7
Evil Moves In
7
Evil Moves In
Lights inside the castle walls were turned off one by one as midnight befalls on Reikai. Chandeliers were left open on the halls creating a dark eerie glow that blends perfectly with the unfazed stillness of the palace.
A ray of pale moonlight accentuated the dark interiors of an office room, reflecting the gold trimmings of an open book sitting on a mahogany desk. The old pages were ruffled as a strong gust of wind blew from the slightly open window. It finally came to rest on the third page. The cold, bluish light stood witness as black ink started to form figures of what seems like a bunch of words.
The book is starting to write yet another prophecy.
The words, so simple yet so firm. It wrote
THE POWERS WILL CALL ON THEM.
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" I’ll be back later or tomorrow morning, I’m gonna get some clothes and buy some fresh fruits for you.", Kuwabara said. He eyed Yukina worriedly. He had never seen her so weak.
" You don’t have to buy a lot for me. Genkai has enough here.", Yukina said. She smiled fondly at the big guy.
" Oh no, I would really love to offer anything to you.", Kuwabara said, his edged face turning crimson.
Yukina’s red eyes flashed merrily at the blushing young man.
" Kazuma, would you keep this for me?", she asked, holding out a strangely designed staff.
Kuwabara took it in his hand and inspected its creepy designs. He nearly dropped it as he felt the staff warming on his hands.
" Where did you get it?", he asked, eyeing the relic she had given to him. Its snake-like engravings looked so real.
" It was owned by my mother.", she lied. " I want you to keep it until I get well."
Kuwabara nodded, slipping the scepter inside his backpack. " Anything you say, Yukina."
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Hiei stood behind Yukina’s close door. He wanted to ask her why she called him her brother. How did she knew? Who told her? Was it Yusuke? Kurama? Or did Botan slipped?
He was about to push open the door when Kuwabara stepped out, his ugly face appeared wooden.
Hiei narrowed his eyes at the towering moron. Kuwabara, on the other hand, ignored him completely. He walked out into the main hall without any word.
" Hn!", Hiei went inside and saw Yukina sitting upright, her tired eyes gazing at the woods nearby.
He silently sat himself beside her. She didn’t move, her gaze fixed at the trees outside.
" How’re you feeling?", he asked. It was an honest question. He was really worried about her.
" Fine.", was the curt reply.
She probably doesn’t want me here, Hiei thought. He scolded her harshly a while ago, lying to her about him. She had insisted that he was her long-lost brother.
Hiei clutched the pearl beneath his shirt, finally deciding to go straight to the point. " W-Why did you called me your brother?"
Yukina spun her head and looked directly at him. " Because you are."
Hiei’s widen as he saw her light features transformed into darker ones. He gasped as a hideous third eye materialized on her forehead. " H-how ?"
" See? I told you.", she said, her usually soft voice now sounded like a cackling witch. " Nobody told me, Hiei, if that’s what you think. I knew all along. "
She shot him an accusing glare. " Why do you keep on denying me? I’m your sister. You’re twin sister!"
Hiei stared at her, his mouth hanging open. He never thought that she would be like him. All the while, he thought she’s the opposite of what he is. Kind, sensitive and compassionate. Qualities he obviously had no problem with.
But he never wanted her to be like this. Is he the reason? Did he drove her with the same fury in which he grew up with? The anger of being shunned, deprived of the love of his own family?
Hiei suddenly felt a sickening headache. His skull felt like it was being sawed in half. He covered the sides of his face as a deafening sound invaded his ears. " Aauuuuurghhhhhh . . . .", Hiei felt his hands going numb, his legs stiff. " Y-Yukina, what’re you doing?"
Yukina smiled. " Let’s play a game, my brother. One plus one?"
Hiei raised his eyebrows. Had his sister gone insane? Suddenly, he felt something twitched. He looked at his hands. Hiei stared in horror as his fore and middle fingers raised all by themselves.
" Close, Open, Close, Open.", Yukina chanted.
Hiei’s small fingers curled then uncurled.
" Perfect.", Yukina looked satisfied. " I think you deserve a reward."
