Yu Yu Hakusho- Another tale

Chapter 01: Legend's red string

~Tenko empire, edge of demon plane~
The fire was spreading around. Her eyes glittered as tears fell down her petite and beautiful cheeks. She scooped up the barely alive child, her precious daughter. She was not even a year old, she had just barely began to walk, yet she jumped to save her mother.
"Akina, forgive me... Akina, my precious child. I shall use the last of my life to give you a warm family. My precious child." She kissed the girl's forehead.
The destruction was spreading. The screams were getting worse. She knew she had no time. She opened the time and destination tunnel.
She was desperate when she saw the human woman in labor.
"I see... You have lost your child. I shall give you my child so be a mother to my precious." A blue light left the child's body and zipped into the tunnel.
The queen fell to the ground. She managed to thwart the evil plan, the princess and sole heir was now safe. A blast made her look up weakly.
"Heh... So the brat is dead... Well, there is no use for you."
The queen's lips whimpered. She was not afraid of death, especially now that her precious treasure was safe.
"Akina, be safe and grow strong. Never let hatred or any evil feeling crowd your heart. Be kind and never seek revenge." The bright orange light was what she saw last.
~Human world~
The strong cry of the baby surprised them. This child was supposed to be dead.
"This is indeed a miracle, we were sure you lost your baby, after all we could not hear her heartbeat. Congratulations, you have a very strong daughter." The doctor smiled as he handed the crying bundle to her mother.
The mother had tears in her eyes as the father kissed her forehead.
"Akina..." The mother muttered.
"Eh"
"I don't know why, but we should name her Akina." The mother said fondly as she fed the baby.
"Ah!Akira!" The father turned to a little boy, around 4 years old.
"This is your baby sister Akina." He lifted the boy and showed him the now burping baby.
The Baby opened her eyes, she smiled.
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"AHHHHHHH!" A disheveled black haired girl bolted out of her bed.
She turned to the alarm, it was only 6 in the morning. She laid back down on her bed exhausted and tired. How long had it been since she had this dream.
"Atleast I live alone now, I can scream out and not worry someone." She got up and yawned.
She trotted to the bathroom, to get her morning routine on. The toaster had just pinged as she combed her hair and tied it up with a fuzzy blue hair tie.
She checked herself in the mirror again. Shiny, yet out of control black hair, tamed with clips and her hair tie, big brown eyes, the shade of chocolate, pale lips and filled out cheeks. Her tanned skin stood out. She sighed as she wore her uniform shirt when her eyes wandered to her chest.
"Sigh... gotta to live with it." She said as he wore her shoes and picked up her glasses.
She locked her door and turned to see her neighbour give her a rather creepy smile. She quickly put on her glasses, bowed to him and ran towards school.
Since she was young, she could see strange aura's of people. It took shapes and colour, this should her see the good and bad but her idiotic heart would still fall for the false pretence kindness.
She had been bullied in school because of her ability to see things she shouldn't, see. Like that neighbour, he always had this aura of horns and tail.
Burdened with this ability, the priest at the local church, gave her these glasses. While it helped with her astigmatism, it also prevented her from seeing things.
"Akina!" Her friend Sumiko grabbed her and hugged her.
"Good morning!" She smiled.
"Ara... It looks like you haven't been sleeping well. Akina, are you having nightmares again?" Sumiko asked worried.
"Eh? No... I was watching anime till 4 in the morning!!" Akina lied through her teeth.
"Really?" Sumiko raised a brow.
"Yeah yeah!!! I could not sleep so I ended up watching sailor moon!" She giggled.
Sumiko looked at her sternly.
"Fine! But if you are having nightmares, you should let me know. You are living all alone in that apartment, it makes me worried." Sumiko looked concerned.
"No No!!! It's perfectly fine! My parents did a through research of the area and neighbours! Besides, your are only 2 blocks away. If there is something, I will come to you!!" Akina replied hastily.
