Standard Disclaimer applies.
CHAPTER
t|w|o
AFTER a long moment of silence whilst their tea sat piping hot, the three occupants each sat on a thin zabuton to protect their legs from the cold of the floor. All of them were circling around the lone television in the otherwise bare living room—save for the thin tatami mats to add contrast on the otherwise drab wood of said floor. Genkai had opted to switch the television on, flicking between limited channels until she found the soap opera she was interested enough to follow, though she kept the volume nearly muted enough, knowing that she wouldn't be able to give her attention to tonight's episode. The mere purpose of switching on the appliance was to lessen—if not to completely diffuse—the expected tension to come.
After the air of awkward shuffling following their reunion was immediately dealt with by herself, Genkai urged the two to follow her back into the living room to kill the short reign of silence. She wasn't patient enough to wait for her disciple to gather himself, letting him scramble to his feet while tossing curious and suspicious glances over his shoulder. She could sense his agitation beneath the wonder of seeing someone. . . Well, Genkai was accustomed to seeing people being stuttered by the appearance of her friend.
Genkai was nearly overwhelmed by the quiet jerk of her heart, glad to see the face of an old comrade. But the urge to chat over a serving of mantou was quelled only for the sake of her disciple. First, introductions were in order. Thus, she sent the boy to clean himself quickly in his own quarters while she went to prepare some tea for all of them, which was done after storing her tubular pipe to cool down after a bout of smoke. Lan had obediently remained by Genkai's side after the latter's student had gone to make himself decent. Surprisingly enough, he had no retorts to Genkai's clipped orders this time, rushing instead to go freshen himself up despite the fatigue he must be feeling. Genkai had to chuckle to herself at that. She may be old, but she was no fool. The brat was flustered—and suspicious. Suspiciously flustered with the last glance he gave over his shoulder before leaving.
However, Genkai took that short opportunity to mutter under her breath. Meant only for the demoness' keen ears. "Let me do most of your introduction. Say nothing but your name."
Lan had to be wary and confused by that statement, and she made Genkai aware of her opinion with a quick look. To which, the psychic returned with a shake of her head. She would have to explain later, after her new brat slipped into slumber. Until then, they would have to wait.
Preparing the tea had been quick, most of the time spent waiting for the water to boil in the kitchen while the two calmly let the quiet speak. Taking it as their time to drink in tiny details that have changed from each other.
Lan expected little or nothing to change within the pinkette's abode. Genkai wasn't one for refurbishing and just let things stay where they started. Lan knew that and yet, the slight quirk of her lips couldn't be helped after entering the familiar cramped space. Still the same, if not aged just like everything she's seen so far.
Then without meaning to, Lan recalled the time when she spied Genkai and Toguro preparing dinner once, the one time when both are occupying the room because of a heated argument. She had forgotten the reason behind that particular quarrel and the duo had numerous of those—some petty, some not—that it had escalated into their very own way of communicating. Lan figured their headstrong nature was what pushed them to be debating and arguing most of the time, whether it was on a trivial matter or no. Oddly enough, it was also the foundation of their relationship, which would usually end with the both of them laughing it off. But that particular argument had the two grinding onto other's nerves, Genkai verbally more so, and continued to spew degrading insults at the younger Toguro. Lan could never figure out why they decided to settle their fury with cooking (they ended up having no dinner at all, since the results were inedible), but the amusement watching the two waddle and slither in such a tight space—add the fact that Toguro is man of bulking muscle—was what made both psychics swivel their fury towards her due to her mocking chuckle, a hint of rosy cheeks painting their complexion in part embarrassment and part annoyance.
Those were the days. The kitchen had been alive then—in warm hues, steaming smoke that carried watering aromas—filled with moments that Genkai had attempted to teach Lan how to cook. There was no improving result, but Genkai wasn't an expert either in culinary.
Seeing the room so empty and hallow now flamed the dormant anger within her towards the one responsible for making the place dull. It would've been lively still today, with or without her absence draping a sense of depression. If only Toguro. . .
