Author's Notes:
Dedication: This installment is part of a two-chapter fic dedicated to Yami Yami Yugi. Aside from being a great reviewer, she's also the winner of my title contest for the main fic I'm writing, now called 'Shadow of Darkness'. She plays a part in this short-story as well, having created the character Lady Yasha. I'm afraid Yasha's only mentioned a few times in this chapter, but she will be holding a very important role later on. wink
Special Thanks to: Wolfspeaker, for beta-reading this for me. Apparently this is the best I've ever written something, in the technical aspect. She refused to send it back to me until she found stuff wrong with it. ...Eh heh... Thanks for the extra effort, Wolfy-chan!
And of course, a big thank you to all those have been reviewing and reading my fics. I'm not going to list names here, since I know you want to start reading the story (if you haven't already).
Enjoy!
---MnY
The rain set early in tonight,
The sullen wind was soon awake,
It tore the elm-tops down for spite,
And did its worst to vex the lake:
I listened with heart fit to break.
When glided in Porphyria...
Be sure I looked up at her eyes
Happy and proud; at last I knew
Porphyria worshiped me: surprise
Made my heart swell, and still it grew
While I debated what to do.
That moment she was mine, mine, fair,
Perfectly pure and good: I found
A thing to do, and all her hair
In one long yellow string I wound
Three times her little throat around,
And strangled her. No pain felt she;
I am quite sure she felt no pain....
--- excerpt from 'Porphyria's Lover', by Robert Browning
...
Noroi no Demon - Part I
"Oh great, we lost him again."
"We? Excuse me, but you lost him."
Kaen glared. "Did not! You should have been watching!"
"Oh yeah? Next time get your flabby butt out of my face, then."
"I couldn't help it, he took me by surprise."
"Aw, is that right?" Doku replied, taunting his companion. "Did the weak widdle shinibana boy scawe you? Poor widdle Kaen."
"Shut up! You didn't do anything!"
"That's because we're under orders, stupid. Yasha wants the kid back alive, not as a rotting corpse."
"Oh."
Careful not to be seen, a short figure peered cautiously over the metal façade to get a better look. There, hovering above a nearby building, were two winged creatures. The last one to have spoken, 'Kaen', seemed to be worried. His green eyes darted everywhere as he hovered about nervously.
"Doku, what do you suppose will happen if we...don't find him?"
The second creature sighed as he leaned back and flapped his wings with annoyance. "Well, I suppose the very least the council could do is banish us, cutting us off from the clan and everyone we know." He paused to pick up a bug that crawled across his white leather pants, dirtied from the pair's recent trek. "Then again, Yasha's the one who sent us, so we can probably expect to be torn limb from limb if we don't recover the traitor."
"That bad, huh?"
Doku turned to look at his companion, bug still in hand. "Yes, Kaen," he replied in a patronizing tone, "that bad. I swear, you wouldn't know common sense if it came up and bit you in the ass." Kaen glared back wordlessly as the grey demon continued. "I mean, for God's sake, can't you even dress inconspicuously once in a while?"
"Do you think I like this?" Kaen exclaimed. He stepped back with his arms outstretched, his orange, flame-like skin glistening in the moonlight. His leathery wings glowed a stunning copper color to match. Kaen hovered in the air, indignant.
"So? What's with the clothes?" Doku replied indifferently.
"What about them? It's not like I have much of a choice, you know." Kaen turned around, crossing his arms in a huff. The golden armguards he wore clinked as he did so. "I can't wear all black - I end up looking like some Halloween freak. Same thing goes for white, and too much orange and green makes me look like an overgrown pumpkin," he pouted.
"So...that's all you have?" Doku replied, skeptically looking at his partner's ensemble. Aside from the armguards he wore, Kaen had opted for a simple blood-red muscle shirt and long, baggy black shorts. "You look like some kind of bad Kingdom Hearts wanna-be. Nevermind," he muttered, noting Kaen's blank look. "Look, why don't you get a trench coat or something to cover it up?"
"Hello?" the other demon replied, waiving his flame-tipped tail back and forth. "Same reason you wear those fingerless gloves, am I right?"
Doku looked down at his hands. The small bug he had captured earlier was still crawling about, unaware of his cruel fate. While Doku positioned a finger above the insect, the two demons watched as a single drop of liquid formed at the tip of the nail. The black ink fell, landing on the creature's back. Doku smiled as the bug began to writhe in pain, becoming little more than a spot of blood on his hand.