A rush of cold breeze blew as Hiei felt a dark mist enveloping his right arm. The mist thickened, forming an ornate armlet, covering his entire forearm.
" I think you need some sleep." He heard her say as he started to feel drowsy. He felt powerless and fell into a deep sleep.
Yukina watched the fire demon. " Rest, my brother.", she murmured. " You’re going to have a big job ahead of you."
She shifted her gaze at the twinkling stars. " It’s time."
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Youko Kurama glared at her. His golden eyes glowing. " You’re going to pay! You’re going to die!"
She screamed as he took a step toward her. Menace shone through his stare.
Without warning, he leapt onto her and wrapped his hands around her throat. Choking her. Killing her.
" H. .e . . . lp", she gasped for breath. She can’t breath. Black spots appear before her eyes. I’m gonna die. I’m gonna die. . .
" Botan?" A voice. So calm. I open my eyes and saw a pair of worried green eyes.
" K-Kurama?"
He was seated at her side, stroking her face with his gentle hands. " Are you okay?", he asked.
" I-I had a dream . . .", Botan said. Her purple eyes tinged with fear. " Y-You’re killing me."
Kurama appeared shocked.
" You were a Youko. You said I have to pay.", Botan was confused as to why she’s being so open to him. She willed herself to keep her mouth shut but some force seemed to make her talk.
" I had a dream, too. A few minutes ago. Just before I heard you scream.", Kurama said quietly. Looking straight a her. " Youko Kurama’s attacking me. Like we weren’t the same person."
Now its Botan’s time to looked shocked. " Does it mean anything, Kurama?"
" I don’t know but I have a bad feeling about this.", he replied seriously. " But then again it maybe a coincidence."
He tucked her in and kissed her forehead lightly, making her cheeks flushed a bit. " Now remember, it’s all a dream, besides we’re just next door. Nobody will hurt you."
He smiled and started for the door.
Botan watched his back. " K-Kurama . ."
The red-haired young man spun around. " Hmm?"
" C-Could y-you stay?", she asked nervously, fidgeting with the hems of her blanket. " C-could you stay here with me."
" Botan . . .?", Kurama started.
" Please?", she pleaded. " I-I’m scared."
Kurama saw her purple eyes. They were indeed shrouded with fear. He nodded and smiled. " Okay."
Botan looked surprised and delighted at the same time. She moved a bit, providing enough space for him. But she saw him laying a sheet on the floor for himself.
" Kurama . . . Here." She looked at him shyly, patting the soft mattress beside her.
Kurama gave her a surprised look. He considered the thought. A young man and a young woman sleeping in one room is dangerous enough. How much more sharing the same bed? That thought played across his mind. Self-restriction when it comes to women wouldn’t be easy for a man , humans and demons alike, in this type of situation.
" Uh. . . The floor’s cold and hard . . . and um.", she stammered. The truth is she’s so scared she wanted to be sure that he would reach her just in time.
Kurama seemed to understand what she wanted to say as he grabbed his sheet and lay beside her. Botan had never slept with a guy but this is an exemption. He’s a good friend and she needs him for protection. Besides, Kurama’s a gentleman, not to mention incredibly cute. She felt comfortable around him. And with his disciplined ways, she doesn’t think he would take advantage of her.
A cold breeze blew from the window. Botan shivered and pulled the blanket up to her chin.
" I guess this is a good idea. If I was killed by the youko then you will go tell the others where my cadaver is.", Kurama joked.
Botan punched him lightly on the arm. " Stop it! I don’t like that kind of conversation."
Kurama grinned. " To tell you the truth, I’m more concerned about your boyfriend killing me the moment he saw us here."
" Boyfriend?! I don’t have a boyfriend.", Botan said quietly.
Kurama tried to hide his smile.
" How about your girlfriend?", she piped in. " Hope she won’t barge in and pull my hair, scratch my face or something . . ."
" Oh, don’t worry. She won’t come.", Kurama said lightly, noting her disappointment out of the corner of his eye. " Because, I don’t have one . . . . yet."
Botan blushed wildly. He’s not talking about you, you bitch! She silently scolded herself. Thank goodness, it’s a bit dark in here. But then she stopped herself. She suddenly felt something. She blinked at the shifting shadows.