"Okay, besides you are staying back today, right?" Sumiko smiled.
"Eh?" Akina tilted her head when Sumiko smacked her.
"Idiot! Today is our volleyball finals! Forgot???" Sumiko growled at her.
"Eh! No way! I remember! Look I even brought an extra bento for it!" Akina replied waving her hands.
"I love you!" Sumiko hugged her.
The rest of the day was usual. Akina felt tired, she had not been sleeping well since her 16th birthday. Since she just started high school. It had been 2 years now. The dream that plagued her in her childhood, was back now.
"Matsumura-San!"
Akina stood up surprised.
"Read the next line please!" Her teacher glared at her.
"Yes! Umm... Eto..." She quickly glanced at Sumiko who showed her where to start.
"Romeo.. Where Arth thou?" She read fluently making the teacher grumble to himself and Sumiko giggle.
"Fine... Yoshino! You are next!"
Akina sat down sighing.
"He is still upset about you correcting his English. He needs to realise you were abroad for three years."Sumiko whispered.
Akina chuckled awkwardly as she sighed. She slowly doodled on the margins of her notebook. She had not been paying attention when she realised that she had drawn the face she had been seen every night.
"Who are you?" She muttered as the bell signed the end of class.
~Spirit world~
"There has been strange activity around the borders of the demon world and human world... It is similar to the time when the nether world demons tried to take control." Botan muttered.
"Hmm.... There is some unrest stirring also." Koenma pondered.
"Do you think the rumour is true? That there is a lone survivor from the Tenko tribe destruction?" Botan looked down.
"It has been in my mind. When the tribe had been brutally killed, we could not find the soul of the princess. Her mother was murdered and we found the princess's body but we could not find her soul." Koenma replied as he closed his eyes in concentration.
"So, there is a chance the princess may be alive?" Ayame asked.
"It would be better if she was not. The Tenko tribe are powerful healers but they can also tangle with time and dimension. If these demons need power, they need the blood of the Tenko tribe even worse...." Koenma looked down as he bit hard on his pacifier.
"What is worse?" Botan asked.
"If they... are able to bind with the Tenko Heir, it will increase their power exponentially and also create darkness in the heart. The darkness will turn the Tenko heir into a living puppet, as evil/dark thoughts are the key to destroy the soul of the gentle Tribe." Koenma muttered.
"But since there seems to be no survivor... it will be okay right?" Botan as nervously.
"If there is survivor, she is the heir. There is no doubt, every demon and evil human who know the legend are searching her her, but if she is alive, them she should start showing the signs. Since we never felt anything... I think we should just drop this subject." Koenma got off his chair and walked to the library.
"Hmmm... If you say so..." Botan sighed.
"Koenma-Sama... The child... Please make sure no one knows about her.... Please"
The queen's pleading still rang in his ear.
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"There is a story like that? But if that tribe was so powerful, how did they get destroyed in a night?" Yusuke asked surprised as he placed the ramen bowl in front of Botan and Kurama.
"I have heard of the Tenko tribe. The destruction had been horrible. I had seen it with my own eyes." Kurama said as he closed his eyes.
"You saw it!" Botan was surprised.
"Back when I was Yoko Kurama. I had heard that the well guarded and protected Tenko land had been infiltrated and destroyed, so I had gone to see it for myself and steal their treasure." Kurama said coolly.
"Ehhhh..."
"But... It was horrible. The buildings, the people... everyone was strewn around. This tribe were able to produce beautiful white wings... Those wings had been torn apart and destroyed and worse.... The queen... had been staked and ripped apart." Kurama's eyes were closed.
"That's horrible!" Botan exclaimed as Yusuke sallowed hard.
"Whoever lead the destruction of the Tenko Tribe, they must have had help from inside the tribe. They have powerful barriers, its nearly impossible to destroy it." Kurama explained.
"But why is this story getting popular suddenly? I mean, it had been many years since this destruction right?" Yusuke asked as he looked up.
