Author's Notes: Yes, I'm starting yet another new project. Deal with it xD
The plot bunny which started this fanfic hopped my way as I wrote Second Star to the Right, a Hiei and Kurama double drabble in which their relationship is likened to that of Peter Pan and Wendy (found in chapter 5 of my fanfic Dabbling in Drabbling). It wasn't a crossover per se, but it got me thinking about writing one. The existence of this fic owes a lot to TheKitsuneObsessedGirl, who encouraged me to write it, although I think the way she imagined it going down is a lot different to the way it's turned out xD
This isn't a traditional crossover in the sense of "the cast from one fandom meets the cast from another and hijinks ensue", nor is it quite a crossover in the mould of "the cast from one fandom in the roles and universe of another", which is my preferred way of doing crossovers. Instead the plot, universe and characters are a fusion of Peter Pan, Yu Yu Hakusho and my own ideas, rolled together and mixed up whatever way I think fits best. It's set partly in the London of J.M. Barrie's time, partly in a hybrid mix of Neverland and the demon world. The basic concept is of the Peter Pan story but as the plot goes on it will probably become more original, maybe with bits of Yu Yu Hakusho plotlines thrown in. The characters are all Yu Yu, cast roughly in the roles of Peter Pan characters. Basically what I'm saying is, don't be surprised (or flame me) if it turns out not to be what you'd expect from a Peter Pan/YYH crossover, but I hope that it makes an enjoyable story all the same. I've had a ton of fun thinking this up and writing this, so I hope it's fun to read.
Disclaimer: Peter Pan is the creation of J.M. Barrie and the property of Great Ormond Street Hospital (who operated on me when I was ill with pneumonia at 16 months, so thanks guys. You pretty much saved my life). Yu Yu Hakusho is the creation and the property of Yoshihiro Togashi. Some other bodies may own the rights as well, but I'm not sure who they all are. Suffice to say I don't own either of these fandoms, and am borrowing the characters and concepts for entertainment purposes only.
Hiei Jaganshi, Legendary Bandit
Chapter One: A Shadowy Figure
London, 1910
"Tell me just one more story, please!" Ten-year-old Shuichi begged his brother Kurama before bedtime.
Kurama smiled, reclining on the window-seat beside Shuichi's bed. "All right, one more." His green eyes glittered mischievously. "How about the story of… the legendary bandit Hiei Jaganshi?"
"Yes!" Shuichi threw himself back against the pillows in excitement.
"Once there was a boy-"
"A demon," interrupted Shuichi.
"Yes, a demon, but you oughtn't to know that yet from the story. Once there was a demon by the name of Hiei Jaganshi. He had glowing red eyes, spiky black hair, and a black cloak that whipped behind him as he ran. When he ran, he ran so fast it was almost like flying, thanks to his supernatural speed. In spite of his short stature-"
"I know what he looks like," Shuichi interrupted again, petulantly. "You always spend forever on his description. I want to hear about his adventures!"
Kurama waited a moment or two, then continued as if Shuichi hadn't spoken. "In spite of his short stature, his enemies all feared him, for they knew that he was lightning-fast with a sword and deadly accurate." Shuichi's eyes lit up at the mention of fighting. "And the fiercest of all those enemies were…"
"The dread pirate Sakyo and his henchmen, the Toguro brothers!" Shuichi finished with excitement. "Tell the story where-"
But Kurama never heard which of Hiei Jaganshi's many adventures Shuichi wanted him to relate, for at that moment the nursery door opened.
"Boys! Are you still awake?" Their mother Shiori looked sternly at Kurama. "Shuichi's bedtime was half an hour ago. You mustn't be telling him any more of those gruesome Hiei Jaganshi stories. They'll give him nightmares."
"Mother! I'm ten years old," said Shuichi in exasperation. "I won't have nightmares from a bedtime story."
"Oh, is that how old you are?" Shiori asked with an amused smile. "I do forget, sometimes, when you act so much younger."
Shuichi guiltily hid his teddy-bear underneath the bedcovers.
"To bed, both of you," said Shiori with another admonishing glance at Kurama.
Kurama got up from the window seat and walked over to his bed. "Yes, mother. Good night, mother."
"Good night," Shiori said, and closed the bedroom door.