Kurama watched the deity. His expression soften as he noticed her purple eyes darting from side to side as if waiting for something . . or someone to grab her neck and kill her.
He reached out and wrapped his arms around her. He wanted her to feel that he’s there for her.
Botan didn’t shrug him off. She knew that Youko Kurama and Suuichi Minamino are one and the same. But they have two different personalities. Besides, she has to have somebody here with her in case anything happens. Her dreams never failed her before. And she felt so secured his arms . . .
" Are we going to get over this dream, Kurama?", Botan asked, her voiced muffled.
" Hhmm." Yes. That’s it Botan. Trust me. Intense green eyes glinted as he felt her hands tighten around his chest. He stroked her soft blue hair. " Yes Botan, we will." I will, he silently added, his lips twitched at the last thought.
" Don’t worry. Everything will be JUST fine." , he said, an evil grin creeping across his handsome face. He lifted his eyes and looked straight ahead, silently calling on something in the dark.
A figure stepped out of the shadows. Revealing a pair of gold eyes and long, straight, silver hair, his thin lips flashing an identical evil grin towards Kurama.
8
" When are you going back to the dojo?", Shizuru asked her brother as she plopped her coat on the sofa and made her way into the kitchen.
Without a word, Kuwabara went to his room and opened the window. He gazed outside, his usually comical face now wears an unreadable expression.
" Kuwa? I’m asking you . . .", Shizuru turned around, surprised that he didn’t bothered to answer.
She followed him to his room, pausing just outside the opened door. He must’ve been hit hard by Yukina’s condition, she thought.
" Look . .", Shizuru started. She doesn’t know how to approach this situation for even she was very much depressed by the recent developments. " I’m going to . . um, the office and I’ll file a leave so that I could spend time with Yukina until she’s okay."
Shizuru stared at Kuwabara’s back. She wasn’t use to him looking so glum and serious. " I was about to ask you a while ago if you could wait for me so that we could go back there together tomorrow morning."
Silence.
" Kazuma . . ."
" I’m not going back . .", he murmured.
" Hmm? You’re saying something?", she asked.
" I SAID, I’m not going back!", he yelled.
" What?!", Shizuru asked, his harsh reply stunned her. Normally her brother would be the first one at Yukina’s side. " W-Why? . . Uh . ."
" I have far more important things to do!", he said indignantly
Shizuru’s definitely not prepared for that one. For all she knew, Yukina was the most important thing for him. Even more important than himself, studies and sometimes more than his own sister. She stared at his brother’s face. Unreadable. Dim. So . . . strange.
" I-I don’t understand . . Are you sure you’re not co . ."
" Didn’t you hear me?", he cut her off and glared at her, his eyes flashing. " I DON’T CARE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO OR NOT. I AM NOT GOING! GET THAT!? . . OR DO YOU WANT ME TO SPELL IT OUT FOR YOU?"
Shizuru backed off and went out of his room. She had never received such statements from her brother nor has she been threatened by him. What could’ve possibly happened ? She was wrong to think that he was deeply affected about this whole thing. She now realized it was more than that.
From then on, brother and sister didn't share a word to each other. Shizuru watched silently as he took his dinner to his room, left the dishes in the sink, use the bathroom, watch television, and finally shutting his door firmly as if he doesn't want to be disturbed.
A few hours passed and darkness set in.
Shizuru re-entered her brother’s room. Instantly, something bad hovered nearby. A lump formed in her throat as she caught a fleeting figure out of the corner of her eye. She turned around and noticed something sticking out of Kuwabara’s backpack. A rod?
She took it out. Its old designs intrigued her.
Its . . a scepter!
Shizuru’s eyes searched her brother’s sleeping form. Where did he get this? It looks very old . . and creepy too.
She stiffened as she felt danger lurking nearby. It seemed invisible, something an ordinary human won't feel. But whatever it is, she knew its serious.
Without thinking, she took the scepter and tiptoed out of the room. She put on her coat and made her way to the dojo.
The place is so quiet. Everybody must’ve been resting now, Shizuru thought as she climbed the steps into the front door.
She was about to knock when she noticed something in the garden. A short woman with curly light pink hair.
