Amaranth

Warnings: Gen bend, lots o’ confusion, and Karasu.

Pairings (for this chapter): Yusuke/Kurama, Karasu/Kurama, Prince Yusuke/Shuichi, Kuronue/Yoko

NOTE: Ok, so this is the chapter in which things may start to get confusing. It will become clearer as the story progresses but for now I just wanted to remind everyone that we are in an alternate dimension and therefore there are alternate versions of everyone. Up to this chapter you know of Karasu, who killed his alternate version, Kurama, who is a human woman (Shuichi) and married to Yusuke, Yusuke, who is a prince, Raizen, who is alive, and Yoko and Kuronue, who are still thieves. Hopefully that straightens things out for right now.

“speaking”
‘thinking’
/\/\/\/\ Scene change /\/\/\/\/\/\
O time lapse/ change of POV O

Amaranth

Chapter 3: Sickness

Yusuke growled softly as he faced off with the SDF members. Hiei, Kuwabara, and Yukina all stood beside him, ready to attack if their opponents made any moves. “This isn’t what we need right now.”

“Hn. You knew we were going to have to deal with them sometime.”

“Yeah, I was just hoping it would be after we got Kurama back.”

“Don’t underestimate us, Mazoku!” the female member shouted.

“Natile, Ram, stand down.”

“Captain!”

Yusuke relaxed slightly, confused. “Huh?”

Sasoine calmly met Yusuke’s gaze while he addressed his team. “The Mazoku and his companions are not our mission right now. If they get in the way we’ll deal with them, but for now we will find Karasu and complete the mission given to us. Now, let’s move.”

Sasoine calmly turned his back, walking away from Yusuke. The other two began to follow. “Just know Mazoku, we wont be letting you back through the portal when we leave,” Sasoine said, not even bothering to turn around.

Yusuke smirked. “Wouldn’t have it any other way!”

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Kurama shivered slightly as the cold assaulted her bear flesh, Kidia, the aqua demon, having helped her out of her out the garment Karasu dared to call a dress. The fox gasped softly when rough hands grabbed her from behind, pulling her back against the person’s body.

“Even after so many battles your skin is still so soft,” Karasu whispered into her ear, running hands over her shoulders and down her arms to finally rest of her waist. Kurama tried to pull away, but the crow sank his claws into her flesh, making her bite her lip to hold back the scream that had formed in the back of her throat.

“Now, now,” Karasu purred. “I said I would make you mine, and I intend to do just that.” The crow roughly spun her around, pulling her into a bruising kiss. Kurama tired to push away from him again but only succeeded in making Karasu pull her closer. He plunged his tongue into her mouth when she screamed, felling the crow’s clothed erection against her stomach.

Karasu tossed Kurama onto the fox’s bed, pinning her down when she tried to scramble off. But Kurama didn’t fight him off. She was gasping, almost as if she couldn’t breath, and her eyes were glazed over, no longer focusing on the man looming above her.

“Fox, I don’t take well to tricks,” Karasu growled, although his grip on the redhead loosened slightly.

“No,” Kurama whispered. “No, th-that’s not…” But before she could finish everything went black.

O

“I feared this might happen.”

Karasu glared at the other demon who stood beside Kurama’s bed, gazing down at the unconscious fox. “You had best be able to fix it, or no matter how valuable you are, I will kill you, Aion.”

“Of course, my lord,” Aion said as he swept a hand through his waist length white hair, black eyes completely calm and unafraid.

“So, what is wrong with her?”

“Exactly what I warned you of when you wanted to first bring her here. Those of this dimension are compromising her existence. As long as the her in this dimension lives, she cannot.”

Karasu stared down at his fox, running a hand through the crimson strands. “So, Yoko must die.”

“Yes,” Aion answered. “But since Yoko never died in this dimension, Shuichi must be taken care of as well.”

Karasu growled in frustration. “Easier said than done. No one has been able to find Yoko ever since he began his exploits. Shuichi’s no better, wedded to that bastard demon prince!”

Aion bowed slightly. “Leave Yoko to me, my lord.” As for Shuichi, why not send an assassins?”

Karasu snorted. “Do you really think a mere assassin will be able to get through Raizen’s security?”

“Exactly,” Aion answered. “Let the assassin gauge Raizen’s security. Once I know what we’re dealing with I will be able to get not only an assassin through, but your whole army. And then, not only will your Kurama survive, you’ll have Raizen’s head.”

Karasu thought for a moment, hand massaging his jaw. Even after three years he still wasn’t used to not having his mask on. Glancing from Kurama to Aion he said, “Do it, Aion. I haven’t worked this hard only to have her taken from me now.”

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Kuronue smirked as he lay in the soft grass, basking in the sun.

“Out here again?”

Kuronue looked up at the voice and smiled when his gaze met Yoko’s golden one. “Come on, Yoko! Life’s good, so why don’t you lay down and relax a little?”

Yoko seemed to consider the bat’s proposal. Just as the fox began to nod her suddenly doubled over in pain, gasping in shock. “Kuronue,” he gasped out.

“Yoko?” The bat sat up quickly. “What’s wrong?”

“You’re going to need to catch me.”

Kuronue shot forward just the fox fell forward.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

“Mommy!”

Shuichi smiled as her daughter ran toward her. “What do you have there, my little Saya?” Shuichi asked as she picked up the four-year-old child, hugging her lovingly to her.

