The rest of the fights passed before her unfocused eyes in a bloody blur, the noises of the fighting and the rowdy crowd falling on her deaf ears. Only at the end of the battle, when Juri announced victory for Team Urameshi, did she seem to finally crash back into reality. Quicker than she had done anything in a long time, she stood and threw the hood over her head, racing past row after row, before even any other demon had started to make a move to exit. She reached the hallway leading to the lower levels, her feet walking the downward slope without her mind telling them to, and her head bent low. For a while it was quiet, before the rest of the patrons filed out behind her, filling the corridor with heavy footsteps and loud chattering. When she reached the end of the downward slope, she placed one hand on the wall for support and stood still, breathing deep. She could faintly hear the sounds of other demons muttering about her lack of movement, and how they had to move their fat asses around her petite frame.
After what seemed like eternity, only a few faint murmurs remained in the hallway, and she set out walking again, her eyes watching her feet from below the hood. She needed to reach a place where she could breath, and gather her thoughts, which were presently jumbled around in her mind, and she amazed herself she could even walk without running into somebody…
A little ways down the corridor, as unaware of the girl ahead as she was of them, walked Hiei, Kurama, Genkai, and in the front, Kuwabara, of Team Urameshi. The later was loudly boasting about how awesome they all were, and how Team Toguro should watch out, because they were going to get their asses kicked.
It seemed to happen without either party realizing, the woman and Kuwabara moved closer, in the same path, both oblivious of the other, Kuwabara’s teammates yelling warnings, but too late, the woman collided with his large chest, and bounced right back off, falling to the ground, her hood knocked off in the process. She gasped lightly as she fell, and lay on her side on the ground seconds before sitting up and touching her head lightly. She was definitely back into reality fully now.
“Ow...what the hell did I hit, a wall?!”
She muttered in a soft, melodic voice. Kuwabara and the others stopped, and a rough, masculine voice spoke to her.
“Oh man miss, I’m so sorry! Are you all right!? Let me help you up!”
And a large, strong looking hand was thrust into her peripheral vision, and she stared up at it’s owner, and those standing beside him. Her light pink eyes scanned them all, and she made no motion to accept the hand, and then her eyes met the large, sparkling emerald ones of the flaming red head Kurama, and she saw them widen in recognition and shock. They stared at each other for what seemed like hundreds, thousands of minutes, but was really only a measly two or three. He broke the silent tension that had risen first, whispering one single word only;
“Rose.”
Her body seemed to unfreeze at the sound of his voice, and her heart and mind both screamed at her to do the one thing she had wanted to do for sixteen years; run up and embrace him for all he was worth. But at that moment her mark throbbed painfully, and she forced herself up without assistance and turned and ran past them towards the open.
She could hear their footsteps echoing in the halls behind her, growing faster and coming closer, until a hand, soft, but strong, wrapped around her lower arm and stopped her short, whipping her around to face the owner. Kurama stood there, panting slightly, his wide emerald eyes searching her entire face, but mostly for eyes, for something, probably answers. His teammates stood silent behind him, watching the exchange unfold, curiosity rolling off of them in waves.
Kurama’s mind was racing at a faster pace than ever before, millions of questions forming in his head, so many thoughts, so many feelings…but only one seemed to make it out of his mouth.
“Rose…sister…why did you run from me?”
Rose’s mouth opened as if to answer, but closed after a few seconds pause. She could feel her mark tingle and knew what that meant, and her excitement and anxiety that had built up since she heard Yoko’s voice was slowly giving way to fear. She knew her mate would be around in a short amount of time, and would not be happy to see this.
“I…I can’t…it’s well…you see…beca-”
“HEY! Get your hands the ******** off of her!”
A loud, dark voice boomed, and Rose felt goose bumps spread across her skin, and Kurama dropped her arm, looking behind her at the man approaching. He was tall, easily matching, if not outdoing, Kuwabara in height. His skin was also pale, and he had a strong, extremely well muscled build that was visible beneath his tight black shirt. His pants and boots were black as well, and he too wore a flowing traveling cloak. His long, stern face featured thin lips, and cold, calculating dark eyes. His hair was long, thick, and midnight black, reaching his mid-back. Furry black dogs ears (think-Inuyasha!) twitched in agitation atop his head, a matching black tail swishing behind him.
“Who the hell are you to think you can lay a hand on her?! You have no business, no right!”
He barked out, coming to stand next to Rose and shoving her roughly behind him, where she stumbled to keep her balance and not fall. His eyes pierced into Kurama’s, as if challenging him to argue back. But instead of backing down, Kurama eyed him the same way, and spoke in a calm, steady voice, despite his hands being curled in fists at his sides.
“I have every right. She is Yoko Rose, younger sister to the thief Yoko Kurama. That is who I am. I have more right to her than you ever will.”
The man snorted with bitter laughter, smirking widely nonetheless.
“You? Have more right to her than I? Ha! I am the great lord Inutoshi, and she is my mate, and has been now for thirteen years! Mates rule over all other relationships, every demon knows that. You died and left her alone, and I saw the one who saved her and comforted her. You lost your claim to her, and I never want to see you in her presence ever again, or I will personally send you back to the seventh hell where you should have gone all those years ago.”
