Kurama Loses His Memory: Enter the Little Brown Youko
Part III
by Erikka Gallas and Gillian Passovoy
Hiei slowly rose from the dark waters of unconsciousness. The first thing he noticed was that he was lying on a hard, cold stone floor. The second thing he noticed was the feeling of small hands moving through his hair.
"Gerroffa!" he snarled.
"Hey!" cried Koko, as he hopped away from the grumpy Koorime. "Is that any way to treat someone who's trying to check for injuries?"
"It is if it's a damn annoying fox kit," Hiei muttered, getting up.
"I don't see why you have to be so mean to me," Koko sniffed.
Hiei didn't dignify that with an answer. Instead, he looked around, trying to figure out where that crazy lady had dropped them. The room itself was dark, only lit by a few torches that didn't help dispel the shadows, and only pointed out that the room was much larger than it first appeared. And if the dust on the floor was any indication, it hadn't been used in a long time. The only disturbances in what had to be at least three inches of undisturbed dust were Koko's child size footprints, the imprint that Hiei's body had left, and...
There were several sets of footprints leading to the far side of the room. Not all of them were humanoid. In fact, one of those sets looked more like tentacles than feet. Koko was already following them, while skipping and humming a small ditty under his breath. Hiei's sharp ears could just barely make out the words "eye-to-eye" and "I can get you, you can get me."
Not wanting to be outdone by a child, Hiei levered his aching body upright and followed the trail as well. For awhile, the scenery didn't change, except for the occasional giant cobweb. The darkness and silence of the place was oppressive. Koko had long since fallen back to hover by Hiei's side, no longer looking quite so cheerful. They continued to walk down what seemed to be an endless stretch of room, with nothing but a few torches to light the way.
Eventually, Hiei and Koko spotted light up ahead. Koko squealed happily and raced toward it. Hiei muttered and followed. That kit was going to get them both killed like that! He ran after the little kitsune, who had reached the border of the small circle of light and stopped. Hiei took a breath to start berating him, then stopped short, seeing the illuminated space.
Thousands of candles flickered in the darkness, giving a shifting but steady light. As the flames moved in some breeze only they seemed to know of, the shadows seemed to dance in a frenzied but hypnotising pattern, as if alive. In the center of this was an open casket, made of silver and crystal, inlayed with jet and onyx. The inside was cushioned with black silk, which made the pale body lying peacefully inside stand out all the more.
"Kurama!" Hiei exclaimed, running to his lover. Frantically, he checked his vital signs, and breathed a sigh of relief when he felt a strong and steady pulse. Looking down into the peaceful face of his lover, he gently shook him...then not so gently. "Kurama! Wake up!"
Koko leapt up onto the side of the casket to look at his cousin. "Wow. He looks really pretty. Now I see why he can get you to hit youkai for him. Why won't he wake up?"
Hiei looked worriedly back at his beloved fox. Then he pulled off the ward over his Jagan and closed his seeing eyes. Then he opened them with a start. He couldn't get in! It was like he didn't have a mind anymore! Now that he thought about it, he couldn't feel Kurama's ki anywhere.
"I see you've found our little toy."
Hiei and Koko spun around to see Korishinzo standing a few feet away and grinning evilly at them.
"What did you do to him?!" yelled Koko angrily.
"That's part of the game. His soul is gone, trapped in the heart of the Dragon's Eye. If you want your dearest Kurama restored to you, you must first find the Eye, then take it to the throne room and place it on top of the staff that was forged for it. And you must do this within an hour's time. Otherwise, we keep Kurama and his soul to be used in leading armies against warring kingdoms."
Hiei snarled up at the woman before him. "What can you use him for? One soul and body? That's not enough power for anything that big!"
"His experience and his ki. As for the body, the queen has teken a...fondness...to it."
Hiei snarled silently. He suddenly wanted nothing more than to take his sword and cut the bitch's head off.
Suddenly, a rock whizzed past a startled Korishinzo's face. "Rats!" muttered Koko, "I missed!"
Korishinzo glared at the child in sudden anger. "As for you, little one, if you lose, you belong to me! And just to make things interesting..." Her hand shot out, and a ball of ice gray ki hit the little youko. Koko screamed in pain and fear as the spell took effect, then dropped him, sobbing, to the ground.
"My ki! She stole all my ki!" he wailed.
Hiei glared at Korishinzo as he went and scooped up the frightened in his arms. Koko, glad for the comfort, snuggled there and looked angrily at the Magikai captain of the guard. Korishinzo only laughed.
"One hour, my little pawns...starting now!"
The sudden blast of light made Hiei tighten his grip protectively on the fox. When he next opened his eyes, they were back at the entrance to the castle.
The door slammed shut behind them. Hiei and Koko stood back to back in the darkened room. The tapestries of dark maroon fluttered in an unearthly breeze from no window that either could locate. Around them were various glass cases and stands, each displaying staffs and royal sceptres. Every one of them was different, crafted from fine metals and embellished with several rare jewels. K-ching! Koko thought briefly. Mommy would be REALLY proud if I managed to bring home one of those. It'll be really special if I bring back the one meant for Kurama!
