The Shadowlands
Chapter 1: Forgotten Past
by ARaZhi

If we could live without passion,
maybe we'd know some kind of peace.
But we would be hollow.
Empty rooms, shuttered and dank...
Without passion, we'd be truly dead.
---Angelus (BTVS #29: Passion)

Makai.

A dark and beautiful world where only the strongest and powerful survives. A world wherein there seems to be an endless quest for fame and power. A vast and by all appearances infinite world.

A world of countless youkais, youkos, and all sorts of creatures that others refer to as monsters or demons.

A world that two young youkos swore to become legends.

Youko Kurama.

Youko Arashi.

Youkos have always been quite a sight. It seems when Kami released beauty on Makai all youkos were in front of the line. Everyone is yet to find an ugly youko. Such beauty have always been a double-edged sword. A gift and a curse in one.

Youkos are originally kitsunes. Youkos remain in the kitsune form for a hundred years before they transform into the deadly beautiful creatures that they are. Youkos are generally peaceful creatures but Makai is a vicious place. Not at all a dwelling for peace loving creatures.

The beauty that had once been a gift turned into a curse several thousand years before Raizen's birth. Youkos were hunted down for pleasure. For money. For slavery. For sex.

During Raizen's rise into power, there were only a handful of them left, scattered throughout Makai. Most of them young. All of them colder and more merciless than the other.

But they are different with those they consider friends whom they'd willingly die for.

Just like Kurama and Arashi, two youkos in the second decade of their lives, excluding the hundred they spent as kitsunes. Currently, they are in the middle of a forest so dense almost none of the sunlight can get through the millions of leaves overhead. This is their lair. Dark, secluded, and covered with plant-traps created by Kurama.

Both are presently outside their respective dens and Kurama is pacing around his friend who is sitting on the leaf-covered ground.

"You're crazy!" Kurama exclaimed, his golden eyes flashing. "You are without a doubt the craziest youko I have ever met!"

"I am the only youko you've ever met," his best friend, Arashi, remarked as she stood up, "Besides, I had to do that..."

"You nearly got yourself killed!" Kurama glared at the female youko who stood no more than two inches shorter than him.

"As long as you got out alive it wouldn't have mattered if I lived or not," she gave a casual shrug.

Kurama stopped walking and stomped back to where Arashi is standing, "Don't you say that! Don't you dare tell me such things!" Kurama balled his hand into a fist and punched it halfway through the thick tree trunk beside him. "I'd rather die a thousand deaths than watch you perish in front of me! Do you understand that?" Kurama demanded his golden eyes flashing.

Arashi looked up at him, shaken by the anger and intensity in his eyes.

"I wish you'd stop using that technique. This is the fourth time this has happened already, Arashi! Do you know how I felt when I saw that thing swallow you up?" Kurama's voice was low and tight as he tried to hold back another burst of anger.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, softly. She gazed up at him briefly before dropping her gaze.

"I don't understand why you have to keep trying to control that monster."

"I told you, controlling it is the only way I go back home."

"And you told me you don't want to go back home."

Arashi's jaw tightened, "I also told you, it won't hurt to practice."

"I hate waiting for you to wake up. I hate worrying that you might not wake up!"

"Then stop worrying!"

"I can't not worry about you, damn it!" Kurama gritted his teeth, "Promise me you won't use the Kokuryuha again."

Arashi looked at Kurama and pouted, "Kurama..."

"Promise me," he insisted.

She sighed before nodding slowly, "Alright. I promise."

Kurama reached out with a hand to grasp his friend's shoulder but thought better of it. They were close enough as it is. And even though right now he wants nothing more than to pull her into his arms, he couldn't... he mustn't do it. They're too close already.

"So," Arashi said, attempting to lighten the mood, "what's our next target?"