Shaking her head, Lan stopped the turn of her thoughts. Bemoaning of what was lost will solve nothing, and time will go on still.
On the other hand, Genkai remained silent. Idly leaning against the counter beside the sink with her arms crossed, simply taking her leisure time while waiting for the kettle to start whistling from the heat. Her gaze remained fixated on Lan taking in the kitchen after fifty years of separation, a soft gleam in those blue eyes as she reconciled with her surroundings. Truth to be told, Genkai had yet to peel her gaze away from her since the door slid open, revealing the face Genkai hadn't seen for fifty years.
Lan had stayed the same, yet different from the withdrawn demon Genkai remembers.
Observing the demoness now as she subconsciously pulled open a cupboard and reached for three, ceramic yunomi cups (ones which, Genkai realized, were their usual teacups a long time ago) before setting them on a wooden tray, Genkai noted the little changes her friend now possessed. Except for her hair, perhaps. Her hair had remained unchanging in its thick, flowing volume in the same tint of soft lilac. If anything else, it had grown longer, from when it ended to the middle of her back to tumbling down to her hips. Back in the days of her early twenties then, Genkai looked back on how her own daring pink locks would clash against the Lan's gentle lilac. They were—once upon a time—compared to dancing petals in battle, becoming nothing but blurs of cherry and lavender. Their tandem had been admired, if not legendary. Though Lan had always been overshadowed by the younger Toguro, and she preferred it that way.
Aside from the obvious growth of her hair, Genkai noted that her friend has gained a healthy peachy tone on her skin. It made the pinkette inwardly sigh in relief, recalling how ridiculously pale the Lan's complexion had been. But what Genkai couldn't shake since the moment their gazes locked was the significant change in Lan's eyes. Of what, Genkai wasn't sure. But it was obvious that the taller woman had changed throughout the years wherever she went. Gone was the mist of confusion and naivety, and Genkai was unsure whether it meant a good change or no. But for Lan to come back and stood by her promise meant that nothing drastic happened.
Of course, Genkai couldn't confirm that yet until later. Which was why she remained stoic, silent—idly observing until the kettle began to whistle and the two prepared tea without words exchanged. Lan had taken it upon herself to carry the tray as she followed Genkai back into the living room while the latter took out three aftermentioned zabuton cushions then switched the television on. It was all done in quick movements, ending with the psychic steadily settling herself on a cushion before reaching for a cup of tea. Her lips made a small noise as she sipped, blatantly ignoring the presence of Lan sitting beside her now as opposed to her open observation earlier.
Her student chose that moment to enter. Clean, fresh and garbed in comfortable clothes with his messy tresses slightly damp.
"Hey." He greeted, striding to plop down on his own cushion, situated to Genkai's left though he sat facing across Lan, before assuming the same air as Genkai without bothering his own steaming cup. Truthfully, the psychic was pleasantly surprised to see him composed now, rid of his flustered jittering and decidedly collected.
Which failed by the obvious twitching of one index finger and the occasional glances. It made Genkai inwardly chuckle in humor and sigh in aggravation at the lack of control he had. She didn't even need to see the other's reaction; certain that Lan was mirroring the anxious glances in a much subtler manner, lacked of the avid curiosity visible in her disciple's eyes and instead sharpened with caution. Obviously, the pinkette's warning had her silent in prudence.
With his weak patience, her pupil eventually caved.
"Alright, hag. We're all here and dandy, and I appreciate the tea, it's lovely,"—both females arched a brow at the untouched cup of his now cooling tea—"But who the hell is this?"
His words were supported by his glare, unheated and lacking of the usual flare Genkai had come to know lived within his chocolate gaze. It was simply his grumpy nature hiding the open wonder no doubt gearing his mind. In fact, Genkai had no doubts that the delinquent had no inkling of an idea upon who their visitor for tonight is. Not everyone does, since even she herself was unaware prior. . . everything else. But that was not what concerned the psychic. He'll have to remain clueless for now. Not until he knew her as well as she did.
