Prolougue – Maiden in Distress

“You’re hair is so beautiful, Itsuki. Come on, sit still. Let me braid it. Please? You’ll look so pretty! Here, I’ll brush it. You’re like a doll; your hair is so much fun to play with. That must be why Shinobu always favors you. It’s too bad he doesn’t do your hair like I do. Hmph, that must be a girl thing. Boys can be so stupid, not doing hair and everything. Except you, Itsuki. You’re so smart. And wonderful. That’s why I love to be around you. You always wipe my tears away. Only a real man would do that. I bet grumpy old Shinobu would never do it for you.”

“Close your eyes, Itsuki. Picture the land we’re resting in tonight as it should be. Gigantic clouds of dirt and dust. Miles of stained, dried blood . Nothing but the meager remains humans for miles. Rivers of red tranquilly streaming everywhere. That’s what it will be. Peace. You don’t fear it, either. That’s what makes you different, Itsuki. You understand fate. And you help it. That’s what makes you the one, eternal survivor. Itsuki, you are the only one who should not, will not die.”

“Itsuki! What happened?? You were yelling! Did someone attack you? Calm down, calm down, it’s me, Shinobu! Take a deep a breath… Good… Now talk to me, Itsuki. What made you shout? ‘Just a dreary dream??’ I’ve never heard you scream from ‘just a dreary dream’ before. What was it about? Why can’t you tell me? I’ll listen. Don’t worry, I’m not tired, I was keeping watch before, anyway. …Fine. Just get some sleep, then, and try to forget it. Koenma will want us back by noon tomorrow. Goodnight.”

“Two weeks, Itsuki. Just thirteen days, fifteen hours, and fifty-two minutes. Then the gateway begins…and the horror ends.”

“Stand still! I can’t slash you if you keep squirming!”

A low moan vibrated through Itsuki’s throat. Why hadn’t he called the uraotoko earlier? All his strength had left him, he was much too tired to summon his pet by now. Damned Kazuya, none of the others would have attacked him this way, especially for just a slip of the tongue.

He missed Shinobu. The former spirit detective hadn’t been around in a while, and though it was selfish of him, Itsuki really wanted to have Shinobu in his arms rather than the crying girl he often cared for or the distant man who didn’t even stay in the same room. Could he help it? One can only take so much stress before they lost a bit of control…

…And he had called Kazuya “deranged”. Now that was a mistake, and he didn’t even believe what he had said. But he had been angry, for one of the few times in his life, over a debate that they were in.

He rarely stated his opinion to Sensui these days, but when he did, he was sure of it. Always.

Small pink tongue flicking over his elbow, Itsuki tried to stay awake by playing a word game as he limped to the store.

“Shinobu…uraotoko…orange…eating…grapes...strawberry…” Itsuki tried to keep his little, mental game going without getting too hungry for the delicious human fruits. In that strange mind challenge the last letter of each word was to be the beginning of the next word. Being the good scholar he was, Shinobu had taught Itsuki a lot about reading and such when they were much younger.

“Perhaps I…I’ll get food, too.” It was very late at night, and most of the residents of Mushiyori city were asleep. If he kept to the shadows in his human form – which had a bit of energy beyond ki, and so was worth what youki it took to keep going – then no one would notice him and he could steal some medical supplies, and perhaps a bit of fruit.

Oh, but he was so tired! Naru’s whimpers, Minoru’s cold commands, and the explosions of Kazuya’s energy gun… All of this blood… He couldn’t lie down, but he had to so badly…

Slowly Itsuki’s body connected with the ground, setting his many aches on fire. An awful mix of a whine and a moan erupted throughout the quiet streets, probably scaring its poor inhabitants.

Oh no, he couldn’t…get up! He was just…so tired, he could barely…move. Blood was pouring everywhere. Would he… die this way? Shinobu, in fact, Sensui, wouldn’t be able to handle that! He needed…to make…the tunnel…

“Holy shit!” A deep voice gasped over him. Who…was this? What time was it? Had he been lying here…an hour? Two? Or just ten minutes?

