Disclaimer: We don't own YYH or the characters. The ideas of the Reality of Change, Sepi, and Olfuriom belong to Just 2 Dream of You.
Confessions in Ice
Chapter Seven
After Kurama's confession and Yukina's interpretation, the fox demon's spirit felt much lighter. He was still wary of himself, though. How could he not be? Thankfully, though, the nightmares had stopped and he could finally get some peaceful sleep.
Yukina's job had become much easier now that Kurama was resting and actually allowing her help. He no longer pulled away when she placed her cold hands against his forehead or used a cold washcloth to rub his chest. Now, he seemed more relieved and comfortable and, at times, he'd lean into her touch.
Yukina wondered how close the others were to the antidote. She had no doubt that they had found it and hoped they were on their way back. A few days prior, Kurama mentioned a concern of his. They were already in the second week since his poisoning, and he had not contacted his mother at all.
No matter what the mission, he was never gone this long. The Dark Tournament had been a close second, but he had simply informed his mother that he was joining his friends for a two week vacation. The only time he had been absent from his human life for an extended period of time had been when he sent his mother and Kazuya on their honeymoon. She was bound to be worried, since he had not thought he would be gone this long, and he hated doing that to her.
That day, Yukina had ventured out of the room only for a moment. Kazuma had been there which surprised the ice maiden. She was glad, though, because the human could call Shiori and explain that their trip was delayed and that her son would call her when he could. She returned to Kurama with the news that his mother believed him to be on a trip with his friends. He thanked her once more for putting his mother's worries to rest. He was truly grateful for everything she was doing for him.
"So, what are you going to do when you get out of here?" Yukina asked, starting some light conversation.
Kurama's lips curved upwards as her enthusiastic smile reached him. "Well, I promised my step-brother a while ago that we'd go to the park once the leaves started to change. Of course, I didn't expect to be incapacitated when fall began. Perhaps we'll go there once the others return with the antidote."
Yukina's grin softened into a warm smile. Somehow, after his confessions, Kurama had started to speak more positively about his condition. He was hopeful and had faith that their friends would return soon and that he would be able to pick his human life back up. Although, Yomi was still out there, but Yukina didn't feel like he needed to worry so much about the demon king.
"I've never been to the park," Yukina admitted. "Don't get me wrong, I love going to the mall with the girls, and every movie Kazuma has taken me to has been very fascinating, but I haven't gotten to see a lot of the natural part of this world."
Kurama understood. He knew what normal human teenagers liked to do, and usually he'd go along for the ride with his friends or sometimes just go walking around the mall to keep up appearances. Mainly, he liked going out into the world and just walk aimlessly, taking it all in. His mother had always been into gardening, which had been very fortunate for him, and so Kurama had plenty of opportunity to interact with Human World's nature. "Maybe you'd like to join us when we go," he offered. "The park is beautiful this time of year."
"I would like that," the ice maiden accepted.
A bright light exploded outside the temple doors and Yukina ran out seeing a portal and Botan emerge. Hope sprang in her and she watched Yusuke and Hiei exit the swirling vortex as well. She ran up to them. "Oh! Do you have it? Do you have the cure?"
Botan held it out. "Yes! We have the Olfuriom! We have to give it to him right away!" Yukina didn't hesitate. She grabbed the plant and ran inside, calling Genkai's name. The psychic took the plant and nodded.
"We need to make it into an injection. It will take a while to do it."
The old woman left the group outside to prepare the antidote. Yusuke then looked to Yukina and smiled. "So, while we wait, can we see the patient?"
She nodded. "Yes, if you can stand the cold…" Her eyes briefly flickered to Hiei then back at the ground. She went inside without another word.
Yusuke, Hiei and Botan followed Yukina through the halls of Genkai's temple and ended up at Kurama's room. Yukina was the first to enter, taking the room's temperature down once again. They heard their friend sigh, and Kurama peaked his eyes open. Yusuke whistled. "Man, have you been trapped in that thing the whole time, fox boy?"
Said fox managed to chuckle and nod. "Yes, we tried keeping me in the bed with the room cold, but it was still too hot. This was Genkai's solution." He coughed slightly and cringed at the pain it cause his head. "Were you successful?"
"Hn," Hiei scoffed. "You should already know the answer to that. We wouldn't have returned without the Olfuriom. Besides the demons we faced were weaklings. Pity. I was actually hoping for a challenge."
"Only you could make saving a life into a battle for strength," Botan quipped, shivering and rubbing her arms. Hiei ignored her with a roll of the eye..
The former detective laughed. "Yeah, and these two have been flirting the whole time."
Botan turned beet red. "What! Yusuke, you-! Ugh! I'm leaving! Sorry, Kurama, but it's too cold in here for me...and annoying."
She stomped out and Yusuke shook his head, still laughing. "Genkai's working on making it into an injection, so you only have a little bit more of this. You'll be home in no time."