Saya held out her chubby little hand, smiling proudly at her mother. Two small pale flowers were clutched tightly in her grip, easily relinquished as her mother reached for them.

“How beautiful!” Shuichi said softly as she brushed back her daughter’s crimson hair, placing one of the flowers behind her ear, and the other behind her own. “There, now we match.”

Saya laughed brightly, even as her mother’s smile faltered for a second. “Why don’t you go find daddy and show him?” Shuichi said, recovering before her daughter could realize anything was wrong. The small girl nodded and raced back into the palace.

Shuichi waited until she was out of sight. “You might as well show yourself,” she demanded, her voice cold, holding none of the love it had for her daughter.

“Your time among us has greatly increased your abilities,” the assassin said as he stepped out of the shadows into the garden. “No other human would have been able to sense me.”

“What do you want?” the redhead snapped, patience growing thin.

“To fulfill my orders, and that means killing you!” He threw a boomerang dagger at Shuichi, who easily dogged, but the second caught her shoulder. She gasped in pain as the assassin flitted in front of her, raising his dagger. “Now, it ends!”

Shuichi closed her eyes, but instead of feeling pain she heard the assassin scream. Opening her eyes she saw the assassin’s arm had been sliced off. “Lord Raizen!” she gasped, the demon lord standing protectively in front of her.

Raizen quickly ended the assassin’s life before turning to his daughter in law. “Let me see your wound, Shuichi,” he demanded gently.

Shuichi didn’t protest as the demon lord pulled the bloodstained fabric from her shoulder, but flinched slightly when she felt his lips on her damaged flesh. “Lord Raizen!”

The demon lord ignored her outburst, lifting his head and spitting out the blood he had taken from the woman. Shuichi noticed a black liquid mixed in with her crimson blood and realized then what Raizen was doing. “Poison,” she whispered.

“Yes,” Raizen answered after he spat out another mouthful of blood. “Don’t worry. It’s not very strong. Even the amount that entered you isn’t enough to kill you, but it would make you incredibly sick.”

“Why would an assassin use such a weak poison?”

“That is the question.”

“Raizen!” Both heads shot up as Prince Yusuke came running toward them. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Sucking poison out of your mate.”

“Oh,” Yusuke said softly, anger at his father dissipating. “What happened?”

“An assassin, one of Karasu’s,” Raizen answered, pulling the fabric of Shuichi’s gown back over her shoulder. “I recognize those weapons,” the gray haired demon said, answering his son’s unspoken question. “Don’t worry. She’ll be fine bow. I’ve gotten out enough of the poison that it shouldn’t have an effect on her,” he said, stepping away from the redhead.

Yusuke stepped forward, pulling his wife into a crushing embrace. “Are you alright?” he asked, placing a gentle kiss on top of her head.

“Yes, Yusuke. I’m fine,” Shuichi smile at him to reassure the young demon prince, but a moment later her smile wavered, her eyes rolling back as she fell into Yusuke’s arms.

“Shuichi!” he shouted, lowering his fallen love to the ground.

“What happened?” Raizen demanded, back at his son’s side in an instance.

“I don’t know. She just fell. Shuichi, Shuichi, come on! Open your eyes! Shuichi!” Yusuke yelled desperately, but the redhead didn’t stir.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Kuronue lingered outside Karasu’s compound, fully intent on carrying out his partner’s request. The kitsune had said that somehow Karasu’s new pet might be able to help with his mysterious illness. Kuronue didn’t know how a pet was going to help, but he was desperate to help his fox.

With the grace of a master thief the bat leapt over the wall surrounding the fortress, unseen by any guard. He almost laughed at how lax the security was. He knew Karasu was arrogant but he didn’t know he was stupid as well.

A flash of red in one of the windows caught his eye, focusing on it just in time to see a beautiful human woman turn away from the window. He quickly scaled the wall with the help of his scythes, landing lightly on the windowsill. The bat carefully pushed the window open, a bit disturbed that it wasn’t latched, before slipping into the room.

Kuronue was immediately on guard. The redhead he had seen was nowhere to be seen, but he could smell her. Karasu’s pet was still in the room.

It was only thanks to his years with Yoko that Kuronue dogged the blade in time. Karasu’s pet had somehow gotten behind him, not to mention had somehow gotten a hold of a sword as well. He spun quickly, rising scythe to meet sword. He paused as emerald eyes widened. “Kuronue,” the woman gasped out, the sword faltering.

Kuronue’s eyes narrowed hearing his name whispered from the woman’s lips. He didn’t have time to contemplate before he sensed a strong presence coming toward the redhead’s room. “Karasu,” she whispered, turning her attention back to the bat. “Quickly! You have to leave!”

So now she was protecting him? Kuronue shrugged it off. He’d have all his questions answered later. Grabbing the redhead by the waist he lifted her up and threw her over his shoulder. “Can’t leave without what I came for, now can I, Red? That’d ruin my reputation.”

And with that he jumped back out the window just in time for Kurama to see a furious Karasu rush into her room.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

And that’s chapter 3! Hope everyone liked! But it’s like two in the morning so I’m going to bed now.

Chapter Four:

In which Yusuke finds Kurama, we learn more about Aion, and tensions run high between Yusuke and Raizen.