"Yeah, I suppose."
He floated forward to pass Kaen, wiping his glove on his partner's shirt. "Hey, watch it!" Kaen protested, backing away. "You could've scratched me like that."
"Oh give it a rest, Kaen. Besides, I wouldn't waste such good poison on a moron like you. With all the whining you'd make, my ears would be bleeding in less than a minute."
Doku lowered himself down to stand on the edge of the building, looking over the brightly-lit city before them. The full moon and city light should have made this hunt a cinch, but the temperamental wind current had set them back a bit. He growled in annoyance as a passing breeze played with his ebony hair, slightly matted from the rain that clouded his eyes. How in Sokar's name were they supposed to pick up the shinibana's scent in these conditions? Disgusted, he turned around to see Kaen playing with his tail, flying in circles as he tried to catch the flame at the end of it.
Doku rolled his eyes. Bad weather, and a partner with the I.Q. of a toaster. Yeah, this mission was on a road to failure all right.
"What about brown?"
Kaen stopped in mid-chase with his tail. Confused, he turned to look at the grey demon beside him. "Huh?"
"Brown. Why don't you wear brown? It'd match your hair," Doku replied simply.
The fire demon blinked at the suggestion. Averting his eyes, he twiddled his thumbs as he muttered a reply. Doku frowned, unable to hear what Kaen had said. "What was that?"
"I said, 'it makes me look fat'."
A grin began to snake its way across Doku's face. His expression was one of held-back laughter, an effort that was steadily failing as Kaen glowered back at him.
"I'm serious, it does!"
The demon couldn't stand it anymore. Doku exploded with deep laughter, amused by his partner's girlish cares. He crossed his arms over his bare, white-vested chest; his form shook with hysterical laughter, making it almost impossible to breathe.
The third figure continued to watch the drama unfold from an adjacent rooftop, hidden from view. His eyes narrowed as he watched the two demons. Doku was floating about, teasing his partner amidst Kaen's loud protests. Completely caught up in their bickering, the hunters no longer seemed interested in finding him.
This was his chance.
Doing his best to stay within the shadows, the teen quietly crept along the rooftop. He stopped at the edge, crouching in order to mimic the gargoyles that surrounded him. Not exactly the best company, to be sure. Grotesque, distorted faces stared at him with glee, almost as if they knew of the crime he had committed. His wings still folded, he checked the conditions once more.
The weather would be a problem. The rain was coming down in sheets; though it seemed to be letting up, visibility was still poor. The constant gusts of air weren't much help, either. With its ever-changing direction, it would be hard to fly downwind of the demons and cover up his scent. Doku had always been an exceptional tracker; he was going to need all the help he could get. And although the other pursuer seemed incredibly dense, the fire demon Kaen was contested by many to be one of the fastest in the clan.
The boy smirked. Good thing he was faster.
Seeing the two demons were still caught up in their argument, the teen let himself fall from the ledge. Silently he unfurled his large wings, their ebony color blended in perfectly against the night sky as he glided away on the air current. For now he was in Mother Nature's good favors. He only hoped that it would last long enough. He needed to fly away as fast as he could before the wind changed direction again. With a little luck, he would be long gone by the time Doku and Kaen started on his trail again. The winged escapee grimaced as a strong breeze cut across his thin form briefly.
With a little luck.
The small copper bell hung at the front entrance, chiming lightly as the door swung open. It was a distant reminder of better times for the young man standing in the doorway. Years ago, the shop had been a much busier place. His grandfather was always seen bustling about, moving from shelf to shelf as he double-checked his stock. Some customers found it odd that he took such an enjoyment in his work. Granted, he had been at the same job for over 40 years, and by all rights he could have used another shot of senility. Even so, Grandfather loved what he did. During the day, the shopkeeper practically lived by the sound of the door chime as it banged against the door with ease. Back then it was a noise that was welcome at all hours of the day. To the old man, it meant that he had company.
Not so anymore.
Those happy, carefree days had long since departed. Grandfather had died like a passing breeze in the mid-night, leaving a cold emptiness in his wake. Life slowed to a stream, then a trickle, a mere drop of what used to be. The copper bell's tune had changed, no longer the bright, happy sounds of before. Now it rang with a sad, regretful tone, filled with the echoes of loneliness. It uttered a silent greeting to the only one left to hear it.
'Welcome home. Or rather, what's left of it.'
