Kurama's anxiety grew as he and Yusuke moved further and further away from Hiei's rooms. The absence of the wards made him feel lighter but also a little lost. It was as if he'd been hanging onto something but was now free-falling.
Despite Yusuke's assurances that his father would be thrilled to see him alive and well, Kurama was terrified. What if his father didn't believe his tale? Should he tell him about transforming into a fox? Would his father be revolted by that?
Maybe his father preferred things as they were. Maybe he was happy that Kurama was gone. That way, the son that he believed was legitimate could inherit the throne.
Kurama still hadn't yet been able to process what had happened. It was still largely a blur in his mind. All he could remember was an overwhelming fear. Because this time he wasn't alone. This time, Karasu was threatening someone else's life as well as his own.
And it was all because of him. Because he wasn't smart enough to figure out how to break the wards. Wasn't strong enough to fight back. Too weak to protect what he cared about.
That had made him angry. Angry at Hiei for refusing to leave. Angry at himself for not being able to save him. Angry at Karasu for being the cause of all this in the first place.
And that anger had woken something.
The transformation was pure instinct. As if his feet were moving down a familiar path, a path that he could follow with his eyes closed. It had hurt, though. It had been agony.
But once it was over, he'd felt strong. Strong and free. He could finally fight back.
Not that he'd been able to do much. The reason for Karasu's flight was lost on him. Something had happened, but Kurama hadn't seen it. Yusuke had been there, he was sure. He'd heard Yusuke's voice.
But neither Yusuke nor Hiei had mentioned anything. Maybe they were having trouble processing things themselves.
At least he now had the ability to ask. And he would, eventually. When Hiei wasn't looking so tired.
The two uniformed guards standing before the door of the meeting room glared at Yusuke and Kurama as they approached.
"Move along," one of them said when Yusuke stopped before them.
Yusuke glared right back at the guard. "We need to see my father," he said.
"Wait until after the meeting," the guard told him.
"We can't," Yusuke snapped. "It's important."
The guard refused to budge, though his partner looked nervous.
"The king doesn't want to be disturbed," the guard persisted.
Yusuke let out an angry huff. He glanced sideways at Kurama, only to see the redhead cringing beneath his shirt. He would be of no help.
"Let them pass."
Yusuke turned at the familiar voice to see Hiei striding down the hall, his face set in a determined mask.
The guard pursed his lips but now he looked nervous too. Finally, he stepped aside.
Hiei followed Yusuke and Kurama in. The room was understated in it's ornamentation, built more for function than appeal. A large table took up most of the floorspace. Around the table sat four people.
King Koenma sat at the head of the table and he saw the newcomers immediately. He started to stand as his companions turned to the doorway.
"Lord Hiei? What happened to your face?" he asked, alarmed.
Hiei scowled. He'd actually forgotten that he was still sporting his injuries from last night. Though, strangely, they didn't really hurt right now. Had Yukina used some sort of tonic on them? Hiei didn't think so.
The black-haired man on Koenma's left made a small sound, his eyes locked on Kurama.
"S-Shuichi?" he asked, sounding stunned.
Raizen raised one eyebrow at his son, who had moved to support Kurama as he'd gone very pale upon seeing his father.
"Shuichi?" his father asked again. He stood shakily. One trembling hand reached out for the redhead. "I thought…" He choked, then swallowed.
Kurama began to shake. Yusuke murmured soothingly to him. Hiei wanted to go to him but he remained standing off to the side. He had no real place in Kurama's life now.
"I thought you were dead," his father whispered. He touched his son's cheek.
Kurama fell into his arms, shaking and sobbing. Kazuya held him tightly, his face pale with shock.
"What is going on here?" Koenma demanded loudly.
The fourth member of the group let out a breath as she settled back against her chair.
"Be patient and you might find out," she said.
She was short, the same height as Hiei and her hair was red, though lighter than Kurama's. It was also short, not quite reaching her shoulders.
