Of Marigolds and Dragonflies
Chapter 4
"Visit"
A/N: Hey I'm back! Thanks everyone for being very supportive of this fanfic! I had always been grateful for the YYH-HB fandom for being one of the sweetest fandoms out there.
(Winter 2011)
Hiei was still contemplating, holding up the garter.
Drip.
Drop.
Blood began to stain the laced material. Hiei looked up. Who dared to make a mess of his possessions?
Then there, he saw in the ceiling of his chamber, was a bloodied tiny creature hanging. He had never seen that kind of demon before.
How did it get there?
"What the-"
The creature screamed like a banshee, then dropped and lurched towards him. He fends it off with his arm, but it opened his mouth and it bit onto him. It sucked his blood and energy like a leech. He sneered. This little shit. He flung it and it bounced off the ground.
It wiggled, preparing to lunch itself at him. He placed his hand on his sword. He was ready to kill this little pest once and for all.
Predictably, it attempted to attack him, screaming like a baby. With one slash of his sword, it dropped into two halves, dead and motionless. He squinted his eyes, trying to figure out what the creature was exactly - it was disgustingly bloody, reeked of corpse smell and goo coming out of its body.
In spite of its appearance, he still picked it up and exited his chambers. He needed to know what in the devil had just happened.
"You!" he hollered at the sight of Mukuro's lover, "where's Mukuro?"
Mukuro's mate jumped a little and she blinked. "She's in her room - and goodness Hiei! What in the three worlds is that thing?" Natsume squealed in fright.
He snarled, not able to answer her. "Which is why I'm looking for Mukuro," he said and left her, puzzled.
Sure enough, he located Mukuro. He hurled the dead tiny creature on her table. The woman twitched her upper lips and frowned.
"If this is something you're giving me to eat, then I will have second thoughts of appointing you as my right-hand soldier. I'm a demoness, not an uncivilised scavenger," she said dryly. He ignored her sarcasm and rolled his eyes.
"I found this thing in my chamber. Now you tell me, how did this get into your well-guarded fortress, Mukuro? Is the rest of your army being complacent? I don't appreciate being assaulted by something so feeble," he said in irritation. Mukuro stared at the dead creature, studying it.
"I have never seen anything like it," he added. He was uneasy. It seemed to hold a heavy grudge against him.
"Neither have I," Mukuro replied, "but this is alarming, Hiei, and the fact that such a weak demon got passed my surveillance is an insult to me. I will get someone to find out about its nature."
"Hn, you better-"
(Spring 2007)
"You better stop massacring my men around. The army is getting thinner. It doesn't help that I've been receiving missing reports from all around the demon realm. What's the matter with you, Hiei?" Mukuro said sternly.
"Bad day-"
He really had no excuse. It had been a decade since that Yusuke's wedding night, the night where he had a sexual encounter with that blasted blue-haired ferry girl. He had not seen her and there was an unknown source of irritation that had been recently eating him. He wanted to find an outlet, to soothe this itch by killing off other weak demons.
"I see what this is about," Mukuro spoke, tapping her metallic fingers on her armchair.
"Yomi recently visited the fortress to discuss certain issues with the policies in the demon realm. He offered the services of demonesses as a gift to me, but I declined and told him that I'm inclined to only one woman. To be frank, I'm disappointed that he thinks I ever needed those flimsy services. He told me he had no use for them, but perhaps you need another outlet to relieve this frustration. It's unbecoming of you as my right-hand soldier," she said.
"Hn, I don't care about these cursed witches prancing around and bewitching men...and women," he rolled his eyes.
"It seems that we have something in common. I thought I was wrong, but perhaps the clown was right - your taste does run in the other direction," she mused.
"I'm not like you, Mukuro. I prefer only women," he answered.
"Then get to it. Don't show your face to me until you've vented your anger. I'd appreciate it if you don't injure any more of my army," she warned. He grumbled in response.
He went to the guest chambers, where two demonesses that were clad in skimpy outfits awaited. One was a tigress and the other had wings of a bat. They readily lurched onto him, but he pushed them away.
"Aren't you a rough one," the tigress purred, "but that's fine. I like aggressive boys."
"You're a bit short, but you're kinda cute. Now, cutie, won't you come to us? Or do we have to get you?" the other one said coyly, flapping her wings.
"Get out-"
He glared at them. He had met many demonesses that were forward and seductive. The whole gimmick was getting old. He thought lowly of them. These kinds held no sincerity towards him, only giving him the time of day because they wanted their wanton needs sated or they are paid to please. They acted like know-it-all dominatrices in the bedroom, letting out exaggerated cries and faking out orgasm. Treating their partners like they had them wrapped around their little fingers. The concept was exciting to him in his younger days, but he found little entertainment in them now.
"I mean it. Get out or I'll kill you," he threatened and they pouted at him. Those bitches think they could enchant him with that tactic? Hell no. They opened their mouth to complain.
"That's it-"
He slammed the door on their face. That calmed him down. They just weren't like that annoying ferry girl with purple eyes. Her scent and innocence - it took monopoly of his head and primal thoughts. Botan was genuine, hesitant and uncondescending. His last encounter with her haunted him more than he had expected.