Hiei glared at Yusuke while Yukina just stared at him with widened eyes. "Actually, it's not an immediate fix," the ice maiden explained. "Kurama was significantly weakened by the poison. Once he receives the injection, the fever will break and he can begin to recover, but it will still take some more time."
"How much time?" Kurama asked a little too quickly. "I don't know how much longer we can keep covering with my mother."
"Depends on your strength," Hiei muttered. "Knowing you, it shouldn't be more than a few days, at least to hide pain from the humans."
Kurama nodded. That was acceptable enough, he figured. A few more days wouldn't be nearly as bad as a few weeks. He knew that his injury was pretty substantial, not that it was anything new to him, considering both the initial wound and the poison. All things considered, he was lucky to be alive, and he had his friends to thank for that.
The memories returned to him at of nowhere, and his expression grew grim. "And what of Yomi?" He could not forget the one who had gotten him into this mess.
"Oh, him." Yusuke looked up at the ceiling. "I'm not really sure." He glared at Hiei. "This jerk and Mukuro did this secret thing without me."
Hiei shrugged. "We sent him to a despicable world with no hope or potential."
"You used the Reality of Change?" Kurama asked with shock. "I'm impressed you didn't get swept in the dimensional wave."
Hiei snorted with derision. "Shouldn't be. You know I'm fast enough. At any case, the ugly world we sent him to will be the perfect prison. He will suffer the rest of his days."
Yusuke stuffed his hands in his pockets, the human side of him feeling the sting of the cold. "From what they did tell me, it's a world with no powers and normal humans and stuff."
Kurama couldn't help but chuckle. The irony of the situation was apparent. Yomi had wanted to go to a world where he was all-powerful, and now he would forever remain in a world where he was powerless, a just punishment for his ambition. At least the balance in their world would remain the same, and Kurama really could carry on his life as normal.
Later, after receiving in the injection, Kurama was finally in a more comfortable environment. Despite the fever, Genkai thought it was time to get him warmed up. He was finally dressed again and out of the small tub, and Yusuke had aided him in getting out into the living room. He had spent some time by the fire, wrapped in a blanket and, although he had felt very hot, it was a relief. His fever had already started to break, though it was a normal fever for any human. He was out of the danger zone.
After spending some time outside of the room, he had returned to get some rest. Yukina was still playing nursemaid, not leaving him alone right away. She had stayed with him, placing a cold cloth on his head. He had faded in and out of consciousness, not truly wanting to sleep again, and of course the ice maiden noticed. She took his hand in hers offering him a reassuring squeeze, and eventually he could rest easily.
Yukina left the room and released a contented sigh. Everything had worked out, and Kurama would recover quickly. It came as a great relief, for their friend's life had been saved. Once he was fully healed, she knew that he would start to feel much better. She had not forgotten the horrors he confided in her, but she honestly believed them to be false. This Yomi they had been discussing clearly had an image of the fox demon that Kurama did not have for himself. Like her, he never wanted to return to that life.
Now that Yomi was in this world without magic and the Reality of Change was back where it belonged, Kurama would not have to experience that again. He could do and be whatever he wanted, but first he needed to heal.
Their friends had really come through for him and were now resting somewhere in the compound. Well, Yusuke and Botan were. Hiei was somewhere outside. A small, fond smile graced the ice maiden's face as she shook her head. Some things would never change.
The next few days went by slowly. With each passing one, he got a little better. Now he was able to walk. It was shaky and he needed to hold onto walls, and sometimes her arm… She felt her face heat up with the memory of his arm holding onto her. Why was her face hot? She shook herself from that and sighed as she drank her tea.
She heard the thump of Kurama's cane, which had been given to him to help walk and turned towards the sound. "Hey...feeling good today?"
He nodded. "Yes. I was wondering if maybe I could walk the grounds. It's such a nice day."
She brightened up with that suggestion. "Yes, that sounds nice. Would…" She paused. Oh. What if he was tiring of her? She was spending too much time with him.
He noticed her hesitation. "Is there something you wanted to ask me?"
She fiddled with her fingers. "Well...would you like me to come with you?"
He smiled genuinely. "Yes. While I appreciate the cane, I still have trouble getting around."
Her smile faltered. Oh. Of course, he just wants me to help him. That's all it is.
Wait, why was she thinking these things? It was almost as if she was...craving his company. But why? She didn't like him any more than her other friends...right?
As she stood up to take his hand, she felt her face heating up again. Is this why Kazuma's face always went red around her? But that meant…
All her life she wondered what attraction she held. At times she felt like she had none at all. Recently she had figured out she held an attraction for males, just like her mother.
And the crashing realization that she now held an attraction for her friend was almost too much to bear.
What would she tell Kazuma?
No. She must tell no one. She would tell no one. It would go away eventually. Kurama would get better and leave.
That hurt more than the realization.
~To Be Continued