"I don't know," Kurama forcing the tension away from him with a smile, "We've got enough loot to last us for the next few weeks. I was thinking we should just wander around Makai for a while." And I don't want you getting in trouble again, he silently added. In all of his twenty years as a youko and the hundred years as a kitsune prior to that, he had never felt fear like he did when he saw the black dragon swallow his best friend. The anxiety of waiting for Arashi to wake up was just as bad. What if she woke up with serious injuries? Worse, what if she falls into coma and never wake up? Thankfully, Arashi did wake up after four whole days.

"Good idea," Arashi grinned, "Can we go see Koorime? I heard it's really pretty."

"Sure. Maybe we can steal some gems while we're at it!" Kurama's eyes sparkled at the thought. Now his mood is really improving. Koorime hiruiseki are priceless.

Arashi sat down on the grassy ground and leaned back against the centuries old tree.

Kurama sat down beside her and shot a quick sideways glance at her. Arashi's silver hair, streaked with gold right down the middle, sparkled under the sunlight that managed to find its way through the leaves. He settled into a more comfortable position, enjoying the silence between them.

~*~

Kurama met Arashi about a decade ago. They were youkos barely in their teens and in Makai that age was young. In a world where creatures reach several thousands of years, that age was very young. It was also a dangerous stage. It was a time when the young ones were just perfecting their fighting skills while the older ones hunt them down for fun. Many young ones die, all for the thrill of the fight and the feel of warm young blood against the old ones skin.

It was in the middle of all that bloody mess that they met.

Kurama was already a thief that time. Mostly, he steals not for pleasure or fame but for necessity. He has no money. No shelter. No food. At the tender age of 11, he was already very skilled in the art of breaking and destroying wards. His agility and speed are helped by his figure which is relatively smaller than his older opponents.

On that night, some ten years ago, he found his target in the midst of a dark forest. Thirteen youkais of all shapes and sizes are gathered around a bonfire. Beside the fire is a stake where a female youko as young as himself is tied.

In general, youkais and youkos, don't really care about the fights and torture sessions happening around them. If a youkai sees another being tortured, it's unlikely that he'll lift a finger to help the victim. If he does help, it'll probably be to help in the torture. It's a way of life in Makai. Youkais aren't like ningens who have morals and conscience. Youkais are unlike ningens who love. Emotions are a form of weakness. Makai is a world where only the strongest survive. There is no room for emotions. No passion. No love.

If a youkai will give damn, it will only be for their companions. It is rare to see youkais develop deep friendships. Usually, loyalty is rooted from respect due to the power the other wields. Most friendships form out of respect that developed while fighting. However, since fights lead to the death of one opponent or the other, friendship is hardly ever formed. How can someone alive develop a friendship with a dead opponent?

But such was not the case that night. As Kurama hid behind the safety of the shadows, he silently watch the scene before him with increasing interest. The girl was talking to the male youkais before her. She was chained tightly to the stake, but instead of being fearful she seems to be enjoying herself.

"Tell me," the girl was saying earnestly, "about Makai. It's really a big place, isn't it? I was told one can spend the rest of his lifetime traveling it but still it wouldn't be enough!"

"Shut up!" a youkai with a green horn snapped.

"I was just asking! There's nothing wrong with that, is there?"

"Yes, there is. You talk too much!" exclaimed one of the most bloated youkai Kurama have laid eyes on.

"Have any of you seen Raizen? I was told he's the strongest fighter around here. I wanted to meet him that's why I came here."

"Can't anyone eat in peace around here?!" another youkai, who appears to be the leader, demanded.

"You lot are no fun," the young youko grumped.

Kurama smirked. She has some nerve, he thought to himself.

No more than a foot away from Kurama, came a sudden loud squeak of a small nocturnal animal. Before Kurama could react, half of the group in front of him moments ago have already surrounded him.

He had made a very erroneous assessment of their abilities. And that error could very well cost him his life. They weren't upper C class youkais, they were A class. And he was as good as dead. His power level is no match for an A class youkai! Much less a whole group of them!

