Subject: [ffic][yyh] "Autumn's Promise" part 1
From: "Misako S." <chhiu_fen@hotmail.com>
Date: 7/26/1997, 4:03 AM
To: fanfic@fanfic.com

Hi everyone! I just thought I'd write and post a Yu Yu Hakusho fanfic. 
Tell me if you like it, okay? C&C me, please? Thanks! :)

                           *~*~*
___________
Prologue
___________

        They ran. The enemy followed. Close behind, in fact. The two 
outcasts fled their prison, not knowing that the path they took meant 
their doom. They were young and rebellious, and very impulsive. A fatal 
combination... for the both of them. One outcast, the boy, who was in 
the lead, looked back at his flustered companion. She hadn't wanted to 
go through with this plan, but she did it for him. He took her hand, and 
together they escaped.
        "If we follow the path, and make it to the river, we'll be able 
to lose them," The boy said. The girl nodded. She had faith in him. She 
would gladly leave her fate in his hands.
        The route was all shrubbery and marshland. The girl hoped that 
they would make it to the bamboo forest. That was their destination. 
Once they set foot there, they'd be free. A tremor of pain shot up her 
right shoulder. Just a few more miles...
        As if reading her mind, the boy said, "Don't worry. If they get 
to us, my blade will get to them!" She looked at him with those blue 
eyes of hers. She didn't approve of the idea.
        A terrible feeling swept over her. Death was nearing them. She 
didn't want to tell him. Perhaps they would be able to outwit death 
itself, for their speed was as fast as the blink of an eye. How could 
death ever come between them? She wouldn't let that happen; not with the 
promise they made to each other.
        The girl yelped in surprise, as her leg failed to take another 
step. Her foot was being swallowed by the muddy bog. Her hand was still 
linked with the boy's. Please, she begged silently, let go. The sound of 
the enemy's footsteps were nearing. The boy still didn't let go.
        "Leave me," The girl pleaded. "Please save yourself."
        "I'm not letting you go," The boy replied forcefully. "What 
about our promise?" Her blue eyes started to tear, as she summoned a 
powerful blast of wind, and separated their hands. 
        "Forgive me, oh please forgive me," The girl sobbed, and built a 
wall of cold wind around her. "Flee now."
        The boy couldn't find it in his heart to leave her. He didn't 
have any other choice. Forgive me too, he thought, and ran, his eyes 
blurring from the pain in his heart. She watched him go, her tears 
running freely down her cheeks.
She suddenly felt something in the wind. Sharp, and... poisonous. They 
were headed for the boy. Arrows! She had to save him. Mustn't let 
anything happen to him... She summoned another rush of cold wind, and 
cried out loud at the excruciating pain...

        The boy didn't want to run anymore. He took out his sword, and 
decided to fight instead. I'd rather die fighting than be a coward who 
keeps running, he thought. He turned around, and went back to the 
direction where he came from; where he had left his partner. His third 
sight caught a glimpse of something in the air, headed his way. He just 
didn't know where they were coming from. He turned his head too late. 
Arrows were headed toward him with unmatchable speed. The next thing he 
knew, he heard a heartbreaking cry of anguish, as someone's weight 
lowered him to the ground.
        On top of him lay his companion, her back pierced by the arrows. 
He didn't know how she had gotten loose from the swampy marsh, until he 
saw her leg. She was missing a foot. She gazed into his eyes, her own 
eyes saddened at how things turned out to be.
        "Remember our promise," She said beyond a whisper.
        "How can I keep that promise if you're not here beside me?" He 
asked. His voice betrayed him, as it shook with emotion. "How?"
        "We'll find each other again in the future," And with that, her 
eyes closed, and her head fell limply on his chest. He never got to see 
her loving blue eyes, and her beautiful smile again. 

________________         
Autumn's Promise
Chapter 1
________________


        "NO!!!"
        She awoke with a start. Such a horrible dream! Her hands moved 
to her temple where it throbbed. A migraine, just great! Her eyes 
searched the darkness. She was safe; safe in her own bedroom, under the 
thick, butterfly-printed covers. She leaned back, her head sinking onto 
the soft cream-colored pillows.
        "It was just a dream," She said to herself, taking long breaths 
to calm herself. "Just a dream..." Recurring dreams, that's what it is. 
She had had the same dream over and over for several nights straight 
now. Did they mean something? Kazehito Mikomi shrugged. Maybe, maybe 
not. Who knows? 
        Mikomi looked out the bedroom window, as the first sign of light 
appeared. Sunrise. She always liked mornings, because she liked watching 
the sun rise. She just didn't like getting up. But she definitely loved 
evenings, because of starry nights.
        She blew her long bangs upwards; a habit which never left her 
ever since she was ten. Goodness, she had almost forgotten that today 
was her birthday! She jumped out of bed, flinging the covers across the 
room, and headed for the shower, whistling a little tune.  

