Story Title: The Labyrinth To Your Lips
Disclaimer: I own neither YYH nor the Labyrinth. Unless you count a DVD copy…
Author's Notes: I wanted to start this after I finished Hellfire…but…I couldn't contain myself. Sometimes an idea is so interesting it screams to be created. Please note that this is not a direct copy of the movie nor does it follow any original part of YYH. Call it a fusion, I guess. And by the way, this is another yaoi. Thank you for reading. Please enjoy.
Chapter One: I Wish…
Sometimes…many times, the young fire demon, Hiei, wondered how far he would have gotten in life if Master Genkai had not adopted him. Would he have become a criminal? Would he have any of the strength he has now from his own training? Or would he have been clawing among the lower class demons for petty magical items and turning humans into demon slaves? Briefly he smiled as the spring wind gently brushed his short black hair. Hiei slid from the high tree branch and landed on his feet. He guessed he'd never know.
Blue birds chirped sweet messages to one another as his footsteps drew closer. Gliding down to the ground, the birds hopped along side of him. Sunlight sparkled between the green swaying leaves and young and tender petals. All was clear and calm in the blue sky.
"Go somewhere," he grumbled and brandished his sword. His intimidation worked…for a second. One of the birds landed on his shoulder. Hiei glared and bared his teeth at it. The bird sweetly cocked its head and chirped. A twitch ran through the corner of his lips in annoyance, but he sighed and continued walking.
"Hiei…it's been so long, " he turned when he heard Yukina's voice. The birds scattered from him and rested on her shoulders and played in her hands. Genkai had also adopted Yukina when her apprentice, Yusuke, and his friend, Kuwabara, rescued her. Had Hiei known about Yukina's capture, he would have saved her himself. Though he was grateful for what Yusuke had done for him, Hiei could have done the same…and quicker too. No one, not even Yukina herself, knew that they were siblings. Genkai may have known, but she wasn't telling. That was fine with Hiei.
It was strange not seeing her wear her usual light blue kimono but instead she was wearing a light blue dress with a simple design of cherry blossom petals on the skirt. With her hair made into two pigtails, she looked like any other human.
"Everyone is at Genkai's…a sort of reunion, I guess. Would you like to join us?" There were few things that would make him resist her smile. Hiei followed her as the birds chirped in her hands. Cherry blossom petals danced in the wind as they walked.
Genkai lived mostly alone in an expansive, traditional-style Japanese home. In the height of her day, she opened her temple and provided spiritual aid and counsel to any spiritual warrior, but then one day, she sealed away herself on her grounds. Genkai's name fell into obscurity, besides the occasional ghost story. Yukina held the bamboo for Hiei as they stepped through the woods.
Sliding open the shoji screen door, Yukina half-chuckled and smiled as she entered, "Hello, everyone, look who I found."
"Hey, Hiei. You're late," Yusuke grinned.
Kuwabara grinned," Been five years and you haven't grown an inch." He leaned back and laughed heartily.
A vein twitched in the corner of Hiei's forehead. Taking a breath, he closed his eyes and smiled, "Unfortunately for you, ugly is permanent."
"What!" Kuwabara stood with his fists clenched and raised,"You little—"
Hiei leaned forward and raised the hilt of his katana. "Boys, sit down and shut up!" Genkai ordered before she took a sip of tea. Yusuke laughed. Finally, someone other than him would get yelled at for once.
Kuwabara and Hiei calmed down and Hiei took a seat across from Genkai. They were all sitting on the tatami mat floor at a low but wide table. Yusuke sat to the left of Genkai and Kuwabara sat across from Yusuke. When she wasn't serving tea, Yukina would sit beside Kuwabara.
"Hiei, what's demon world like?" Yusuke asked. He had fought plenty of demons before as they appeared in the human world, but just once, Yusuke wanted to see the demon world. Genkai would always scoff, roll her old eyes, and tell him he hadn't trained enough…that and to shut up and focus on perfecting the spirit gun.