Kurama gritted his teeth as he was pushed forward. He may be less powerful, but that doesn't mean that these idiots have the intellectual capacity that he has. If he carefully plan his moves, he has no doubt he could save himself.

"Came to rescue your friend?" one youkai leered.

"I don't even know her," Kurama said calmly. "You'll get nothing from me. I won't cause you any trouble. Just let me go and I'll leave you alone."

"We're in luck tonight, boys! Two play things in one night! Both young and beautiful!" the leader smirked at them and ran a finger down Kurama's cheek. Kurama felt a chill run up his spine.

At the other side of the bonfire, Kurama saw the other youko's eyes harden. "What are you planning to do with us?" she asked, her voice was calm but it now had a sharp edge to it.

"Ah," green-horn exclaimed, licking his lips, "Children. Aren't they the most delicious things?"

"Are you planning to rape us?" she questioned, her voice still not showing a hint of fear.

Rape! Kurama shivered and tried not to vomit. Just the thought of these creatures having their way with him makes him want to retch. I have to find a way out of this! But first I have to stop shaking. But the tremors in his body wouldn't stop. In fact, he couldn't control his body at all. He could feel someone's hand on the back of his neck, but he couldn't move. The youkais have done something to him! They've somehow paralyzed him!

"Yes, child. Would you prefer if we begin with you? Or with him? Or maybe we'll do both of you at the same time," a slimy looking youkai stepped closer to the girl and reached out to touch her hair.

"Don't touch me," the girl said, forcefully. The slimy youkai stepped back as though electrified, sweat began to pop out of his face.

"Let him go," she continued. And with a strangled gasp, the youkai behind Kurama released him, causing Kurama to momentarily lose his balance as he suddenly gained control of his body.

Who is she? Kurama wondered while at the same time exerting his youki, willing the plants around him to hold down their opponents. Their opponents were fast but Kurama's plants are faster. It managed to immobilize five of them, one of which is the leader.

With an almost effortless tug, the chains binding the other youko gave way. As she shook the chains off her body, she pointed a finger in the direction of the leader who was trying to break out of Kurama's plants. "Let us go and I won't harm any of you."

"That's big coming from a little girl like you!" a blue-skinned youkai shouted as he charged at her from behind, a lance held out in front of him.

"Look out!" Kurama yelled, summoning his plants to try and block off the youkai. But the attacker simply blasted the plants out of his way. Another is coming from the girl's left side while the one in the right is just smirking, clearly confident that his companions can finish off the two young youkos.

But the girl didn't move. She closed her eyes and Kurama saw her lips formed one word: die.

The two youkais attacking her stopped in mid-air and turned their weapons upon themselves. They thrust their blades right through their own hearts and fell on the ground. Dead.

She opened her eyes and focused on the leader. "Let us go."

"ATTACK THEM!" the leader shouted, angrily. He blasted off the plants holding him. But he was distracted long enough for Kurama to impale him with a pointed branch from behind.

Birds took flight as the small clearing turned into a war zone.

Kurama released his whip mercilessly at two youkais. However, another youkai successfully cut his whip into pieces with his sword. Kurama dropped on all fours to avoid the attack. Then, he quickly got up and ran, his opponent hot on pursuit. Kurama had the advantage of speed.

Kurama stopped, a good twenty feet away from his opponent. Then he punched the ground causing the seeds he threw down while running to grow with frightening speed. His opponent's scream was cut off barely a second later. It was soon followed by four other screams as his plants continued to attack anything and everything that moves.

"If you want to live, I suggest you don't move!" Kurama shouted to the girl who was standing near the still blazing bonfire within reach of Kurama's monstrous plants. A greenish aura, much like his own, surrounds her body. Around her are bodies of the other youkais, all of whom appears to have killed themselves.

"These creatures can't harm me," she turned to him and gave him a smile. On her forehead glowed a purple jagan. That slight turn of her head caused the plants to attack her.

"Watch out!"

She held out a hand and the plants stopped their attack except for one that came close enough for her to pat. Moments later, all the monstrous plants withered.

