I'm finally at chapter 10 (chapter nine excluding the prologue)! :D Yay! Things will get faster from here. Please do leave reviews! This is by far my most favorite fic. :D
Michi:This will clarify some stuff between them. Believe it or not, I've been rewriting this chapter four or five times. Unfortunately, this is the only time Nakago will make an appearance in this fic. Haven't decided yet whether to add a second part or not. :)
Disclaimer: FY and YYH are not mine.
Chapter Nine
By Slavedriver2008
Kurama brushed away the stray locks of hair on Yui's face. He slowly leaned down to plant a kiss on her head. The girl snuggled closer and he smiled. He slowly walked toward the open window of her bedroom where the crescent moon lit the outline of her sleeping form. He pulled his shirt from the chair and wore it. He had tried to leave earlier but she always wakes up from a bad dream. He heard her conversation with Nakago earlier and he knew she was dreaming of the men who tried to abuse her. When she started to cry, he had no choice but to lie back and pull her into his arms. This was his third attempt to leave. If he had a choice, he would stay with her for the whole night but he doesn't want to surprise her in the morning.
He buttoned his shirt and briefly touched something inside his shirt pocket. He was surprised when he pulled out the white envelope Yui accidentally dropped in school this afternoon. He looked back on her sleeping form and curiously opened the letter.
Shuuichi-kun,
I wanted to talk to you but I don't know where to begin. I've practiced what I'm about to say over and over but it always loses meaning whenever you're around. Coherence leaves me whenever you look at me and I'm afraid that if I come closer, you'll touch my cheek and give me that kind understanding look. And if you do that, courage will leave me for good and I would have to look down and turn away again.
I've written this letter over and over again and yet, I still don't know how to clearly say what I want to say. Natsuda-sensei should fail me in Writing class because I can't get my thoughts together. But what I want to say is I'm sorry I said what I said that time in the living room. I didn't mean it. I was…absorbed by an incident in my past. I know I shouldn't use this as an excuse for my actions but…I don't know what else to say.
You see, many dreams ago a girl was stripped of clothes on the streets and for the longest time, she was made to believe she was abused. The dream fragment stuck with her and even after she realized it was a lie, she could not bring herself to forget the incident.
I've said too much again. I guess what I really want to tell you is that I miss you. I'm getting dramatic. That's it, I'm not giving you this letter anymore. I'll just keep it with me until the paper crumbles and I have to write another one. By then, my mind would have cleared up and I might have more courage to give this to you.
Always yours,
Yui
Kurama lined the smudged parts of the paper. I miss you. It had been wet when she embraced him earlier on the streets. He read the letter again and again, his heart leaping. Always yours. By the time he had satiated his reading, a wide smile was planted on his beautiful face. He folded it carefully and placed it inside his shirt pocket, close to the wild beatings of his heart. Without another word, he unbuttoned his shirt again and placed it back on the chair. He slowly returned to the bed and wrapped his arms around her.
Yui snuggled closer and he brushed his fingers through her soft hair. He planted another kiss on her forehead. Hiei was probably laughing at his "softness" but he doesn't care. All that matters was that Yui was sleeping peacefully beside him and she never really hated him. Kurama closed his eyes and listened to her stable breathing. Soon enough, he too was asleep.
--
Kurama sighed. It was futile. He had been researching about 'Nalago' and about 'the book' for a month now, but he was still as clueless as that night he followed Yui at the other side of Shinjuku. What was Nakago's real name and what was the book's title? And then there was the phrase that bugged him to death. You too were given a new life after Seiryuu devoured you. What does it mean? If Nakago was referring to the East god Seiryuu, why would the god devour Yui?
I was a miko in my past life… A dragon priestess… The redhead eyes widened. Yui told him about a past life before. Why hadn't it crossed his mind? Kurama smiled wider with renewed hope. He will find it, the key to her past. And when he do, he will heal her. He will do anything just to see her smile. Even if that means he has to go back to Makai.
"Shuuichi!" A familiar voice called him and when he turned, he saw Maya running toward him. Her boyfriend Tetsuya was trailing behind. "What's on your mind? I've been calling you but you're so deep in thoughts!" she huffed out and the redhead scratched his head.
"I'm sorry, I was thinking of school too much."
"Was it school or Yui?" she teased and Kurama's face felt warm. "Aawww…You've fallen for her!"
"It's not what you're thinking. We're really good friends," he reasoned out. It was not a nice thing to tell Maya and Tetsuya, who was Yui's former boyfriend, about what he feels for the girl.
"Shuuichi's fallen for who?" Tetsuya asked and Maya smiled wider.
"For your former girlfriend." She laughed. "My charming childhood friend, who never had a girlfriend, is in love with…a frigid girl."
"She's not frigid—" He and Tetsuya said at the same time, making Maya frown. Silence came between them and Kurama sighed.
"I better go ahead." He turned around but Maya stopped him.
"Hey, I was just teasing. Come on, let's have coffee together." Maya pulled him and Kurama sighed. There was no use going against Maya. Once she decided on something, she will not stop unless she got it.