The most unsettling thing about her was the fact that her right eye had been replaced by a metal orb. Small wires snaked out from the orb, digging into the skin around the eye socket. Embedded in the metal surface of the orb was a small, glowing red light. The light moved, seemingly in sync with the woman's left, perfectly normal, eye.
Hiei felt nauseous as he stared at the strange eye. What kind of invention was it? Did it actually function as an eye?
Both Raizen and Koenma glared at the woman. Who was she? Hiei had never seen her before and her voice had a strange accent. What was she doing in a meeting of kings?
"Shuichi…"
King Kazuya stroked his son's hair. He raised his eyes to meet Yusuke's.
"Thank you," he said.
"Don't thank me," Yusuke said. "Thank him." He pointed at Hiei.
Kazuya's gaze turned to Hiei. Hiei shuffled his feet. He wanted to leave but now everybody was staring at him.
"Hiei?" Koenma asked. "Isn't that…?"
"It's Kurama, you dolt," Hiei informed him. "Kurama is Shuichi."
Koenma looked stunned. Too stunned to rebuke Hiei for his rudeness. He sat back down heavily in his chair.
"Does this have anything to do with Hakushin racing off with his best men this morning?" Raizen asked Yusuke.
"Maybe," Yusuke muttered guiltily.
Raizen glared at his son.
Koenma let out a defeated sigh. "I suppose nothing more is going to get done now," he said. "We might as well table this until tomorrow."
"It's not like we were getting anywhere, anyway," the woman said.
"If you weren't such a stubborn-" Raizen started.
"Dad," Yusuke said, sounding exasperated. "Be glad she's here at all."
"I would prefer that she wasn't," Raizen grumbled.
"I think your boy has more sense than you," the woman snapped at Raizen. "You stupid old fool."
Kazuya hustled Kurama out of the room. Hiei wanted to follow but he sensed that he wouldn't be welcome. Kurama and his father had a lot to talk about.
-0-
It took Kurama some time to calm himself. He hadn't expected the tidal wave of emotion that came over him when he saw his father. He was both relieved and terrified.
His father settled him on the sofa with a hot cup of tea. Kurama sipped gratefully from the cup as his father watched him from his own chair across from him. Mercifully, his stepmother was nowhere to be seen though baby Shuichi slept in a cot near the window. The maid who had been watching over the baby had been sent away by Kazuya.
Kazuya waited in silence, letting Kurama compose himself. It was Kurama who started the conversation.
"I'm sorry," was all he could think of to say.
One of Kazuya's dark eyebrows rose. "For what?" he asked.
"For… all the trouble I must have caused," Kurama said lamely. He felt guilty for reasons he didn't understand. Somehow, he knew that this was all his fault. He should have been stronger. Should have been able to stop Karasu.
"What happened?" Kazuya asked. His eyes were devoid of judgement but Kurama couldn't meet them. His own eyes remained on the dregs of his teacup, still warming his hands. His hands that had so recently borne the marks of his enslavement.
Kurama started to talk. Much to his relief, Kazuya did not interrupt, not even when Kurama revealed Karasu's betrayal. Kurama spoke until his voice was hoarse and tears were running down his cheeks. He left a few choice bits out of his story, knowing that his father might become angry if he mentioned demons. It was a sore subject for his family, given his parentage. Still, his father did not interrupt. He listened with a stoic expression.
Kurama finished, his voice breaking on a sob.
Kazuya sat still for a moment, his eyes distant. Then he rose and went to the cot. He lifted the baby boy from the soft mattress. Shuichi woke immediately and began to fuss. Kazuya carried him back over to his chair and sat down, cradling the baby and patting his back.
"I will speak to Sakura about this," Kazuya said quietly.
Kurama winced at the sound of his stepmother's name. He had also not revealed the baby's parentage to his father. What good would it do now? All that would result from the revelation was a lot of pain.
"Shuichi." Kazuya's voice commanded his attention. He cringed back into the sofa.
"You don't believe me," he said.
"I… want to believe you," Kazuya said. "I know that something happened to you. And I am sure that Karasu had something to do with it. I should have not allowed him to choose your guards when you left. I gave him too much power."
"You did," Kurama said resentfully.