The young man hardly noticed the morose invitation. The sound was lost to the cacophony outside, the crashing of clouds echoing throughout the city. Today did not go well. The exhibit materials he had been promised were now three weeks overdue. He and his colleagues were behind schedule because of it, and having the museum administrators breathing down his neck all day hadn't helped much. Once again he had been forced to work overtime, trying to scrape together what he could as their deadline approached. When he finally retreated from his prison at dusk, he was met with an unpleasant surprise. The bus system had cancelled its routes for the night for some cockamamie reason, meaning the subway was probably flooded with men and women trying to get home. There were no taxis in sight, and as he tried to call Jounouchi to pick him up, he discovered that his cell phone had inexplicably died. He was left with only one other option - walking.
And it was raining. Hard.
He stepped past the threshold, water dripping on the hardwood floor as he shut the door behind him quickly. The bell rang angrily in protest, a protest that went unnoticed by the entering figure. He shook his wild hair like a wet dog, rainwater flying everywhere. Leather dress shoes were kicked aside, his coat hung haphazardly on a nearby chair while he searched for the thermostat. The young man preferred the fireplace to the heater his grandfather had installed years ago, but he hated the rain more. With the dial cranked up he retreated to the living room. The floor seemed unusually wet for some reason; the archaeologist rolled his eyes at his own ignorance as he looked down at his feet. Leaning on the couch, he peeled off two sticky socks and threw them aside. The water-logged fabric landed on the kitchen floor with a 'twack' while their owner brushed his bare feet across the soft, deep carpet. That was better. He let a miniscule smile creep across his face, remembering how his grandfather used to do the same.
But that was then. Right now, he was still hungry and cold; taking a little trip down memory lane wasn't about to fill his stomach any time soon. Standing up, he walked towards the kitchen, kicking the floundering socks out of the way as he went. He wrenched the refrigerator door open. The light from inside illuminated the room slightly, casting an eerie glow across his features. Unfortunately, the fridge didn't have much to offer. The shelves were filled with food, but nothing that was actually edible at the moment. Changing tactics slightly, he closed the door and opened the freezer. Three minutes later the microwave flashed with life as it slowly cooked a cheap frozen dinner on its chasse. The owner retreated towards the fireplace in the meantime, a beer in hand.
"Now to get this fire going," he muttered, placing his bottle of Guinness on a side table. Opening the metal screen with one hand, he grabbed a stray newspaper and stuffed it in. Add some logs and a match for good measure and voíla! - instant heat. Tired, the figure crashed on the red sofa behind him. By unbuttoning his white dress shirt he revealed a strong, firm chest, basking in the heat of the fire. The flames danced hungrily, feeding off the wood with an insatiable greed. The archaeologist watched as red-orange tendrils seemed to reach out towards him. The fire almost seemed to have a life of its own -- a demon winking at him from the depths of the fireplace.
He grabbed his beer from the side table and took a swig. The hum of the microwave droned in the background, lulling him in to a lazy daze. The figure sighed, chuckling ironically as he exhaled. God, if Ji-chan could see him now....
"Welcome home, Yami," he muttered to the empty room, "welcome home."
Damn. So much for luck.
The young demon gritted his teeth with frustration. The wind seemed to have finally made up its mind, and it wasn't a decision he favored. A strong breeze had picked up, blowing towards him without hesitation. He had kept going at first, hoping it would change direction once more, but after a few precious minutes it became evident that he would have to change his plans. The teen's black denim attire hid him from view as he swooped low through the city. His violet eyes darted everywhere as he looked for a place to hide. That dark alley should do the trick. The demon banked to the right, melting into the shadows with ease. Black opulent wings slowed his descent as he stepped lightly onto the dirt-covered ground.
At least it had stopped raining.
Folding his wings behind him, the figure kicked a piece of trash out of the way before sitting down. Exhausted, he leaned heavily against the brick wall of an adjacent building. His back muscles protested as they pressed against the rough stone. The teen sighed wearily, hugging his knees to his black-clad chest. For now, this was as good a rest as he was going to get. He was taking a big risk by seeking shelter in the middle of the city. He felt ready to collapse; the disease inside him was growing with each passing moment, sapping his energy like a leech. The only hope he had of slowing the process was to feed. The teen shook his head, his multi-colored tresses swaying back and forth. The problem was, he had sworn never to feed off another human without the victim's consent. No matter what the rest of the clan thought, he would rather die than go back to that way of life. Then again, knowing his luck he was probably going to die from execution first.
