Three Families : Adaptations
A/N: Thanks for the reviews. Keep on submitting them, and I'll keep on writing. Um, I was really thinking about this story because I LOVE it, and I guess some people don't... it doesn't seen as popular as all the others... but anyway, I was watching The Illusionist (awesome movie) and I was totally thinking about how this story could be so godly. Hahhaha. Read and Review!
I
Kurama gagged on the smoke and stood frantically as he waved his hands in front of his face, trying to clear the smoke.
"Hiei!" The Second in Command coughed. "Hiei! Are you okay?"
Kurama was relieved to hear a growl of annoyance. He saw a black lump on the floor move and he saw the Boss sit up, his eyes flickering with anxiety as he looked around. They both knew that this was not an accident.
"Fuck!" Hiei hissed, and Kurama could tell that the Boss was pissed. He didn't like to curse. Especially in front of women. "Mukuro! That crazy bitch!" Hiei closed his eyes as he moved his leg and felt for his crutch. "Kurama, are you hurt?"
The Second in Command shook his head as he lifted the Boss up and gave him his crutch. Kurama sighed and saw that Hiei was holding Botan's hand. Good lord, she was awake!
"W-what just h-happened?" She stood, trembling like a leaf on a windy day. Her pink eyes looked around like she had no idea what was going on. She walked shakily as a bit of flaming plaster fell down a few inches away from her. "I-I... I-I will make you something... d-do you like c-coffee or tea?"
She tried to get to her door, but Hiei pulled her back, his eyes sweeping the area.
"Woman, we have to go."
"No, I really have to –"
Hiei squeezed her hand, yanking her closer to him.
"ONNA!" She flinched. "We have to move!" She looked back at her home, dying faster by each passing second. "Come ON!"
Botan was pulled toward a window and Kurama went out first, then Botan, then Hiei. They hurried down the fire escape, Hiei looking behind them even as Kurama dragged him faster and faster. They had to get out. Another small explosion crackled, and Botan yelped and began to hurry.
II
"HIEI! WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?"
Yusuke's mouth was open as he looked up as he heard the fire engines blaring in the background. Kurama opened the door and Hiei slid in gracefully, while Botan tried to look back at the apartment complex. Yusuke pushed her as gently as he could into the car, Hiei still holding her hand, or rather, she was still clasping it tightly.
Kurama and Yusuke finally got in, Yusuke putting the car into drive, sped out of the city. His face was a bit pale and he glanced back to the two passengers in the back.
"Are you okay?"
Hiei nodded curtly.
"Hn."
The Advisor gazed to the assistant.
"It's gone." She wasn't crying. All she would do was stare out the window at the sky. "My home is... gone."
Yusuke didn't say anything and turned back around, speeding out of the city and back to the safe house. Kurama turned on the radio and spoke in a hushed voice to the treasured Advisor.
"Yusuke, Mukuro tried to assassinate Botan." He took a breath. "She's no longer safe."
The Advisor bit his lip, focusing on the road.
"What can we do about that? Take her in? Tell her that everything is okay?" Yusuke sent a glare towards the Second in Command. "That was exactly what Hiei wanted to avoid. Babysitting someone who was from the normal public." He sighed. "She can not stay with us."
Kurama crossed his arms.
"Are you saying that you would just leave her out and let Mukuro do as she wishes with her? You would let that... happen to her?"
Yusuke's shoulders rose up.
"No, but you know that we can't just take her in like a little orphan." His eyes flickered over to Kurama. "What are we going to do?"
"I don't know yet. We'll figure something out."
Yusuke sighed and pressed on the gas, the car gradually going faster.
"I hope you're right."
III
Kurama opened the door to find his newly inducted Jin on the floor, pale with red eyes. Chuu had opened a beer and stared dejectedly at the stack of cards that was in the middle of the floor. They had just woken up. He walked in, and was followed by Yusuke. The two men recognized their friends sounds and steps. It was only until they heard the soft shuffling and cough of a feminine dialect that they looked up with wide eyes.
Botan walked shakily into the house. Her lips were parted for a moment as she took in everything once again. Her pink eyes cleared and she was instantly hugged tightly by the Irish man.
"Botan! Thank the Lord you're alright!"The man pulled back to see Botan blink... and she smiled. For the first time for that entire day, the woman smiled. Her eyes welled up with tears... and she hugged him frantically. "I thought that you had been... had been..."