"I failed you, Shuichi. And your mother," Kazuya said softly. "I won't fail to protect you again."
"No!"
Kurama's voice rang out, surprising even himself. Baby Shuichi let out a squall. Kazuya looked alarmed by Kurama's response.
"No," Kurama repeated, more softly. His fingers brushed along the raised pattern of the teacup as he tried to compose himself. "I don't want protection," he bit out. "I want to be able to protect myself."
All those months he'd been helpless, a toy for someone else's whims. Even when he was with Hiei, he'd had to rely on the lord for protection. For food. For life. Knowing that Hiei could take his life for no reason at all if he so desired. Not free to protest or retaliate.
"I want to protect myself," Kurama said firmly.
"Fair enough," Kazuya said quietly. He stroked the baby's soft black hair. "It seems we have a lot to sort out."
Kurama nodded numbly.
"Do you have somewhere to stay? Somewhere safe?" Kazuya asked. "I'll speak to Koenma…"
"No. I have somewhere." Kurama thought of Hiei. They needed to talk. About a lot of things, both general and personal.
"Good," Kazuya said. A bitter smile crossed his face. "This day has certainly been full of surprises," he said. "First, Aleric showing up and Karasu vanishing, now you."
"Aleric?" Kurama asked curiously.
"Yes. Aleric's queen Mukuro arrived this morning," Kazuya said. "She wants to get all of the four kingdoms to sign a new treaty that outlaws slavery."
Kurama's eyes widened in shock. "She wants to outlaw slavery?" he asked in disbelief. "Why?"
Did this have something to do with the rift between Tourin and Aleric? But why had she waited until now to propose the treaty? Had she seen the wedding as an opportunity to approach all the kingdoms at once? Was she hoping that Reikai and Barasono would put pressure on Tourin to accept?
Kurama had to admire the strategy, if, indeed, that's what it was. Maybe it was just dumb luck.
"I don't know," Kazuya said. "But, whatever her reason, she won't have an easy time of it. Tourin is refusing to sign the treaty."
Kurama's fingers twisted anxiously. "Will you sign it?" he asked quietly.
Kazuya gave him a searching look. "It seems that I will have to," he said. "In light of what has happened to you."
"Thank you," Kurama breathed.
"But don't get your hopes up, Shuichi," Kazuya warned. "Tourin will have to sign it as well, or it means nothing."
Kurama nodded. Tourin was where the mages who laid the wardings were from. If Tourin agreed to outlaw slavery, then they could truly abolish it. But if Tourin continued to practice it, then the mages would continue to profit from the wardings.
"Now," Kazuya said quietly. "We need to discuss what your future plans are."
Kurama lightly bit his lip. "I'm not sure," he admitted.
"There is still the treaty with Reikai to fix," Kazuya said. "I don't have anyone who can handle the negotiations anymore."
"Are you… are you suggesting that I do it?" Kurama asked.
"You're here. You know these people," Kazuya pointed out. "But you don't have to stay if you don't want to. You can come home, of course."
Kazuya looked hopefully at him.
Kurama considered that. Home didn't feel like home anymore. His mother's warmth had left it. Karasu's cold, dark ghost stalked it's halls. Whispered in Kurama's ear.
"Bastard."
And that boy. That little baby boy.
Kurama shuddered. How could he watch that child grow up knowing what he knew?
Then there was Sakura. Had she been a willing accomplice or had Karasu frightened her into helping him? Kurama thought back on his time with his stepmother. She'd always been distant towards him. Not cold, exactly, but distant.
And she loved her child. That much was obvious from the way she'd held the babe the first time Kurama had seen him, cradled in his mother's arms. In that moment he had felt keenly what he'd lost, more than any other time. His mother was gone. No one would ever look at him like that ever again. A mother's love was something apart from anything else, a force that had no equal.
Maybe that was what Karasu had used to keep his stepmother quiet. That was something Kurama didn't want to think about. The truth was that he was not sure if he could ever forgive the woman for whatever role she may have played in his enslavement, however small, or whatever her reasons.