Nonetheless, Genkai still scowled at his tone.
Surprisingly, to the delinquent, their visitor appeared to be amused. First by the telltale widening of her cerulean eyes along with a swift lift of her lips.
"What?"
"Forgive me," Lan forced herself to wipe away the smile. "The similarities between you two is astounding." In her peripheral, she witnessed the frown of Genkai grow deeper. "Or at least, she once was like you."
Clearing her throat, Genkai quickly composed herself, narrowing her eyes at the mild disbelief and annoyance etched all over the delinquent's face.
"Behave yourself, Yusuke." Was her firm order, and the effect was immediate; his mouth clamping shut as she lowered her cup back on the tray.
Lan thinned her lips to resemble a collected persona, minus the still apparent mirth in her eyes. 'This boy is a trophy of Genkai's characteristics.'
"Good," nodding to herself, Genkai rewarded Yusuke a prim smile. To which she received a rather mocking and rotten one in return. All in good nature when it comes to him.
Churning yet another clear of her throat—louder than the previous—Genkai pinned the two a dismissive look, a rather ludicrous aspect to behold. It would've been acceptable in Yusuke's case, but reprimanding someone who is much more ancient than she, despite appearance's sake, was odd. Nonetheless, Genkai adapted a sedate expression, rid of her wonted frown and familiar glare to exert a welcoming vibe towards the demoness as well as to loosen the suspicious aura Yusuke had adapted.
"Just to answer your inquiry, Yusuke, our rather unexpected—" prompted by a quick meaningful glance and replied with a wince of guilt. "—guest tonight is an old friend."
Lan took that as her cue to offer a polite smile, carefully poised to cloak the scrutiny and hesitance beneath cool eyes. And to rid of any possible hostility, she offered a small bow of her head. A polite and neutral greeting she had learned years ago that most humans in this region preferred to use, especially in introductions.
"It's a pleasure to meet Genkai's student. My name is Lan." She said after Yusuke returned the bow, albeit slow and hesitant; brows pinching to further escalate his wonder.
"Yeah," he mumbled, eyes raking all over her placid posture. Questions of her heritage dimmed at the obvious foreign design of her attire. Though admittedly, he was more drawn to her eyes. A curious shade of blue, relating that to the cerulean of the sky, though not as quite. Rather, the shade resembled the vibrancy of the ocean. Intrigued yet chary—a clash of his open persona and the expected mistrustful approach of the ragged Urameshi Yusuke—he gently eased the curling fingers of tension off his shoulders, allowing them to settle back into their sockets as he finally shifted his gaze with a glint of amiable mischief. "It's nice to meet you too, I guess."
Pulling her eyes away from her disciple's expression upon observing, Genkai spoke to Lan this time. "And this is my beloved student, Urameshi Yusuke." A smirk from her and a grunt from Yusuke spoke its real meaning.
At his name, Yusuke cracked a small grin—typically crooked and pulled by playful arrogance, sheepishly rubbing a finger beneath his nose as he tipped himself backward with a quick placement of his palm behind him. He was, both women realized, removing altogether any qualms of suspicion and such.
Quick and bold, but foolish and reckless.
Lan didn't expect the quick swipe of suspicions. The simple action momentarily tipping off her thoughts.
No one could ever be that improvident. Almost every person Lan met took well-deserved time into warming up to her character, reading her indifferent impressions and blank facade to be riddled with malignancy. That and the fact that she has taken upon the reputation of being no one at all. None knew of her in makai, thus none knew of her in ningenkai—name, face and beyond. Having that clean slate is a simple warning for anyone to not place an ounce of trust onto her, which suited her isolated self just fine.
The clean slate is clearly a false assumption.
Being no one is far from who and what she really was.
Anyone who could think should have the right to be wary of her.
Then this Urameshi Yusuke dropped the snarling act that came from the suspicion and caution the second their names were exchanged.