"Hiei-sama, I'm here to bring you a message that Kurama has arrived," a B-class demon soldier located him and greeted him.
"So the fox is here. Hn, very well. Get those two strumpets to leave," he said tersely before leaving to meet Kurama. The demon grumbled, complaining about hierarchical ranks and Hiei's moody attitude. Hiei ignored all of it.
The three-eyed demon met Kurama. The fox demon was still in his human shell. A few of his reddish strands turned grey - Shuichi's body was ageing. Hiei wondered how the rest appeared in their mid-30s as humans.
"Greetings, Hiei. It has been a long time since I have seen you. Still looking like a boy in his youth, I see," Kurama said.
Perhaps nothing really changed. Though Hiei was relatively young in his demon years and that Kurama was over a thousand years old, he did not appreciate it when the kitsune treated him like a stubborn teen.
"While you chose to cohabit with a human body to become a fragile ageing thing," he retorted, "why are you here?"
"There's trouble in the spirit world," the redhead began, "Koenma wants the Urameshi team, that includes you. You're the one with the closest ties to the demon world."
"Look, I'm not the toddler's servant at his-"
He stopped. If the toddler will be there, then surely the ferry girl will be there too. A chance.
Wait, what?
It wasn't like he was in love. It was more of a yearning, some sort of sickening lust for the blue-haired woman. He just wasn't done with her yet. After he tasted her, he could not help but obsess over the thought of bedding with her. He could have vented those thoughts on another lewd demoness ready to throw themselves at him, but it wouldn't be the same. Perhaps he only needs one night - one night to sate his impending need. Then, his frustrations will ebb away.
That's right. It was just a desire that bedevils his head and that he intends to cure if only he would have her once.
"I'm not a lapdog for the toddler's beck and call," Hiei continued, cautious not to reveal his inner motives to Kurama, "but if it keeps the spirit hypocrites away from the demon realm, then I will do what is necessary."
Now, the kitsune had his eyebrow arched. "It usually takes a lot more effort of persuasion, but somehow you are complying... It is either you've gone soft or you have another agenda altogether," he mused.
"Soft?" he spat. Hiei halted. Damn that fox! He knew that Hiei will reject the former assumption and that will only conclude the latter.
"I cannot fathom how your mate deals with you, given your devious being," Hiei redirected the conversation instead.
"Rabenda and I have a lot more in common, far more than you can think of," Kurama replied.
Another mysterious response.
"Apparently an artefact containing information was stolen from the spirit world. It looks like an urn. It was originally used as a Pandora's Box - or that's what it was called in the stories in the human world. Now, they stored something else in it. The spirit world knows it as "The Golden Silence" better. They are suspected to be a band of thieves, filled with A-class demons. The information will cause harm to the spirit world if it is released. Our mission is to retrieve it and return it while keeping the secrecy of the information. The spirit world might be in grave danger. And the crimes of these demons will lead to more hostility between the spirit and demon community. We had been living in harmony, it is of the best interested for everyone to succeed in this mission," Kurama explained.
"That took a shorter time than expected. Guess Kurama persuaded you very well. Good to see you, Hiei," Koenma courtesied as he rummaged his documents.
Hiei ignored the toddler's greetings. He wanted to see the ferry girl now.
"Yo, Hiei!" Yusuke clamped his arm around the little demon's shoulder, "good to see ya. Man, you haven't been around ever since my wedding. Still remembered that moment when you stole Kuwabara's victory in the garter and it ended up biting you in the ass in the end. So, how's it going? Got a hot demoness for yourself?"
The fire demon gave him an unimpressed look. Yusuke replied, "I suppose not."
He observed them. They had aged slightly alright, but he sensed the great energies in them. They were still strong and tough. Yusuke chuckled, "what? We're still strong, even if we don't look like a hot youngster like you. You weren't around, but shortly after my marriage, I went on a quest. To suppress my Mazoku energy so that I will not slowly age and I can grow old with Keiko. It'll be a shame since I've heard demons can die of heartbreak when grieving for the death of their mates. Or I might end up like my old man, mourning all his life for his woman. I can't do that to myself or Keiko."
Hiei studied his human ally. Darn, they were willing to go that far for their lovers? He could not comprehend the sentiment. Another reason why he did not bother getting a mate. "How troublesome," he scoffed.
"Well Hiei, you won't understand until you love a woman, you know? Who knows, one day some hot lady might just be the death of you. Come on man, get hitched! You're the only one who hasn't settled down," Yusuke teased and ruffled the demon's head.
Hiei frowned. Unlike the rest of them, he could not be bothered to get attached. "Give it up Urameshi. This moody gremlin won't get himself a girlfriend if he keeps acting with that stinky attitude of his," Kuwabara interjected.
"Oh well, you know what they say: if you can't give a fuck, then you won't get the fuck," Yusuke snickered.