Kurama and Hiei were wide eyed as they saw Jin's reaction. Kurama stole a look at the Boss to see a wave of worry mixed with disgust etch itself onto his face. The Second in Command felt a smile worming its way onto his face when Chuu tackled the two to the ground, laughing to hide his worry and relief.
"Break it up, we have work to do."
Hiei's ice cold voice broke all the love and care in the room. The assistant stood, brushing herself off and tilting her head downward. Jin nodded and Yusuke steered the young man away from the library assistant. Chuu lumbered off to the kitchen and Kurama helped Hiei to the living room.
Botan stared after the Boss. Her pink eyes narrowed, but her concentration was broken by a shout from Chuu, and she blinked, helping the man pour some iced tea for all the "guests".
IV
"Botan... I'm afraid that you've been caught up in something that would never normally... involve or concern you."
Kurama's voice was silky as he took a short sip of his tea. Hiei was glaring at his glass, as if it was the one responsible for this whole thing. The assistant frowned as she folded her hands in her lap.
"Um... is there anything that I can do... or... help with?"
Yusuke raised his eyebrows.
"Help?" He licked his lips, looking up at the ceiling. "Nothing." He smiled humorlessly. "Besides, we don't want you any more involved than you already are."
The assistant nodded and leaned back in her chair, playing with some strands of her hair, frowning because they were singed Kurama gazed at the Boss.
"Well, Hiei, what should we do?"
The short, dark man pinched the bridge of his nose, his face wrinkling with extreme discontent.
"I... I..." He bit his lip as he racked his mind for any sign of a good plan. "We know that Mukuro was behind this." He opened his eyes and leaned back into the couch. "It's too risky right now to fight back, with Raizen dying and Yomi replacing him." He looked at Botan, whose stance was very calm. "You'll have to stay with us." He looked away. "You're friends and family most likely think that you are missing or dead." A pause. "It's better to let them keep thinking that for now until it's safe."
Botan let one tear fall for her single friend, Yukina.
"Thank you, Mr. Jaganshi."
"Hn." He turned to Kurama and crossed his arms. "Does that sound good to you, Kurama?"
The Second in Command bit his lower lip.
"It's the best that we can do for now." He turned to Yusuke. "We'll have to feel it out before we do anything at this point. There's no telling what will happen next."
V
They ate dinner. The house grew dark, and it was only Hiei and Botan. Jin and Chuu bunked in Chuu's room, and Kurama was down in the basement with Yusuke.
The assistant was still in the pajamas that she woke up in. Her blue hair was still up in a ponytail. Hiei was in the bathroom, and he came out, walking as quietly as he could with his crutch. Botan was seated on the couch.
"Um... Hiei?" The Boss shot her a glance, and Botan's eyes widened and she scrambled for breath. "Oh, sorry, Mr. Jaganshi." She smiled nervously, and her lips ceased to curl when his face remained icy. "Is there something that I... I should know about this Mukuro woman?"
"No."
Botan felt like she had been shocked with something electrical.
"Oh, okay." An awkward silence emerged. "T-thanks again for allowing me to... stay with you."
Hiei growled lethally.
"Get this straight, woman, I do not want you here." He did not care that she seemed hurt and frightened. "Yukina is a dear woman to me, and she made me promise to her that I would make sure that you were safe. I will carry out my word and keep the code of his Family in tact by making sure an innocent woman or child is not hurt in any way if caught up in our violence."
Botan nodded.
"I see."
She saw the Boss get up, his black cloak billowing behind him. He didn't look over his shoulder as he opened the door to the basement.
"I didn't want you to be involved." Botan could hear nothing changed in his voice. And yet... Why does he seem so... familiar? "Try and get some sleep, woman. It will take you to a better situation then this..."
And Botan was alone. Just like that.
Sighing, she pulled the blanket up to her chin. Finally, she was able to take her blue hair out and let it fall free. Her pink eyes looked out into the darkness, as if she were trying to find something. Her shoulders went slack and her eyes closed as she started to cry.
She was not crying out of despair. Well, she was a bit sad that Yukina would not know if she was alright, but maybe Botan would be able to see her again once this whole "Mukuro" thing got straightened out. She was not crying because she was in pain.
She was crying because she was relieved. And maybe... in some not so sane part of her... happy. She was living an adventure. She sighed into the pillow. Maybe if it was just for a few weeks, she would be able to get away from normalcy. From the dreaded and darker things in her life.