"I hope you don't mind that I had them self destruct. I didn't want to walk beneath them while they salivate. Their saliva is acidic and very poisonous, is it not?"

Kurama nodded, "How---how did you do that?"

She grinned, her silvery eyes sparkling, "Their will is far weaker than mine. As long as my opponent's psychic ability is lower than mine, I won't have any problems bending him to my will. I'm Arashi. You are?"

"Kurama," he replied, smiling back. "What do you say we raid this place for food? All that fighting made me hungry."

"Sure thing! These guys are lousy hosts. I've been here for nearly half a day and they didn't give me anything to eat!"

"You're a prisoner. You can't expect them to treat you well!" Kurama rolled his eyes.

Arashi shrugged, "From where I came from, I was taught to always be hospitable. Even to prisoners."

"Where did you come from?"

"The Shadowlands."

~*~

"Kurama!"

"Huh? What?"

Arashi shot him an exasperated look, "Where were you? I've been trying to get your attention for the past minute!"

"Sorry. I must have dozed off," he gave his friend an apologetic smile.

"Dozed off. Hmp! You're probably thinking of that whore we saw in the village, am I right?"

"I wasn't thinking about her! And she's not a whore! She's a---"

"I couldn't careless what she is. But if she's not a whore, then I'm the queen of Makai."

"You won't be the queen of Makai!" Kurama smirked.

"And why is that?"

"Because I'm going to be the king of Makai and I'd never make you my queen!"

"I'd rather dance naked on hot coals than be your queen."

"Good! That will keep my court entertained!"

This is how their days and nights were like. They'd argue like children and fight like siblings. But no matter what happens they are the best of friends.

Together they were unbeatable.

Until that fateful night.

~*~

Arashi had always been quite obsessed with Raizen. Not obsessed in a sexual way. Kurama believed that his friend is sexually repressed. Arashi wanted to fight Raizen and she's doing everything she can to increase her power.

Raizen is said to be the most powerful youkai in Makai. An S class fighter. Rumors has it that he's not as vicious as Mukuro. Strange for someone so powerful. Raizen almost seemed... peaceful.

Little did they know that they will soon feel Mukuro's viciousness first hand.

It was almost nightfall and they were on their way to Koorime when they caught sight of Mukuro's fortress.

"These warlords have absolutely no taste," Arashi commented. "Have you seen Raizen's place? It looked awful. But this," she waved her hand towards Mukuro's territory, "looks like a total dump."

Kurama agreed with her whole-heartedly. "It looks like one big, ugly insect."

Arashi nodded, "Makai is going to need one heck of facelift when I rule it."

Kurama laughed, "And who will design the 'new look' of Makai? You? Your colors are limited to white, black, silver, and gold!"

"Don't forget blue. I like blue."

"Ah. So, you'll make everything blue?"

"Hmp! Shut up!"

Kurama laughed, "I refuse to live in a territory covered with blue."

"You're a real pain, Kurama. I happen to know other colors besides those that you enumerated."

"This coming from a youko who couldn't tell apart green from purple," Kurama smirked.

"It's not my fault the place I came from is plain black and white!"

"Whatever you say," Kurama said, still smirking.

"Let's go there!" Arashi said, pointing at Mukuro's fortress. "I want to see if it looks just as awful inside."

"Have I ever told you that you're crazy?"

"Of course you did, you tell me that every other day! Please, Kurama? It'll be fun! We don't even have to steal anything if you don't want to. We'll just take a look around. Please?" she gave him that smile which makes him unable to say 'no'.

"Fine. We're going. But swear to me you won't use the Kokuryuha if we get in trouble."

"I swear I won't use the Kokuryuha when we get in trouble," she grinned at him. "Come on! One ugly fortress is waiting for us!"

~*~

Kurama was half expecting to see the disgusting insides of an insect when they got in the fortress. Thankfully, there were no intestines or insect brains within sight.