"It's a world of demons, " Hiei replied without emotion in his voice. Yusuke made a face like he was displeased with his answer. Whatever…he'd die the moment he would cross the barrier anyway.
"Hey Grandma, why does Hiei get to go to demon world and I can't? I'm way stronger than Hiei. I've been training night and day…come on! Let me go!" Yusuke's neck flushed red in anger. Genkai stood and smacked Yusuke on the back of his head. As his head laid against the table and small tears formed in his eyes, a large red bump sprouted.
"You think I'm going to let a fourteen year old boy travel to demon world and get slaughtered? Boy, you're even more stupid than Hiei over there if you think I'm going to lose my only heir to my arts." Hiei winced and hung his head as she pointed at him.
Yusuke nodded. "I understand Grandma, " he replied. "I'd still like to go…" he pouted and narrowed his eyes.
Kuwabara made a goofy grin and pointed at himself, "Master Genkai, if Yusuke dies in demon world, I can be your apprentice."
Genkai crossed her arms over her chest, "Heh…and face the option of you being a failure like Hiei? No thank you."
Hiei chewed on his lip to silence himself from replying. Originally, the whole reason Genkai had adopted him was to train him as her heir, but apparently after years and years of training, he remained the same the day he was adopted. Then she found this Yusuke Urameshi kid and after six months he had blue light flickering from his fingertips. Now he was her heir and Hiei was the failure, the example of what not to be, the…well, you get the idea.
Yukina stood in the doorway, "Ah, sorry to interrupt but there is someone here for Hiei." She entered the room and gave Hiei's guest room to enter as well. Hiei looked up, saw who it was, and cursed as he hung his head again.
It was the one person he didn't want to see minutes after returning to the human world… that creepy Shuuichi Minamino boy.
The young man with the long red hair smiled brightly and waved to Hiei with both hands, "It's been so long…I thought you would never return." The fire demon groaned. Shuuichi quickly sat down on the open space beside Yusuke, but of course he was sitting closer to Hiei than to Yusuke.
"I'm here, aren't I?" Hiei replied flatly and scooted away from Shuuichi.
"You don't sound thrilled to see me…" Shuuichi moved closer to Hiei.
Hiei crossed his arms over his chest and stared at the floor, "Honestly, I'm not."
"Hiei! Be nice…" Yukina said. He felt ashamed looking at her hurt expression. "Shuuichi has been here every day since you left…asking when you'd return. " Yukina poured the young man a cup of green tea.
"Wait…" Kuwabara paused and pointed at Shuuichi, "Aren't you always here anyway?"
He put his arm behind his head and shakily laughed, "I guess you're right. I do spend quite a lot of time here."
His expression changed a bit. It was still friendly but took on a more serious expression, "You see, I'm studying to be a botanist. There are a lot of interesting plants here." Hiei watched as his emerald eyes stared directly at him, "In fact, there is one species I am particularly interested in studying…very closely."
Hiei began feeling very uncomfortable sitting beside Shuuichi. It was a common occurrence though. Just something about him would always send chills down his spine. Usually it was his long stares or his friendly smiles. His comments as well were often very strange. Often he would rest his hand on Hiei's shoulders or on the top of his back for a little longer than Hiei found comfortable. Shuuichi always found a way to make things awkward between them.
"A botanist? Wow. You gonna discover an herbal cure one day?" Kuwabara asked.
Shuuichi nodded enthusiastically, "Hopefully…I want to cure my mother. Currently all known medicine can only make her disease dormant. Somewhere…is a cure."
"Good luck with that, " Yusuke said. Well the boy may be a little creepy and over obsessed with hanging out with Hiei, but he wasn't really that bad. You can't hate a guy that cares for his mom like that.
Hiei drew back his sleeves and lifted his cup of green tea. Shuuichi quickly grabbed his wrist and stared at his hand.
