A/N: Hey everyone! I'm glad for the positive support for this so far :) Hopefully I will have another chapter up soon, but I am going to try to focus on my Total Drama fic a bit more. This should be the last or second to last chapter with events that happened in the anime for a while. Anyway, enjoy!
From the events in the second half of episode 7; Kurama's POV
Although my back is now turned to him, I can sense the confusion within him.
Yusuke and I had just visited Shiori. She was pleased to see me come with someone my own age, instead of one of her relatives… Mother… I am delighted to have seen you make a small smile for one last time. Perhaps, at last, I can set everything right. After all, I deserve the fate that is coming to me.
I explain the important details about my life to the Spirit Detective, of how I was a spirit fox who became demonic, obsessed with treasures and treasure seeking, and of my foolish mistake and how I ended up in human world as Shuichi, and how I planned to leave forever when I turned ten.
Although I never planned on going further than that, I end up confessing my guilt about the situation. Shiori is totally clueless that I am a demon, but like all mothers, she has a powerful instinct. She is aware that she is inferior to me, but she doesn't hold it against me. It wasn't until she fell ill that I realized what I was doing to her. For five years, as she struggled in her battle with her illness, I attempted to make up for ten years worth of hurt.
"Why are you telling me all this?" he asks when I finish.
"Perhaps I feel guilty, like I am one of those mother devouring creatures. Plus, I know you trust me." I answered. I wasn't satisfied with my own answer, but I suppose he got the point: someone had to know my pain, and he wasn't going to mock me for it.
Just then, a nurse came running over to us. "Shuichi!" she cried out. "It's your mother!"
I inwardly panic. If the nurse came running, it could not have been good news. I turned to Yusuke. I needed him to think of what I told him, but he looked inclined to come running along with me. "No." I said to him, making him pause. "Stay here. Please think about what I have told you, and please think about letting me use the Forlorn Hope."
He nodded, and I followed the nurse, only to learn that my mother was in the critical stage of her illness. She would very likely die before sunrise tomorrow. It was now or never. I must use the artifact tonight, as soon as the moon was as its peak.
When I returned, the sky was dark and the moon was starting to peak out. I took the mirror out of my pocket as I walked up to him. "I am sorry, Yusuke, but fate has left me with no other alternative. If I am to save my mother's life, I must use the Forlorn Hope tonight."
"I heard that in order to use it, you had to dish something up. So, do you know what that something is?" he asked me.
"Yes," I replied, "Life."
"Wait… life?!" he burst out.
The moon's light started reflecting on the mirror and I placed it on the ground. It was time. I began the ritual, while Yusuke started protesting. "Can't we talk more and find some other way?!"
"Forlorn Hope, I ask that you wake from your sleep and hear my plea. Reflect my greatest desire so that you can make it true!" I command. The reflection changed from my own to that of Shiori.
"For the health of this woman. Is that what you wish?"
"Yes." I reply, still ignoring a protesting Yusuke.
"To grant this wish, you must give your life. Is that what you desire?"
"In order to save my mother, yes, it is."
"Then I shall grant your wish."
Sparks started coming out of the mirror, spreading over my body. For you… Mother… I groan as the mirror's bright light begins blinding me. Ironically, the sparks don't hurt, as I had expected them too. That's when I noticed a tanned hand reaching out next to mine.
"What are you doing?!" I demanded. What on Earth was Yusuke playing at? Had I not made it clear? This is the only way I have to save my mother on such short notice! He simply could not interfere!
"Hey, mirror guy, I want you to take my life instead!" Yusuke shouted. "That way Kurama can live and still get his wish!"
"It doesn't make sense!" I protested. "It's my wish!"
"Well, it doesn't make sense to save your mom only to have her mourn for the rest of her life! I've seen that once before and I don't want to see it again." Yusuke said, with an almost knowing look in his eye. Suddenly, I found myself wishing that I had taken a moment to get to know Yusuke better personally. He must have seen or been involved with something to give him such a wise perspective of things…
"Your desire shall be fulfilled!" the mirror responded, light bursting out of it. Both of us became engulfed in the light, and everything went white and black.
I awoke with a start. The moon was still overhead, and I was still on the rooftop of the hospital, and not in the Reikai as I expected to be. "I'm alive… But what about my mother?"
I ran down the stairs, and found the hospital staff waiting for me. They all looked relieved and delighted, for Shiori had not only survived, but she had been cured of her illness completely. She was going to recover, and go back to living a normal life.
As I walk over to her, she opened her eyes brightly at me. She looked so much better now… "Shuichi…" she says softly.
I took her hands gently. "Yes mother. Everything is going to be okay."
It was only then that I realized in my haste, I had forgotten all about Yusuke. If I didn't die… and my wish had been granted… Does that mean… No, it just can't be! That's hardly fair! It was my wish, it was my right to die, not his!
"Is everything okay Shuichi? You look worried." my mother said, breaking my train of thought.
"I… I just don't know where Yusuke went." I said, trying to hide my sadness. "He did me a huge favor, and then disappeared. I feel guilty; I need to repay him somehow, but I can't if he's gone."
"You mean that boy that came with you earlier?" Shiori asked me. I nod my head, and she then giggled softly. "Why don't you just turn around, Shuichi?"
I blinked in confusion, but turned anyway. There was Yusuke, looking perfectly fine, as if nothing had happened at all. The blue-haired girl who I had seen him with a few days ago was now at his side.
He then burst out laughing, breaking the short silence. "What, surprised to see me? You can't get rid of me that easily. Give me some credit." I realized I was gaping in surprise, and then I let out a sigh of relief.
"Shuichi, just for the purposes of observation, we would like your mother to stay here an extra day or two. We want to run some extra tests." the head doctor then spoke up.