His voice was hard and final, and he whipped around, grabbing Rose roughly by the arm and dragged her behind him. Despite knowing better, she turned around to face him, her eyes meeting his again and a fleeting look passing through them that tore at his heart, a look screaming at him to help and protect her like he used to. Kurama made no move, and they stared at each other until Inutoshi growled lowly, and dug his nails further into her arm, and she looked away from Kurama, knowing better than to disobey any further.
After what seemed like eternity, only a few faint murmurs remained in the hallway, and she set out walking again, her eyes watching her feet from below the hood. She needed to reach a place where she could breath, and gather her thoughts, which were presently jumbled around in her mind, and she amazed herself she could even walk without running into somebody…
A little ways down the corridor, as unaware of the girl ahead as she was of them, walked Hiei, Kurama, Genkai, and in the front, Kuwabara, of Team Urameshi. The later was loudly boasting about how awesome they all were, and how Team Toguro should watch out, because they were going to get their asses kicked.
It seemed to happen without either party realizing, the woman and Kuwabara moved closer, in the same path, both oblivious of the other, Kuwabara’s teammates yelling warnings, but too late, the woman collided with his large chest, and bounced right back off, falling to the ground, her hood knocked off in the process. She gasped lightly as she fell, and lay on her side on the ground seconds before sitting up and touching her head lightly. She was definitely back into reality fully now.
“Ow...what the hell did I hit, a wall?!”
She muttered in a soft, melodic voice. Kuwabara and the others stopped, and a rough, masculine voice spoke to her.
“Oh man miss, I’m so sorry! Are you all right!? Let me help you up!”
And a large, strong looking hand was thrust into her peripheral vision, and she stared up at it’s owner, and those standing beside him. Her light pink eyes scanned them all, and she made no motion to accept the hand, and then her eyes met the large, sparkling emerald ones of the flaming red head Kurama, and she saw them widen in recognition and shock. They stared at each other for what seemed like hundreds, thousands of minutes, but was really only a measly two or three. He broke the silent tension that had risen first, whispering one single word only;
“Rose.”
Her body seemed to unfreeze at the sound of his voice, and her heart and mind both screamed at her to do the one thing she had wanted to do for sixteen years; run up and embrace him for all he was worth. But at that moment her mark throbbed painfully, and she forced herself up without assistance and turned and ran past them towards the open.
She could hear their footsteps echoing in the halls behind her, growing faster and coming closer, until a hand, soft, but strong, wrapped around her lower arm and stopped her short, whipping her around to face the owner. Kurama stood there, panting slightly, his wide emerald eyes searching her entire face, but mostly for eyes, for something, probably answers. His teammates stood silent behind him, watching the exchange unfold, curiosity rolling off of them in waves.
Kurama’s mind was racing at a faster pace than ever before, millions of questions forming in his head, so many thoughts, so many feelings…but only one seemed to make it out of his mouth.
“Rose…sister…why did you run from me?”
Rose’s mouth opened as if to answer, but closed after a few seconds pause. She could feel her mark tingle and knew what that meant, and her excitement and anxiety that had built up since she heard Yoko’s voice was slowly giving way to fear. She knew her mate would be around in a short amount of time, and would not be happy to see this.
“I…I can’t…it’s well…you see…beca-”
“HEY! Get your hands the ******** off of her!”
A loud, dark voice boomed, and Rose felt goose bumps spread across her skin, and Kurama dropped her arm, looking behind her at the man approaching. He was tall, easily matching, if not outdoing, Kuwabara in height. His skin was also pale, and he had a strong, extremely well muscled build that was visible beneath his tight black shirt. His pants and boots were black as well, and he too wore a flowing traveling cloak. His long, stern face featured thin lips, and cold, calculating dark eyes. His hair was long, thick, and midnight black, reaching his mid-back. Furry black dogs ears (think-Inuyasha!) twitched in agitation atop his head, a matching black tail swishing behind him.
“Who the hell are you to think you can lay a hand on her?! You have no business, no right!”
He barked out, coming to stand next to Rose and shoving her roughly behind him, where she stumbled to keep her balance and not fall. His eyes pierced into Kurama’s, as if challenging him to argue back. But instead of backing down, Kurama eyed him the same way, and spoke in a calm, steady voice, despite his hands being curled in fists at his sides.
“I have every right. She is Yoko Rose, younger sister to the thief Yoko Kurama. That is who I am. I have more right to her than you ever will.”
The man snorted with bitter laughter, smirking widely nonetheless.
“You? Have more right to her than I? Ha! I am the great lord Inutoshi, and she is my mate, and has been now for thirteen years! Mates rule over all other relationships, every demon knows that. You died and left her alone, and I saw the one who saved her and comforted her. You lost your claim to her, and I never want to see you in her presence ever again, or I will personally send you back to the seventh hell where you should have gone all those years ago.”
His voice was hard and final, and he whipped around, grabbing Rose roughly by the arm and dragged her behind him. Despite knowing better, she turned around to face him, her eyes meeting his again and a fleeting look passing through them that tore at his heart, a look screaming at him to help and protect her like he used to. Kurama made no move, and they stared at each other until Inutoshi growled lowly, and dug his nails further into her arm, and she looked away from Kurama, knowing better than to disobey any further.