"Hiei…you have a cut," his concerned eyes never left the injury. "I made a great herbal healing balm for deep cuts. It's in a special locked case at my house. On my bed."
The demon turned his head away to hide his blush and wrenched his hand from Shuuchi's grasp. Genkai cleared her throat," The dumbass is fine. I've given him worse before."
Shuuichi slammed his hands on the table as he stood, "Master Genkai, how could you? He's practically your son. I couldn't dream of my mother doing such—"
"Your mother doesn't have to train dimwits to fight demons," Genkai quickly retorted.
Shuuichi sighed and sat back down, "True."
He closed his eyes and took a sip of Hiei's green tea, even though he had his own. A loud repetitive beeping noise rang out through the silence. Shuuichi looked down at his watch.
"Oh, I've got to be going," he quickly stood and thanked Yukina and Genkai for their hospitality. Just before he ran from the room, he turned and waved, "Bye, Hiei. We can talk more later." Hiei huddled into his clothing. Of course…of course he would be back later.
Without explaining where he was going, Hiei left the room and walked back into his room. His nose wrinkled at the smell of a floral potpourri. The scent didn't bother him too much, but for some reason he thought of Shuuichi. Hiei shivered at the thought that the boy might have been in his room while he was away. It was also Yukina's room as well and quickly he saw the bottle of potpourri on her side of the room. The only light in the room was the outside sunlight dimmed after passing through the shoji screen paper. Everything was as Hiei left it five years ago. Even his futon was left unmade. Yukina's side however had changed greatly. Her futon had been replaced by a small Western-style bed. Beneath her bed were boxes of books. Hiei noticed that they were all on the human world. A few of them were used junior high textbooks…some of them with the name Yusuke Urameshi written inside. Yukina was trying to understand the human world more. Hiei, on the other hand, hadn't tried at all. He learned how to read and write, but he wasn't as studious as Yukina was. Sword fighting and training were more his focus.
Hiei sat on Yukina's bed and picked up the children's book laying on her pillow. Hiei's eyes took a moment to readjust to reading Japanese kanji and hiragana again. It was a book on fairy tales from around the world. Hiei briefly laughed and opened it on a random page.
"And the girl called out to the King of the Goblins, 'Wherever you may be, take the child far away from me!'…heh, what rubbish," Hiei said and laid the book back on Yukina's pillow.
Laying down in his futon and covering himself, within seconds, he was asleep.
Hiei snapped awake several hours later. By now it was night. He had such a strange dream, yet already the events were hazy and slipping through his memory. A silver fox had been watching him as he walked in a dark forest. Quickly Hiei was running yet the many-tailed fox didn't give chase. There was no point. It always had him completely surrounded. In the end of dream, the fox had him wrapped in its many silken tails and Hiei was lost in its mesmerizing, liquid gold eyes.
Walking around the house, he discovered he was alone. His place for dinner was still set but all the food had been put away. Hiei sighed. He wasn't that hungry anyway, even though his stomach disagreed.
Hiei walked into Genkai's game room where she was playing a first-person shooter. Even though she was obviously engrossed in the game and did not want to be disturbed, Hiei loudly cleared his throat to gain her attention. He tried it a second time. Nothing.
"Genkai?" he asked and slowly approached her.
"What do you want dimwit?" she asked without looking up from her game. "Yea, you missed dinner. Yusuke's already gone home. No, your creepy friend hasn't shown up. And oh yea, Kuwabara is sitting outside with Yukina."
Hiei took a step back," That wasn't what I was going to ask…" Wait…that moron was with his sister…alone?
The computer character had shot Genkai's character. The screen's light turned red as the game's game over music played. Genkai rapped her fingers in annoyance. "What is it then?"
Hiei wanted a straight, honest answer. "Why do you keep me here? If I'm such a failure, get rid of me." They met each other with cold, hard eyes.
Genkai smiled and chuckled," Do I have to explain myself to you? Go away."