" Master!", she called.
No answer.
" Master, it’s Shizuru.", she said. " I need to tell you something . ."
She gently placed her hand on her shoulder. She’s cold!
" Master . .", she was about to turn her around when . .
" Ohhh!!", Shizuru sucked in her breath as Genkai’s body fell on the ground like a rag doll.
" Master G-Genkai ?", she breathed. Her eyes wide as she stared at the old woman’s body. It was hard. Frozen. She saw crystals forming on her mouth.
" W-what happened here? What’s going on?"
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" Kazumaaaa . . ."
Cold breeze entered the room as it envelops a huge sleeping form.
" Wake uppp . . ."
He stirred.
" It’s time . ."
He opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling.
" Kill . .", the chilling voice ordered.
He sat up and stared straight ahead.
" Kill . .", the voice repeated.
He stood up and opened the window. He stared at the glistening nightlights from the city not far from his home.
" Kill. ", Kuwabara echoed, his lips curved in a devilish grin. " Kill! "
He went out into the cold night. His feet seemed to have a mind of its own. Taking him to places. To a narrow road. Across a bridge. He then took an alleyway where he saw a bunch of kids his age having some meeting.
" Oh yeah. First victims", he murmured, his face twisted like a madman.
" Well, well, well. Look who’s here . .", one of the guys sneered at the approaching Kuwabara.
" Oh, if it isn’t Yusuke’s stupid sidekick.", jeered the shortest one.
Kuwabara gave them a warning glare.
" Oohhh. Feisty!", A tall guy with a gash on his left cheek hissed.
Kuwabara held out his hand.
" So, what’s that, pighead?" , a brown-haired guy mocked. He turned to his friends. " He’s a loser, man."
But one of them urged him to look back. The gang stood dumbfounded as a shining sword formed.
Kuwabara slashed off their necks in an easy swift. The five thugs staggered aimlessly as blood spurted from their noses and necks, crying like helpless kittens.
Kuwabara grabbed one of them and brought his bleeding neck to his lips. He sucked in the blood. Sipping all of it, draining the thug's cadaver until he was filled. When he was finished, he looked up at the bright moon with blank, white eyes, smiling. His tongue licking the sides of his mouth.
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Koenma stared in horror at his video screen.
" Kuwabara . .?", he swallowed hard as he saw him marching from one street to another, finishing every person he ran into, men or women, old or young. He had been trying to contact the others and see what they’ve been doing but the screen had turned blank. Each of them, except for this. Except for Kuwabara.
He glanced at his assistant. George stood beside him, his mouth hanging open.
" George!"
" Uh . .?"
" I’ll put you in charge here. I’ll go to Ningenkai.", he stated.
" Uh . . sir. I forgot to tell you . ."
" What is it?", Koenma asked impatiently. He remembered then that just before Kuwabara’s face flashed on screen, his assistant came rushing to his office to deliver an urgent message from his father.
" Your father . . He’s sick. Very sick. He wants to talk to you.", he informed.
Koenma stared at his assistant in disbelief. " Are you sure that’s the message?"
" I confirmed it twice sir. That’s exactly what he had told me"
That’s impossible, he thought. His father never got sick.
" Tell my father, I’ll be right there.", he ordered. " I just need to find out what’s going on in Ningenkai."
He arranged his papers when he noticed the golden book open. He stared at it. Who opened it? His eyes widen as he saw a new script.
The powers will call on them, it said.
He took a step backward as he saw blood-red ink puddling on the page. It started to form something, he realized as he saw letters being formed one by one. So this is the way this sentences were written, he mused.
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Keiko smiled and leaned against his chest, breathing heavily after that long simmering kiss. She had always wanted him to kiss her like he just did. More aggressive. More passionate.
" Keiko", Yusuke murmured as he tighten his arms around her, gently stroking her fresh-scented hair.
Keiko closed her eyes and wish and that this would go on forever. She knew that this is not the first time they had spent their moments like this. But somehow it feels, different.
" I know we don’t agree on a lot things but I guess I should say that this seaside date wasn’t so bad.", she whispered, her eyes still close as she felt the cool evening breeze on her face. " I hope you won’t change, Yusuke."