"Well... There has been unusual movement at the area between the two worlds, with demons wanting to cross over to human world in search of her. There... There is a chance the nether world demons are returning. Since you guys destroyed their sphere, they are trying alternate ways to get back in power." Botan replied sadly.
"So what is the deal with finding this Tenko child?" Yusuke enquired.
"They have the ability to distort time and space. If they use the child, they can distort everything." Botan replied.
"So the child can be a boy or a girl?" Kurama asked when Botan shook her head.
"It has to be a girl. Before her death, the queen has given birth to a girl, besides, only girls can develop the power of time distortion." Botan replied.
Yusuke and Kurama looked at each other. They quickly fell quiet as voices reached them.
"Ehhh!!! How can you still be hungry? We had 2 bentos!" A black haired girl with glasses whined as she was dragged by a blonde while being followed by a brunette.
"Ramen is a different stomach!" The blonde said happily.
"Sumi-chan... Diet..." The black haired girl looked at the brunette who was giggling.
"We won our match, because you were with us! I will share the ramen with you." The brunette answered.
"Yusuke-san!" The blonde yelled happily.
"Ah! Mikiko-chan! Are you living a decent life?" Yusuke gave wide smile.
"I am... Mou... Stop treating me like a delinquent! Ah! Let me introduce! These are my friend! This is Sumiko and the glasses crybaby is Akina!" Mikiko smiled happily.
"Are they also delinquents like you?" Yusuke asked laughing.
"Nope, they are decent students. If it was not for them, I would have actually spiralled down. Akina-chan saved me from a dark time. Of course Yusuke -san also ne." Mikiko laughed happily.
"Don't add me as an after thought." Yusuke complained as the placed their ramen in front of them.
"Sorry Sorry... But I really owe Akina-chan! When I decided to end things, she was the only one who stood up for me and even came to save me." Mikiko smiled as she sipped her ramen.
Kurama chuckled as he saw the girl Akina's face turn red and she looked down. She suddenly looked up, their eyes met making her turn even more redder.
"I see. So now you are living a decent life." Yusuke had a gentle smile.
"She is but it is a pain! She is always getting into fights!" The girl Sumiko complained with a chuckle.
"Sumi-chan..." Akina laughed nervously when she looked at Kurama and blushed again.
"Are these your friends Yusuke-san?" Mikiko asked as she slurped her ramen.
"Ah! This is Ku—- Minamino Shuichi and Botan." Yusuke replied simply.
"I don't see Kawabara-san anymore." She said as she swung her legs.
"He is busy studying just as you should be." Yusuke replied.
Mikiko laughed when she noticed Akina stealing a look at Kurama. She smirked and suddenly grabbed Akina's face.
"You should take those glasses off!" She suddenly pulled Akina's glasses off making her lose her balance of her seat
"Akina!" Sumiko yelled.
It happened too fast, before she could recover, Akina found herself in Kurama's arms.
"Akina! Sorry!" Mikiko spoke up.
Kurama however was not paying attention. He was looking into the soft yet deep brown eyes of Akina. Indeed, without her glasses she was rather breathtaking.
Akina on the other hand seemed to be panicking and she quickly pulled herself off him.
"Sorry! Sorry!" She bowed multiple times.
"Ah! Its okay! Are you okay?" Kurama asked when she nodded and grabbed her glasses and wore them.
Her face was bright red yet she seemed a little anxious.
"Akina! Sorry! I did not want to make you fall. I am so sorry" Mikiko hugged her while tears sprouted from her eyes.
"I am fine. I really am! Let's have our ramen and get home!" Akina said gently.
"Are you really okay? I am so sorry." Sumiko bowed as she looked at Akina.
Akina gave a gentle smile when she looked at Kurama again, did she imagine what she saw?
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"Really Mikiko! Think before you act! What would you have done if Minamino-san had not caught Akina!" Sumiko was still scolding Mikiko who was in tears.