Years of performing more than a thousand successful heist have given them the necessary skills needed to hide their ki and detect the approaching ki of an opponent from nearly a kilometer away. The fortress seemed dead. It was too quiet. And ugly.

But something uglier is about to happen.

Mukuro, is back after his heated verbal argument with Raizen. And he's pissed off.

Kurama and Arashi have underestimated Mukuro's power. And when he caught sight of them in his room, they we're captured at once.

The torturous hours that followed were a haze in Kurama's mind. But somehow they managed to escape Mukuro's dungeon.

Now, they are hidden in a cave, miles away from Mukuro's fortress. They are safe for the moment.

Kurama looked down at Arashi, cradled in his arms, unconscious.

"Arashi? Wake up, please..." Kurama shook his friend, trying to fight back the sob rising in his throat. "DAMN IT! WAKE UP!" He shook her more violently.

Something happened in that dungeon. Kurama had felt a strong burst of power escape him. And he also experienced a psychic connection with Arashi hundreds of times more powerful than the one they already have. It was as though their power became one. It was exhilarating. And terrifying at the same time.

"Arashi.. Arashi, please... I can't---" he swallowed hard, unable to continue. "You have to come back to me, please." He shut his eyes and enveloped both of them with his aura.

There it was again. The exhilarating sensation of being one with another power. Another soul.

Kurama opened his eyes and found himself gazing at Arashi's silver eyes. In a split second his smile turned into laughter. "You're alright!" Unable to stop himself, he pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight. "You scared me!"

Arashi hugged him back and leaned her head on his shoulder. "I thought I wasn't going to make it... but I did." She looked up at him and smiled, "All thanks to you. You pulled be back."

"From now on, we're going to steer clear off those warlord types, okay?" Kurama asked after releasing Arashi.

"Definitely!" she replied as her eyes blinked sleepily. Arashi yawned and dropped her head on his shoulder. Kurama slipped an arm around her waist and rested his cheek on top of her head. Minutes later, both were asleep and unaware of the creatures whose attention they captured with their unexpected display of power.

~*~

Enma, King of Reikai, stared glumly at the monitor in front of him. The display is repeatedly showing the spectacular golden explosion that destroyed nearly half of Mukuro's fortress.

Yakumo, one of Enma's long-time friends, entered the King's study without bothering to knock. "What happened?"

Enma motioned to the monitor, still unable to speak. Yakumo watched the screen, his face quickly changing to one of shock. "Soulmates? But how could that be? Didn't Kami-sama ensure that this will not happen again?"

"Maybe someone's sleeping on the job," Enma commented humorlessly.

"How do you want me to proceed?"

"It doesn't matter. I don't care if you kill them or not. Just make sure you separate them at all costs."

"It's as good as done," Yakumo gave Enma a reassuring pat on the back. "Everything will work out. I promise you."

"Thank you," Enma stood up and turned his back on Yakumo to gaze out the window.

It was clearly a sign of dismissal.

Yakumo's lips formed into an almost unnoticeable smirk. "No. Thank you," Yakumo whispered to himself before leaving Enma to his brooding.

Several thousands of years ago, when ningens were cavemen and Enma was 'Koenma' the prince, he met a ferry girl. Hana.

He was young, then. Impulsive. Determined to get what he wants. And in love.

Their love was forbidden but Enma didn't care. He didn't want the throne. He never asked for his royal position. All he wanted was to be with Hana.

In their attempt to escape and hide in Makai, they were hunted down by Reikai's defense team and by youkais. Soon, Enma's father discovered that his son and Hana were soulmates. Upon their capture Hana was instantly put to death. Enma was spared through the intercession of his father.

Soulmates are the worst thing that could happen in Makai and Reikai. Together soulmates have the power ten times that of an S class youkai. Their combined power is called X class.

Thousands of years ago, before ningens existed, X class youkais lived in Makai. Reikai existed to ensure that youkais don't cause havoc in evolving Ningenkai. Soon, ningens came about and trouble began.

