Muahahhhaaa!
Chapter 13 : Silent Portrait
The night passed and soon everyone left, chased out by motherly nurses, leaving Kurama alone with his full and contented stomach. A smile crept onto his face as he recalled the night's events; how Kuwabara met Yusuke and Keiko for the first time; how Hiei sat glaring at everyone and everything; the girls' chattering and chirping and the sound of laughter... and he realized that he didn't really live in silence after all, as much as he used to wallow in it last time.
Kuwabara and Yusuke ... The noise pollution that followed after the introductions and some snide remarks caused them to be constantly interrupted by angry nurses. Kurama was grateful that had Yukina requested for a single, private room, even though his sickness was not particularly chronic or fatal. Other patients sharing a room with them might have died on the spot.
The next day he was up and about, walking to Shizuru's shop. But his money worries were far from over. The rent was due in three days time. Being in the hospital had taken away one day of work, one day to earn money ... Kurama sighed.
He also needed to pay Yukina for the medical costs ... especially the single room, and he had no idea how he was ever going to do that. Perhaps he could pay by installments ... he would have to "talk" to Yukina or Hiei about that.
The day was normal, it seemed, as Hiei looked out the window as he dressed for work. The day would be normal, he tried to reassure himself. Still, the feeling that something was about to happen didn't go away. He had heard before, twins could usually sense each other's emotions, and that they had that connection between them ... a sense of awareness...
"Yukina," said Hiei, at the breakfast table.
"Hmmm?" answered Yukina sweetly.
"I'm walking you to the florist's today," said Hiei slowly. He didn't ask if he could walk her to the florist's, it was more of an order that he do so.
"Eh? Why?"
"I... just want you to be safe," came the very uncertain reply.
"Oniisan, you really worry too much. I'll be fine."
Hiei looked lost for a moment, unable to reply.
"But I really, really want you to be safe," he insisted, almost pouting.
"And I will be," said Yukina, her tone holding no more room for argument. Hiei sighed.
Sometimes she's just as stubborn as I am.
"Here, Kurama," said Shizuru bossily, gesturing to his usual corner. "Order came in yesterday. Flowers for Podez Gallery, a furniture shop opening soon somewhere we don't have to care about. Go on, get to work."
Kurama nodded and set down his painting tools and began to work on the flower arrangement. He looked around the shop. Yukina wasn't here yet. Maybe Hiei would walk her here. Should I talk to them about it now?
No doubt Yukina would even go so far as to offer him accommodation at their house. Kurama would definitely turn that down. He sweatdropped when he pictured Hiei shielding Yukina from him at every corner of the house. Besides, intruding on their privacy was something he was definitely uncomfortable with.
No, all he needed was money to keep paying the rent.
"Bye Oniisan," said Yukina as they walked out the entrance of the apartment.
"Bye," replied Hiei half-heartedly, turning to walk the other way. He had actually wondered if he should walk his sister from a distance ... make sure she got to the shop safely, but he knew he would be caught. And his sister wouldn't like that at all.
The feeling was like an itch that refused to stop itching.
Perhaps the day wouldn't be so normal after all.
He briefly wondered what Kurama was doing. (1)
"Yo, boss," greeted Yusuke absently without looking up from his desk. Hiei grunted.
They all sat in silence, something quite unusual as Yusuke himself usually bounced about the office, because he couldn't sit still for long periods of time. But Yusuke, as blunt and dumb as he may be, did not need to be smart to notice that something wrong. At first he didn't connect that feeling to his boss ... he was more concerned for Keiko. Though he didn't know why, as she was right beside him doing her own work, safe in the office with him.
It was only later on when he glanced up from his work to look at his boss did he realize. Something was troubling the millionaire.
The atmosphere was tense. Hiei was waiting ... waiting for something bad to happen, because deep down inside the itch was starting to become more prominent, more ... disturbing.
"Yukina's not here yet," said Shizuru, looking at the clock. It read half past 9, usually she would be at the shop at around 9. Should I call Hiei? Shizuru thought as she looked out the window for any sign of the petite woman.
What if it's nothing? Relax... it should be nothing, she tried to tell herself.
But what if it was something?
Hiei would never forgive her, or himself, or anyone else if something happened to her. As she sat watching Kurama arrange the flowers, she couldn't help but wonder why this sister of Hiei's mattered so much to him. True, they were siblings, but unlike them Kazuma didn't feel the need to want to protect her all the time. Unlike Yukina, she didn't worry about her brother so much...
Both of them were so formal with each other, yet so close...