He had been called before the clan elders over a week ago. Many of the council members had heard rumors claiming that he had failed to participate in the hunt as of late. He had tried to show them the reason for his behavior. Feeding meant hurting the innocent, he had explained to them, an action which he refused to take part in. In hindsight, such an admission probably wasn't the smartest thing he'd done. (Then again, the looks of disbelief on the council's faces had been worth it.) He knew he would undoubtedly be punished for such action, but he shuddered to think of what that punishment would be. He had hoped that the elders would let him off with exile, a fate he would have gladly accepted. The demon snorted. That had been wishful thinking. As soon as they had heard of his rebellion, several council members had begun preparations to lock him away. He was far too dangerous in their eyes to be left alone. A shinibana, turning against his own clan? It was unthinkable, even for the most open-minded demon.
If he wasn't hated before, he certainly was now. For as long as he could remember, the other members of his clan had envied him for the rare class rank he held. Shinibana demons were quite extraordinary in their existence. Unlike most demons, the shinibana were the closest thing to human as their race allowed. They were known for having a stunning complexion; they lacked the horns or strangely-colored skin that most demons seemed to have. In fact, the only thing that still marked them as such were their wings, a fluke of nature that had arisen in the demon line long ago. That, and the incredible powers the shinibana class were blessed with made them well-known for their usually blood-thirsty ways. It was perhaps this aspect that bothered the teen the most. He found it terrifying some nights, knowing that he could kill hundreds of people with one fell swoop.
Of course, in his current condition he could barely knock two incompetent demons off his trail, let alone commit mass-murder. The short figure sighed again, his body aching dully. Though his mind begged for sleep, the teen managed to drag himself to his feet. He leaned against the brick wall with a hand as he unfurled his wings and flapped them experimentally.
He would rest more later. Right now, the night was still young. He needed to get as far away as possible from this place until he could be certain he was out of danger. Looking up, the demon kicked off the ground slightly, giving his wings the lift they needed to carry him away into the star-filled sky.
"Doku, how much longer are we gong to have to sit here?" Kaen whined, flipping his tail impatiently. They were perched atop a different building now. The two hunters had taken off after their earlier argument to do some more searching, but their efforts had proved fruitless. With all their recent activity, Kaen could feel his stomach beginning to cramp slightly. "I'm hungry; why don't we go hunt a little bit?" he asked hopefully.
"We're on a mission, stupid," the tracker snapped, scanning the city skyline for activity. "We don't have time for that."
Disappointed, the fire demon scowled at Doku's back. So the grey demon had the time to make fun of him for his sense of fashion, but not enough for Kaen to get a bite to eat? He turned to peer over the edge of the tower. There were humans everywhere, walking up and down the city streets without a care. All those little meals wandering around - it was pure torture, having to watch and not feed. Kaen sighed as he drew back from the edge of the rooftop. "Doku, are you sure we can't -"
"No!" Kaen winced at Doku's harsh tone. The tracker turned around, obviously annoyed.
"Listen - I don't care if you're hungry or not. We've been sent on a mission by Lady Yasha herself, dimwit. Once we find the traitor and take him back to the clan, you can do whatever you want. But until then you'll do as I say, or I'll kill you myself. Got that?"
Kaen opened his mouth to protest, insulted by his partner's harsh words, when the fire demon suddenly stopped. As he looked past Doku, a small, dark figure had appeared in the sky. Kaen watched with rapt attention as it began to retreat from view, it's wings flapping like a bat's. Could that be...?
A slap to the face broke his concentration. Kaen turned to see Doku staring at him angrily. "There you go again, dozing off! For the love of Sokar, pay attention! Did you even hear a word of what I just said, baka?"
Ignoring his partner's temperament, Kaen gave him an earnest look. "Doku, do you smell anything?" he asked, hoping to confirm what he thought he just saw.
The other demon frowned at Kaen's question, torn between perplexity and exasperation. What was the idiot on about now? Mentally shrugging, the tracker sniffed the air anyway. Nothing unusual, as always. Doku turned to give his partner another lecture, when he caught the tail-end of a fading aroma in the breeze.
"The traitor," he murmured, his eyes widening.
Quickly Kaen stood up, spinning Doku around to point at the dark spot in the sky. "There, Doku! What do you see?"
