Disclamer: I don't own Inuyasha and Yu Yu Hakusho. Only this story belongs to me.
War Of The WorldsIY YYH crossover. What happens when a whole lot of demons come after Kagome for the Shikon shards? Kurama falls in love with Kagome while protecting her. Will Kagome remain faithful to Inuyasha or will he risk losing her forever.
Chapter Twenty Five Hope
Hope is the thing with feathers,
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all.
– Emily Dickinson
Demons. B-classed. Ignorant, huge, and ugly.
Kurama sighed as he repeatedly used his rose whip to slash the demons and send them to their deaths.
He had unexpectedly been ambushed by a whole lot of demons that doesn't seem like much, but they just kept on coming.
To an outsider, one might think that he looked calm and coordinated with his movements, but in fact, Kurama was trying very hard to ignore the coil of dread, fear and guilt all tangled together and curled deep inside him. He was shaking a little as he fought the demons off as fast as he could.
Finally, when he was exhausted and tired of repeating his movements, he was about to call upon his death tree when a shout rang out.
"SPIRIT GUN!"
The roars of agony and cries of revenge rang throughout the forest clearing. All that was left was one whom tried to run.
Slash.
He didn't escape.
Kurama stopped in his tracks, his back towards Yusuke, unwilling to face his friend. The feeling at the pit of is stomach grew stronger, and more intense in feeling.
As he looked up upon the blue sky, that was darkening as the moment past. Darkness would soon overcome them.
"I… He's gone isn't he? He saved Hiei." Kurama said, stating the obvious. Yusuke was silent and Kurama continued.
"He's dead." Kurama turned, and looked at Yusuke straight in the eye. "He's dead. He died for Hiei. I should have been there for Hiei. Should have fought alongside him, should have been with him when he scouted the area. Instead, I've been mooning about a girl. One I do not even know." He smiled bitterly, a dry laugh coming from is throat.
I will never be strong enough to save my friends – will I?
Yusuke darted forward and grabbed Kurama by the collar and shook Kurama.
"Stop laughing like that," growled Yusuke as he reined in his temper. Kurama was silent, but the bitter half-smile was still on his face.
"Kuwabara did what he could to save Hiei. And he placed on us a duty to save Hiei. He placed his faith on us believing that we would save Hiei. And what are you doing now? Feeling sorry for yourself just because you didn't prevent the death of Kuwabara? Or that you couldn't do what he did?" Yusuke said quietly, as he let go of Kurama.
Kurama looked up at is friend, and saw the tears Yusuke would not shed. He saw the anguish hidden behind those eyes that burned with determination. And Kurama could not look into Yusuke's eyes without feeling the same sorrow.
Kuwabara had been one of Yusuke's closest friend since his childhood. Though both would never admit it, the daily brawl fights and yells coupled with insults flunked at each other, ahd been something both had looked forward to, day by day.
Kuwabara had been Yusuke's first companion in the fighting arena. And Yusuke would be the one feeling the worst among them.
"Yusuke.. I…"
Yusuke went past Kurama and started jumping across branches.
"…I can't afford another to die again. Let's go."
"Ah. He's waiting. We'd better hurry."
Kurama jumped fast across the branches and the jyaki got stronger and stronger within every mile.
Suddenly, without warning, Kurama and Yusuke felt an intense wave of emotion sweeping across them. It was a mixed emotion of overflowing sorrow and pain together with the joy of life.
Yusuke and Kurama, stopped, breathless and stunned. And then, as suddenly as it came, the intense emotion disappeared.
'That was a calling.' Youko suddenly said in the recesses of Kurama's mind.
'Calling?' Kurama asked frowning.
'Yes, a …'
A flash of light broke through the trees, casting shadows on the ground due to the overly bright light that shone trough as it shot up to the sky in brilliant arrays of colours, the most prominent – pinks and whites. The burst of light was even brighter that the lights Kuwabara had given out. The lights exploded and Yusuke and Kurama had to shield their eyes, and even then, it hurt as the lights shone brighter than anything both had ever witnessed before. Lines of dazzling pinks and whites started to line the area, casting glimmers of light all around the sky, the lines forming a brilliant picture, like the creation of life itself.
The lights sparkled in the sky, it was as if Yusuke and Kurama witnessed the creation of the world itself. The lines formed stars and swirls in the sky before exploding once again and ending with sparkles of light falling around them, like fireflies during the night sky. A glimmer of dust fell upon Yusuke and Kurama as they stood in awe of the lights that had formed and still grazed the sky in all its beauty. The darkness had disappeared, and there was only pure lights of pink and white.
"What was that…" whispered Yusuke still stunned.
Kurama shook his head, unsure of what had happened.
It had been so beautiful.