Hiei's crimson eyes darted to and fro. He didn't like this place, and it was teeming with the serveral unseen owners of very hostile ki. They were no doubt the palace's army. He drew his sword from beneath his cloak. Koko was poised and ready with his slingshot.
"Come on out!" he called into the dim shadows.
"Looking for this?"
The two whirled to find a tall woman standing behind them, her silver-streaked ebony hair in a ponytail at the top of her head. The coldest gray eyes looked tauntingly down at them. In her hands was the Dragon's Eye. The silver-green streaks inside of it flickered frantically, struggling for freedom.
"'The jewel of the empire...'" murmured Koko.
Hiei's eyes widened. "Kurama!"
Kuroishinzo let out a wicked laugh that echoed in the chamber. "The fox won the game. He was the only one out of hundreds to find the treasure of the Magikai, the Dragon's Eye. Indeed you are right little one, he has become the jewel of the empire...my jewel."
Koko growled, showing his tiny kitsune fangs. "Let him go!" he screamed, dropping the slingshot and leaping for the Queen.
He found himself dangling, held in place by one strong hand. He kicked and squirmed, mananging to see Hiei's face. The youkai was holding his collar firmly, preventing him from getting to Kuroi or the jewel.
"What are you doing, Uncle Hiei?! I have to get Kurama back!"
"Stupid kit! That gem is a Soul Vampire. If you touch it, you'll won't be able to help him anymore, you'll be trapped with him!"
"That's correct, Hiei."
Koko hit the ground hard as Hiei's head snapped up, his grip loosening on his shirt.
"Ah! Itai!" Koko cried indignantly. "Nani...?!" He trailed off as he followed the Koorime's eyes toward a certain silver youko.
Kurama stood, one hand on his hip, his golden eyes fixed on the pair before him. He had a smirk on his lips that showed not a care for either of his would-be rescuers. "Kurama's soul belongs to my mistress now, and you will die."
"Remember to save me the child, Kurama," came another cold voice. Korishinzo appeared next to her sister, grinning. "He will be mine. But do not bother to spare the Koorime. He is nothing."
Hiei snarled something not very nice, again brandishing his sword as the Queen's army began pouring into the room. Kurama directed them to attack, his hand moving in a graceful gesture. The dozens of youkai swarmed to obey, raining blows toward the overwhelmed fire demon and kitsune. The two did the best they could to fight them off, Koko letting off surprisingly well-aimed shots from his slingshot whenever one got too close, Hiei tearing away at the soldiers with his blade and making an awful mess of the floors.
Kurama frowned as he saw his armies dwindling, and decided to take matters into his own hands. He pulled a brilliant rose from his hair, transforming it into the deadly whip he so preferred. He approached Hiei, who immediately noticed and took a step back. He still held his sword, but he made no move to attack his lover. Koko noticed this and shook his head. There was no way that Hiei would attack Kurama; the youko would turn him into chopped Koorime. However, he had his own problems dealing with the annoying guards who kept trying to chop his head off. He just snarled words someone his age shouldn't know and knocked them silly with more stones.
"Uncle Hiei!" he shouted, as Kurama took a shot at the fire demon.
Hiei ignored him, using his speed to carefully evade the youko's attacks. His feet barely rested on the ground as he danced away from the lethal thorned menace.
"Why are you running, Hiei?" Kurama purred wickedly. "It isn't in your nature to be passive. Come and fight me."
"Kurama! Listen to me! I came to help you!" Hiei yelled, flitting away from the RoseWhip. "You remember me now! Let me take you back where we belong!"
"I may remember you, but I don't belong to you. My mistress is the only one who can keep me," Kurama replied.
"Kurama! Nobody owns you! Have you forgotten that Youko Kurama is his own master? How can you let her control you?!" In his desperation, Hiei wasn't fast enough to avoid the kitsune's next strike. The RoseWhip tore through his cloak and into his upper arm.
"Uncle Hiei!"
Hiei faltered, but didn't drop his sword, nor did he fall to the next attack that came. He landed on Kurama's right side, dropping to one knee. In a flash, he tore off his scarf and hastily wrapped it around his arm to stop the flow of his blood. His burning eyes turned up to Kurama again, not sure what to do. He was almost positive that, thanks to that nasty woman, Kurama wouldn't even think twice about killing him. He had to do something, but what...?
"Hiei!!!"
Hiei looked up at the sound of Koko's voice. He had been outnumbered, and was now locked in Korishinzo's arms. One was hooked around his throat, the other holding his thrashing torso. He tried to pry the woman's hands off of him, but he was just too small. Hiei growled. It would be just like the stupid kit to get himself caught. Like he didn't have enough to handle with Kurama. And speaking of which.... Hiei dodged the next slice of the RoseWhip, his eyes darting between his lover and the kit, not knowing what the hell he was supposed to do now.