The grey demon refocused his eyes as he glanced to where his partner had pointed. His irises expanded and contracted as he willed them to magnify the image he saw. Doku was one of the few demons in history to possess the ability of 'extended vision' - a quality not even their shinibana prey could lay claim to. It allowed him to see for miles with alarming accuracy. Doku watched the retreating speck like a hawk. It was him, all right. There was no mistaking the human-lover; his crimson and blonde highlights made him a dead giveaway. Doku turned to his companion, giving him a pat on the back. Finally, they were getting somewhere.
"Guess you're more useful than I thought," he muttered. Doku missed Kaen's happy grin as both demons turned in the direction of their prey. "Let's get him."
Copper and silver wings unfurled quickly as the two stepped off the edge of the building and into the night sky. Soaring above the city, they cut through the air with incredible speed. Doku yelled to his partner as they began to draw closer to their target. "Kaen! Get out there and cut him off, will ya?" He watched as the fire demon's eyes lit up with excitement.
"With pleasure."
On Kaen's command, a second, smaller pair of copper wings emerged from his back. As he took a moment to synchronize the movements of his wings, the target unexpectedly took off at breakneck speed. Apparently their prey had noticed the action as well. His black wings flapped furiously, trying to distance himself as much as possible. Kaen grinned at the traitor's efforts. "Ooh, I just love a good chase," he cooed quietly. Finally sorting out his flying pattern, Kaen disappeared from Doku's side as he flew in hot pursuit of the rogue demon.
Meanwhile, the shinibana was nearing the end of his rope. With his energy dangerously depleted, it was taking everything he had to keep flying at such a reckless pace. It was a pace that was starting to fail him as Kaen drew closer, steadily closing the gap between them. What could he do? He wouldn't be able to run forever. His best bet would be to face them head-on. But would he be able to pull it off without dying in the process?
Throwing caution to the wind, the black-winged demon came to a sudden halt. He hovered in mid-air, turning around in time to watch his pursuer go speeding by him. Kaen circled around immediately, cutting off any hope of escape. The fire demon finally came to a stop as Doku caught up to them. The tracker smiled wickedly.
"Well well well - if it isn't little Yuugi?"
"What do you want, Doku?" the young demon spat. His violet eyes glared menacingly as the grey demon shrugged.
"Nothing personal, kid - Lady Yasha's been worried about you. She sent us along to escort you back to the clan."
"Huh?" Kaen interjected, perplexed. "But Doku, I thought you said we were going to capture him because he betrayed the clan, not because he needed an escort. Which is it?"
Doku looked about ready to explode; his face was flushed with anger, causing it to turn an interesting shade of purple. "You idiot!" the tracker screamed, his tolerance level overflowing. "Can't you just keep your mouth shut for one minute? ONE MINUTE, that's ALL I ASK! What does it take to get you to be freaking QUIET?"
"But Doku-kun -"
"SHUT UP, YOU FLAMING IDIOT!"
Yuugi raised an eyebrow, glancing between the other two demons. Maybe it would have been better to just keep running. Then again, the longer they bickered, the more time it would give him to recover his strength. Unfortunately, Doku seemed to realize this as he let out a sigh. Ignoring Kaen's look of fury, he turned back towards the shinibana once more. "In any case," he continued, giving Yuugi a hard stare, "we're not to return to the clan until we bring you to face the council again."
"Then I'm afraid you'll be wandering the skies for a long time, Doku," the traitor replied coolly. Doku gave Kaen a glance, a silent communication between the two before the grey demon replied.
"I take it you won't come peacefully then, am I right?"
"Pretty much, yeah," Yuugi nodded.
Doku smirked. "I was hoping you'd say that."
Without warning the tracker charged at the teen, his fierce claws extended. Yuugi ducked to the side as Doku took a swipe at where he had stood. As the young demon moved to avoid another attack, he felt himself grabbed from behind. Kaen turned him around, preparing to punch him in the face. Yuugi blocked each attack with ease; he ducked and parried with his arm as Kaen pummeled away fruitlessly. Yuugi smiled as he finally caught a sloppy punch in his hand, watching the eyes of his adversary widen with surprise. Without hesitation, Yuugi countered with a hook to Kaen stomach, knocking the wind out of the demon. Kaen doubled over from the hit, only to spring back with pain. Yuugi had flown behind him and yanked on his copper wings fiercely. He roughly kicked the fire demon from behind, letting go so Kaen went flailing forward to collide with Doku. The two hunters struggled against their tangled wings while the teen turned to escape.