The three of them walked toward the coffee shop in the hot summer day. Kurama tried not to look at Tetsuya, he cannot bear being with him and not think of what the two did in the two years they were together. The older man also defended Yui. The redhead knew she was not frigid because he kissed her and he does not want to imagine the reasons why Tetsuya claimed the same thing. They ordered and no one spoke until the orders arrived. Truth be told, Kurama would rather continue his research than hang out with them. He was never comfortable with the idea of being friends with the love of his life's former flame.
Love of his life? His cheeks felt warm. He never told her about his feelings yet he was already referring to her as his girlfriend. He sighed again. Now, confessing was another struggle. He should have told her the morning they woke up together on her bed. She was red all over when she remembered how he carried her home after her brief meeting with the blonde man. He was never the one who let opportunities pass but he doesn't know what to say when she looked at him. It was… It's different when you look at someone after realizing you love them. He knew it, he was a scaredy cat.
"Why are you out today? It's too hot." Kurama took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat on his forehead.
"Tetsuya and I are deciding where to go for the summer break. We're torn between Hokkaido and Narra." Maya started eating. "Where will you bring Yui if you have the chance?"
"Hokkaido." Kurama easily and Maya laughed. He never meant to answer the question, he was caught off guard. His cheeks burned. "It's not what I meant. Hokkaido seemed like a nice place."
"You're so defensive, Shuuichi-kun." She laughed louder. Her phone rang and she excused herself. Kurama was left with Tetsuya on the table and no word was exchanged between them. What can he say? Yui seemed to be pained by the separation. A thought struck her. It's been three years since the book happened…
"Tetsuya," he started and the older man turned to him. "Do you know Nakago?" He should know him. The man didn't say anything and smiled slowly.
"She told you about him?" Kurama shook his head. "Then I won't say anything."
The redhead frowned. "Why not?"
"It's Yui and Miaka's secret. If you want to know, ask her," he said slowly. "How is she?"
"Still somber." Kurama sighed.
"Between us guys, do you like her?" The redhead flushed and the older man laughed. "You don't have to answer. Yui always had a way with bishounens."
"Taka said the same thing." The man smiled wider. "We met in the same day we met."
"Ah yes, I remember that. Miaka seemed angry at me. Why do you ask about Nakago?" the man lit a cigarette and Kurama raised an eyebrow. He never thought Yui could like a guy who smoked. "Yui hates it when I smoke. She's always the health girl. If you do, she won't talk to you."
"Yui met with him a month ago," Kurama said and Tetsuya frowned. "I couldn't understand what they were talking about. They mentioned a book and a selfish war." The redhead smiled, the older man was looking at him intently behind his dark glasses. "He also mentioned being reborn and something about Seiryuu. What does it mean?" He has no choice, he needed to know the answers and Tetsuya seemed to know more than the Internet and the library.
"All I can say is that, Nakago is the only man Yui ever loved." He looked down with a sad smile. "He was and is still her biggest weakness." A dagger stabbed Kurama's heart. "If you love her, you have to risk being compared to him. She won't tell you, of course. But you'll feel it." Tetsuya shook his head. "If you want to know more, look at the restricted section of the National Library. It's there, the book. The universe of the four gods. Shin Jin Ten Chi Sho."
"I'm sorry it took me awhile." Maya returned to the table, sighing. "We need to go now. Dad called to ask what time we'll arrive." She turned to her boyfriend and Tetsuya smiled back.
"Let's finish everything and start preparing for Hokkaido then." The girl blushed. They finished their food and paid the bill. They were about to part ways when Tetsuya walked over him and shook his hand. "Make her happy."
"How?" he asked and the man just smiled without saying anything. They parted ways and Kurama had his mind set on the National Library's restricted section. It'll be easy for him to enter, he was, after all, a master of stealth.
--
Yui finished rearranging the living room. Her parents called earlier and said the business was improving. If it continues, her father said they can regain the Japan market and return to their old standing. But for now, they have to focus on the offices in Europe. The business success meant they will be away most of the time. They sent her additional money and asked her to take a vacation for the summer break with a friend. Instead of spending it, she decided to buy additional furniture at home. She briefly remembered Shuuichi telling her the living room needed more color. She went furniture-shopping earlier and wanted to bring him along but he had not been contacting her lately. He was probably on a vacation with his family. They were, after all, a rich lot.
Still, she missed Shuuichi. They had not said anything after that night when she found her on the streets. He took her home and even held her that night. She remembered them parting the following morning exchanging very few words. And then it was back to their usual awkward state. The summer break had just started and she had not seen him for only a few days but she missed him like hell.
Yui sighed and opened the window of her living room. The cat wanted to kill me. But seriously, if he doesn't do anything soon, I'll get you for myself… She remembered Uryu whispering the words in her ear during the school fair and it made her blush. She never noticed Shuuichi was jealous, he was always good at hiding his real emotions. He seemed to be always hiding something and the more she wanted to know about him, the more elusive he becomes. Her cheeks flushed when she remembered how he kissed her. It was amazing. His mouth… She shook her head and let the air cool her burning face. She wanted…to kiss him again.
