This is chapter 6 of my YYH fanfic "Before & After." Constructive C & C are
welcome. Have fun reading!
--Shuuichi Minamino
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BEFORE & AFTER
Ch 6
""...I'm gonna be
The keeper of the flame
You won't forget my name
Wait and see I'm gonna be
The keeper of the flame...
Someday you'll know my name...
Wait and see
O I'm gonna be
The keeper of the flame..."
-"Keeper of the Flame" by Martin Page
It was a peaceful, though rare, afternoon in the Makai forest. A
boy, dressed in white clothes that matched his beautiful silver hair and
pale skin, was wandering around in the forest. This was one of the darkest
part of the forest, where not even the strong sunlight could penetrate.
Kurama's body seemed to glow in the dark with silver light while his eyes
glowed with soft golden light.
Kurama took few steps forward and then took a few more steps toward a tree
at his left side.
<Sniff>
A mysterious smile apeared on the boy's breath-taking face. Moving like
like wind itself, Kurama jumped to the top of the tree and looked around for
a minute or so.
*There! There it is!*
Resting on a branch few feets from the tree where the little boy was
standing on, was a little Makai bird. Its feather was sky-blue and its four
wings shined with the color of jade. Despite its rarity, this little bird
is also a symbol of good fortune in the Makai.
Kurama had been tracking this bird for more than a month, but the
little thing was fast and smart. The littly youko had almost given up on
the idea of owning his very own lucky pet, but after days, as if playing
with the little youko, it appeared again. This time in front of the little
youko, as calm as ever.
*OK! This time I'll get you for sure.* Kurama challenged the bird
mentally.
For a little bird, this one is definitely brave enough to look at
Kurama, as if it had heard his challenge and given him the same arrogant 'I'm
waiting' look.
Kurama look at the tree the little bird was standing on for a
moment. Afraid that he might scare the bird away, he ordered the tree's
leaves to move silently around the bird and formed a fence around it.
*NOW!*
The leaves closed around with the speed of light around the little bird
like a man's palm. This time the little bird didn't have the time to
react and escape.
"HA! I told you I'll get you eventually!" Kurama said happily. He then
climbed down from the tree and quickly ran to the tree where the bird was
being held. He knew that he must hurry. Those leaves would not be able to
keep the little bird in them forever.
Just when he reached the tree, the little bird had somehow managed to
escape from the cage formed by the leaves. It quickly flew away
with its four wings.
"Oh, damn." Kurama went chasing after it. He was not about to
give up right now.
Just when the little bird flew through the branches of trees, a
hand shot out from the branches and grabbed the bird.
"Ah-ha! I got you!" A cheerful voice sounded from the hidden branches. A
figure jumped down from one of the trees and quickly flew away.
"Hey, come back with my bird!" Kurama went chase after the
figure. *Damn, he's fast, faster than I am.*
After half an hour of chasing. Just as Kurama thought that this 'thief'
was about to get away with his bird, the figure suddenly stopped to Kurama's
surprise. It was a tall boy, taller than Kurama by inches, but just as
slender. The boy slowly turned around and faced Kurama.
"What do you WANT !?"
Kurama staring up into the taller boy's eyes. Although he was
angry, he couldn't help to notice the taller boy's eyes are bright purple
color. Rokuso's eyes are purple too, but they are dark, as dark as night
fall. "I got the bird first."
The boy looking down at him, snarling, "yeah right, how come you
didn't catch it. In the Makai, whoever catch something first, the thing
then belongs to him."
"Hey, I've been followed the bird for a month. And I DID catch
it."
"It escaped, so it didn't count."
"Give my bird back!"
The boy looked at Kurama for a moment, as if couldn't believe what
he just heard. Then he began to laugh.
"My! Do you know anything? Didn't I just tell you that in Makai
whoever get a thing first then it belongs to him?"
"I don't care, it's my bird." Kurama reached to grab the bird from
the boy's hand. The boy took a step behind then grabbed Kurama by his
wraist. The smaller boy screamed in pain. The taller boy quickly let go of
his wraist. Kurama fell to the ground.
"A weak and pretty thing like you shouldn't be wondering around in
the forrest by yourself and tried to fight with someone who's stronger
than you over a small animal." The boy lectured Kurama with a tone of an
elder.
"I found that bird first." Kurama said weakly.
The boy rolled his eyes upward. Then sat down beside Kurama.
"Hmmm......silver hair, golden eyes, snow white skin. A very beautiful
young youko boy. Do you live with, what's his name, Rokuso?"
"He is my father. How do you know?" Kurama stared at the boy in
alarm.
"Hey, calm down. One of my friends' father does businese with
your father."
"Give my bird back."
"How pathetic. I heard that Rokuso is a very powerful youkai.