'Perhaps that human greeting is far more efficient than I thought.' Peering at the open and expectant gaze of the boy, she frowned at the lacking scent of fear or anxiety. No worries nor skepticism. Nothing but impatient wonder coming from him. And, if she wasn't mistaken (as always), a flicker of competitiveness. 'Or is he simply manic?'
"So," cutting off her chain of thoughts, Yusuke continued. "You're Chinese, right? I mean, the hair threw me off but, your accent's kinda different."
Lan nodded, deciding to imitate his own comfortable composure. "Born and raised, in Makai though."
Seemingly uncaring about her race, Yusuke shrugged in vague acceptance, oblivious to the quick glance Genkai shot at the demoness for her quick drop of origin. Lan didn't really think it was suspicious. Someone training under a psychic should know what she is just by spiritual awareness alone. And the boy seems to possess an open mind as to not categorize all demons as evil, despite having most of its population are.
"I figured you are. Kinda strange since I can't feel any of your youki, but I'm not really good at that." Yusuke mused, leaning further with a slouch of his back. The observation was peculiar at most due to his obvious nonexistent talent for sensing auras of others, as he had stated. He never was one to dig around, opting to just meet whatever it is before him head on. But the intrigue was there.
Yusuke was certain that her strength should be unparalleled as well. He would expect just as much with her allegiance with the hag. But if she didn't have that much of a presence, then what power does she have?
His remark caused a slow waltz of tapping insecurity to tremble down her spine at the mere mention of her absent—or rather, covert youki. His observation was accurate, and very much acceptable. Yet day after day, the hovering fear of her energy suddenly leaking out of her skin has always made her conscious. A ticking reminder.
One slip and Reikai will enclose her into another set of bars.
Feeling the familiar sense of protectiveness, Genkai could practically taste the thoughts coming from Lan. Fifty years could never change the ease of reading her.
"Yes, you are correct," she took another sip of her tea as she addressed her disciple. "However, her absent youki does not define her skills, I assure you."
Yusuke was aware, yet didn't indulge that he was. "Oh?" He quirked a curious brow over the sound of slurping tea, eyes trained at the foreigner. "I've met others masking their energy, and they turned out to be more powerful than those who doesn't." Then, slowly, a grin stretched his lips, matching his brazen attitude with the crooked tilt of his lips. A light bulb lit in his mind. But, before he could utter a word, Genkai detached her lips from her cup and stated a single word.
"No."
Yusuke's reaction was instantaneous, one of which made Lan observe how similar this boy was to that of a younger Genkai. At least, in some ways. He has no control or whatsoever just as Genkai had.
"Oh, come on, hag! I've been doing all those bullshits you keep telling me to do and I can't even ask one request?!"
"Precisely."
"What the fu—"
"At least," a glare matching a glare. "Not yet."
Lan had to resist shaking her head at the way the boy seemed to deflate instantly, a dumbfounded look taking over his irate glare as he stared at his master with wide eyes.
"Eh?"
Genkai was not meeting the eyes of her disciple however, but was boring her own dark gaze into Lan's cool ones, passing a heavy message through sheer eye contact alone. It made the latter slowly cradle the weight within her, one that she's been carrying since in gentle defense. A denial to share a secret. Still, she was not prepared for the way her very heart froze as the words tumbled out of Genkai's mouth.
"Yusuke is here to train as my disciple, and to become a better Reikai Tantei under Koenma's service."
Lan had lost count how many times she had resisted the urge to flinch away from Genkai's disciple in an uncontrollable sense to protect herself. She had lost count how many times she had faded away from the introductory conversations led by Genkai, often supported by the boy, and rarely did she even contribute. The whole time was spent trying to squash the burning within her chest to stand and just walk away, or the itching of her fingers to welcome the grasp of her old weapon she knew was hidden somewhere within the temple. Willing yet unwilling to play as the fear's puppet. Then to add to her already troubled mind, her throat went dry as her thoughts conjured more thoughts of the Spirit World stripping her bare of her secrets. Exposing who she really was and ridding her of her undeserved freedom.
'No. . .'