She felt him jerked, then mumbled something.
" Yusuke ?"
" I’m going back to Makai."
" Hmm?"
She opened her eyes and gasped. Her boyfriend’s holding a bird in his hands. Gripping it tightly. The helpless bird struggled.
" What are you doing?", Keiko asked. She shrugged his hands off her. He stared at her brown eyes. His expression sinister.
She gasped as she saw an ornate ring appeared in his finger. Where did it come from?, she mused. An energy resembling his rei-gun radiated from his hands. The bird was surrounded by a ball of energy field. She gaped in horror as the animal’s eyes stared at her with empty eye sockets. Its blood gushed over Yusuke’s hand.
She stared back at her boyfriend and saw a devilish grin creeping his face. "Y-Yusuke?"
She took a step backward and gagged as he saw him bit the bird’s head off. He wickedly grinned at her, his teeth making a grinding sound as he chewed in the rotting meat.
" I’m going back to Makai, Keiko.", he said. Red liquid spilled the sides of his mouth. " And guess what?"
" W-What?", she forced herself to ask. Her knees are trembling now.
" I’m going to kill them all.", Yusuke said calmly.
Keiko shuddered, staring at his unwavering brown eyes. She took another step backward, tears welling up in her eyes.
" Saw that bird, Keiko?", he continued. " that’ll be them."
He stared hard at Keiko, reaching out to ran the tip of his fingers on her arm. " Though I think humans tasted much better."
Keiko found herself running. Yusuke’s sardonic laugh echoed in her ears as she ran away from the beach.
9
Keiko rushed inside the house. She called her friends’ names, opening every room. Where is everybody, she thought desperately. Her body shivered as she recalled Yusuke’s cold, hard stare. She had never seen him stare like that before.
She opened the door at the back of the house and gasped at the sight that greeted her. Kurama and Botan sleeping side by side. She blushed. Kurama and Botan? When? . . How?
She closed the door. No matter how much panic she felt right now, she doesn’t know how to approach the two knowing she had caught them in such an embarrassing situation.
The other side of the house may be her only hope. Faint sounds invaded her ears. She peeked at the slightly opened door of Yukina’s room. Keiko saw the ice maiden sitting. Then she heard a deep voice. Hiei. She smiled. She was about to enter when she heard of a raspy voice, " You have to go now and build the fortress, Hiei. In no less than a day, the three worlds shall be destroyed, giving birth to a new one.", Keiko held her breath as Yukina paused dramatically. " The evil world!"
Yukina burst into a maniacal laughter, blending perfectly with Hiei’s. The chilling duo sent shivers down Keiko’s spine.
Then suddenly, Yukina turned her head towards the door and looked straight at Keiko. The brown-haired girl gasped as she saw her wearing the same dark expression as Yusuke’s. Keiko scrambled to her feet and ran outside. She’s not sure where she’s heading. She doesn’t care. She wanted to warn Kurama and Botan about it but her feet just kept on going, leading her deep into the woods.
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Kurama watched as Urameshi’s girlfriend closed the door with a blush on her cheeks. " Nosy girl! ", he muttered. Now he have to carry out his plan earlier than he had wanted it to. He’ll have to deal with that human later. Certainly she got the idea that him and Botan are together now. He glanced at the blue-haired girl beside him, looking so peaceful and contented.
Keiko’s not mistaken if she got that impression. We are together, he thought, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. Even we still have to settle that issue, he knew she felt the same way. " But not for long, my love, not for long.", he whispered. " Pretty soon you’ll have to rest. ", he snickered as he planted a kiss on her forehead, then her cheek.
Botan stirred as she felt Kurama’s soft, warm lips on her skin. She smiled up at the young man beside her. He looks really handsome with that unruly blood-red hair of his, she thought dreamily. She returned his hug as she was enveloped in a wave of his scent.
She felt thrilled as he started to nuzzle her neck. He smelled heavenly, like the scent of freshly cut roses. " Kurama", she whispered as she wound her fingers through his soft, straight, silver hair. She gasped. Silver? Her eyes wide open now, she pushed him away and jumped quickly to her feet.