Like family...
VI
"You're a baka." A little girl was heard crying. "You brought this on yourself." A ripping of cloth was heard. "Stop crying."
Hiei jolted awake. He clenched his right arm, moving up his sleeve to reveal a dark dragon tattoo winding itself up his arm. His breathing was short, but he soon gained control of himself. He shook to clear his head. It was nothing. Just a stupid dream.
The Boss rubbed his eyes and saw that Yusuke and Kurama were still asleep. Hiei bit down a yawn stretched like a cat. That was until he heard movement upstairs. Grabbing his crutch, the Boss moved silently, like a black ghost. He moved up the stairs and pulled out a sword that was fastened to his belt, the sheath empty.
He stared down the hallway. None of the doors were open, so he concluded that Jin and Chuu were still asleep. Frowning, the Boss looked over at the security system that glowed on the far wall in the living room.
All was normal.
That was when he heard the shuffle of feet. His senses were instantly up again and he crept to the kitchen. Gripping his katana and biting his lips, Hiei swung out into the open.
"AAA!" The Boss winced as the high pitched scream impaled his eardrum. There, in the kitchen, was the assistant. Her blue hair was down and her eyes were bit glassy. Did she get any sleep at all? "Oh God, Mr. Jaganshi, you scared me!" She was shaking. The Boss could tell that she had been trembling before he had arrived. "I was just making some coffee."
The Boss felt his entire body slacken. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. One... two... three... SCREW IT!
"Onna... don't make so much noise!"
Kami! I thought someone had gotten through our security systems! Hiei took another deep breath leaned against the wall.
"Sorry. I'll do better next time." She was whispering. "Do you want some?"
Hiei shook his head as he pulled up a chair, sitting down silently. He watched the assistant as she poured herself a cup. He watched as she stared at the steam. He watched her blink lazily. She must be tired. The Boss watched as she drank the liquid. That was when he felt goose bumps rise up and down his spine and down his right arm.
"Are you... drinking that black?"
The assistant turned, and that was when Hiei really saw the bags under her eyes. The way her lips twitched as they tried to smile. She really did try. Something sparked in the deep, dark recesses of his mind. The way her eyes were slightly dimmed with a very sad humor. What the hell is that?
"I am." She raised an eyebrow, and Hiei didn't recognize her for a moment. "That's okay, right?" Her voice, it was... dare she even try it, sarcastic! The tone of it dipped low. But it only lasted for a second. Her eyes brightened and a pink flush stained her cheeks. "I... um... I'm sorry!" She wrung her hands. "It's uh... uh... it's early."
She giggled anxiously and finished her coffee in one big gulp. The Boss didn't say anything. She poured another cup of coffee. She squeezed her eyes shut as she drank it. The Boss was astonished. Even he couldn't do that.
She opened her eyes, and she looked a little less tired.
VII
Jin and Chuu woke up to the enticing scent of pancakes. The two men groaned, and then, realizing that their arms were around each other, sprung apart. This, of course, caused things to crash and fall onto the floor.
"Guys? Is everything okay?"
Jin and Chuu turned to hear Botan's cheery voice floating down the halls. The two men smiled, a bit embarrassed, and went into the hallway, grinning at the woman.
"Fine, everything's fine."
Jin smiled as he peered into the kitchen. There, on the center of the table, was a plate full of pancakes with some bacon on a separate plate. It took a few seconds for Chuu's mind to register just what was going on. Then he pushed Jin roughly out of the way.
"WOO HOO! Coming through!"
Botan laughed as Chuu started eating just as Yusuke and Kurama crawled out from the basement, their hair messy and the Advisor yawned lazily. They saw Hiei chewing on a piece of pancake, his eyes drooped with boredom as Chuu and Jin wrestled for the maple syrup.
Yusuke burst out laughing, rolling on the floor, his eyes clamped shut as he heaved on the floor, his face scarlet. Kurama's eyes widened, and then he chuckled.
"Wow... I've never seen this house so... lively... ever."
Hiei growled darkly as he went for another pancake, dodging the flying maple syrup. Yusuke and Kurama broke up the fight and everyone sat down for a (semi) normal breakfast. The assistant grinned as Yusuke poked fun of the Irishmen and the drunk Australian. Hiei shot Kurama a look as his Second in Command laughed along with them.
