Chapter Three: Hiei Continued
London, England- 2010
Third Night
Several months had passed since his previous visit to the brothel. He was reluctant to return, but he knew prolonging the situation further would put him at a disadvantage. Although he was still sceptical of him being the silver bandit of legend, the demon calling himself by the same name was dangerous in his own right, and to have him unobserved without knowing exactly where he stood would be risky.
For that one moment when they had first met, he had been convinced that he was looking at the genuine thief from the stories, but as the memory of the intensity of his eyes faded, so had his confidence in his judgement. It was the same as his encounter with another fox more than two hundred years ago.
Like so many others of his kind, that one had also claimed to be Kurama. At the time, Hiei was under the care of a nameless formerly three horned demon that everyone simply referred to as the keeper.
Keeper was a once powerful old man who sealed his energy and drugged his food but otherwise left him to do as he liked. The independence granted came not from his kindness, but from the demon's deteriorating mind. Before his obsession with collecting living oddities, a rumour emerged of certain properties being a potent aphrodisiac, which eventually ended with the loss of his prized horns. The keeper's one remaining ability that kept him alive was his psyche that connected directly to his swamp castle. If anyone were to risk shaking his nerves, anything, from the floors collapsing to the rooms filling with lethal gas could occur. The effects were unpredictable, and not one of his many captives had been able to figure an escape.
Most learned to accept their situation. After all, they had relative freedom to spend their time as they liked. Keeper rarely showed his face, staying within a single room and sluggishly moving only to do the barest necessities for living.
The night the silver fox came, the keeper's movements were brisk. He stood from his wheelchair with his own two feet and his moss covered jaw moved to practice speaking as he brushed down dirt from his yellowed clothes. The walls brightened, and large pipes appeared to bring in air directly from above ground.
Whatever he had hoped for did not pass however as when the fox finally arrived, he gave one brief look around before he declared that he had wasted time. Every step was confident, sure of his skill in leaving. The ones still sane cried desperately for him to take them, seeming not to notice that they were all ignored. The keeper, after calling the guards and failing that, resorting to begging, as a last attempt to keep him from going, clutched Hiei by the back of his neck and swung him down by his feet. He cried, "A forbidden child!"
It was enough to make the fox give pause. The keeper continued, "His mother was a koorime. They say a forbidden child can give curses that pass beyond death."
The silver youko knelt down to Hiei's level. "Is that true?" He asked.
It took longer than it should for the words to sink in. All he could see was one bright spot glittering in a world full of faded colours. The sedative in his veins were overtaken by a strong impulse to shout, to see blood, to sink his fingers into flesh until no sign of life remained. His hands tensed, almost succeeding but not quite curling enough to form a clenched fist.
The fox that called himself Kurama sighed. He addressed the keeper without turning, "he's nothing special. A child like this can be found anywhere."
His nails dug into his palm. The pain provoked him into seeing. For the first time in years, blurred shapes sharpened to reveal their actual forms.
Silver strands, as fine as cobwebs moved with the breeze.
He knew then that he would escape.
-Focusing back to the present with the brothel, the demon, and the sickening smell of humans living in their own filth.
Meaning only to arrange for a meeting, he was surprised to be received immediately by one of the lower servants. Greying yet retaining some of the appeal she must have once exuded, the servant stood tall, sharp eyes not betraying even a hint of emotion. Abruptly turning, she silently motioned for him to follow.
A petite courtesan raised an over-plucked eyebrow as she slid by.
The servant answered her silent query, "he is passing to the side."
"Whose?"
"Kurama-han."
The prissy powdered face gave way into astonishment. "Are you sure?"
The servant bobbed her head, and hurried on her way before any more questions could delay them further. She led them up to the third floor, where the swirling jewelled décor was replaced by stark practicality.
"Passing to the side- what does that mean?" Hiei asked.
The servant ignored him in favour of picking through her keys on the large metal ring attached to her waist. Locating the one she wanted, she unlocked a western style wooden door and gestured for him to enter. As soon as he was inside, she snapped the door shut.
The room was barren and clinically white. It lacked the glamour of the previous visit, which to him was only an improvement.
Curtains hid wooden bars on the single window, and he had already heard the locking of the door. All that filled the room was a thin mattress shoved carelessly in a corner. It was not a serious effort at imprisonment, and he was sure Kurama knew better if he was the one behind the action.
The best thing to do was to wait. He sat with his back against the wall and closed his eyes.
He should not have revealed his connection to Minamino Shiori's assassination. It was said impulsively with the intention of gauging his reaction which thinking back, was not all that important. Once it was known that Kurama knew of Hiei's identity, the possibility of retribution was realistic, even expected.
Near sunrise, he felt youki approaching, exactly as he had the last time. Thinned eyes with shoulders tensed, he waited. Keys jangled behind the door, and soon without fuss, it opened to the sight of Kurama.
There he stood, one hand holding a bucket of water and in the other, a towel. In a loose cotton shirt and trousers, smelling of human sweat, his intricately twisted hair falling to tickle the nape of his neck, the picture he created was soft. Deceptively delicate as though he'd never had to fight for his life.