He didn't want to hear her excuses or justifications, even if they were valid. He didn't want to feel any compassion for her at all. He had the right to be angry and he didn't want anyone telling him that he didn't.
He supposed that what he truly wanted was validation. He wanted his feelings and his right to them to be recognised. Would he find that in his childhood home?
"I want to stay here," he said to his father.
Kazuya looked disappointed, but he nodded in assent. "All right," he said.
-0-
The people who passed Kurama in the halls stared openly at him. He wanted to lower his eyes but he remembered Yusuke's lectures and kept his head up. Yusuke was right. He was a prince now and he had to act like it.
But it was difficult when he expected a blow to come at any moment. A punishment for his show of defiance.
Hiei was not in his rooms when Kurama entered. He floated idly around the rooms, moving from area to area restlessly. He had no idea if Hiei would agree to let him stay with him. And the longer he was forced to wait for Hiei, the more anxious he became.
He jumped when a knock came at the door. Confused, he moved to open it. It certainly couldn't be Hiei. He wouldn't knock to enter his own rooms.
It was a nervous smile that greeted him.
"P-princess," Kurama said, startled to see Botan standing there. His eyes automatically lowered. He was uncomfortable with being the sole bearer of her focus.
"Oh, good," she said. "I hoped you might be here. Is Hiei here as well?"
"No," Kurama said quietly.
"Shuichi?" Botan sounded hesitant and Kurama raised his head to look at her. Her expression was kind. "Can I come in?" she asked.
Kurama stepped aside and Botan entered the room, her skirt swishing along the floor. She sat down on the sofa. Kurama sat awkwardly across from her.
"I was hoping to talk to you," Botan admitted. "I'm so sorry, Shuichi. We should have figured out who you were sooner."
"It's okay," Kurama said. "You couldn't have."
"It must have been so awful for you."
Kurama stared down at his hands. He was unused to seeing them so clean and unmarked. It felt as though his eyes were playing tricks on him. Surely those wards were still there.
He didn't know what to say to Botan. Yes, it had been awful but admitting that wouldn't make the princess feel any better. Yet he couldn't say that it wasn't that bad because that would be a lie.
So he said nothing instead.
"Naturally the marriage can't go ahead now," Botan said gently. "You've been through far too much. "
"In truth, I am relieved," Kurama told her. "I think this is best for both of us."
Botan nodded. She looked like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
"I'm so glad you feel that way, Shuichi," she said. "I think Hiei will be happy too."
"Hiei?" Kurama asked in confusion.
"Well, yes. I think he likes you," Botan said.
"He likes Kurama," Kurama said quietly. "He doesn't know Shuichi."
"You've always been Shuichi," Botan said firmly. "Even when you were Kurama."
"Things are different now," Kurama protested. "I-I don't belong to him anymore."
And would Hiei be able to handle that? Would he resent not having the power over Kurama that he'd had before? Now that Kurama was free to make his own choices, could Hiei deal with that?
"I've always thought that the idea of an arranged marriage was ridiculous," Botan said.
Kurama blinked in surprise, wondering at the apparent change in subject.
"People shouldn't be forced to be together. I think it means so much more if they choose to stay together. If both of them have the freedom to leave but decide to stay. Don't you think so, Shuichi?"
Kurama couldn't say anything. He hadn't thought about it that way.
"I think Hiei would agree," Botan said determinedly.
"Agree with what?"
Botan squeaked, the sound reminding Kurama of a mouse. He looked towards the door to see Hiei standing there with his arms crossed over his chest.
"Oh, look, is that the time?" Botan said hastily. Though how she knew the time as she had no timepiece was beyond Kurama. She stood and darted for the door. "I'm sure you two have a lot to talk about anyway," she babbled. "I'll see you tonight."
And then she was gone. Hiei stared after her with a frown, which he then turned on Kurama.
"I feel like I've missed something," he grumbled.
Kurama smiled and patted the sofa beside him.
Hiei hesitated for a moment before joining him, his thigh pressing against Kurama's.
Was Botan right? Would Hiei still want to be with him now that Kurama's future was much less certain?
