I: Hello and welcome readers to the sequel of 'Red'! I hope you like it. I'm going to try and not be hasty with this one, as it actually checking for (gasp) grammar and spelling every once in a while. But! I am very excited about this. I'm not sure how fast updates will come, depending on my projects for my school's Creative Writing club, my book, and the amount of time I have on my hands (not to mention inspiration). But I'm ready if you are!
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho.
INFO: Two years have passed since the end of the first story. Yusuke and Keiko are engaged. Genkai died last year, leaving her temple to Yukina as a home for the koorime. As such, Hiei spends most of his time there. Kurama is now attending Tokyo U for a major in English.
Now let's get going.
Prologue
North Makai was silent tonight.
It almost seemed as though the dark forests had been petrified. Not the slightest breeze sifted the branches; not a single leaf drifted from the trees. No life wandered through the foliage under the nearly nonexistant moonlight, not even the nocturnal predators usually devouring their prey.
A man stood in the midst of the forest, and drank in the unnatural silence.
He was tall. His slim body was wrapped in a simple black yukata that blended perfectly with the darkness of his surroundings. Long, thick silver hair ran down his back freely, his pale, unmoving face set with two navy blue eyes. Silver ears sat perfectly still on his head.
In a matter of seconds, he began moving. No trace of his presence was left in his wake; no sound of his feet on the soft forest floor. He walked like a ghost, yet his demeanor of nonchalance did not change.
Soon enough, the forest gave way to a wide clearing. Sitting amidst the lush grass was a large mansion. Its windows glowed warmly against the oppressing darkness, a tempting invitation to those of the outside world.
The youkai opened the front door without hesitation. Immediately, a young boy dressed in fine robes appeared infront of him, bowing.
"Kakei-sama," he greeted softly. "Kaa-san said you would be coming."
"Hn." Kakei walked past him, briefly setting a hand on the boy's brown hair in the process. The boy turned as he shut the door, observing the tall demon as he walked gracefully up the stairs.
"Kakei-sama, kaa-san has already gone to bed."
Kakei paused on the stairs. The boy pulled a small velvet pouch from his obi as he moved to the base of the staircase. Even though the older man was not turned in his direction, he held it out and waited obediently.
"She wished for me to give you this…"
Kakei turned his head and stared at the pouch in the boy's hand. Finally, he travelled down and received the child's offering. The boy waited patiently, staring up at him without err. Many of the children did this. They were attracted to his eyes; so much like hers.
Kakei carefully undid the strap of the small pouch, turned it upside down, and very gently tipped the contents into his open palm. A delicate necklace sat there; a simple black cord with three small, brass rectangles hanging lengthwise from it. The middle one was longer than those on either side of it and was painted a deep crimson. The pendants were obviously aged; worn at the corners, slighty dulled.
The silver haired youko stared at it for a long moment. Slowly, his ears folded flat against his head. He turned and headed back up the stairs. The boy looked after him anxiously. "Kakei-sama? Kaa-san-,"
But Kakei was already gone. He disappeared down the hall and unceremoniously opened the only door, his eyes narrowed. The huge room was dark. Kakei closed the door in disregard, his animalistic eyes already trained on one point in the room.
"Mother."
tbc.