'This is the first time I have ever seen such a calling.' Youko remarked and before Kurama could ask him further questions, a shadow fell upon them.
The darkness had returned in full blast. The lights faded and the darkness consumed what was left of the brilliant lights. Blanketing the sky like snow on a winter's day, the darkness seemed to form a figure that loomed over them. And then, the sky was completely eaten up, and there was no more light.
Yusuke and Kurama were left in the darkness. Unwillingly and unknowingly, Yusuke and Kurama shivered. The jyaki got stronger and both were let with greater feelings of uncertainty, and fear.
"We had better hurry." Kurama managed out.
"Yes. But what just happened?" Yusuke asked knowing well that even Kurama did not have an answer to that question.
"I don't know."
Yusuke frowned and as he stumbled in the darkness, Kurama voiced out his opinion.
"Although, I believe that something good has happened."
'It's a miko's power.' Youko whispered in his consciousness.
"Miko?" Kurama said aloud and Yusuke turned and looked at him questioningly.
Kurama shook his head. "Nothing."
As Kurama scanned through the darkness, he continued.
"We should really get going before Hiei.. Before anything bad happens."
Yusuke nod although it went unseen by Kurama due to the darkness that pressed upon them.
Yusuke thought about the blasts of lights as he deftly stepped on the branches, hurrying towards the other member of their group.
'What happened just a while ago? That light… It came from the place where Kuwabara… Where… Where he was.'
As Yusuke thought further on that subject, he suddenly brightened up.
'Could it be?' Yusuke thought, a slow kindling of hope spreading throughout his body.
He smiled, hope surging higher, 'Please let it be what I think it is.'
'Please kami. Please.'
Yusuke looked up at the once bright sky, that was filled with so much beauty a while ago, and hoped. Even in the darkness, he hoped, and prayed, for a miracle.
Don't lose hope. When it gets darkest the stars come out.
xxx
As the orange lights faded, all three girls knew what had come to pass.
"Kuwabara… He.. he used his powers of his that Genkai told him not to use…" Botan mumbled out.
"Is he… He can't be… He's… Dead," Keiko incoherently said, unaware that her words struck the heart of Yukina, hard.
Keiko and Botan turned from the window, the minute they heard a loud thump, of someone falling to the ground.
Yukina slid down, numb as Keiko and Botan rushed towards her. Her crimson eyes wide with fear, and Yukina dimly wondered if they could hear the harsh beating of her heart. If only they could see the tears that would fall, if they understood what he had meant to her.
"Ka.. Kazuma-kun…"
'I'll protect you! Always! Because this is the power of love!'
He had always been there for her. Since the day he had so gallantly saved her from that evil man that wanted her tears. (I forgot the name.. Gah! Sorry.) He had always spoken about protecting and loving and dying for her.
She had thought that he was very weird. What with the loud outburst of declarations of love and clasping her hand muttering and promising her of things she had not understood then. With red faces and more love declarations.
He was one weird human.
But, she had come to love the man that would do anything for her sake.
After three years, she had come to love the man that loved her most.
He was brash, loud and as always, very vocal. She never thought that she would fall for this weird ningen. One whom would always declare with an outrageous way, that he loved her and would do anything to make her happy.
She had always been someone whom was used by others to get what they want. And now, here was someone whom would do anything for her.
Yukina had always a selfish streak in her. She had always wanted someone whom would do anything for her, and she had not realized that she was, in a way, used him for what she wanted.
He was always there for her, and she could always get him to do something that she wanted.
He had been endearing, and as time passed, she had gotten used to him, just being there. Just one whom loved her, one whom would do anything for her.
I fell for him. I fell in love with a ningen.
She never thought she would find love in this ningen world instead of her brother she had sworn to find.
"Yukina-chan." He said that day, all laughter and smile gone from his face.
It was a day, she would never forget.
"Yes? Kazuma-kun?" she was confused and a little taken aback by the serious look in his eyes. He had just pulled her out suddenly to the gardens.
"Ah.. You see… I…"
"Yes?"
"It came to me the other day… I was just…."
"What is it?" She got worried, as she had never seen him, looking awkward with his hands in his pockets and he looked dejected with an air of seriousness around him.
"I might die one day. On a mission." He blurted out suddenly and Yukina froze.
Kuwabara too a step towards her, a grim smile etched on his face, Yukina herself took a step back, her sandals crushing the dry leaves, the sound a loud crackle amidst the silence of the garden.
"No!" Yukina shouted unexpectedly, shocking both herself and Kuwabara.
"No.. No.. Kazuma-kun can't die! You're strong! You'll survive anything!" She was being unreasonable, she knew, but his words had caused the fear that had long ago hid in the corners of her heart to sprung back to the surface and his words continued to play in her mind.