In truth, she had a simple reason why she kept him around. Whether he realized it or not, he did have an abundance of spirit energy locked inside him. The type of energy and attacks she used was incompatible for his energy, which was why he was never able to learn her techniques. But if he could tap into his own spirit and master those techniques, the dimwit might even be able to best Yusuke in a one on one. She kept him simply because he had potential…that and who knows how much trouble he could get himself in if left alone. Curse his short fuse. Genkai smiled and chuckled inwardly.
"Hmp. Whatever, " Hiei glared and left the room as Genkai restarted her game. As if he expected to receive the answer he wanted…
Hiei remembered about Yukina and Kuwabara. His feet stomping on the wooden floor, he quickly made his way around the outside veranda. It was just as Genkai had said.
A red-faced Kuwabara clutched Yukina's hand," You know, baby, I'll always be there…" Yukina nodded. She didn't quite understand the meaning behind his words most of the time. Where was this there? Did he mean the temple? He was always at the temple already. Yukina wanted to understand his meaning, the human world was still quite complex and mysterious to her, but at least he speaks with such passion and gentleness to her.
Hiei drew his katana, "Get away from her!"
Kuwabara turned around and glared, "Shut up runt! Why do you always have to break us apart? I swear you must be spying on me…"
"Get away from her…or else," he poised his body to strike.
Kuwabara mocked Hiei by acting like he was afraid of him, "Ooo, Hiei's got a sword. Well, look at what I learned with Genkai's help!" He held his hands in front of him as if he was holding a traditional samurai sword. Orange sparks flew from his hands until his spirit energy formed into a long orange sword.
Kuwabara laughed, "See? I've got a sword too now." Hiei glared and stepped back slightly. Biting his lip to hold back the curses, Hiei never expected something like this to occur. This completely threw him off guard.
" Hmm. You know what, Hiei?" Kuwabara gently tapped his sword on his shoulder. He did not reply. "You call me a moron all the time…but at least I can use my spirit energy!"
The tall young man threw back his head and laughed raucously. Hiei was seething on the inside…but he had to admit.
Kuwabara was right.
Hiei just had his sword. For most of his life, that was all he had. Until he got permission from Genkai to travel to the demon world, that is. Little did Kuwabara know that Hiei had a little secret carefully hidden beneath the white headband. Was he going to reveal it to him? No. Kuwabara wasn't worth it.
"Feh, it doesn't matter what a blade is made of," Hiei smiled and raised his sword, "what matters is the one who wields it." Hiei vanished and appeared behind Kuwabara.
The dull side of his sword was pressed against the young man's back. "You're dead."
Yukina held her hands close to her face in shock. "Hiei, why are you being so mean to Kazuma?" The sadness in her eyes, Hiei had to turn away.
"It's okay baby. I'm getting used to it," Kuwabara laughed. He looked up at the full white moon. "I better be going away. Goodbye, my love. You too, Hiei."
"Oh, I'll walk you down, Kazuma."
"Really, Yukina, that would be swell, " Kuwabara put his hand behind his head and smiled.
Feh, whatever, Hiei thought and closed the shoji screen behind him. Walking through the dark empty hall, the young demon felt like such a jerk. Well, maybe Kuwabara wasn't that bad a guy…but Yukina didn't need so many people watching over her. She had him and that was all she ever needed. Hiei didn't need Kuwabara's help…he never needed any help from anyone.
"Hello!" Hiei tightly clenched his lips to muffle his shout as hands rested on his shoulders. Turning around, it was only Shuuichi. Hiei could barely see him smile in the dark hall.
"I'm back. Just like I said," he added as he flipped on the living room lights. Most of Genkai's rooms had been updated with electricity, except for the hallways.
"I noticed, " Hiei mumbled. Chills already ran up his spine.
Shuuichi sat down on the sofa while Hiei preferred a chair. It was an odd look for Shuuichi…for once he had his hair pulled back into a ponytail. Hiei had never seen it before and actually liked his hair down more. The young man leaned back and crossed one leg over his knee.