But that was not the end to her worries. No, what comes after her imprisonment would be the scattering of words—rumors. Rumors that would reach far and wide, that would surely reach the place where she was made.
'No more.'
They'll want her back. A force that not even the Spirit World could fully handle.
'No more!'
One hand reached out to grasp the roots of her fringe, gripping it tight with snarling fury with her palm pressing a weight on the mark on her forehead. A startling mnemonic, a laughter and mockery of what she is and would always be. The mark that defined her. It took her one stretching moment to notice the tremors that rocked her spine and jerked her shoulders, and Lan realized like a slap to her face; the complete dominance of fear that hugged her form tight and snug. Reminding her of the very reason what she's been running from for fifty years.
'Why.' The word did not come as a question, but a quiet plea. She was tired. She came back to reunite with her friend in peace and to avoid the regret that she knew would come if she did not visit Genkai once before the latter's gone.
But Lan did not come back for this. True she was curious, and now she understood the phrase humans seem to take pleasure in using. 'Curiosity does kill the cat.'
Shaking her head, Lan gripped her fringe tighter, ignoring the twinge of pain with a shut of her eyes.
"Fifty years and this is still the first place you come to."
Calloused fingers gently eased the tight hold she had on her fringe, frail and gnarly compared to the firm softness Lan remembered her friend's hands used to be. Still, the action only caused her to bow her head in shame, despite obeying the silent command to release the painful hold on her hair. In the back of her mind, the familiar dark voice tried to reach out once more—screaming how she did not deserve this friendship, this kindness. Genkai had helped her silence that voice, and she would continue to do so.
"Fifty years does not change this spot." Was her reply. A tad small and shaky to her liking, but Lan has nothing to hide with Genkai.
It was only after an hour passed by did Genkai ceased their conversation with Yusuke. Seeing Lan uncooperative and nonresponding prompted the psychic to shut the television (long forgotten and playing a fatuous show none of them cared) and announce the late hour; throwing a threat of tomorrow's schedule for Yusuke to haul himself up and put himself to bed. He would need rest, that Genkai was sure of.
She had ignored it when Lan offered a swift goodnight to Yusuke before leaving the room in her haste. The young detective had—over the hour-long conversations—felt the weight of the demon's subtle, wary glances towards him. Glances that were accusingly filled with suspicion, and that should be him. Not her. Yet he took note of her calm demeanor prior and deemed that his very persona was not the cause of her caution.
x
"Is she alright?" The question was thrown before his feet lead him back to his quarters, confused and just a tad bit concerned as he waited for an answer from his mentor.
"Yes." Genkai nodded.
He didn't believe her. It was evident in his gaze. But he has no words left, nor could he offer anything else since he still doesn't know anything about Lan. Thus, he opted for his usual gaiety self to speak. "Well, she looks kinda scared. If you scare her too much, tell her I can help her with that."
x
It was an offhanded comment meant for humor to diffuse the strained atmosphere that befell the duo. Genkai still remembered the look of concern momentarily crossing the adolescent's gaze that also gave a deeper meaning to his statement, though his awkward shrug showed how flustered and uncomfortable he still was. No matter, it was enough to have gratitude bloom within Genkai.
When he was gone, Genkai finally dropped her mask of stoicism, shoulders sagging in concern with the purse of her chapped lips. The action emphasized the lines on her aging face, and for a quick moment, she wished Yusuke wasn't Koenma's little errand boy. His profession is much too complicated—despite Yusuke's good graces—for her to trust Lan's secret with him. The thought was followed by guilt to clench its fingers around her old heart.
Yusuke was not the one at fault here.
Sighing, Genkai brought herself back at the present. Back at the tiled roof of her temple. The spot went unvisited ever since Lan's departure. It was her spot after all. Genkai knew that Lan would be here right after their introductory conversation, and she was right. Still, her old age was not prepared for the onslaught of memories that uprooted with the latter's return. The very spot of this roof faced the calm face of the moon, which Genkai knew was her friend's first quiet companion, one where she first found comfort in. Lan had described the moon as loyal, a silent griever when she could not.