"Why am I here?" Hiei asked.
"That would be my line. You were the one who came. I only provided the room."
"No posturing with all the petty rituals like last time? Why this room, what changed is what I am asking you."
Kurama released a small sigh as he swept away stray wisps from his face. "What you left didn't even cover a quarter of what was owed. You've been barred as a client."
It seemed that was all he intended to reveal. He placed the bucket and cloth on the floor and straightened, eyes taking in whatever he saw, analysing, taking him apart, weighing one thing against another.
Eventually, he sat down and asked in a lighter tone, "So what can I do for you? You're obviously not here for regular business."
There was no correct way to answer. Brutal honesty, saying that he came to determine whether Kurama intended to do anything against him came off as weak. He crossed his arms and frowned.
Kurama tried again, "If I offended you, I'm willing to apologise but I'd like to know the reason."
"What you called me. Where did you hear it?"
"Forbidden Child? I thought it would be obvious."
"Enlighten me."
Kurama shifted to sit more comfortably. Too close, but voicing it would derail the conversation.
"For some time now, there were talks of kidnappings across the West. The victims were interrogated for information on a young girl, Yukina. Short stature, red eyes, light hair possibly blue or white and linked to any incidents of rapid healing. By the kidnapper's description, she is most likely a koorime. This kidnapper was said to be male, but had the unusual eyes that matched with the description of the girl he was looking for."
At the look he was given, Kurama laughed. "You don't look convinced. Fine, a different approach; you told me that I 'knew' when we last met, but a better phrasing was that I 'remembered'."
It couldn't be.
A playful look, chin resting on knuckles.
Hiei leaned the slightest bit forward. "How did you know about the kidnappings? It was never announced publicly."
"My clients."
"Your clients?"
"Do you really think I would be satisfied with monetary gain? The true objective of this place is information monitoring. Pull a little from here, trickle a little over there. The selection of patrons is based on social placement and political usefulness. Everything else is secondary."
"And they get sex from you in return. I doubt it's worth it."
"Careful, you almost sound curious. The patrons get the status of joining what they think is an exclusive list of only the most respectable people in Europe. They're mistaken of course, but it keeps them in line."
"Is this place affiliated to any organisation?"
"No. Are you going to ask me why I'm letting you interrogate me?"
"No," he said, and then paused. This man was a nuisance, but useful. The danger he posed wasn't immediate. He could dispose of Kurama as soon as he found Yukina. "How much are you?" His mouth uttered the words before he knew what he was doing.
In an instant, the fox's demeanour changed. With narrowed eyes, he stated, "you don't mean for the night, do you." He lowered his head. "My freedom is not for sale. For now, please leave. Come back in a month."
. . .
London- 2011
First Day
A month was too vague a date. He didn't know if he needed to make arrangements to meet like before, or if he would be welcomed inside as he was the last time. As he neared the pleasure quarters, the smell of smoke overpowered the usual stink, and the afternoon sky was darkened into a thick, ash grey.
The fox left through the back entrance, with a leather case slung over one shoulder. As he descended the steps, the roaring fire brightened his glossy hair into an unnatural crimson that had not been obvious previously. He looked striking, not of this world. How he could claim to be a thief when his appearance was so conspicuous, he had no idea.
Hands flattened to keep his coat from flapping, Kurama turned to look one last time at the building he had lived in, indifferent to the rapidly spreading inferno that would eventually consume the whole district.
"Forbidden Child," he greeted, looking pleased but distracted. With the panicked screams, the shouts from the firemen and the crowd, he could only read the movements of Kurama's mouth.
"Hiei," He corrected after being close enough to be heard. "I'm going to find my sister." And you are going to help me. "What will you do?" What are you going to demand for payment?
"Take His Imperial Majesty's head." His steps were light.
"What have you planned, world domination?"
"How crass," Kurama laughed, but he did not deny it.
They ran, two shadows unnoticed by the crowd of restless humans.
A/N
"Passing to the side"- non paying client. ie lover
Sorry for the delay. Real life and also the fact I accidentally read the most brain bleach worthy fic kept me away from posting this earlier. I now fully understand the necessity of warnings. I thought I was thick skinned for unusual kinks but ...wow. So with that appreciation for warnings- I will state that this fic is Kurama-relationship centric, but won't have a main pairing. Yusuke and Hiei will play prominent parts, but no one will be exclusive. Or that's what I'm planning for the moment. I might change my mind later on. Yukina and Kuwabara is part of the main cast, and other characters will be in supporting roles.
I know Maya was portrayed pretty brattily in chapter two, but I actually like her. There's not going to be intentional flaming of characters in this fic, but it won't mean I'll make them act like angels (which I guess is quite obvious by now). Any selfishness/bastardliness/bitchiness is written with love, and any ooc is hopefully explained with the au setting and the difference in the way they were brought up.
The OC's parts will be kept to a minimum, but some will have to appear just for the sake of making the world feel like there's more than five people.