrug. “What is `God'?”

 

Covering her face with her fingers, Nari could only sigh with a slight shake of her head. “Never mind,” she mumbled as she brought her hand away from her face. “What exactly is going to happen now? I have been waiting forever to get out of this hellhole with my son. Please tell me you are here to help!”

 

The demon remained silent where he stood and after awhile of silence, Nari was beginning to wonder if he was even still there. The nameless demon covered in the dark garb moved slightly to show he was thinking on what to say to her at the moment. “The problem is we are trying to think of a way to move in and get everyone out without having to engage in a fight with the legendary bandit for none of us would win.” The demon seemed to hate to admit that as he looked at the door not too far away with interest. “All I can promise you is that we will be watching closely from afar and awaiting our moment to strike. Koenma is trying everything he can at this point, especially if he hired us.”

 

“But—why not just help us now! You got this far!” Nari insisted, threatening to jump off the bed to grab onto the demon.

 

The sound of steps just outside of the door caught both their attention as the faceless demon was quick to head for the window and leave the same way he got in without another word on the matter. The wind blowing against the back of Nari's head caught her by surprise as she tried to keep her messy hair still until the window was closed behind the intruding demon. Nari wanted to run to the windowsill to call back to the demon that was asked to help the captured humans but the footsteps she could hear snapped her into trying to play off the scene as she curled up there on the bed, acting as though nothing went on within that room.

 

The door to the bedroom opened quickly as if to hint that the entering Yoko Kurama knew what had been going on while he was away. His golden eyes darted about the dark room wondering why the candles had been blown out as he closed the door behind him before heading further into his bedroom. Spying the outline of the stiff Nari there on the bedcovers, he made his way over to the window where he could sense and smell a foreign presents that had been previously. His eyes kept fixed upon the waterfall and trees that could just be seen off to the side before he bothered turning to Nari who he forced over onto her back with his sharp, demonic nails.

 

Flinching from the horrible pinching of her skin, Nari turned around to look at the demon that was soaking wet no thanks to the storm he had been out within. She feared something within his eyes but she said not a word while remaining where she was there upon the bed with her eyes looking into his.

 

“Tell me,” Yoko Kurama began eerily, “who was in here?”

 

“In—here, Master Yoko Kurama?” Nari questioned trying to pretend that she had no idea what he was talking about.

 

His silver ears pinning back against his skull in anger at her ignorance, Yoko Kurama grabbed tightly onto her throat as if to choke her as he bared his fangs. “Don't play dumb with me, you bitch! Now tell me who was in here while I was out before I ring your neck!”

 

Nari quickly grabbed onto the demon's wrists to try and lessen the pressure being put on her esophagus. Clutching her eyes shut tight, she tried to scream but couldn't with how much force he was putting upon her abused throat. Nari tried her best to claw at him seeing as her mind was racing and she couldn't think of any other alternative to attempt and escape other than through those means.

 

As Yoko Kurama attempted to get answers forcefully out of the disobedient Nari his left ear quickly shot towards the windows before bothering to look there himself. He could feel a demonic energy just outside of his window and growing by the minute. The sound of glass shattering echoed throughout the room as shards of crystalline stuck right into the area where Yoko Kurama was previously standing. The clever and strong demon had back-flipped away from the attack in time, landing with his knees bent and right hand pressed firmly against the red carpet beneath him. He was surprised—not expecting something that suddenly from just outside of his window.

 

The wind howled and blew the windows' curtains furiously with the one window broke allowing him a clear view into the outside storm. Yoko Kurama looked from the broken window where the attack came from to the floor where the aftermath now remained. Getting quickly to his feet, he hurried over to the shining daggers he could just see embedded within the flooring to remove one from the ground. “This—this is a piece of ice,” Yoko Kurama muttered as he looked at the thick ice shard from all angles. Growling furiously, he threw down the ice like dagger, causing it to shatter as he headed to the window to look out in the storm for any signs of the demon that could have caused it.

 

The demon that had attacked Yoko Kurama boldly remained up in the tree just overlooking the back of the mansion where the fox demon's room was located. His black attire helped him blend in as he tried his best to make his demonic powers nonexistent for the sake of remaining alive. The dark clothing he was wearing blew about in the rough wind though the thunder and torrential rain drowned out the flapping sound that it made as his piercing blue eyes looked over the building for just a moment knowing he couldn't risk gazing upon the strong demon any longer. We're trained to handle many things but not this…