"Oh no you don't!" Doku yelled, pushing his partner off roughly. "You aren't going to get away that easily, Yuugi!" While Kaen remained dazed, Doku flew off in pursuit of their prey. The shinibana tried to shake him off by weaving and dodging in the air, but it was no use. His black wings shimmered in the moonlight, making it easy for the tracker to sense his every move. Doku grinned, noticing that Yuugi was starting to slow down. Apparently the disease was finally taking a hold over him. The tracker let his hand drift to the inside of his vest, pulling out a sharp metal object from the inside pocket.
Yuugi suddenly yelled out in pain as he felt something slice through his left wing. Eyes furious and clouded by fatigue, he turned around. Doku smirked, licking the teen's blood off the knife he now held. "Thanks for the snack, Yuugi - I needed that. Chasing after you for the past 10 days has really worn me out, you know?"
His wing ruined, Yuugi hovered helplessly as the demon drew closer. He tried to move the injured appendage again without success. Every movement sent searing pain up his back, practically paralyzing him. Yuugi grimaced as Doku grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, yanking him forwards.
"What makes you think you're better than us, huh?" the tracker whispered dangerously. "Is it because you're a shinibana? You think you can do whatever you want, just because you look human?" He brought Yuugi's face closer to his, his tarnished silver eyes staring into angry amethyst. "That's not very fair of you, you know."
"I don't care what you think - I refuse to hunt humans. I'd rather die," Yuugi retorted.
"Yes, well, you're already halfway there, aren't you?" Doku chuckled lightly. "If the clan doesn't kill you, starvation will. Of course, I'd hate to see a beauty such as yourself go to waste." He gazed at Yuugi hungrily. The boy stiffened as Doku raised a finger to trace across his pale skin. "So soft, yet so rebellious. What a tragedy. Of course," he added, licking his lips, "I might be able to pull a few strings with the council when we return...all you'd have to do is agree to stay with me for a while...."
Doku jerked back slightly as Yuugi spit in his face, livid. Him, be that maniac's love slave? If that was the case, death couldn't come soon enough. Yuugi leaned his head forward; barring his small fangs he bit the demon's hand, causing Doku to howl in pain. Yuugi panted with fatigue but held his ground, his eyes burning with disgust and contempt. "The only way you'll take me anywhere is by dragging my cold, dead body," Yuugi muttered defiantly. The grey demon glared at him, the lust in his expression now replaced by fury.
"Then let me help you on your way, traitor."
Yuugi yelled out as he felt his left wing wrenched aside violently. Doku watched with sick pleasure as he tightened his grip on the wounded limb, causing its owner to scream in agony. The young demon's mind became clouded with pain, only slightly noticing as Doku began to beat him over and over again. After what seemed like an eternity of merciless torment, the pain faded briefly. Yuugi had little time to wonder why as he suddenly felt a burning sensation spread throughout his body. Doku had extended his claws, slashing them across Yuugi's stomach in one swift motion. Yugi started to go numb as the poison began to invade his system, his wings hanging uselessly from his back while he dangled in the air. Doku sneered at the lifeless form he held in his grasp.
"Goodbye, Yuugi."
The grey demon suddenly let go, watching as the traitor plunged helplessly towards the city below.
Yami stretched his tired muscles as he sat in front of the fireplace. The microwave dinner sat in the sink half-eaten, joined by two empty bottles of Guinness. After eating he had decided to go upstairs and change. He now sat on the couch in a pair of old jeans and a t-shirt, trying to make sense of all the papers and files he had brought home to work on. The young man stared warily at the mess in front of him. It was eleven o'clock, about time that he should go to bed. Yami began shuffling his papers together. It was early for him, but work had been so stressful lately that he looked forward to a full night's sleep.
Papers in hand, he got up from the sofa and headed towards a large mahogany desk. His briefcase sat with its mouth open as he slipped the notes back into their manila folder. Yami tossed the packet in with disgust. Six months ago the museum officials had approached him with a warning. Many of the current exhibits were not drawing as many visitors as they had previously; revenues were down, and something had to be done about it. If Yami didn't come up with a way to double profits within one year, he and his staff would be fired. At first, Yami hadn't really minded the threat of losing his job. He had already been thinking about leaving the museum anyway. He was sick of his dead-end career; it was the study and discovery of ancient ruins that had drawn him into the world of archaeology, not cataloging artifacts. However, the mention of his staff had stopped him in his tracks. Jounouchi, Marik, Bakura - could he really allow his friends to lose their jobs because of him? Yami slammed his briefcase shut angrily. Damn museum officials. They didn't care about history - only preserving their profits.