How come he has such a weak and stupid little kid as his son? By the way,
he cannot be your father. He isn't a youko."
Pain arouse in Kurama's chest. He put his hand on the ground.
"He is my father." Suddenly, strange, ivy-like plant exploded around the
taller boy from the ground. Threatend to strangle him.
The taller boy was shocked for an instant, but then quickly gather
his youki. White flame swirled around him. Long blond hair flew upward.
The plant around him disappeared in the flame with a scream. Kurama stood
up with a long sword made up from a leaf, facing the boy. The boy faced him
too. They both stared each other for a period of time.
"Ok, I'm sorry about what I said. Put down your weapon." Kurama
did what the boy asked him to do.
"Let us sit down." The boy sat, and invited Kurama. Kurama
hesitated for a minute. Then sat across the boy.
The boy looked at Kurama with interests, "ok, what is your name?"
"Kurama."
"How old are you?"
"Thirteen."
"You don't look like thirteen. You are so thin and small. You
look like an eleven-year-old child."
"I do not." Kurama felt like killing the boy again.
"Ok, I'm sorry, again. My name is Hakuya, which means White
Night. I'm going to be sixteen pretty soon."
"Oh."
"Kurama, do you want to be friend with me? Although you are
really weak, but I don't want to make enemy either." Hakuya was so proud
of himself talking something so profound.
"Oh."
"What you mean oh? Do you want to be friend with me?"
Kurama seemed to be confused. Hakuya was disturbed by this, "have
you ever had a friend before?" Kurama shaked his head, "Rokuso told me
that friend is who share the same interest and goal with me, but I've
never seen anyone like that."
"Well, friends don't have to be like that, friends can be simply
someone you play with and talk to."
"Really? Then is Rokuso my friend? He plays with me and talk to
me."
"Well, I guess so. And how come you still need your father play
with you? You are old enough to find your own friends. You shouldn't
play with your father anymore. Only very very little kids do that."
"Rokuso plays with me first."
"Really? Whatya play? Ride horse and hide-n-see?"
"Well, we play riding horse. But I don't like it, it hurts. And
we play mouth to mouth..."
"Your father kisses you?" For some reason, Hakuya looked a bit
ill.
"Hm.....what's kiss? You don't look well. You sick?"
"No, you mean you father kisses you? I mean mouth to mouth?"
Kurama nodded.
"That is sick..." Hakuya mumbled.
"What?"
"Nothing.....nothing."
Kurama looked at Hakuya curiously. "You so funny, you have a
golden horn on the top of your head and golden hair."
"Well little one, you have golden eyes...and silver hair and
silver ears. You look funny too."
"You talk wierd."
"And you don't even know anything."
Kurama decided this 'friend' thing is really wierd. Although he
kidda like it. Suddenly he remembered something.
"Hakuya, I...I have to leave. Or my father is going to get mad at
me."
"Well, just tell him you've met someone."
"No no no! You don't understand. He'll punish me...." tear
forming in Kurama's large golden eyes. His voice panicked.
Hakuya was more disturbed by this scene. "Kurama.....errr....is
your father...hmm....abuse you?"
"Huh?"
"No, nevermind. You'd better go back then."
"Oh." Kurama turned away.
"Hey Kurama. Can we meet sometimes? Do you play here a lot?"
The little youko nodded.
"Listen, come here tomorrow ok? I'll be around here all day."
The little youko nodded again. Then turned around.
"Er, Kurama."
"Huh?"
"Here, you keep it." Hakuya took out the bird from one of his
sleeves and handed to the youko.
"It's yours..."
"It's ok, I want you to keep it. As a present from a friend ok?"
Kurama nodded. Then turned and hurried his way back.
Hakuya stood there thoughtfully. Then shake his head sadly.
**************************
"Father, father! I got back on time. And look what I got!"
Kurama was so glad that he made it back on time. He couldn't wait to show
the bird to Rokuso.
"Father...?"
Heavy breathing sound echoed in the room. A tall, dark figure
sitting in the large chair at a corner of the house. His face was
completely hidden in the shadow. Watching this, Kurama panicked.
"Father..."
"Kurama, come here."
Kurama put the little bird on the table. Then slowly, timidly
walking toward the dark corner. He was scared.
"Father.......did I...do anything wrong? Please don't be mad...."
he begged his father.
"Take off your clothes."
------------------Chapter 6 End (TO BE CONTINUED)---------------
--Shuuichi Minamino
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* "J'aurais "I would have wanted *
* voulu ne pas mourir. not to die. *
* J'aurais voulu I would have wanted *
* ne jamais grandir. never to grow up. *
* J'aurais I would have *
* voulu me casser l'ame." wanted to rend my soul." *
* *
* ~Cirque Du Soleil ~Circus Of The Sun *
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