"Yes, of course. That makes sense." I reply, trying to hide my emotions. I knew that I needed the time to get away from the Ningenkai, and face the appropriate punishments for my crimes. Perhaps I would never be able to return, as would be fitting for all of my past transgressions.
After bidding my mother a peaceful night of sleep, the three of us left the hospital, the blue-haired girl led the way to a secluded area. When we were sure the coast was clear, she started talking.
"I don't know if Yusuke has told you this, but my name is Botan, and I'm essentially a Grim Reaper. I work for Spirit World." she said.
"Yes, I had a hunch." I replied. "No doubt you are here to take me away and I shall be dealt with accordingly."
She looked taken aback, but she quickly recovered. "Well, yes, but I wouldn't sound so depressed about it."
"What she means is, you'll get a good laugh at her boss." Yusuke said, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. He started laughing while Botan pouted.
"Yusuke, you should know better than to insult Prince Koenma by now!"
"You mean the eternal toddler? Oooh I'm terrified!" Yusuke retorted and laughed more.
I watched the two of them bicker for a few minutes, sweat dropping, and I couldn't help but wonder just how they managed to recover the Orb of Baast after all. When they finally realized that I was still witnessing all of this, they quickly tried acting like it never happened.
"Anyway," Botan started, "I'm going to take you to meet Koenma now! And don't mind what Yusuke says about him, he's a wise and wonderful ruler!"
I nodded and she indicated that I should sit behind her on her oar. As I did, I looked at Yusuke. "Yusuke… I don't know how on Earth I will ever be able to repay you. Thank you for what you did…" I said.
"You make it sound like I'm never going to see you again. Don't worry about anything, if the toddler gives you a hard time, remind him that I still have his little trinkets." Yusuke said, winking at me with a smile.
Something… Something deep within me stirred. I'm not sure what the emotion was, but I found myself hoping that I truly could come back and repay my debt to Yusuke…
Botan took me to the Reikai, to a large and familiar palace. I felt very out of place, coming back to the place I had robbed. The ogres who ran and maintained the Reikai palace would pause to give me dirty looks. I merely turned away, allowing my red hair to shadow over my face. Botan finally paused in front of a large set of double doors. A large blue ogre in a yellow loincloth stood waiting.
"Is that him? Koenma's waiting for him." the ogre said.
"Yes, George, I brought him just as Koenma asked. Any update on Hiei's whereabouts?" Botan asked, handing her oar off to a smaller green ogre. George shook his head, and opened the doors and I was taken before Koenma.
I had to admit, Yusuke's description of him being a toddler was fairly accurate. But, Botan was also right, because despite his young appearance, he clearly was wise and had extreme power within him. My green eyes met his brown ones.
"So, you're the legendary Kurama." Koenma said, sounding almost impressed. "I have to say, you're not quite what I expected. You seem to be missing something." he stuck his fingers at the sides of his head, as if to make dog or cat ears. I knew at once what he was getting at.
"I, uh, yeah… I still do not have enough power within me to tap into the Yoko." I said.
"Botan, Ogre, I want you to step out for a moment, I need to speak to Kurama alone." Koenma said. The two others nodded and quickly stepped out into the hallway. "You know, I have a long list of all sorts of crimes slated against you, from your time as anthro-Yoko, to full-blown Yoko, and to your theft of the Artifacts of Darkness."
I nodded, not saying anything. There was nothing I could do or say; I just wasn't worthy of trying to defend myself.
"But…" Koenma slumped back into his chair. "Seeing as to your reason for stealing the Forlorn Hope was just to save your human mother's life… I am going to make you an offer."
"Huh?" This was the last thing I had expected to hear. An offer? Yet another chance at life? I wasn't worthy… I just wasn't worthy. I'm sure Koenma knew that. So why would he offer me anything?
"I'm not going to admit it to Yusuke or Botan, but I'm seriously short-handed right now. I need a demon or two on my side and help gather inside information. With your knowledge, you would be a fantastic asset to me and Yusuke." Koenma said.
I stared in shock. Again, I was taken by total surprise. When I didn't answer he leaned forward. "I am choosing you because I know for sure now that you have been reformed! Yusuke trusts you, and I've seen all of your actions. It's good enough for me, even if you don't think you're worthy."
"Very well then." I said. "So if I help you and Yusuke, what do I get out of it?"
"I'll make arrangements to make sure you have a clean record, erased of your past transgressions and I will allow you to continue staying with Shiori." Koenma said, leaning down and slamming an overflowing file onto his desk before him. "I dare to say your file could use a good cleaning anyway. So, what's it going to be?"
I smiled. I couldn't help it. I was getting everything I had hoped for, despite not being worthy of it. Another chance at life, a chance to repay my debt to Yusuke, and most importantly, to be with Shiori for as long as I possibly could. "I'll do it!" I said.
"Good answer. As I'm sure you probably already guessed, I'm going to need you to help Yusuke with capturing Hiei and recovering the sword he stole. So your first assignment is to do whatever it takes to help Yusuke." Koenma said. He then opened a drawer and pulled out a round disk and a small dagger.
I picked them up. The disk opened up, revealing a mirror. "What are these for?"
"The mirror is going to be our means of communication. Provided nothing happens to the signal between the Reikai and Ningenkai, we can reach out to each other as needed." Koenma said.
I pocked the mirror and held the dagger up. It wasn't very large, and the blade was very sharp. "And the dagger?"
"I'm only going to entrust this particular dagger to you; you can use it to slice into the air and get an instant portal to come back here to my office." Koenma then narrowed his eyes. "But don't come in unannounced; I'd prefer to get a few minutes' notice."
I laughed softly. Perhaps, for once, things were starting to look up.