"And you also Akina! Why did you get scared like that?" Sumiko turned to Akina who was quiet.
Akina looked distracted when Sumiko grabbed her.
"Akina? Are you really okay? You are so quiet!" Sumiko grabbed her face.
"Eh? Sumiko? Eh?"Akina looked surprised.
Sumiko just sighed.
"You sure are happy go lucky. So, what are you doing tomorrow?" Sumiko asked.
"I am going to the orphanage. It's Iroha-chan's birthday." Akina smiled.
Sumiko and Mikiko just smiled. Akina was really an angel.
"Ah! We go then! Be careful Akina!" Sumiko and Mikiko waved as they left.
"Bye bye!" Akina replied when her smile fell.
When she had looked at Kurama-san, she had seen a fox... no...she saw a silver aura of a fox around him. While he seemed very kind... but
"Mou... Stop thinking of his face!" Akina yelled when she blushed as people stared at her.
She rushed home and shut the door behind her.
"He does have a beautiful face but his aura..." She buried her face in her lap.
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"Thank you so much!" The baker smiled as Akina took her purchase.
"Cake done... present done... And what else...?" Akina was looking at her finger when she suddenly bumped into someone.
She fell to the ground when she froze.
"Watch where you are going little missy!" A group of rough looking med glared at her.
"I am sorry! I am sorry!" Akina bowed when she picked up her purchases when the man grabbed her by her collar.
Akina felt her breath shorten with fright.
"You got my clothes dirty! How will you pay me for this?" The man sneered at her.
"Wait a minute Gemma-san...take a close look at her." One of the grabbed her glasses and broke them.
"She is quite a looker!" The man laughed as Akina felt her gut tighten.
Their auras were dark and scary. She did not even want to think what they would do to her. Should she use it?
"It's rude to hold a lady up like that." A soft yet firm voice spoke up.
Akina turned to look at Kurama. Her eyes's widened as she saw his aura, it looked.... Like it would protective.
"Ha! Mind your own business." The men shouted when suddenly she was on the ground and the other men were.... Unconscious.
"Are you okay?"
Akina looked up to see Kurama's hand in front of her.
She nodded as she held his hand. The instant touch felt electric as he helped her stand up.
"Thank you!" She spoke up when she saw him smile.
"Glad to help. We met yesterday, didn't we? Akina-chan ins't it?" Kurama asked when she nodded and then gasped.
"My glasses.. Glassess... Ah!!" Tears formed as she saw her glasses in pieces.
"Ah! They destroyed it." Kurama sighed.
"No no no! I will end up seeing it all again? Ah!" Akina turned to look at her purchases.
Akina dragged her self to see the cake shattered. Tears formed in her eyes as she panicked.
"How about I get you a new cake?" Kurama asked.
"Eh? No need!!! I will buy another one! It's okay! You saved me! That is more than enough." Akina waved her hands when Kurama held them and smiled.
"I would like to help you."
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"Thank you once again." The baker smiled happily as Akina took the cake.
"Thank you." Akina looked at Kurama who was helping her with her other purchases.
"It's nothing. Is this for your friend?" Kurama asked.
"Something like that! Ah! We reached!" Akina said excitedly as she saw the orphanage.
"Eh?" Kurama looked at her when he smiled.
Her happy face somehow calmed his heart.
"Ah! Akina-chan!" One of the nuns greeted her.
"Sorry I am late! I had a small accident. This is my friend! E..too..." Akina looked at Kurama who smiled
"My name is Minamino Shuichi." He smiled
Akina blinked when she smiled.
"Ah! This is Iroha-chan's cake!" Akina handed the cake over to the Nun who looked worried.
"Ne Akina-chan, is it possible for you to talk to Iroha-Chan? She has been in a very bad mood lately." The nun asked.
Akina nodded.