Botan seemed to be happy, but Kurama did notice her tired eyes and how she would swallow yawns every now and again. The Second in Command sighed and leaned over so he could whisper to the Boss.
"Since... the assistant... is going to be staying with us for a while, I was thinking..."
Hiei rose an impatient brow.
"What?"
"Well... she could use some, ahem, real clothes."
VIII
"Um... guys... you really don't have to do this." Yusuke pushed the assistant forward into the store and shook his head. Kurama gazed around, his mouth dropping at all the clothes and other accessories. Hiei sneezed, the perfumes getting to him. Jin fixed his collar, feeling under dressed. "Really, I like Chuu's clothes!"
Hiei rolled his eyes.
"Onna, you are not presentable in those garments. Since all your other clothes are destroyed, I'm getting you new ones."
Botan felt her face turn bright red as she looked around, feeling more and more out of place.
"Hi-Mr. Jaganshi, please, you really don't have to." She smiled nervously. "I'm fine." Kurama snapped his fingers. "Really!"
"Kurama! Darling!"
A thin, shapely woman pranced forward, her aqua hair tied back in a fashionable bun. She threw herself on the good doctor, who tensed and tried to edge away from her, but Hiei glared at him. No. Not yet. They had to get something done.
"Juri! My friend, we... we uh, need your assistance."
The woman smiled dreamily as she gazed into Kurama's eyes.
"Anything, just name it."
Kurama's hand shot out, looking for Botan, and Hiei shoved her forward and the Second in Command dragged her to his side. Seeing the other woman, Juri's cheery face flickered. Her eyes were cold and Botan saw the flash of discontent and anger.
"I need you to dress her."
Juri crossed her arms.
"Who is she?"
Kurama smiled, giving his Boss a playful glance.
"She's Hiei's close friend."
Instantly, the joyous Juri was back and she bounced. And bounced. She looked over at the short, and now scowling little man.
"Aw, how cute!" She grabbed the assistant's hand. "Come with me and we'll fix you right up!"
Botan squeaked and looked over her shoulder.
"Hiei! I don't belong in Sax's Fifth Avenue!" She tried to get free of Juri, but the woman grinned and pulled Botan away. "Please!"
Kurama looked over to see that Hiei was not angry that Botan had said his name. Then again, it was out of panic. Jin bit his lip, not wanting to stay longer than he had to. Yusuke shook his head, muttering something about 'women'.
Hiei stared ahead at Botan, who was getting smaller and smaller as she got deeper into the New York City store.
"Do you think she'll make it out in once piece?"
Kurama heard Jin, who hissed in his ear. Hiei gazed over at the two.
"Juri's a good girl. She'll take care of her."
Jin fidgeted.
"I know but... but..."
Kurama smiled reassuringly.
"Jin, she'll be fine."
Hiei was silent as he looked through the hoards of people. The perfumes that made a cloud above their heads. A labyrinth of expensive clothes, jewelry, and other odd things. That was when Juri came running back, her eyes set on Hiei.
"Come on!" Hiei didn't budge. "Come on! You have to see her, I want to make sure that you like it!"
Kurama dragged Hiei along, while Yusuke and Jin were racing to see what Botan looked like. The entire group stopped as a team of employees stepped forward and Hiei sneezed again. He turned to Kurama.
"Since when did we need a squad?"
Kurama chuckled.
"When you want a job done, you have to do it right."
Juri nodded, taking over.
"Okay, now, we didn't change her real look, as in her face or hair. She was too beautiful to change." A girlish giggle. "But we did have some clothes, and with these outfits, prepare yourselves!"
The "squad" parted and the members of the Jaganshi family stared.
Yusuke's eyebrows shot up. Jin turned red. Kurama tilted his head to the side, and then, after a while, nodded in approval. Juri jumped up and down, squealing as she clapped her hands together. Her eyes looked to the Boss.
His stance was as cold as ice. His eyes did not light up or sparkle with desire or mirth. His mouth was not partially open. His shoulders did not slacken. In fact, they tensed. Finally, he spoke.
"Well, onna, what do you think?"
IX
A/N: If you think this chapter was too ADD, please tell me. I kinda think it is, but trust me when I tell you that I know where this is going. It's not going to be a flop. I want it to be a hit, so... REVIEW! Please? I would really appreciate it! This is my favorite story that I have written, and a lot more characters will come later on, like Keiko and Koenma! Review if you want to find out just who they are!
-mia