Authors note: Shuichi and Youko managed to separate their souls perhaps fifty years ago. They are still both in Shuichi's body, even though their souls are no longer one. Shuichi also dropped the name Shuichi when his mother died, and now goes by Kurama. Youko now has a full nine tails, and can get no stronger. Hiei alternates between patrolling the border between the Ningenkai and Makai and spending his time with Kurama and Youko, depending on who is out at the time. Yusuke, Keiko, Kuwabara, Shizuru and Genkai have all died, Yusuke the most recent in an unlucky fight with a powerful demon. (Yes, he did manage to take it with him. . I'm not that mean. Maybe.) Yukina went back to the Koorime homeland after Kuwabara died. Boton is still a ferry girl, and probably always will be. Koenma is still stamping, though he stays in his (slightly older) teenage form all the time now.
Telepathy: Hiei. Kurama. Youko.
Across the Stars
Ch. 1: Discovery
Kurama was dozing in one of Youkos dens, relaxing on a clump of moss that served for a bed, a chair, the carpet and any other furniture needed. It was quite comfortable, he thought.
Thank you, Kit, the Youko said telepathically. I grew it myself.
Yes, I know, Kurama sleepily replied, chuckling and digging himself further into the soft moss. And don't call me Kit. I'm not a teenager anymore. Youko chuckled.
Of course not. Hiei's here, by the way.
Mmm. Do you want to talk to him? I'm rather tired at the moment…
Youko took control of the rapidly lengthening body. Go ahead and sleep, Kurama. I'll wake you if you're needed.
Hmm… Kurama murmured mentally in lieu of a thank you. Youko twitched the corner of his mouth and stood to face the shorter man behind him.
"Hello, Hiei. I'm afraid Kurama is rather… out of it at the moment."
"Hn."
Hiei frowned as he took a seat on the moss growing behind him. They were both quiet for a few minutes before Youko suggested slyly that the check on Kurama. Youko tried prodding Kuramas mind gently and tickling the humans subconscious, to no effect. Even Hiei nudging him with his foot produced only an unintelligible mutter and a careless, half-hearted whack. The demons shared identical mystified looks before Youko announced that he wanted to spar. Hiei accepted and the two went outside, the moss furniture sinking back into the floor.
A couple hours later, Kurama awoke to Youkos triumphant laughter. Oh, great, he thought. Who has he trashed this time… oh… Hiei was here… hmm… ok, then…
Youko fell over, not expecting Kurama to be awake, and then burst out laughing again, thinking back, That was one of the most random things I have ever heard you think, Kurama! Hiei, not wanting to be left out on the reason why Youko was grinning like a maniac, asked what was going on.
"Oh, Kurama just woke up," Youko said as he stood up, still grinning. "And he hasn't really started thinking coherently yet. You know, he's really funny when he first wakes up, but you wouldn't know because he doesn't say much when he first wakes up." Hiei raised an eyebrow.
"Really?"
"Ye-"
I AM awake, you know. Kuramas thought-speech echoed through their minds, still a little slurred with sleep and obviously annoyed. Really, Youko.
What, I didn't say anything!
I've been in your mind, kitsune. Stuff it or I'll spill what goes on in there.
All right, all right, I'll shut up! Youko said rather sulkily.
I suppose this is one of those things I really don't want to know. Hiei thought to his companions.
That would be correct, unless you want to know that Youko sleeps with a-
SHUT. UP.
I didn't say anything! Kurama thought innocently.
Hmph.
Oh, quit sulking. So, Hiei. What's going on?
… Hiei was silent for a moment before beginning.
A few weeks ago I was patrolling the border between the Rekai and here. There wasn't any demon activity there, which is unusual. There is always demon activity on the border. However, there was an excess of ferry girls. I ran across one lying against a tree. I thought she was dead at first, although that is supposedly impossible. When she saw who I was, she called to me.
She told me she had been sent on a mission, he continued, with four other ferry girls to find a group of souls that had gone missing. They found a lead on the souls after about a month of searching; they had somehow managed to get to a place called 'the neutral zone' out in space. They split up in order to find out how they got there. The women were supposed to meet a couple of days later at the tree. Not one of the others had showed up, and it had been two weeks. She told me she had found no traces that indicated where they had gone after separating. She searched for a week. She checked back at the tree in hopes they had returned, even calling up the head of her department. No one has seen or heard anything indicating where the missing girls are, and the department refuses to start a search for them. That was about two weeks ago.
Wow, Hiei. I didn't know you could tell stories. Got any more stored in that head of yours? Youko said after a few minutes of silence, shocked. Kurama and Hiei sweatdropped.
You didn't get anything out of that, did you? Kurama asked dully.
Nope. That's what you're here for, Kit.
Humph. It wasn't a fairy tale, Youko.
I know, Youko said smugly. Kurama sighed.
Was there anything else, Hiei?
… No.
Kurama frowned. Did Koenma catch you?
Hn. Of course not, baka. Hiei said, offended.
Hm…
Kurama withdrew his thoughts and was gone.
Hiei blinked. "I wonder what he's going to do."
"I don't know. I think he's bored."
"Well, who wouldn't be, stuck here with you?" Hiei smirked at the Kitsune.
"HEY! I resent that."