She was almost out, when he called softly. " Botan? D-did I do anything wrong?"
Botan stopped and turned around. She saw long red hair flowed on Kurama’s anxious face, his medium frame sitting on the edge of her bed. He had changed to Shuuichi again. Or . . had she imagined it altogether? She stared at him, debating within herself whether to rush out the door or rush to his arms again.
" Am I going too fast? ", he asked, his voice tinged with emotion.
Instinctively, Botan’s hands went up to her temples, her eyes closed shut. It must’ve been her imagination, she thought. When she opened them she found herself staring at Kurama’s green eyes, his face inches away from hers. She backed out a little. Still unsure if she could trust him.
" Don’t you want me, Botan?", he asked, his pained eyes boring into hers.
She knew deep in her heart, she wanted him.
Without a word Kurama slipped his hand into hers and led her outside. For some strange reason, she couldn't will herself to pull away from his grasp.
Botan's mind seemed to float as he brought her out into the woods where a small garden of flowers bloomed. He pulled a blood-red rose from his hair and handed it out to her. Almost immediately, she felt comfortable. How could she doubt Kurama? She looked at him dreamily. That nightmare of hers must’ve turned her into a paranoid.
Kurama returned her smile, eyeing her dreamy expression. Almost wishing she’s not the youko he’s been longing to make revenge to.
Kurama took her in his arms and gently pressed his lips to hers. Botan’s hands flew to his neck. Kurama deepened his kiss. She felt his arms rubbing her back. Suddenly she felt something prick at her side. She flinched and reluctantly pulled away. But she can’t. She looked down and saw vines wrapping itself around her body.
She looked at Kurama inquiringly. " I just wanted to make sure nobody would take you away from me.", he whispered huskily, pulling her closer.
Botan smiled. How romantic, she thought. She stroked his chin gently and allowed herself to be kissed again. After a few moments, he pulled away but he kept his arms around her. She sighed and rested her face on his chest.
" Ouch!", she yelped as her cheek hit on something hard. She fingered a hard, rectangular object beneath his shirt. " What is this?"
Kurama quickly grabbed her hand. " Nothing. Just an old necklace." He stroked her hair. " I love you, Botan. I think you deserve to know whom I loved before."
Jealousy flashed across Botan’s face. Does he have to tell her about that?
Kurama pulled her against him. " Back in Makai, I had someone named, Ayuri. I was, like you all knew, a heartless youko. But she taught me what love is. I fell in love with her. I gave her everything. Even to the point that I risked my own life. Did you know what she did in return, Botan?"
Botan raised her eyes at him. He was staring at her strangely. " W-What?", she managed to ask.
" She betrayed me.", he said harshly. " She used me and fooled me!"
Botan shivered as she saw hatred burning in his eyes.
Suddenly, she can’t breathe. The vines were starting to tighten around her. Her pulse starting to quicken as she pounded her fist on Kurama’s chest. " K-Kurama you’re hurting me."
She gazed deeply into Kurama’s eyes. Their colors seemed to change, their green hues fading. Botan suddenly realized she’s staring at Youko Kurama’s golden sight.
Botan shrank back, suddenly frightened. She started to push him away. But Kurama held on to her, slowly drinking in her spiritual power.
Within seconds, Botan went slightly limp. Devoid of all active powers, Kurama let go of her.
Botan fell to the ground, her purple eyes watched Kurama as he slowly turned into a youko.
Kurama stared down at her. " You should have known that no matter how much I lived a normal life as a human, I could never change myself from being a heartless Youko." , he said, his eyes flashing. " I could kill you now if I want to, Botan."
Botan backed away from him. Her heart was racing now, her legs felt shaky. " K-Kurama . ."
" Do you want to play, sweetheart?", he asked.
Botan shook her head. Tears welling up in her eyes.
" Oh, c’mon it’ll be fun." Kurama prodded.
" N-No please . . .", Botan begged.
" I don’t take no for an answer, Botan.", Kurama rasped.
" Run . . .", he whispered, advancing toward her. " Run . . ."
Botan willed herself to stand up and ran away from the cruel kitsune.