"This place gets quiet once everyone leaves, " Shuuichi broke their silence.
Hiei nodded. "Did you pass Yukina and Kuwabara coming up?"
He shook his head no, "I went a different path. Through the forest." Shuuichi uncrossed his legs and leaned forward, "Something bothering you? You can tell me."
A lot of things were on his nerves. Five years he was gone and no one seemed to care. Well, except for Shuuichi. But even Yukina looked more surprised by his return than glad. She was changing so much, no longer were her eyes so childlike. He couldn't fight because Yusuke had already taken his place and now Kuwabara wanted to take Hiei's place protecting Yukina. What was left for Hiei to do in this world? Where could he belong?
"Shut up. As if I'd tell you anything!" he shouted and clenched his fists tightly.
Shuuichi sighed and leaned back. If Hiei didn't want to talk, he wouldn't. The young man rose and leaned against the back of Hiei's chair.
The fire demon's red eyes saw an item laying on the small coffee table in front of him. It was that book, the fairy tale book from before. Hiei remembered the line he had read from before.
And the girl called out to the King of the Goblins, 'Wherever you may be, take the child far away from me!'…
On the other side was a picture of a young girl calling the Goblin King as the hideous, deformed creatures snatched the baby from the girl's hands. Hiei couldn't stop his laughter. Those gnarled disgusting faces…the goblins…they reminded him of Kuwabara. Heh, what if…what if he could be turned into a goblin? Yukina wouldn't be so keen on hanging out with him them. She may even never want to see him again…
A mischievous grin spread across Hiei's lips, "I wish…I wish the goblins would take Kuwabara away…right now."
Shuuichi's eyes flashed and looked back at Hiei. His body shook with a silent laughter as a dark and devious grin stretched his lips. "That can be arranged," he said and snapped his fingers.
Hiei with a look of both confusion and shock turned around in his seat.
Only to find that Shuuichi had vanished.
"Kazuma, I'm sorry for Hiei's behavior," she paused and bowed to him.
Kuwabara blushed, "Really, baby, it's okay. I don't pay attention to him anyway." He grabbed her hands and fell onto his knees, which was quite difficult on Genkai's steps at first. "I'm always thinking about you, so I don't even hear him."
"I'm sorry I'm so distracting. I will work on that so you can pay attention." Kuwabara hung his head. That wasn't what he wanted to hear. Yet, he didn't know how to make his words any clearer.
Soon they were at the bottom of the steps. Kuwabara said his goodbyes and Yukina bowed to him. The gentle wind suddenly stopped blowing, yet the tops of the trees were swaying violently.
"Yukina…you see that?" She nodded. "It looks like a storm is coming. You better hurry back."
She nodded, "Okay, Kazuma. Please take care."
As she turned, Yukina noticed something strange about his shadow. It was rising. It was taking shape and rising. Calling his name, she ran down the last part of the stairs and pushed him out of the way. The shadow grabbed her instead and raced toward the forest, nimbly leaping over any bushes in its way. Everything had gone so fast. By the time Kuwabara had turned around, he had only a moment to see her over the disgusting creature's shoulder with her arm outstretched. She called out his name and then was gone.
What did Shuuichi mean by 'That can be arranged'? He wasn't actually going to do anything, right? Hiei laughed at himself. He was getting worked up for nothing. Shuuichi was probably playing a practical joke. The boy was just hiding somewhere, waiting, waiting to surprise Hiei again.
As if Shuuichi could really do anything…
Hiei stepped outside to clear his mind. His eyes met the moon. Hiei squinted his eyes. Did the halo around the moon seem thicker and brighter than usual? Heh, he was becoming concerned over the littlest details now.
He watched as Kuwabara ran up the stairs. A chuckle slipped through the demon's lips. Even the way he ran was goofy looking. His face was red and he strained to breathe. For a few moments, he stood hunched over in front of Hiei and caught his breath.