Yami sighed as he retrieved his still-dripping leather trench coat, hanging it up on a wall hook. There was no sense in brooding about it. He'd figure something out, but not right now.
The archaeologist walked over to the closet and swung the door open. His bedroom upstairs wasn't well insulated; he was accustomed to sleeping downstairs on cold nights like this, especially if he had a fire going. Yami pulled a blanket from the top shelf, preparing to close the door when he heard the sound of breaking glass. A large 'thud' followed, the sound of something landing in his living room. The young man groaned with annoyance. Apparently some kid was finding it amusing to throw rocks at his windows at this hour of the night. Too tired to rush outside and yell at the offender, he reached into the closet again. Yami pulled the broom and some plastic bags out before walking back into the living room. He expected to find the room in complete disarray. What he saw was much different.
Yami frowned as noted the windows on either side of the fireplace, unmarred and intact. Looking up, he was surprised to see the night sky winking back at him. Apparently it was the skylight that had broken, but how? He took a cursory look around the room, looking for whatever might have caused this. The archaeologist nearly jumped when he spied a shadowy figure in front of the couch. It laid on the living room floor surrounded by debris, unconscious and bleeding. Yami dropped the things he carried and walked to the other side of the couch. His eyes widened at the sight of the injured figure.
It had wings.
What was going on?
Yami paused, running a hand through his hair, hair which so much resembled the creature's wild, multi-colored locks. Aside from his battered wings, the figure looked human. He was clad in black denim, which proved to be a striking contrast against his pale skin. Could this be...a demon? Yami remembered his grandfather telling him stories of such creatures, but they had merely been fairytales, far-fetched myths to amuse and entertain. He had long come to dismiss such ideas as fantasy, yet it seemed to be the only explanation for the winged figure on the floor. Yami ignored the shards of glass in the carpet as he kneeled down next to it...him. The boy looked like a teenager - perhaps no more than 5 years younger than Yami. He let his hand brush across the figure's skin carefully. It was soft to the touch, yet marred by hundreds of ugly cuts and bruises. Yami stared. Whoever this was, he didn't seem to be having a good day, either. Who could be so cruel as to brutalize another creature this way?
Yami let his hand rest on the boy's black denim jacket briefly, debating over what to do. Finally, he started to brush the pieces of glass off the figure, clearing the space around him as well. Once the debris had been swept away, Yami dug his arms carefully under the limp, unconscious form. Cold and sleep were forgotten as he picked the demon up. Yami gently placed him on the couch before getting up and walking towards the stairs, taking the steps two at a time as he went in search of a first aid kit. Moments later he returned, placing what he could find next to the occupied sofa.
Here goes nothing.
For an hour Yami tended to the teen's injuries, healing and bandaging them as best he could. The wings proved hardest to treat; Yami knew nothing about wing bone structure. Finding an encyclopedia article on bats, he quickly studied the picture and went back to work. Though the right wing seemed ok, the teen's left one was in severe shape. The forearm was fractured, and part of the leathery wing - the 'dactylopatagium major', so said the book - was badly ripped. Yami picked up a pair of scissors and began cutting away at the figure's jacket. He needed to get it off the demon if he was going to repair the wing. Tossing the spoiled clothing aside, Yami went to work on splinting and wrapping the injury carefully. He just hoped that the boy wouldn't be too mad with him for ruining his clothes once he woke up.
That is, if he woke up.
Several rolls of bandages later, Yami leaned back to look at his work. The figure still looked worse for wear, practically drowning in medical dressings, but it was an improvement. Yami had done the best he could under the circumstances. At one point he had pondered the thought of calling the hospital, but decided against it. He doubted there would be many people who were willing to take a demon into their care, merely to heal it and send it on its way.
Then again, some of the injuries he had treated weren't to be taken lightly. Yami lifted the hem of the teen's t-shirt carefully while checking the bandage he had wrapped underneath. Like the wing, the injuries to the demon's stomach and chest were particularly gruesome. The wounds almost looked like claw marks, leaving several long, deep cuts in his skin. Again Yami found himself wondering about the prone figure on his living room couch. Who was this guy, and what had happened to him?
The archaeologist shook his head, too tired to debate with himself. He grunted slightly as he got up from his station and walked back to the kitchen. Yami opened up the cabinet door under the sink and pulled a trash can out. Disposing of the numerous dirty bandages and glass shards, he threw the bucket back in distractedly when he was finished. Yami's mind was elsewhere as he leaned over the sink, washing the demon's blood off of his hands.