"How are you?" Hiei asked softly.
"I am… okay," Kurama said. "I spoke with my father."
Hiei waited for Kurama to continue but he said nothing. His hands were folded neatly on his lap and his eyes stared off into empty space.
"And?" Hiei pressed.
"I have decided to stay here," Kurama told him.
"You want to stay here?" Hiei sounded incredulous. And, did Kurama dare to think it, hopeful?
"Perhaps. If I am welcome," Kurama said nervously.
"O-of course," Hiei stammered out. "Barasono has no permanent presence here, you know."
"Yes. That is true," Kurama agreed. "But nor does Tourin or Aleric."
"Well, maybe that should change," Hiei said. "If either country wants to trade with the other land, it's easiest for them to go through Reikai. We have the best ports. Having someone here to approve deals and mediate conflicts would certainly make things run much more efficiently."
Kurama had to agree. Tourin mages were a regular presence in Reikai but Barasono's visits were sporadic. And the mages, while they were from Tourin, did not represent the crown and could not speak for them.
Also, the mages were likely to lose much of their power if Queen Mukuro got her way.
"I think I will have to speak to my father about it," Kurama said. The idea of remaining permanently in Reikai did appeal to him, though he felt that his father would not feel the same way. Kurama was sure that the king was still hopeful that Kurama would change his mind and come home.
"In the meantime, will you stay here?" Hiei asked.
Kurama couldn't look at him. "In the palace?" he asked. "I suppose."
"No. Here." There was a forceful note in Hiei's voice. "Here. With me."
Kurama swallowed. It took a lot of courage but he managed to turn his head to meet Hiei's eyes. The expression on Hiei's face broke his heart. He looked so hopeful and desperate.
All because he thought that Kurama was leaving him. It seemed that Kurama wasn't the only one who'd grown used to their closeness.
Kurama looked down at his hands. His clean, pale hands. "Things won't be the same," he said quietly.
"I don't care." That note was still in Hiei's voice.
He'd answered too quickly for Kurama's liking. Had Hiei thought about this at all? About how the dynamic between them would change? Or was he just jumping into dark, churning waters without checking beneath the surface?
"Perhaps I care," Kurama said.
"What if Karasu comes back?"
Kurama's blood ran cold as ice at the mention of the demon. He'd been trying not to think about that possibility. If he'd looked at Hiei in that moment he might have seen a look of triumph flash over the lord's face as he took in Kurama's reaction. The way the redhead's fingers had curled into tight fists. The way his back stiffened.
He knew it was wrong to manipulate Kurama in such a way but Hiei was desperate. He wanted Kurama to stay. He was certain that if he could get Kurama to spend at least one night with him, then he could convince Kurama to stay forever.
"Kurama, please." Kurama's silence made Hiei twitch anxiously. Why couldn't he say something? Anything?
A soft sigh blew out between Kurama's teeth and he looked down at his hands. His hair hung forward to hide his face from Hiei like a veil.
"All right," he said softly. "I will stay. For tonight. I can not make any promises beyond that."
Relief flooded Hiei like a cool summer breeze. Thank the gods. He had a chance now. A chance to convince the redhead that their relationship could work, even though things had changed.
"Thank you," he said.
Kurama looked at him then, his eyes wet. He looked like an injured dog, Hiei thought. And wasn't he? He'd been horribly abused by Karasu, by Karasu's men, by those slave traders and the gods knew who else. And he'd been forced to endure it in silence. He'd never had any kind of release for his emotions. Not until now.
"I'm sorry," Hiei said quietly. "I'm sorry for everything that happened to you."
Kurama smiled, a wavering thing as fragile as a flame in the wind. But there was more than pain in that smile. There was relief and gratitude as well. Fragile, indeed.
Kurama's fingers wrapped around Hiei's smaller hand. Hiei placed his other one over it.
The moment was shattered when Yusuke barrelled into the room, grinning like a crazy man. Immediately, Hiei knew that he wouldn't like Yusuke's news one bit.