A youkai came to Ningenkai and ate a ningen. An extremely delicious delicacy! It's blood is almost like an aphrodisiac! The youkai went back to Makai to spread the word about the latest and most delicious thing to ever hit his taste buds.

Within hours, youkais are clamoring to enter Ningenkai.

Kami was appalled.

Akuma, one of the leaders in Makai, ordered his followers to bring him ningens for dinner.

Reikai, of course, had to do everything they can to protect Ningenkai but it wasn't enough.

Thus, began the War of the Lords.

Gunshin, the god of war, was said to be helping Akuma to spite Kami. In desperation, Kami sent bolts of lighting to Makai. No one was spared. Not even Akuma. The souls of the youkais were halved. Their powers reduced to barely ten percent of what they once had.

Youkais had no memory of that war. Only Kami and the most trusted in Reikai knows of it. Gunshin was never found.

Gone were the once peaceful youkais. Fights and death became the common way of life in Makai. Never again did anyone get a whole soul.

Never again did anyone reach X class. Until now.

A tear rolled down Enma's cheek as he watch the two youkos escaping from the burning fortress.

"I'm sorry," he whispered to the youkos on the screen even though they couldn't hear him. "Perhaps in another one of your lifetime, I can ask for your forgiveness."

~*~

"I've found her," Yakumo announced as he entered Akuma's throne room. What a drab, this place is! he silently thought to himself, distastefully.

Shadowlands, true to it's name, is a place absent of any vibrant color. Everything was in hues of black. An occasional white. The only red in the place is the hellish fire infinitely burning at the foot of the mountain.

"Where is she?" Akuma asked, almost lazily.

"Arashi was last spotted near Mukuro's territory."

"That power blast... was that her doing?"

"Hers and Kurama's. He's a youko. Her soulmate."

"No wonder she never came back," Akuma commented. "I'll have my people get her back. What are you going to do with her companion?"

"I'm planning to kill him. He's young but given time he could be a very worrisome opponent."

"No. Don't kill him just yet. There is something about him... Use this," Akuma handed Yakumo a black crystal.

"Isn't this..."

"Yes. That's the crystal you stole from Reikai. If two creatures who share one soul touch that at the same time, their psychic connection, and ultimately their power, will be cut off and limited to no more than A class. All their memories of each other will be erased. If a creature whose soulmate is not within a kilometer radius, his mind will be completely under the control of the first person that he sees."

"Impressive."

Akuma nodded. "I want my toy back unhurt, Yakumo. I don't have to see her to know that she has grown even more beautiful than before." Akuma smiled in anticipation.

"Indeed she has grown beautiful. And you will have her back very soon."

Akuma's eyes flashed.

There is another color in this drab place. Yakumo thought as he left. Akuma's eyes. Their color is right out of the fires of hell.

~*~

The black Makai night is covered with dark red clouds. Shadows lurk in the darkness. The heat is terrible. The air smell of sulfur. The wind is howling as if in pain.

A youko stepped out of the shadows towards a figure, crouching, as if trying to hide, in the darkness. His fiery red eyes glittered as he gaze at the shadows. The crouching figure raised her head. Her silver eyes as empty as her soul, seemingly dead.

~*~

Miles away, in a dark, damned forest, cold, apathetic golden eyes blinked open, immediately alert and aware of the vicious predators surrounding him.

The surrounding plants became frighteningly evil. The once peaceful setting erupted in screams of pain and death as the predators became the prey.

~*~

In another world, Enma is watching Kurama finish off his opponents. Grateful at the same time saddened that the young youko Arashi is dead. Yakumo said Arashi volunteered to die in order to save her friend.

Enma isn't the only one watching Kurama fight. Lurking behind the trees is another creature. Dressed in blue and black with black wings and blue-black hair.

Kuronue.

Author's Note: I referred to Mukuro as 'he' instead of 'she' not because I didn't know she's a 'she' but because during that time the characters thought that Mukuro is male.