Crimson eyes narrowed. They had been using that word indiscriminately since they were teens, especially Yusuke. Occasionally the Kuwabara siblings and Keiko would say that. Meanwhile, Yukina and Botan would chide them, behaving as if the word was a taboo. He ignored it, but the word was stirring up his curiosity. He asked, "what is this word 'fuck' that you've always speak of?"
Kuwabara and Yusuke turned to one another. Sure enough, they howled in laughter. "Are you fucking serious, Hiei? Holy shit!" Yusuke said amusingly, rubbing off tears from laughing.
There it was again. That word. Hiei's facial features scrunched.
"Now, now, Yusuke," Kurama stepped in, "it's not uncommon for demons to not know human slangs."
Yusuke clamped his arm on the small demon again. He leaned in, like a drunkard telling his stories, "my dear friend Hiei, you have just discovered the most functional and versatile word ever known to man."
"Get to the point, detective-"
"That word is a synonym for copulate. However, it is a casual and rather crude way of saying it. It's regarded as a profanity and can be offensive to some," Kurama explained as methodological as possible. Hiei eyed them doubtfully.
Yusuke added with a laugh, "besides that, it can be for other uses. It can be a replacement for the word 'damn it', 'shit', 'crap'; or relatably 'curses'. It can be used for you know... when someone messed up, you say 'you're so fucked' or replacing 'hell' in 'what the hell'. I bet a guy like you would love that word."
"Yea right, before you know it this three-eyed shorty will keep saying 'I don't give a fuck' because he never gives a care about anything. Thanks, Urameshi," Kuwabara grumbled.
He smirked. It sounded...really crude and sharp. It was rude and it was useful when offending someone. He concluded that he liked that word. Of all the flimsy human customs and quirks they had introduced to him, this was the only thing that was of use to him. He spoke, "I do whatever I please."
Kurama forced a cough, "boys, contain yourselves. Don't fight over something trivial, please. Let's just wait patiently while Koenma sorts out his things."
The fox demon shook his head. They never changed. They still behaved like young rebellious schoolboys. Oh, those good old days.
Yusuke's head perked up, "oh yeah. What's taking you so long, toddler? You've been searching for something for like 10 minutes."
"Just a second, Yusuke. I can't find the paper that had all the information. Where in the world Botan ran off to?" the prince grumbled, "Jorge! Where is Botan?"
"She left and asked to take a leave when you mentioned about gathering the whole team together. You said no and she went to get Kurama, Yusuke and Kuwabara as you've instructed. Then she scrambled after that," Jorge answered.
It was difficult to contain Hiei's feral growl. So she was anxious about his arrival. She managed to be the messenger for the rest, but not him. The lust that occupied his judgment from that wedding night returned.
"Well then don't just stand there, get her!" Koenma yelled at the poor ogre.
"Don't move. I'll be the one who'll get her-"
Everyone's head piped up in surprise. Did Hiei just say what he just said? The demon in question ignored their reactions. This was what he truly came for, anyway. Frankly, he never did give a damn about helping to clean up the spiritual world's messes, he only helped if it benefitted him in some way, monetarily or not.
"I'm the fastest around here," he reasoned lamely.
The toddler raised his eyebrow. He was rendered speechless. But then again, Hiei was unpredictable as lightning. "Uhh, sure? Her room's at the end of the hall and turn left," he informed.
In a flash, Hiei disappeared.
"Well, that was weird-"
He crept up to the window instead and peered from its curtains. The woman did not notice his presence yet.
"Hiei-"
She spoke his name breathlessly. It was not because she had realised his presence, but more like he was present in her fantasies. She was apparently in the middle of... something. He smirked. So the lusting was not one-sided. Good, this ought to be interesting.
He watched her a bit more, entertained by her soft moans, they were all too familiar. They brought back the memories of that night to flames. It burned within his core. Concluding that he had enjoyed the show enough and that it was time for him to act upon his desires, he stepped into her room.
"Woman, that's a pathetic way of getting pleasure. Not when the object of your fantasies yearns for the same thing-"
1) I had difficulties finding a character who can be a suitable mate for Mukuro. Her having a mate in this fic will be important later on. I decided that it will be possible for her to have a female mate because she is strong, and it is difficult to view her with another man (except for Hiei, but this is a HB fic so he is out of the choices). Anyway, I had read some fics of her being with females so why not? I picked Natsume because she is also equally strong, given that Mukuro vs Natsume was a close fight during the Demon World Tournament. It is likely that Mukuro will respect a girl like Natsume.
2) I had always wondered what would happen if the group were to teach Hiei the human "bad words". I was reluctant to add it but I kept it anyway because I don't recall Hiei spouting profanities in the series (Japanese audio at least), so it will be weird if Hiei starts dropping f-bombs although it is very fitting for a crude personality like him.
3) Man, I enjoy writing down Hiei in frustration. I went to listen to "Hellfire" for this chapter LOL. I prefer to write about lust and obsession than romance. Hence the anguish-lust conflict in Hiei and Botan.
4) Remember when I said that this won't just be romance? Yeah, "The Golden Silence" is important in the first part of this fic. It has something to do with secrets ooooh.