"Guess what?" he said. "King Koenma is having a party tonight. To celebrate Prince Shuichi's return." He ruffled Kurama's hair. Kurama half-heartedly pushed his hand away.
"A party?" Hiei demanded. Was that really appropriate?
"Yes, and the guest of honour has to come," Yusuke said. "Guess you won't have Kurama to yourself tonight, Hiei."
Hiei scowled at Yusuke. But, out of the corner of his eye, he could see a tiny smile on Kurama's face. A genuine smile, holding none of the hurt he kept inside him.
Well, maybe it wouldn't be so bad, Hiei thought.
"You've got to get properly dressed up," Yusuke informed Kurama.
Kurama looked down at his nice clothes, frowning. "I am dressed up," he pointed out.
"You can't wear those clothes," Yusuke said with a laugh.
"But they look fine," Kurama protested.
They did. Hiei had to admit that. But Yusuke was right.
"You do need to change," Hiei said. "We all do."
"Yeah. I should get changed as well," Yusuke said.
"Wait."
Yusuke turned to stare at Hiei.
"There's something I wanted to talk to you about," Hiei informed him.
Yusuke settled himself in an armchair with an expectant air. "Yeah?" he asked.
"That thing you did back at the house. What was it?" Hiei asked.
Kurama blinked in confusion. "What did he do?" he asked.
Kurama hadn't seen it, Hiei realised. He'd been too focused on Karasu to realise what Yusuke had done.
"He… did something," Hiei said. He really wasn't clear on exactly what. He wasn't sure how to explain it to Kurama, though Kurama was clearly unhappy about that.
"It's a special technique," Yusuke said. "Thanks to good ol dad, I have demon ancestry. The Spirit Gun is something that I learned just before I left home. Let me tell you, that really pissed the mages off."
"Can anyone learn?" Hiei asked, interested.
Yusuke shrugged. "I don't know," he said. "I don't understand how it works. Sorry."
Hiei was disappointed. It seemed that Kurama was as well.
"That is unfortunate," the redhead said. He looked thoughtful.
"What's on your mind, buddy?" Yusuke asked him.
"Demon ancestry," Kurama murmured. "How many people have it? How many don't even know? Are we capable of more than we realise?"
Yusuke leaned back. "Now, you're getting deep," he said. "But I think you're right. I think that some of us are already using those powers, maybe without even realising it."
"Kurama turned into a fox. How much more obvious can you get?" Hiei asked. That wasn't exactly a discreet ability. How could someone not be aware that they had supernatural abilities after an experience like that?
But, then, people did have a remarkable capacity for seeing only what they wanted to see and ignoring anything that didn't fit. How many people had walked by the slave auctions in Tourin and ignored the starving captives? How many argued the value of slavery and ignored the fact that human beings were being abused? Did they ignore demons in the same way?
Maybe they did in Reikai, but that didn't seem to be the case in Tourin.
"My ancestry is direct," Kurama pointed out. "The abilities others possess may not be as obvious."
"Direct?" Yusuke asked, startled.
Kurama nodded.
"Through your mum?" Yusuke asked curiously.
"No. My father," Kurama answered.
"But, isn't…?" Yusuke trailed off. "Well, that's awkward," he said eventually.
Kurama laughed quietly. "To say the least," he agreed.
"This little chat has been nice," Yusuke said dryly. "Also informative and confusing. But we have to get all prettied up for this party soon."
Hiei saw the opportunity to needle Kurama and took it. "Yeah," he agreed. "It takes Kurama three hours just to do his hair."
Kurama glowered at him as Yusuke laughed.
"That's nothing," Yusuke said. "Kuwabara takes longer to do his. And that dye he uses is seriously expensive. Honestly, we had to go hungry just to afford it."
Hiei wasn't sure if Yusuke was joking, but he thought that he might be.
Kurama rose gracefully to his feet. Yusuke also stood. He clapped Kurama on the shoulder. "See you tonight," he said. "Maybe."
"Maybe?" Hiei echoed in confusion.
"Maybe," Yusuke agreed. "I got plans today."
Yusuke left without elaborating any further, leaving the two men to prepare for the evening.