Otherworld - 4 - How Kurama Became Human



Chapter 4: How Youko Kurama Became Human

Otherworld, 19 Years Ago Before Youko Kurama became the first male of the Princess, he was a thief. He loved the thrill mostly, and the baubles he stole were a bonus. He loved the planning, the conquest, the thrill of the chase. His heart was that of mischievous daring fox and he lived up to his name. His existence was free. Free to take, free to love whomever he wished, free to live where he wanted. He had given up a lot when he became the Princess’ male, but he felt the exchange was equitable.

	Besides after Kuronue died ... Kuronue was a bat Demon. You wouldn’t think a bat Demon could be handsome but he was. He had been Youko Kurama’s partner in crime, his best friend, and occasionally his lover, until that fateful night when a robbery went terribly wrong and Kuronue had died that terrible death.

It should have been an easy score, a quick entry into an unguarded manor in Otherworld, on the edge of the Demon World, gather the spoils, and a quick escape. And at the beginning, everything seemed to be going to plan. It was so easy -- perhaps too easy. And it was during their escape, that the pair of thieves realized it had been a trap all along. Armed guards and dogs appeared almost out of thin air and the chase was on. Both Demons ran quickly away, easily outdistancing the men, but then the chain on Kuronue's amulet snapped and he turned back to retrieve it. His protection amulet, given to him by his mother many, many years ago. "No! Don't go back!" Youko cried. "I have to! I cannot lose that amulet!"

	Just as Kuronue's fingers wrapped around his amulet, bamboo spears filled the air and one of them went through Kuronue’s leg, severing a main artery. Instantly he was surrounded by the guards. He bled out while Youko Kurama fled to safety, forced to leave his best friend behind to die.


It was no longer fun. So when the Princess bound him, although he would never admit it out loud, he was almost glad. He was tired of running and hiding, of having no home, of the constant danger. So now he had a peaceful life, under the protection of the Princess. All bounties on his head had been cancelled and he was truly free. It happened during one of his forays into Demon World. A spirit hunter went after him! Spirit hunters were deadly assassins of Demon World. Youko Kurama didn’t know why the assassin was after him -- all the bounties on his head had been cancelled many years ago. Maybe it was a revenge contract. His rose whip had failed, and he was bleeding from several places, his blood leaving an obvious trail. The Princess was always teasing him about getting hurt, but he had never worried about it since he healed so easily. But now! The spirit hunter had hell hounds with him to track and corner the Fox Demon. He had to get away! He changed to his fox shape, since that form was faster and stronger and he ran as hard as he could. But the hell hounds were close behind, and the spirit hunter right behind them. Without warning he felt a stab of pain in his heart. A spirit bullet, especially created to kill a Youkai, a Demon, had pierced him. He felt his spirit leaving his fox body. NO!!!! His broken body left behind, his spirit fled. And the spirit hunter followed him. His spirit went through the barriers between the worlds, and the spirit hunter could not follow since he was still corporeal. Youko Kurama found himself floating in the Human World and standing below him was a young woman. A pregnant young woman. He made the decision in an instant and went into the unborn child’s body, displacing the soul that was already there. Let it find another body – he needed this one!


	Six months later, Shiori Minamino became a single mother and gave birth to a son, whom she named Shuichi. A beautiful red-haired, green-eyed son. He was a quiet baby, learning to walk and talk at a remarkably early age. He never cried and never got sick, but he also never seemed to need holding. He never reached for his mother. But that didn’t matter to Shiori. She loved her son with all her heart. And slowly through the years, the child who was really a cold-hearted fox Demon learned to love her back.

Princess Aara knew that her beloved fox was hurt and then she felt him die. But she also felt his spirit fleeing whatever what chasing him. She had felt the fear and the pain through the bond they had. And then it disappeared. She knew that his spirit had not ended – she would have felt that. It could only mean one thing. He had passed through one of the boundaries. He had been in Demon World and if he had come in Otherworld, she would have felt him instantly. The Four Gods World was too far away and a portal to that world would not be a welcoming one, so he had to have gone to the Human World.


	It took her many years to find him – now born as a human. Koenma, son of the ruler of Spirit World helped her, and finally, he was found. She sent Hiei to the Human World and Hiei watched him from a tree, hidden by its branches. Youko Kurama was now just a young boy. A human boy!


Hiei reported back and through the years, Shuichi was watched. On the day he turned 14, Hiei appeared at his bedroom window. Shuichi opened the window to his old friend. “Am I finally old enough?” he asked. “Yes,” Hiei replied. “The Princess is waiting for you.” And so Shuichi broke his mother’s heart when he told her the truth and that he was leaving. But he promised to return often and she hugged him hard and then let him go. In her heart, she had always known that there was something very different about her son.

It had been nearly fifteen years since he walked in the lands of Otherworld and the halls of the Castle. And for the first time in his life, he was nervous. The Princess had bound a tall beautiful fox Demon to her and now he was just a teenage boy. And he had not been able to tap into the powers that he had when he was Youko Kurama. He could make plants grow faster, but little else. Hiei was at his side, “You look like a girl.” the little Demon muttered. “I know. I think the baby I went into was supposed to be a girl and although my spirit changed it to a boy, the body still remained very feminine. I have been mistaken for a girl in the Human World.” “Hn.” the fire Demon said no more. And Shuichi became even more nervous. The Princess would never accept him the way he was!


	He was brought to the sitting room – not even her bedchambers! – and Hiei opened the door, but did not go through the door. “She is waiting.” Then Hiei turned and left Shuichi standing at the open door. He took a deep breath and walked in the room. She was sitting there, more beautiful than ever. She looked at him, her face unreadable, “I guess I cannot call you Youko Kurama any more.” “No.” he said, his heart sinking. “Then I will call you Kurama instead.” She saw his look of surprise, “Silly fox! Do you think I could stop loving you? You are, and always will be, my first male, my first love.” She beckoned him to her. “Don’t ever leave me again, Kurama! My heart has been incomplete without you.”


He rushed into her waiting arms, knelt in front of her, and wrapped his arms tight around her, his face turned up to her as she covered it with kisses. His heart filled with love and contentment. Kurama was home at last.