Embrace the Darkness

Disclaimer: How many times do I have to tell you people?...I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho.

Well, I got one review telling me to continue, so continuing I am!! As far as I'm concerned, the happiness of one person is worth it. If you don't like it, don't read it. Our story now focuses on the charming kitsune.

Oh, I should mention that, for all intents and purposes, I consider Youko Kurama and Shuuichi Minamino two separate entities, almost souls, in one body. They will be referred to as 'Youko' and 'Shuuichi' unless the distinction is unnecessary, and then they will be referred to as 'Kurama'. (and, someone slap me upside the head if my spelling of 'Shuuichi' is atrocious...) Often, when one has control of the body, the other will hover behind it, in kind of a ghost-like appearance.

Another thing I should mention is that Youko Kurama knows the Goddess of Darkness, and, indeed, was a customer of hers once in a while. The reasoning behind this is that she was, and still is, a prominent figure in the Makai, and also that youkos are very sexual beings, as far as I know...This is why he doesn't ask questions when he meets her. Shuuichi just gets his information from Youko. You'll understand when you get to the scene...

And now, on with the story!!

Opening his eyes blearily and looking around rather groggily, Kurama realized that, judging by his surroundings, he was in some sort of dungeon, complete with rough-hewn stone walls and dismal torches burning in brackets.

As he turned his head from side to side, a clanking noise from behind him caught his attention. He soon found out that the source of the sound was the chain running from the wall to the collar around his neck. Grasping it in his hands, he gave it a cautious, experimental tug. When it didn't give way at all, he rose to his feet, bracing himself for a more vicious attempt. Before he could do anything, though, the door of the chamber creaked open, and a tall woman sheathed in black was standing there.

Kurama staggered back in revulsion. Accompanying the woman into the room was the stench of blood, of death, of decay. And, underneath it all, Hiei's personal scent, which could mean only one thing...

"You," he breathed, hair bleeding into silver, eyes flashing gold. "You killed Hiei." With no warning, he leapt at her, claws outstretched and reaching for her throat. The woman did not flinch, and Youko was soon reminded why, as he reached the end of his chain and was sent rather unceremoniously to the floor. He coiled up, indignant, licking at his wounds alarilaring up reproachfully at his captor.

The Goddess of Darkness watched this with unveiled amusement and, much to Kurama's surprise, some interest.

"Most intriguing," she mused, gazing down at him. Youko stopped nursing himself to give her a closer look.

"What's intriguing?" he asked carefully.

The Goddess gave him a rather calculating look. "Nothing. It's just that, in cases like yours, where a demon spirit inhabits a human body, it is rare that the two souls should be in agreement over something so controversial as a mate. For the two of you to have cared for the little fire demon so equally, he must truly have been something special."

Youko averted his eyes, hurt, and Shuuichi's form became visible behind him, a mere transclucent form. The human looked as if he was feeling what the demon was.

"He was," they murmured together, voices blending in a rich harmony. The Goddess smiled down at them almost kindly.

"True love," she said softly. "Now, there's something I can understand."

The comment angered Youko, and Shuuichi disappeared.

"Then why did you kill him?" he snarled. "If you knew we were in love, why couldn't you leave us alone?"

The Goddess looked startled at this outburst, as if she had been expecting her comment to soothe, rather than aggravate. "Well, it's not as if I was trying to harm you. I'm really not such a bad person, underneath it all."

Youko snorted. "Yes, of course. And I suppose that 'Goddess of Darkness' is just a coincidental title?"

Her hand came up to cover her heart, as though she was physically harmed by this sarcasm. "Oh, come now," she explained. "It's only my quest for revenge that earned me that name."

Shuuichi's light voice sounded againm thm the shadows, his spirit appearing behind Youko again.

"Revenge in itself is not an honorable concept," he pointed out gently.

"Neither is burning hundreds of innocent demons and humans alive," the Goddess shot back. Both males found themselves at a loss for words.

"From my extensive research on you," she continued, in a tone that sounded almost like she was trying to amend for her previous barb, "you seem a rare sort, possessing a truly gentle heart, a forgiving soul." Youko looked incredulous, so the Goddess explained herself.

"I was addressing your other half." Shuuichi met her gaze with his own confused one.

"You do not seem the sort who wishes the death of innocents," she said gently, and realization dawned on Shuuichi's face, his emerald eyes filling with tears.

"No," he whispered. "I did not want those people to die. But, what could I do? Lord Koenma ordered it, and Hiei and I were stillprobprobation. If we had disobeyed, the both of us would have gone to jail."

The Goddess watched him, nodding in understanding. "Of course," she stated softly. "I do not blame you for looking out for yourself and your loved one. In fact, I do not even wish to kill you."

"What?"

"It is true. How can I desire revenge upon someone so gentle? Someone who did not want to commit the heinous deed in the first place? I cannot. Instead, I propose to you a deal."

Youko's eyes narrowed at this. "I don't enter into deals with the enemy."

The Goddess stepped back without thinking, fearing the hate blazing so fiercely in the kitsune's double gaze. "But, I have explained to you my true character!"

"Solid though your reasoning is, you still killed my best friend and life mate. As far as I'm concerned, that makes us enemies."

This time it was the Goddess' eyes that narrowed, as she spun on her heel and stalked out of the room.

"Very well," she informed him as she left. "Have it your way. I offered you the easy way out, but you willingly e toe to suffer. Remember that in these coming days." The door slammed shut, and Kurama was alone.

'Do you think we should have agreed to her deal?'

'No.' The brevity of this answer comforted Shuuichi a little, but not much. He pressed on.

'What will she do to us now?'

'I do not know, but it does not matter. We will face it together.' Youko's blunt courage warmed his human counterpart, enough so to make one last admittance.

'I'm scared, Youko.'

'Peace, Shuuichi,' the demon scolded sternly, comforting the young human in his own way. 'I promise, everything will turn out all right.'

He could not have known how wrong he was.

Well, the first chapter of the first extension of my first story!! Tell me what you think, guys!! (Again, I beg that someone tell me if I'm butchering any spelling anyhwere...) To all my reviewers, thank you so much, it means the world to me.

ko-krama: Thank you for your support, and for hanging on and reading the story despite it's rather unhappy ending. Your compliments are accepted with open arms. (and a rather inflated head...) Readers like you rock my world!!

Mz.Bitz: This is for you!! You asked for more, and I am more than happy to provide. Hope you like the continuations!! Stay with me, pretty please? You're the awesomest reader/reviewer I have!!