Outside, her husband had been listening to the exchange. "You know, Shiori, this wouldn't keep happening every night if Kurama had his own room. He's already fifteen – far too old to still be sleeping in a nursery with his younger brother! We can easily create the space. I think it would encourage both of them to grow up a bit."
Shiori smiled sadly. "Yes, I suppose it would." She knew it was silly, but she loved to see her two boys getting along so well still, even at what should have been a difficult age for Kurama. She found Shuichi's childishness and Kurama's elaborate flights of fancy endearing. Unlike her husband, she was in no hurry to see either of them grow up.
Back in the nursery, a chill breeze blew through the room, and Shuichi huddled down inside his blankets. "Kurama! You forgot to close the window," he complained.
Kurama groaned and rolled over. "And I suppose it would be too much trouble for you to do it?"
"You opened it." Shuichi's voice was muffled against the pillow. "If you leave it open, Hiei Jaganshi will come and steal you away."
Kurama sighed and got up, walked over to the window and made a big show of closing it. But at the bottom he left a tiny crack, just enough for a set of nimble fingers to slide under and open it.
He didn't want Shuichi to know that was exactly what he hoped would happen.
Some time later, Kurama woke up. The nightlight that Shiori always lit at bedtime had burned out, and the nursery was shrouded in darkness. He shivered inside his blankets; for some reason the nursery felt a lot colder than it had when he'd gone to bed. He rolled over and came face-to-face with a pair of glowing red eyes.
Kurama gasped. The figure moved, flitting away to the middle of the nursery floor, standing in the pool of moonlight that surrounded the window. He moved so fast it was almost instantaneous. Kurama stared against the silhouette outlined against the moonlight. Glowing red eyes… spiky black hair… movement so fast it's like he can fly. "Hiei Jaganshi," Kurama breathed.
The red eyes narrowed, and Hiei flickered away again, reappearing crouched on the windowsill. "Wait!" Kurama found himself flinging aside the bedcovers and running across the nursery floor. The window was wide open, and his long red hair stirred in the slight breeze. Hiei stared at him impassively.
"What are you doing here?" Kurama murmured, mindful of Shuichi's proximity to the window. "Did you really come to see me?" A thought struck him suddenly. "Is it because I told your stories to my brother? Is it because I believed you were real?"
"Hn," was Hiei's only response. He turned and prepared to jump from the window.
"Don't!" In desperation, Kurama grabbed at the silky black fabric that trailed behind Hiei – and found himself holding something that wasn't cloth.
"Let go of me," Hiei ordered angrily, glaring daggers at Kurama over his shoulder. His voice was deeper than Kurama had expected. Isn't he supposed to never age?
"Tell me why you came," Kurama shot back.
"Let go of my shadow."
His… Shadow? Kurama looked down in bewilderment at the dark substance between his fingers. It was smooth and slippery, like very fine silk, but it flowed and dripped over his hands like water. Somehow the idea that he could be holding a shadow boggled his mind more than the fact that the hero of his night-time stories really existed. Nevertheless, he wound his fingers more tightly in it, not wanting to let go of the only bit of leverage he had.
Hiei braced himself against the window. "Let. Go."
"No." Kurama tugged back.
Their jostling knocked the window shutter, which abruptly slid down with a bang. Kurama staggered backwards, and found that he was holding the limp, dark form of Hiei's severed shadow. He stared at it in horror, and then ran to the window. Hiei had disappeared.
"Kurama?" came Shuichi's sleepy voice. "What're you doing over there?" The bang of the window closing must have finally woken his deeply slumbering brother.
"Nothing, Shuichi. I dropped a candlestick, that's all," Kurama reassured him. He bent down and pretended to search on the ground for a fallen object. "Go back to sleep."
Shuichi's head lolled against the pillow and he was soon breathing deeply. He probably wouldn't remember anything of it in the morning.
But of course, Kurama did. As soon as he woke up, the details of his late-night encounter came flooding back to him. He couldn't resist glancing out of the window to see if he could catch sight of a small demonic figure. Of course, there was nothing.
He waited until Shuichi had gone down to breakfast, and then opened the bottom drawer in the heavy oak chest of drawers that stood near the nursery drawer. There lay Hiei's shadow, like one of Mother's black chiffon scarves for elegant wear. It was all the proof he needed that last night's events hadn't all been part of some crazy dream.