"There's no use struggling, kit. The Koorime will die by his lover's hands and then you and your cousin will belong to us!" Korishinzo mocked to the squirming Koko.
"No way! Uncle Hiei!" Koko screamed.
Hiei again dodged the silver kitsune. Kurama was relentless, attacking him again and again. Hiei swallowed hard, gritting his teeth. He would hate himself for this later... Drawing back his free arm, he rushed Kurama, slamming his fist into the youko's abdomen. Kurama's face read utter shock, his golden eyes wide. Hiei's guilt took over as his lover fell the the floor with a soft thud.
Let me out...Hiei...help me...
Koko paused in his struggling, his little ears twitching, straining to hear the tiny voice he would have sworn was coming from that huge jewel. Behind it, an angry Kuroishinzo growled her distaste of Hiei. The fire demon looked back at the fallen youko for only a second before turning back to rescue the annoying brown furball. Before he could take two steps, he was thrown back by a powerful blast of ki. He landed on his backside, skidding a little on the polished marble floor. Snarling, he got to his feet, only to be knocked away again. Kuroishinzo laughed wickedly as Hei rose to his hands and knees.
"That's right, Hiei, keep getting up! Be Kurama's little hero! I'll just keep knocking you down until you can't get up! Some little hero you'd be then!"
Hiei muttered obscenities, ignoring the ruler of the Magikai and rising once more. Koko renewed his fight to get out of Korishinzo's arms. Why couldn't Hiei just learn to stay down?! He wasn't doing any good by getting blasted to pieces.
Gotta get out...Hiei needs...help...
Koko's violet eyes fixed on the huge red diamond. The silver and green inside of it was flashing maniacally. The wheels started turning in the young fox's mind. Kurama, the real Kurama, was trapped inside that rock. Maybe if they could break inside...break through...break... But he had no ki, and what else could break a huge vampiric diamond? Why, a huge black lizard, of course!!
"Uncle Hiei!" Koko screamed as the Koorime again hit the floor. "The dragon! Use it to break the diamond!"
"Shut up, little fool!" Korishinzo hissed, squeezing his throat in her grip, making him squeal in surprise and pain.
Hiei sat up, looking at the kit then the diamond critically. "But Kurama..."
Koko ignored his reducing air supply. "I've gotten you this far, haven't I?! The only way to free my cousin is to break that rock! Just trust me, Hiei, and do it!"
"I said shut up!"
Koko whimpered as Korishinzo practically crushed him.
Hiei looked doubtful for only a moment. Setting his ruby gaze on the Dragon's Eye, he drew his ki together. With the right aim, he just might be able to take out the two bitches who had dared to take away his Kurama! But Koko... One look into Koko's steady eyes told him to do what he had to. Kuroishinzo tried hitting him again, but the determined Koorime managed to dodge. His aura flared green and black, his Jagan burning through his bandanna, adding to the glow. The next attempt by the Queen was sucked into the whirling abyss that was Hiei's ki. The tattered bandages on his arm fell to the floor, the scream of Kokuryuuha echoing throughout the chamber. The two women stepped back, frozen in shock at the massive black dragon. It charged forward, plowing through everything in its path. Glass cases shattered from the force, sending glass and the metal of the staffs and sceptres reeling into the storm. Hiei tried to maintain some kind of control so that Koko wouldn't be hurt too badly, but found it was unnecessary as Koko sank his sharp teeth into Korishinzo's forearm. She screamed, dropping him to the floor. He wasted no time to catch his breath, scrambling as far away from the blast point as he could.
The room seemed to explode around them, rock and debris flying, screams and crashes swirling in the confusion. Above it all, the dragon's cries trumpeted victoriously as it ripped apart everything in its way. As everything started to die down, there was a sudden shatter, and shards of red crystal shot through the air, the room becoming bright with silver and green. Koko and Hiei watched, transfixed as the swirling black and silver resolved itself into the dragon's shape, coiled on the broken floor of the chamber. As the smoke and dust cleared, they saw that the dragon was curled protectively around something. Bright red hair spilled over a pale, white shirt, slender, muscular body laying amid the dragon's fiery coils.
"Kurama..." Hiei whispered, then collapsed.
Silence commanded the room for many long moments. Koko, the only one conscious, watched quietly as the dragon around his ningen cousin faded. He hugged his torso, sighing as he realised that his family was safe.
"Koko?"
The kit looked up at the sound of a familiar voice. Koko's eyes grew bright as a pair of warm, dark-skinned arms scooped him up.
"What took you so long?" he asked. "I had to help my Uncle Hiei beat the bad guys all by myself!"
The figure chuckled softly. "And you've done very well, I'm proud of you. Now let's take these two home so they can kiss and make up, ne?"
1998 Erikka Gallas and Gillian Passovoy and YYH respective creators. Koko and the twisted faeries created by Gillian Passovoy. Kimiyo created by Erikka Gallas