She had always known there was a possibility that he would one day die on a mission, that one day, he would accidentally make a blunder and.. and give his life up to this line of work that he loved so very much.
A blush stained his cheeks and he moved closer still to her, with one or two steps she could already hear the sound of him breathing.
He closed the distance between them with a hug that seemed to take all the breath away from her. He towered over her, and she had awkwardly placed her arms around his neck. Feeling safe, and warm and secure.
She still felt afraid, but now, a tingly feeling and warmth spread surged through her.
"Yukina-chan... I… I…" Kuwabara stuttered and Yukina frowned slightly, still caught up in his embrace. She felt his chest move up and down as he breathed and she liked it.
He was always forward with his feelings and now, here he was stuttering and concealing what he really wanted to say.
He was bold where she was not.
And now, he was acting strange.
"I…"
"What is it Kazuma-kun?" she asked tentatively.
"I..I love you." His voice was a mere whisper in her ear.
He pulled back and Yukina stumbled back from the sudden lack of support.
He smiled then, a slow and sweet smile that only she knew he possessed. It was a smile he reserved only for her, a smile that was hers and hers alone. None of the others would have known that he had such a sweet and endearing smile that made him look like a child whom had gotten his first taste of a candy.
No one could understand how she put up with this loud, brash man that was so different from her, but they had never known the other side that he possessed.
And they had never seen his rough features light up with a smile before.
It was the smile she had first fallen for.
He had always said such words to her, but this was different. He was different.
She kept silent, unsure of what to do, and as the wind blew around her, raking up the leaves that littered the ground, Yukina looked up straight to Kuwabara's eyes and she was suddenly very afraid of the unconditional love that she saw in his eyes.
"I'm afraid of the future sometimes." Kuwabara said suddenly and Yukina snapped back into reality.
"I'm afraid that, someday, on a mission…"
"Kazuma-kun?" Yukina said, concerned as Kuwabara slumped back into that dejected state again, the smle once again, gone.
"I might…" Kuwabara manage to mumble out.
"I might never return and see you again." He finished, looking at her with eyes that spoke of fear, pain, love and resolution.
Yukina took a step towards him.
"If… If…"
Yukina said nothing, she just didn't know what to say. She just took another step towards him as he drew back even further. It was like a game.
"If I die.."
She was the one whom drew back this time, shocked that he would continue to brooch this topic that she so desperately wanted to run away from.
She shook her head vehemently, tears pooling at the corners of her eyes.
"No!"
"Yukina-chan…"
"No! You can't die!"
"I might, one day, in the future. You can't deny that.."
"Yes I can! You won't die Kazuma-kun!"
"Yukina." He had dropped off the suffix-chan from her name and Yukina was forced to look into his eyes with that one single word.
She looked at him, with tears siding down, and he looked at her seriously, eyes regarding her as someone whom was strong enough to understand his choice to risk his life while on a mission, to save anyone he could.
Be it humans or demons, he would save them with is life, and she knew, e wanted her to understand.
But, she was selfish, se had always been.
She had a darker side that no one really knew, like selfishness for instance, she wanted Kuwabara to be with her forever, because he was the one that would do anything and everything for her.
And she was somewhat possessive, she never did like others hurting what was hers.
She never did forgive her clan for throwing her brother off the cliff. He was her brother.
She never got a chance to stay with her brother together because of some superstition and fear.
He was her brother, hers.
And she never did speak her mind. Sometimes she felt like insulting others, but due to constant scoldings as a child and harsh treatments, she had attuned herself to become someone whom knew how to keep silent and to keep a front of bravery when she was not brave, at all.
She did not intend to show anyone her darker core in her.
Kuwabara always never knew when to keep is mouth shut, and for some reason, Yukina admired him for it. She also liked to see Yusuke and Kuwabara fight at times, they were just so… open.
Hiei, he was another matter altogether, he was silent and yet, he always seem to sprout some sort of insult every now and then. And he revealed his feelings at times, trough insults, smirks and glares.
She smiled a lot, and she knew she looked innocent. But she was not. She had seen too many deaths already.
Caused by her tears and as she had searched for her brother before, she witnessed many, many deaths along the way. The thought of Kazuma-kun dying.. It just didn't seem right.
He was hers.
And he couldn't just leave her and die on a mission. He couldn't. He musn't. But…
"If I die.. Promise me, that.." He was cut off.
"I… I…" Yukina started, as she walked slowly towards him.
"Kazuma-kun… You.." she was silenced by a smile.
"Promise me, you'll continue to live for tomorrow, and not to cry when I leave."
Yukina walked closer to him, and laced her hand on both his cheeks. He towered over her, and she had to stand on her tiptoes to do so.
"I.. I promise." Yukina whispered, and she smiled too.