“Are you alright, miss??” Itsuki just groaned. He was used to people thinking he was a girl by now, and much too tired to explain. “D-Duh, of course you’re not! Here, I’ll call an ambulance, you…you just don’t go to sleep, okay?? SOMEONE, PLEASE HELP! THERE’S A BLOODY YOUNG LADY HERE! I THINK SHE WAS ATTACKED!” He called to all the people of the street. Uh oh, people might remember his face…and that…would make the tunnel…harder to complete…in secret. Perhaps he had…ruined the…entire plan…

“What? Urameshi, lets get over there!” A loud voice yelled, and soon, more footsteps. Lots of people were coming over, all gasping and whispering and despite being horrified, reassuring her that she would be alright. If they knew that the poor, hurt maiden was a mighty demon who was…helping to kill…them all, they might…not have been so gracious.

“Sh, it’s okay, alright? I gotcha…” Someone was lifting him up, now, and…cradling him? He looked up, a bit surprised, into big grey eyes. Humans were such strange creatures, how they helped each other. Demons wouldn’t even do that, he knew.

“See, the ambulance is coming any minute…Urameshi, get Keiko home. Whatever psycho did it to this girl, we’ve got no clue where he is now. Yeah, make sure Botan’s okay, too. I bet they’re both fi- Hey, hey, don’t worry, we’re gonna get you home soon.” The large man stroked at his hair a bit and reassured him when he accidentally whimpered. This…situation…couldn’t be worse.

“You got someone taking care of you? Brother? Dad? Boyfriend?” He wondered who would have been suggested if this man knew his gender. Certainly not a screaming girlfriend.

“Yeah, you’re real pretty, right? I bet everyone’s all over you,” the man continued, trying to keep Itsuki’s attention, no doubt. He had orange hair…but everything was…so blurry. A half-moan of agreement, and Itsuki closed his eyes. This was all so incorrect…

“Yeah, I thought so. I’m sure he’s a great guy, and didn’t want a good girl like you out this late alone, huh? You’ve gotta be careful, okay? No ones wants you hurt.” Itsuki was too tired to bitterly amuse himself with how Kazuya might respond to that.

“So, you wanna give me his name so we can ring him up and tell him where his angel is? Bet he’s worried about ‘cha; just gimme his name…” the man continued, rocking Itsuki very slowly. “What’s his name…?”

All Itsuki could do was moan again. So…tired… He couldn’t take it, he closed his eyes. It wasn’t pleasant to see the human stained with his own blood, anyway. Shinobu wouldn’t have liked it, either.

“You can’t talk right now, can ya...? It hurts that bad… Just stay awake, kay? Did some bastard attack you? Some creep?” Itsuki considered the words, trying to think of whether he agreed or not. After a moment, he made another weak sound of agreement.

“Sh, we’ll get that jerk for what he did, picking on an innocent girl.” If he wasn’t so…tired, Itsuki would’ve laughed. He was…no better than Kazuya. But Shinobu…was better than all of them.

“Oh, y’see that? That’s the ambulance! C’mon, I’ll take you. You’re gonna be fine…” his rough voice continued soothing. Soon they were wobbling up and down, although the man was obviously trying to keep Itsuki still.

“…Sh-Shinobu.”

“What? A-Are you a gu-”

“Shi-Shinobu. S-Sensui Shino…bu. He’ll…worry…”

“Sensui Shinobu? I-Is that your…guy?”

“Umph…”

“…Gotcha. Lie down. I’ll get someone to look up his number now.”

Briiiiiiiiiiiiiing. Briiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing. Briiiiiiiiiing. The ambulance lights and actually alarms.

Ring-ring. Itsuki’s tired but good ears could hear some of what was going on.

“H-Hello? This is S-Sensui-san’s residence, why are you calling so late, if I, um, may ask?”

“Hey, kid, can you find me a Shinobu? I gotta talk to him.”

“Wh-Why?”

“I’ve got his greenhaired…um…lover here. That...lover is in really bad shape, and…”

Itsuki felt himself drifting off. He couldn’t wait so long, he need to talk to Shinbou now!

“Itsuki-san?? But he’s so strong! He’s bleeding?? Oh no!”

“Chill! Chill out, kid! Just get me Sensui Shinobu-san!”

“B-But he’s aslee-“

“Kiyoshi!” Itsuki hissed, trying to yell. “T-Tell him “Gomen nas-s-s…” He couldn’t choke out the last part. He felt so sick. He needed to rest. He needed sleep. He needed forgiveness. He needed….needed…

Briiiiiiiiiiiiing. Briiiiiiiing. Itsuki slept.

-

Longer than my usual prolougue, though not very good. This will be my first story with some action-adventure. Huzzah!