In addition, this very spot was also where Genkai had first explained an inkling of what humanity is for the naive demon then; the very spot that made Genkai strip her bare of secrets; the very spot where Genkai had first explained the depth of her feelings towards Toguro, what love is in general, and the many shades of it. And lastly, it was the very spot where the two had first despaired for their lost friend.
Looking back at it now, Genkai compared herself to be a mother explaining things to a child. With her age and Lan's predicament, it felt no different.
"My presence is not welcome here." Lan's voice stirred Genkai from her thoughts, looking down at the crown of mauve hair. With the former sitting down, the height difference wasn't so bad. "At least, not at the moment."
Confident that she would not strangle her fringe and dig the heel of her palm to her forehead no more, Genkai took a seat to her right with a sigh. "You are welcome. Very much so." She was almost ashamed at the leak of vulnerability and years of sorrow beneath her tone, but Genkai continued. "His profession is just a hindrance."
At this, Lan scoffed. "A hindrance? Genkai, one mistake and you will be involved just because of me."
Genkai glared, chocolate gaze meeting the grinning moon. "Koenma is also a friend. He will listen to me. And you did mention that your friend will hold your ring with utmost care as you will care for hers. She is safe, thus so will your ring."
At the mention of the ring, Lan unknowingly reached her slender fingers for the meager cord coiled around her neck beneath her collar, holding the thin band in place. The weight was almost nonexistent, but to Lan, it dragged a part of her soul like an anvil.
"Your words cannot change the weight of my crimes." Lan shook her head, a weak, wry grin on her face. "Nothing can. And as for her, I have not seen her since we were separated. I trust her enough to care for herself and my ring, but anything could go wrong." Genkai hate to witness the fleeting second of something dark cross her face. A warning glare hiding old instincts within. "I've told you how we discovered how flawed the rings are. If something happens, and another realizes that flaw. . ." Lan halted her words. But the message was clear. Genkai knew this. One of the fears that had strained her friend since.
For once, Genkai could only respond in silence. When she was younger, she used to rebut Lan's pessimistic thoughts with impatient optimism. But that was then. Admittedly, she was a tad naive before too. Now, Genkai understood her depressive thoughts as truth. But it was still not a reason enough to deprive the demoness of having other comrades aside from Genkai herself. Yes, Yusuke is the Spirit Detective, but he's a good person within the rough exterior. Intuition called that they will need one another. And for some reason—now that she is training a disciple to continue her legacy, Genkai couldn't control the creeping of fifty years ago.
Intuition calls for repetition. And Lan will have to be involved.
"The boy can be a brat." Genkai suddenly started after a minute of silence. "But his heart is good. He'll help you." His words echoed within her mind once more, urging a quirk of her lips in a smirk. "He'll be good for you."
Lan could obviously not see her logic. "He's the Reikai Tantei. How can someone who would someday want to arrest me, help me?"
Genkai turned her head to look at her friend, only to meet those deep blues boring into her own. And for a moment, her mind flew back to the last time she had peered into the depths that is Lan. The last time sealed with a promise.
A promise that has been kept yet met with unsuspecting circumstances that neither really needed.
"He never wanted to be." Genkai finally whispered. "His only reason was to go back to life and end the misery of those around him. He didn't expect that—grieving on his loss."
Brows furrowed, Lan locked her jaw, a flicker of unbidden surprise in her eyes. In her silence, Genkai continued. "His soul wasn't expected in Reikai when he died—yes, he did. For saving a child no less." She answered the question in Lan's eyes. "So, yes. His soul hadn't yet a place in Reikai then, so he was given a choice to return to life. Koenma only gave him the chance to be revived with a test, and the price of becoming the Spirit Detective." Then, a rather sour look befell on the psychic's features. "Of course, in a typical Koenma fashion, he had failed to mention the price until Yusuke's alive again."
"And he told you all of this?" Lan retorted sharply coupled with a shallow narrowing of her eyes.