He'd call in sick tomorrow. He knew they were on a tight schedule, but the exhibit wasn't due to open for another week and a half. His friends would be able to look over things in the meantime. The man glanced over at the form on his sofa. Despite the boy's innocent look, Yami didn't like the idea of leaving a potentially vicious demon alone in his house. He didn't know how dangerous the teen was, but he didn't want to take any more chances than he already had.
Which reminded him - he'd also have to fix that skylight tomorrow morning. Thankfully the winds had stopped howling for the night. The forecasters were calling for a storm the next afternoon, and he'd be damned if he was going to put up with both a demon and a flooded house at the same time.
Yami shivered slightly, finally realizing that the flames in the fireplace had died off a long time ago. He walked to the large closet again. From there he pulled another blanket, picking the first one off the floor as well. Returning to the living room, the archaeologist tossed one of them onto a nearby chair. The other he unfurled, lightly draping it across the demon's injured form. Yami watched with amusement as the unconscious boy seemed to relax slightly. If anyone were to walk in, they would have assumed the teen was merely sleeping.
"Sleep. Now there's an idea," Yami muttered to himself. Closing the shades and extinguishing the fire for good, the young man walked back to his chair, wrapping himself in the blanket sitting there. He gave the demon a final glance.
"Good night, kid. Just promise not to kill me in the morning, ok?"
"Doku! Doku-kun!"
Kaen fought to catch up with his partner as they flew. The little traitor from before had pulled on his wings hard; Kaen's bruised muscles ached with each flap, slowing him down significantly. Furious that the grey demon refused to answer him, he put on a sudden extra burst of speed in order to reach him. "Doku, what do you think you're doing?" Kaen screamed, finally matching the demon's pace as he pulled up beside him. "Don't you realize what you've done?"
"Yep," Doku replied simply.
"And the fact that we're returning without the shinibana doesn't bother you at all?"
"Nope."
Kaen gave his partner an incredulous look. "Care to explain why?" Doku turned to stare at him, his silver eyes dark with feigned tranquility.
"The kid's not dead yet. That poison will take some time to spread through his body. Meanwhile, we'll go back and tell the council of elders that he's been immobilized for their own capture."
"Well, why didn't we just bring him back with us?" Kaen ducked his head as Doku took a lazy swipe at him. The tracker's expression was filled with agitation.
"Idiot," he replied, rolling his eyes. "You don't try to transport someone who's poisoned. If we moved him, the venom would've spread faster - he'd be dead by the time we reached the outskirts."
"That is, if he didn't die when you let him fall."
Doku waived a hand indifferently. "Like they say, he's a shinibana - a petty thing like that isn't going to kill him." I hope.
"And what about Lady Yasha?" Kaen persisted. "What do we tell her?"
The grey demon let a long sigh escape his lips. Now there was a problem. Doku let his wings rest briefly, gliding over the brightly-lit city while he thought. Unlike the rest of the council, Lady Yasha had specifically ordered the hunters to bring the traitor back alive. Failing to carry out her order ran the risk of brutal punishment, or worse. Doku winced slightly, having heard the rumors of her ruthlessness. Yasha hadn't become one of the most powerful demons in the clan just by flaunting her good looks. There was a reason she was on the council, and Doku decided he really didn't want a demonstration.
"It'd probably be best if we appeal to the other elders for leniency," he reasoned, giving Kaen a sideways glance. "The majority of the council wanted the boy dead anyway; technically, we just provided a compromise for both parties. Poison or starvation - either way, he'll likely be dead within the next 24 hours. Best that we tell them now and worry later."
Seeing Kaen nod, the two demons willed themselves onward, diving head-long into the murky, black pitch of night as they headed home. Focused on the task that awaited their return, neither demon seemed to notice a creeping figure lurking among the shadows beneath them. Eyes of liquid gold watched their departure, causing a grin to unfold in the darkness.
"So, the shinibana is alive after all," it whispered. The creature flapped its amber wings expertly, causing the moonlight to dance across them.
"How interesting...."
To be continued....
Well, as I said before, this is one chapter of a two-part story. I realize this didn't really have much fluffiness. It was more of a set-up, but the second part is where things'll get interesting. - Hope you enjoyed it anyway!
Second part will hopefully be out before Christmas...currently the only time I have to write is the 12 minute interval between my classes at college...wahoo. -- Anyway, hope you're all doing well! And don't forget to review!!