A sole flower bud caught her attention. It was standing on her windowsill and the sight surprised her, she never knew such a plant could grow in her abandoned flower bed. Weeds have sprouted around it and there were some that clung to it, pulling it down. But still, the flower struggled to grow. Some of the leaves have withered and it was slightly crouching from the vines. Yui caught sight of a small note stuck on the soil. The ink has turned to gray but she could still read the message.
Yui-chan,
Don't forget to water it everyday. It will bloom into something beautiful soon.
Yours,
Shuuichi
Guilt spread through her. She had not noticed he planted a flower to make her happy. When did he plant it? Without another word, she pulled out the weeds. Her fingers bled from the thorns but she continued clearing the flowerbed. In less than five minutes, it was clean and the flower stood alone, shaking, with the note Shuuichi left her. Tears fell from her eyes and it fell on the single bud. How can he manage to care for her so silently? She cried more after realizing she had pushed him away after the incident in the living room. Don't ever touch me. You disgust me!
Tears continuously fell on the flower, watering it. To her surprise, it slowly bloomed into a beautiful red rose. She gasped. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. And it almost died. She smiled. Being with Shuuichi was the best thing that happened to her. And maybe it was time to tell him so.
Yui took her phone and dialed his number. His mobile phone rang but he was not answering it. She was about to put it down when he answered, his voice frustrated. "Yui? I'll call you back—"
"Who's there? This is the restricted section—" a strict voice screamed on the other end.
"Yui, I'll call you back." He pressed the end button and Yui's eyes widened with disbelief. Restricted section? Was he in the National Library? Her skin prickled. What was he doing there? A realization struck her and she hastily ran inside her room to take a shower. No, he can't find the book. What if something happens to him?
In less than 10 minutes, Yui was prepared to go out. She took her backpack and ran toward the library. Seiryuu, she prayed, please don't let anything happen to Shuuichi. Sweat beaded her forehead but she continued running. She was about to cross the street when a loud honking sound appeared. Yui stood at the lane, fear gripped her as the truck came closer and closer. She closed her eyes, waiting for the collision.
Strong pair of arms carried her and when she opened her eyes, a familiar face smiled down on her. "Hey are you okay?"
"Yusuke?" the boy smiled and slowly put him down. Yui looked back on the road and was surprised she was already on the other side. "How did you do that?"
"It's complicated. Where's Kurama, I mean Shuuichi?" he asked and Yui blinked at him. He called him in that name again.
"Why do you keep calling him Kurama?" she asked and Yusuke scratched his head.
"Well, it's his other name. You know, friends tend to call each other by different names." Yui nodded. "Where are you headed?" He eyed her backpack and Yui's eyes widened.
"To the library. I think, Shuuichi—Kurama is in the library."
"What's wrong? The library sounds like a fairly safe place." Yui frowned and debated with herself whether to tell him or not. "Hey, what's wrong?"
"It's not a safe place. Can you help me? I need to get there in time. Something bad might happen to him." Yusuke looked at her intently and slowly nodded.
"How can I resist a beautiful girl who wanted to rescue her prince?" Yui blushed. "Seriously, do you know how to jump?" The blonde girl jumped and Yusuke burst out laughing. She went red all over. "Come on, just hold tight." He carried her again and Yui flushed.
"Wait, why—"
"We'll get there faster this way," he said. Before Yui could ask, he jumped off so high she ended up screaming. Yusuke laughed louder. "No wonder Kurama's so protective of you, you're normal."
"Of course I'm normal. How can you jump so high?" Yui held to him tighter. The city below her seemed to fade so fast as they move toward the library.
"Oh, I'm half demon." Yui's eyes widened.
"Is he…half-demon too?" Yusuke looked down and smiled.
"Do you promise to not judge him?" Yui nodded and he smiled. "I'm not so sure what Kurama is. I think he's a demon in a human's body." Yui gasped and Yusuke looked like he regretted telling her about it. "Don't tell him I told you. Oh no, I ruined your image of him. Kurama might whip me! Those thorns hurt."
Yui laughed and held him tighter. "I see. He never told me anything about himself."
"He's probably scared you won't take it so easily." Yusuke said, turning his attention on the way ahead. "You see, Yui, we're not normal. And you're a normal girl. He probably wanted to be as normal as you are. To be honest, I don't know him much too. He's always so secretive. All I can say is that Kurama always protects the people he loves. And I think he wants to protect you more than anyone." Yui's cheeks burned. The black-haired boy stopped and to Yui's surprise, they were standing on the roof of the library. "We're here. Where do we start looking?"
"He's at the restricted section."
"I see now. The librarian might catch him." Yusuke said, slightly bored. Yui slapped him in the arm.
"No." She sighed and looked intently at him. "Yusuke, I'm not normal too." And for the first time in three years, Yui told someone about Shin Jin Ten Chi Sho.
A/N:Yui's about to find out Kurama's secret. How will she react? Will she still love him after the confession? Thanks for reading and do leave reviews!