Kurama dwelt on the encounter all throughout lessons, his head full of Hiei's quick movements and intense red gaze. School was such a straightforward affair that he completed most of his work on autopilot without any of his teachers realising that he wasn't paying attention. Finally though, he was caught out during the last lesson of the day. He gradually became aware of his fellow classmates sniggering all around him, and his Arithmetic teacher Mr. Shipton watching him with amusement.
"Awake now are we, Mr. Minamino?" asked Mr. Shipton as Kurama looked up guiltily. "Has our resident prodigy finally given up all pretence of paying attention?"
Kurama flushed in embarrassment. "No, Sir. I apologise, Sir."
"Can anyone give me the answer to the sum? Mr. Kaito?"
Once the attention of the class had been drawn away from him again, Kurama bent his head over his copybook, embellishing the almond-shaped pair of eyes that he'd been doodling on the back page. He was unaware of the annoyed gaze of Yuu Kaito boring into the back of his head.
The tedious day finally drew to a close and Kurama made for the door, intent on getting home as quickly as possible. But before he could escape the confines of the classroom, he was cornered by his bespectacled classmate Kaito. "Just a minute, Minamino."
Out of the hundred or so boys of various ages in their secondary school, only Yuu Kaito could be called Kurama's intellectual equal. The two were rivals of sorts, although Kurama never openly admitted to competing against Kaito; but he privately did his best to make sure his marks stayed on top. For his part, Kaito made no secret of his dislike for and competition with Kurama, taking every opportunity available to create conflict. Ironically, in spite of his efforts not to draw attention to himself, Kurama was more widely known as the school's top student and "resident prodigy" (to coin Mr. Shipton's phrase). It incensed Kaito no end.
"I'm curious as to what was keeping the "Great Minamino"'s mind so thoroughly occupied during today's lessons," said Kaito, as Kurama reluctantly turned towards him. "I've never before known you to pass up an opportunity for demonstrating your mathematical skill."
"Hiei Jaganshi," said Kurama absently. He was too preoccupied to be careful of what he said to Kaito; besides, maybe the truth would get rid of him faster.
Kaito looked visibly taken aback; then he scoffed. "The fairytale character? What unbelievable nonsense. With your head so firmly in the clouds it's a wonder you even know what day it is," he said scornfully.
Kurama looked at him. Kaito seemed to be waiting for some sort of response, but when none was forthcoming, he simply said, "I'll see you tomorrow, then."
"Goodbye," said Kurama.
That night, after Shiori had lit the nightlight and bidden the boys goodnight, Kurama crawled to the end of his bed. "Shuichi! Want to hear the rest of the Hiei Jaganshi story I was telling you?" he whispered.
Shuichi immediately disappeared under his covers and tunnelled to the end of the bed, emerging flushed and tousle-haired on the other side. "But didn't Mother say not to?"
Kurama shook his head dismissively. "She worries too much. We both know that a little story isn't going to give you nightmares, especially since I've been telling them to you for years."
Shuichi's eyes lit up. His older brother wasn't often one to deliberately break the rules set down by their mother. "Yes! Okay, tell me the story."
Kurama started telling the story of the time when Hiei Jaganshi cut off Sakyo's right hand and fed it to a wani. He kept one eye on the window, searching for a lithe silhouette or even the telltale glow of red eyes peering through the gloom. But if Hiei was listening, Kurama couldn't see him anywhere.
Halfway through the story, Shuichi's eyelids began to droop, and not long after that he was sound asleep, huddled under the bedcovers. Normally Kurama would stop telling the story whenever Shuichi fell asleep and turn in himself, but this time he kept on with the tale, talking to the dark. Pretending he had an audience. For all he knew, he did. Finally when he reached the end of the story, he gave the window a last long look, and then retired to bed.
He awoke to the feeling of hot breath on his face, and opened his eyes to find himself nose-to-nose with a dark-haired demon.
Author's Notes: I know the title of "legendary bandit" is usually attributed to (Youko) Kurama, but in this universe Hiei gets it because well… nothing else sounded good xD
Oh, and a wani is a dragon/sea demon from Japanese mythology. Kind of like a crocodile.