        The month of September was ending, and the green foliage slowly 
took on its autumn color. Typhoon season was finally over, but now the 
weather was warm and dry. People flocked to the park to see the momiji, 
the bright red maple trees. Everyone carried their picnic baskets and 
cameras, as they sat down on the soft grass, and watched the pretty 
colors of the maple tree leaves.
        A boy yawned, and tucked his arms behind his dark head, as he 
lay down on the checkered picnic blanket. "I'm bored! Isn't there 
anything else to do besides watch a bunch of leaves change color, and 
fall down?"
        "Yusuke," Came the reply of the girl he was with. "All you do is 
complain. Aren't you satisfied with what there is?"
        "Keh, I shoulda just kept my mouth shut!" He turned away from 
her.
        "What was that?!" She demanded.
        A few chuckles were heard from their friends, who sat on the 
same picnic blanket. They were enjoying every bite of the food prepared 
by the girl, Yukimura Keiko. She had prepared deluxe ramen and 
sandwiches for everyone. She was a terrific cook, but Yusuke was too 
proud to show his appreciation to her for cooking lunch for everyone.
        "Keiko-san," A girl with bluish-green hair, Yukina, said from 
across the blanket. "You make the most delicious food!" Keiko thanked 
her, her cheeks turning pink.
        "I second the motion!" Announced another girl on the blanket, 
named Botan, her ponytail bouncing. She turned to the red-haired boy 
seated beside her. "Kurama, where's Hiei? Doesn't he want to join us?"
        Kurama stifled a laugh. "Hiei joining us on a picnic? That would 
be an interesting turn of events!" He placed a piece of fish cake in his 
mouth with his chopsticks.
        "I still say that shithead's no fun," Stated Kuwabara Kazuma, 
the tall, broad-shouldered guy seated beside Yukina. "All that shrimp 
ever does is mope."

        Humans were very peculiar beings. They gathered together from 
different places just to see leaves? Hiei didn't really care anyway. 
Humans were such shallow fools. He looked down at them with a quizzical 
expression, the humid breeze blowing at his dark hair. He leaped from 
where he stood, and landed on the rough soil not far away from Yusuke's 
picnic blanket. He fixed his eyes on Yukina, who was laughing merrily 
among the others. Little did she know that he was her brother. Hiei had 
no intention of letting her know. He had his reasons, and only he knew 
what they were. Not even Kurama knew. Hiei eyed him as he exchanged 
jokes with the girl named Botan.
        Deep inside, Hiei knew he wanted to join them. He wanted to have 
fun, but all he felt was bitterness and loneliness. He didn't want to 
have anything to do with anybody. Maybe it was better this way. He 
didn't need anyone. Nobody needed him. It all balanced out.

        A perfect day to have a birthday. Mikomi walked down the park 
sidewalk, and watched the maple leaves. Funny how she always managed to 
blend in with the others without being noticed. She never had any close 
friends. People always thought her views were weird. She didn't really 
mind, that's why she always kept to herself. She only displayed her 
opinions when she was asked to do so. She sighed. It would be nice 
though to have some friends today, she thought sadly. She blew her bangs 
upwards, and looked around. Her eyes caught a glimpse of a boy among the 
trees. What was he doing? Playing hide and seek? She approached him 
quietly, and tapped him on the shoulder. Startled, he turned to face 
her, a look of annoyance crossing his face. 
        Mikomi giggled. "Hi, are you hiding from someone?"
        The boy growled. "Do that again, and I'll slit your throat!"
        "That's a nice introduction," She replied. "I'm Miko-chan. 
What's your name?" The boy looked confused. Miko eyed him curiously. 
        He hesitated. "Hiei."
        "Huh?"
        "My name's Hiei!" He growled again. What a pest this girl was! 
Hiei   wondered how she had seen him though. His coumaflaging technique 
was probably getting sloppy. He cursed silently.
        "Hiei," Miko said, as if she were reciting a line from a poem. 
"Would you like to go on a picnic with me?" 
        "What?!" Hiei exclaimed. This girl must have lost her marbles! 
Hiei could have just left, and saved himself some trouble, but he was 
glued to the spot by her sudden offer. This was insane! He eyed her 
carefully. She didn't seem to be a possible threat. From her long 
brown-gold locks to the soles of her shoes, she looked entirely 
helpless.
        "I'm not forcing you or anything like that," Miko tilted her 
head to one side, and dangled the lunchbox she held in front of his 
face. "But it wouldn't be right to waste good food." She smiled at him. 
Before Hiei could react, she pulled him by the end of his black cloak, 
and dragged him towards the picnicing area.

___________________
To be continued...?
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