Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho. If you do, congatulations! Can I have it?
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Lullaby
The black dragon has gone and raged again and another enemy has been reduced to spent charcoal. Better him than me, but I fall over now anyway. The dragon demands its price. It's little enough for such power.
The others are here. Kurama, always prepared, replaces the wards upon my arm. They think I am sleeping now. It's better that way. Sleep will come later, when the pain of the dragon has faded. For now weakness too deep for movement will keep the illusion.
Kurama carries me back, lays me in a bed and pulls up the covers. He takes a chair for himself nearby. For a while Yusuke and Kuwabara hang around chatting. None of them say anything worth listening to, and I begin to think that I'll fall asleep after all out of sheer boredom.
Yusuke and the idiot say their good-byes and head out. Kurama must have pulled out a book. I can hear the rustle of pages. After a while it grows quiet again. Has my self-proclaimed guard fallen asleep?
Then there is a new sound, hardly louder than wind in the trees outside.
The fox is singing.
It is a tiny wisp of a tune, child-simple. If there are words, they are too soft for me to catch.
You really have spent too much time among the humans, Kurama. What reason can you have for singing? Yes, we won today. And tomorrow, or the day after, we'll fight again. On and on until we face someone stronger. Still you sit here, humming nothings into the darkness as if they could drive the shadows away. Fool... but the music is comforting, if pointless.
Anyway, if I told you to stop now, you would know that I am still awake. I suppose I'll listen for a little while longer.
* * * * *
It is a strange game we play, old friend. I know that you are not yet asleep...and if you knew that I knew, you'd never allow yourself to accept such a weak human thing as a lullaby. So I will not tell, and you will pretend that you do not hear me. But do you know that your eyebrows draw down in a scowl when I fall silent for a moment?
Poor child, who never had the chance to be a child, and who have made yourself too great for anyone's pity. When has anyone sat at your side as you lay resting and sang to you? The Makai is no place for children's songs. I had never heard a lullaby until Shiori sang this one to me. Then it soothed a frightened, lonely, and ancient child who was out of place in this world. Quiet words of protection and peace to last through the dark hours. You have known more dark hours than anyone should ever have to.
Perhaps I have, too. Perhaps that is why I want to hold back the blackness for you, if only for a little while. So I will sit by your side now and quietly sing my mother's song. Like so many of the gifts she has given me, this one asks to passed on, and seems to grow stronger with the sharing.
There. Your breathing is deeper and more even now, and the tension you've been trying to hide is finally leaving. Sleep well, Hiei. You will say nothing of this in the morning, and neither will I. But for now, good night, and sweet dreams.
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Lullaby
The black dragon has gone and raged again and another enemy has been reduced to spent charcoal. Better him than me, but I fall over now anyway. The dragon demands its price. It's little enough for such power.
The others are here. Kurama, always prepared, replaces the wards upon my arm. They think I am sleeping now. It's better that way. Sleep will come later, when the pain of the dragon has faded. For now weakness too deep for movement will keep the illusion.
Kurama carries me back, lays me in a bed and pulls up the covers. He takes a chair for himself nearby. For a while Yusuke and Kuwabara hang around chatting. None of them say anything worth listening to, and I begin to think that I'll fall asleep after all out of sheer boredom.
Yusuke and the idiot say their good-byes and head out. Kurama must have pulled out a book. I can hear the rustle of pages. After a while it grows quiet again. Has my self-proclaimed guard fallen asleep?
Then there is a new sound, hardly louder than wind in the trees outside.
The fox is singing.
It is a tiny wisp of a tune, child-simple. If there are words, they are too soft for me to catch.
You really have spent too much time among the humans, Kurama. What reason can you have for singing? Yes, we won today. And tomorrow, or the day after, we'll fight again. On and on until we face someone stronger. Still you sit here, humming nothings into the darkness as if they could drive the shadows away. Fool... but the music is comforting, if pointless.
Anyway, if I told you to stop now, you would know that I am still awake. I suppose I'll listen for a little while longer.
* * * * *
It is a strange game we play, old friend. I know that you are not yet asleep...and if you knew that I knew, you'd never allow yourself to accept such a weak human thing as a lullaby. So I will not tell, and you will pretend that you do not hear me. But do you know that your eyebrows draw down in a scowl when I fall silent for a moment?
Poor child, who never had the chance to be a child, and who have made yourself too great for anyone's pity. When has anyone sat at your side as you lay resting and sang to you? The Makai is no place for children's songs. I had never heard a lullaby until Shiori sang this one to me. Then it soothed a frightened, lonely, and ancient child who was out of place in this world. Quiet words of protection and peace to last through the dark hours. You have known more dark hours than anyone should ever have to.
Perhaps I have, too. Perhaps that is why I want to hold back the blackness for you, if only for a little while. So I will sit by your side now and quietly sing my mother's song. Like so many of the gifts she has given me, this one asks to passed on, and seems to grow stronger with the sharing.
There. Your breathing is deeper and more even now, and the tension you've been trying to hide is finally leaving. Sleep well, Hiei. You will say nothing of this in the morning, and neither will I. But for now, good night, and sweet dreams.