"No. Not all of it. The gist of it, yes. But the rest was passed to me by Koenma himself." Genkai had the decency to shrug, as if the very visit of Reikai's Prince is a casual occasion and nothing rare. "He wanted to make sure the brat's well taken care of after he passed my tournament." It went unsaid that the visit was never mentioned before the presence of the detective himself.
"Yusuke," Genkai continued. "He's not the kind of person who would want the world to be perfect. Just the kind who would do things because it's right." That was the truth. She had seen more and more of Urameshi Yusuke after each day of training and, while she could frown and scoff all she please at his blatant lack of disrespect and crude manner (not forgetting his beautiful usage of adjectives towards her), Genkai could inwardly accept that she liked what she's seeing.
Little by little, the storm within Lan eased as Genkai spoke her piece about the young detective, dwindling into nothing but a kindling caution. It was instinctual, thus could not be helped. She had moved her gaze to seek the moon's after Genkai finished, eyes seeking for permission—answers—from the flawed orb.
Lips pursed, Lan weighed her options. On one hand, she trusts Genkai with her life. Years before, when she was but a mere dunce, she walked her life clinging onto the guidance of Genkai's words. And not once did Genkai failed her. By logic, Genkai would not fail her now. Yet, on the other hand, a variety of things could go wrong. One slip was all it takes for her. . .
Sighing to herself, Lan brought her gaze back to her friend's expectant ones. Patient brown calming troubled blues.
Licking her lips, Lan finally made her decision, albeit lacking confidence in it. "He must be something special for you to speak highly of," —a snort rumbled in Genkai's chest, prompting Lan to grin wryly— "But I cannot drop my guard. I will try though, see if he is who you really speak of. He is your disciple, thus I cannot ignore him for long. But I cannot guarantee that I will fully trust him with what I trust in you. If he is not what you speak of, then it will end badly for you and I. If he is, then another innocent will only get involved, and I do not want that."
Genkai nodded, accepting her answer grimly. The conversation was weighing them down and neither planned their reunion to be like this.
"Why did you not look for her?" Genkai flipped open another conversation, frowning when Lan shook her head. "I thought you'd want to find her first before coming back." The psychic added.
"I thought so too," Lan sighed, grateful for the change of subject even though her answer was far from encouraging. "But during the past fifty years, I was wandering, exploring and learning wherever I went." A gleam of awed clarity appeared in Lan's eyes, one that expressed relief along with genuine pride and happiness in Genkai. It was as she had hoped—Lan had gained insight.
That was the change in her eyes.
Oblivious to Genkai's thoughts, Lan continued. "I traveled farther and farther, reaching new countries and the variety of everything. When I realized that, I reasoned she must be faring the same, so I opted not to look for her after all. Let her enjoy her own freedom too. Not to mention, I wanted to see this disciple of yours. Words about you float everywhere. It is how I kept track of you." Lan paused again, letting one small, nostalgic smile pull through along with amusement to shine in her eyes. "He resembles you. Figures you will have a successor matching yourself."
"Please." Genkai scoffed, which prompted a short laugh shared between them. A laugh that healed the distance wedged by time between them. Once more, a memory flashed before their eyes, one of their younger years. Laughing, teasing, and generally content.
It was a pity they couldn't stay like that.
:)
I'll be honest, chapters from 1 to 10 were actually written almost a year ago from now. My style has been gradually changing since, so I hope it's not boring you. Anyways, it will be a while until Kurama shows up in the story. I need to establish Lan's relationship with Yusuke first and lay out the depth of her friendship with Genkai. In a way, they are sisters in bond.
Thank you all so much for your support! This story is still quite new and yet, your reviews are very rewarding. Thank you so much, Sidako, Bubble Smoosher and redheadforlife for your words. I treasure them greatly. Also for those guest reviews as well. There were a few that I removed since I couldn't understand them properly.
Anyways, thank you so much and tune in for the next update :)
Chapter soundtrack: "Uso" by Sid