By 9.45 a.m, Shizuru gave up all pretense and dialled Hiei's office number.
"Good morning, Hiruiseki Corporations, how may I help you?" came a pleasant voice. Neither belonged to Keiko or Botan.
"I need to speak with Hiei," answered Shizuru brusquely. Kurama looked up from his flower arrangement.
"May I know who's on the line, please?"
"This is Shizuru."
"Please hold."
The phone on Hiei's desk rang. Hiei picked it up, twirling his pen idly.
"What is it?"
"Shizuru here. Is Yukina with you?"
Hiei stood up in a flash, dropping his pen. Alarmed, Yusuke stood up as well, going over to his boss's desk. Keiko and Botan watched warily from their seats.
"She's not with me. She's not at the shop?" asked Hiei, his tone calm. Yusuke gasped; Hiei must be talking about Yukina.
"No, she isn't," came the reply.
"Why didn't you call me earlier?" Hiei hissed into the phone. Yusuke took a step back.
"I didn't think anything was wrong. She usually comes in around 9 or slightly later than that," replied Shizuru defensively.
"Right," said Hiei, biting his lip in an attempt to placate his fury. He opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by one of his staff.
"J-Jaganshi-san," said the stuttering woman, "There's a phone call for you... he claims to have your sister with him. H-he demanded that I put him through immediately..."
"Put him through to Urameshi. I'll handle it," said Hiei. So this is what I'd been dreading since morning...
"Oi, onna," said Hiei into the phone. "Hold on. Don't hang up yet."
He put the receiver down onto the desk, and then went over to Yusuke's phone. Seconds later it rang. Hiei picked it up and turned on the speakerphone button.
"Jaganshi-sama," came a cold, sarcastic voice on the other line.
"Who the fuck are you?" snarled Hiei into the phone.
"Obviously I'm not going to tell you. Your sister is with me. I am willing to let her go for a price ... "
"Fucking bastard," muttered Hiei, slamming his palm down onto the table.
"Ten million, Jaganshi-sama. Ten million yen ... no less. Do not go to the police, I will know about it if you do. I have contacts there... and when you do, Yukina-chan will be handled properly by my men..."
Hiei gripped the edges of the desk so tightly his knuckles were almost white. Yusuke was infuriated that someone would actually kidnap Hiei's innocent sister just for money.
"How do I know you're not lying?" said Hiei calmly, but his voice was shaky. He closed his eyes. Please, let me talk to her for a while...
"Oh? You want proof?"
There was a muffled sound and some muttered orders, and finally the next voice that came on almost made Hiei's knees buckle with relief.
"Oniisan!" said Yukina, her voice wavering and shaky.
"Yukina! Yukina, don't worry, I'll bring you back."
"Be careful ... Oniisan ... I'm sorry ... I didn't listen to you..."
"Touching though this may be, I'm afraid we have to part now," said the other man. "Take her away," he ordered.
"So, what say you, Jaganshi?"
"...Give me three days."
"I'll be kind. Take four. I'll contact you again for the meeting point."
"Don't you dare hurt her!"
"I won't promise anything."
"Teme - " snarled Hiei, but the man had already hung up. Swallowing a huge lump that had arisen in his throat, he turned off the speakerphone.
"Oh no," breathed Keiko and Botan. Both were horrified. They could only hope and pray that those men didn't mistreat Yukina. Hiei took a deep breath, then walked over to his desk and picked up the phone.
"Shizuru."
"What's going on? I heard you shouting. Is Yukina going to be okay?"
"What?!" exclaimed Shizuru, thoroughly startling the redhead. He stood up from his work when Shizuru gestured for him to come nearer.
"What about the police?" said Shizuru, biting her lip worriedly. She listened on some more, then said, "Okay, I'll be there. I'll contact Kazuma, he might know some outside contacts."
Shizuru hung up, then began to hurriedly close the shop. Kurama caught the sleeve of her arm and shot her a questioning look.
"We don't have time, Kurama. Yukina's been kidnapped."
(1) : Kekeke... they're starting to think about each other without realizing that they are. XD
I know no one would be sane enough to attempt a daylight kidnapping, but ... hey, it's fanfiction XD Besides, she'll be much more protected at night. Hehe.
I would now like to advertise my other fic shamelessly ... It's a Final Fantasy 8 and Yu Yu Hakusho crossover with a little bit of Final Fantasy 7 ... For those rare people who know both (FF7 not really that much, so I guess it's alright if you don't know it), please read and review! Pleaaase!
Final word count – 1656 (short, I know ...)