She treaded her way into the deep forest without any sense of direction. All she wanted to do was to get away from him. As far away as possible. She looked behind her shoulder. He’s nowhere in sight. She was about to turn her head when she bumped into something. She screamed as Kurama’s green eyes greeted her. " Having fun?"
" Please . . . Stop this . . .", Botan pleaded.
" Oh, I don’t think so. Look at you. You’re doing so well.", Kurama said. His voice dropped to a threatening whisper, his hands holding on to her waist. " We can’t stop now."
Panting hard, Botan stared intently at him, studying his face, searching for the truth in his grave emerald eyes.
" Do you know who you are, Botan? Have you seen a woman who look just like me? A youko?", Kurama asked coldly.
Botan stood in his arms shaking in fright. But she heard him clearly. How did he knew that I was dreaming about a female youko? Did he initiated that dream too? She thought.
Kurama brought his lips to her left ear and whispered. " Do you know who she is? Do you know who’s the traitor I’m talking about?" Botan shivered at the iciness of his voice. " She’s you!"
Botan struggled to free herself from his grasp. " W-what are you talking about?"
" She’s you, Botan.", Kurama insisted, glaring at her accusingly.
" You’re mad!", Botan yelled. She broke free and ran, tears flowed down her cheeks.
Kurama’s laughter seemed to echo all around her. Totally shaken, Botan ran faster. Farther. Deeper into the woods.
She was running for a while now when she felt her knees weakening. Taking a short moment to catch her breath, she rested her palm against the willow’s trunk. The bark felt cool, damp and smelled faintly of mold. The tree rustled. She jumped and pulled her hands away from the trunk but she was too late. The branches wrapped themselves around her arm.
Kurama stood a few feet from her, eyes closed. He was once again in his youko form. He has a purple rose in between his fingers, holding it against his nose.
" You’re confused as to how in the world did Ayuri ended up being you.", he started.
" Let me explain. You already died in Makai after your village has been attacked. But I was able to give you a fraction of my energy to help you revive again. Your sister was very angry at me. She doesn’t trust me. She didn’t know that you will revive so she brought you to the past through a time warp. You were brought to the exact place a few hundred years back. But you died anyway so she must’ve given you a blessing that would at least send your soul to Reikai. Which is, of course you may think as impossible. But it is. Your real father was a good youkai who served the spirit realm before. Your soul was thrown into that world and just like me sought shelter in an unborn child. It was perfect timing. You grew up in a totally different environment.", Kurama stated. " But I know deep in your heart you are the same."
" My powers at that time aren’t enough to help you regain your memory once you were born again.", he explained. " But I guess it works to my advantage."
He opened his eyes and gently kissed the purple rose. He tossed the flower at Botan’s feet and ordered his plants to release her arm. She was hurled to the ground. She gingerly took the rose in her hands and cried.
" Now you know. Then you must die!!", Kurama roared.
Botan scrambled to her feet and ran to the opposite direction. She’s still dazed about the story he told her. But it was the least of her concern. Botan realized that he’s indeed playing games with her. Constantly changing his form. She knew what he’s trying to do. He wanted to drive me insane, she thought mournfully. Tears stung her eyes.
She stopped in her tracks, seeing an old cemetery loomed ahead. She scanned the burial ground and the low stone wall enclosing it.
She looked over her shoulder. Trees swaying. Branches shifting, leaves rubbing against each other. It sounds like whispering voices, she thought fearfully.
In a split decision, she dashed to the cemetery. I’ll be safe here, she thought. Much safer with rotting corpses than in Kurama’s arms. She saw a mausoleum ahead.
Something rustled in the hedge behind her. She jumped. Without looking back, she sped down the walk and into the mausoleum through the rusty gate.
Botan freaked at the cold interiors. Demon-like creatures adorned the marble pillars. Her eyes widen at the sight of a tomb with old-fashioned engravings on it. She shivered. She was about to leave when she heard a twig snapped. Without thinking, she closed the mausoleum gate and locked it.
" What took you so long?"
Botan jumped as Kurama, in his human form, stepped out of the shadows.
Botan gasped. His eyes glowed golden-green like a cat in the dark. An eerie, supernatural green that radiated evil. Botan’s mouth went dry as terror shot through her.