"Horrible…monster…it took Yukina," Kuwabara collapsed on the ground. The whites of his eyes paled when he heard the news. Tightly he held his sheathed sword to his body. No…he didn't mean for it to happen. Hiei was just frustrated and said the wrong words. They weren't supposed to take her anyway!
"Where? Which way?" Hiei had him by his shirt.
"Forest…" Kuwabara said just before Hiei dropped him. Immediately, he ran. The young man rose, "Wait, Hiei, I'll go with you."
The fire demon had not even heard Kuwabara's last words. No time. Yukina was in danger. He wasn't going to let anything or anyone slow him down. Through tall wild grasses and bamboo shoots, he slashed his way deep into the forest.
"Kazuma!" her faint screams called. Hiei cursed. Why his name? Was that fool racing after you? He couldn't even save you in the first place…even with his spirit energy. If Hiei had been there, Yukina would have been safe.
Racing faster, he closed his eyes and cursed himself. If he hadn't said those words, none of this would have happened…Yukina had the right not to call out his name. Right now, he didn't deserve it at all.
Her voice seemed all around him now. Pausing, Hiei removed his headband and the implanted Jagan slowly opened. As he turned in each direction, the eye saw farther ahead through the bamboo and trees than his demon eyes could. Now with Yukina in his sight, Hiei continued in pursuit.
Yukina held back her tears. For all her kicking and screaming, this monster was not going to let her go. She had to face the truth. She had been captured. Again. Giving up and relaxing her body, her eyes stared out into the forest. But wait…something was coming toward the monster at a very quick speed. It looked like, Yukina narrowed her eyes to focus, it looked like Hiei.
"Hiei!" she called. The monster, alerted by her sudden call, turned around and saw Hiei coming closer and closer to him. As the goblin minion entered a clearing in the forests, a black portal opened up and swallowed both the goblin and Yukina. Hiei had just missed it when he arrived.
Throwing his sword on the ground, Hiei screamed and demanded that the goblins return Yukina at once. Little laughs and snickers were audible within the rustling bushes. Drawing his blade, he turned and watched the little goblins appear and vanish. He was surrounded by them. Surrounded by a hundred little eyes, each had seen Yukina vanish into their shadows.
"I want her back!" anger burned in Hiei's eyes, "Give her back safely and I won't slit your throats." The goblins merely laughed.
"My, my, Hiei, I thought that was what you wanted, " a deep voice spoke from the forest. Hiei's eyes followed as a silver fox ran beneath the shadows of the trees just outside the clearing.
"I wanted Kuwabara gone, not Yukina, " Hiei replied through clenched teeth.
The fox leapt into the clearing. Hiei shielded his eyes from the blinding silver light. When the light dissipated, the fox was no more. A tall handsome demon had replaced the beast. A sudden wind fluttered his long black cape forward and merely gently brushed his long silver hair forward. Hiei noticed that his full-body black armor was made out of leather. If he needed to, he could probably easily cut through it.
His eyes met the demon's gold stare and Hiei could not help but step back. Crossing his arms over his chest, the demon twitched his fox ears and slowly swayed his bushy tail from one side to the other. Hiei watched his expressionless lips broaden into a haughty grin. The way his head lightly bobbed, the fire demon was sure he was laughing at him.
"I guess my ears heard you wrong, " with his eyes closed, he continued laughing at his private joke. "Then again, if I had taken that sniveling buffoon, what fun would I have? Certainly this is much more entertaining."
"Whoever you are, you better give her back."
The fox demon swayed a pointed finger from side to side, "You cannot alter the past, Hiei. I'm afraid for you, she's mine. And who am I?"
He grinned again and raised his head high to peer down at Hiei," I am the Goblin King, Youko Kurama."
–end chapter
Author's Notes: Short chapter, I know, but this is where I had planned to end it. Updates will be as soon as I can. Hellfire takes a lot of my time already though…that and Spring Term is beginning. Back to class, back to work…