"You can leave all the stuff with Sister Claire! Thank you once again ... Eto.. Minamino-san." Akina smiled as she rushed towards the church.
"Ano.. We can take those from you." One of the nuns stepped up to him.
"Ah! Sure!" He smiled as he handed the bags to her when noticed someone was watching him.
He was surrounded by children. He felt himself sweatdrop.
"Hello..." He muttered while mustering a smile.
"Ano...Ano ne..." A boy no older than 5 approached him.
"How can I help you?" Kurama asked as he bent down to the boy.
"Are you Aki-Chan's boyfriend?" He asked innocently.
"No... I am her friend." Kurama smiled.
"See! I told you! I can still ask Aki-nee out!" Another child not more than 7 exclaimed.
"You are really not Aki-chan's boyfriend?" A little girl around 5 asked.
"Sorry but I am not. You all seem to be close to her." Kurama smiled when the child showed him a big smile.
"I want Aki-chan to be my mama!" Another child spoke up.
"That is not possible... Aki-chan is still a minor." A boy spoke up.
The child looked down when Kurama stood up. No doubt, the girl was important to them all. He had sensed that she was extremely kind.
"Children, what are you doing?" A pastor walk up when he looked shocked at Kurama
Kurama also tensed up. No way...
No way
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"Iroha-chan?" Akina approached the girl who was sitting behind the pulpit.
The 12 year old looked at her and then looked away.
"What good is it? My parents are not around!" Iroha shouted.
Akina sighed and sat next to her.
"But you have Pastor Endo, you have so many brothers are sisters and you have me." Akina spoke softly as she gently patted Iroha's head."
The girl buried her head in her lap and began to cry.
"Come, let's cut your cake." Akina smiled which made Iroha also smile.
"I feel lonely on my birthday." Iroha muttered.
"I know, that is all the reason why we should celebrate with everyone... Unless you don't want to?" Akina asked gently.
Iroha nodded happily.
"Ne... Akina-chan." Iroha smiled.
"Hmm?"
"Can you stay over with us? Please?" Iroha pleaded.
"Okay."
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"You... You are Eisuke! One of the demon world under lords!" Kurama spoke up as he followed the pastor to the garden.
"Yoko Kurama, it has been a while." He turned to look at him.
"You were supposed to be dead... How are you...?" Kurama looked at him surprised.
"I ran off. I came to this human world when the tunnel had been made but don't worry, I haven't been doing anything bad. Just looking after this place and children. I am peaceful here." Eisuke replied
I forgive you
"At least for her." He smiled.
Kurama just sighed.
"Very well." He started to leave.
"Are you not going to report me?" He looked at Kurama.
"I met a pastor today, besides with Koenma's new rule, you are allowed to be here as long as you don't cause trouble." Kurama smiled as he walked towards the door when Akina showed up.
She immediately stiffened up and froze.
She is able to sense what I am.
Kurama held the door for her.
"I am sorry, I may have nearly hit you." He smiled.
"Eh? No no no! I was careless! Ah! Pastor Endo!" She bowed and ran towards the pastor who smiled warmly at her.
Kurama watched as she handed the pieces of her glasses to him, bowed and left not before smiling and waving at him.
"Tell me Eisuke, does she have the sight?" Kurama asked.
"You can say that." Eisuke smiled as he looked at the glasses.
Kurama's eyes widened.
"Those glasses, they prevent her from seeing."
"She has suffered a lot with her abilities. I am surprised that she still hasn't given up. She is a special child. She has a kindness in her that I admire."
Then, I will forgive you that is why you should forgive yourself
Kurama just smiled. He walked out when he saw Akina bring the cake to one of the children with a smile.
I can understand what you mean Eisuke. She has an extremely calm aura.
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"It is this place."
"That bastard Eisuke thought he could hide from us."
"This time we will teach him a lesson."
"Can I have dibs on the kids?"
"Huh.... That girl... I want her."
"You can have any of them, Eisuke. This is your punishment."