"But, you too, must promise me to always return to me. Even to say goodbye."
"I will."
And it had been her first kiss, a slow, sweet kiss, of promises and of dreams for the future. A kiss of what is to come.
And she felt at this moment, that sharing her innermost thoughts with Kuwabara would be just the thing that she would do, after everything has past. After he is free from all the missions and the Reikai Tantei.
That day, had been one of her most memorable days since she had come to existence.
"Yukina-chan!"
She was called back from her reverie and she quickly scanned her surroundings to find the one whom had called her.
"Kazuma-kun? Where are you?"
Time seemed to stand still, Botan and Keiko seemingly stopped in their movement, still heading towards her.
This time his voice seemed to come from behind her. She could hear him, but not see him nor feel him.
"Yukina-chan. Gomen ne…"
Unseen arms embraced her, and unwillingly, Yukina could feel the tears coming freely now.
"You promised me never to cry if this happened, remember?"
"Have you come to say goodbye?" Yukina marveled at how her voice seemed to be so calm and sure.
"Live for me. Smile for me. I came back, for a last glimpse of you. Don't cry…"
"…. You can't leave me…" she whispered, her heart was so painful that she wanted to cry out and just break down.
"Smile for me. Please."
And Yukina, as much as she'd like to just scream and shout and cry, she smiled, a small, sad smile. With tears that continue to fall.
She was trembling, but smiling. Smiling for him. She had promised him. He had also returned.
Returned for a final goodbye.
She would be strong for him.
"I have to tell you this… Yukina-chan.." She listened.
"I gave my life to Hiei, in a way. I'm sorry for leaving you, but I had to do it… Hiei is your brother. And I had to save him. For you."
Yukina gasped as the wind suddenly blew through the trees, whistling, a slow sad tune.
"Goodbye, my Yukina-chan."
"Kazuma-kun… Why.. Why did it have to be this way…"
Keiko rushed to hug her while Botan kneeled down, bangs covering her eyes.
"Yukina-chan, he can't be gone…" she said, hoping that the flash of light was mere coincidence, that she didn't feel his spirit gone. Hoping that he was still alive.
"He's… He's gone." Yukina said it so surely, and so calmly that Botan and Keiko were shocked.
"I promised him, to be strong. I will, try not to cry. But, it is a fact that he is gone." You don't know, how much I want to say the opposite, how much I want to say that Kazuma-kun is still alive and kicking, that he didn't die…. That he would still be there beside me.
But I can't. And I will be strong for you Kazuma-kun. I will.
Yukina looked up calmly at her two friends and smiled sadly.
Another burst of light shone through the small window of the classroom that they were in. They had to shield their eyes due to the intense brightness.
Pinks and whites streaked through everywhere. Creating webs of light. It was as if, someone had painted symbols in the sky, with magnificent colours, but the ones that stood out most where the white and pink. Then, suddenly, the patterns vanished, leaving sparkles of light falling from the blue sky that was stilled slightly pink and white.
Yukina ran towards the window, as the light shone over the clearing in which she had seen Kuwabara's light came from.
"What is it with today.." rumbled Keiko half-heartedly as she too, moved towards the window.
The dazzling beauty of the light that surrounded the sky and ground silenced them.
As Yukina watched out the window, she gripped her hands tight.
She was very selfish after all.
She needed him.
'Anyone. Please. Anyone.. Please save my Kazuma-kun. Please. Anyone. I… I need him.'
Yukina clasped her hands and prayed.
'And my brother. Protect him too.'
Keiko and Botan did the same.
"Please save the one I love most… And my brother." Yukina whispered.
And as the brilliant light dispersed, Yukina sat, smiling again, that little smile. Crying, just a little, the tears, pearls upon the ground, and all the way, she was feeling selfish, feeling lost, and hoping for a miracle.
All human wisdom is summed up in two words: wait and hope.
– Alexandre Dumas
xxx
Certain parts of this was written late at night, after my mother caught going online, without her permission, at two in the morning, so yeah, the sequence of the story might be kinda whack. And it is by far, one of the most satisfying chapters in a long while, ever since chapter 19 I guess. This is one of the few chapters that I really like…
Gimme your comments and I've decided to do alternate endings.
Oh, and I actually had more after this, intended to leave it in a cliffy (hehe.. XD) But… sigh, I lost my book in which I wrote the story, and so, I would have to rewrite it all over again, WHEN I have te inspiration.. (Sobs, it was pretty good too) or you can all pray and HOPE that I find my precious book soon. (Oh n it's a blue book..)
So… And the votings..
Kagome / Kurama – 188
Kagome / Inuyasha – 150
I really appreciate all of your support that you've given me.
Thank you.
So.. Whaddya think?
Oh, and each vote in each chapter counts.. (Hope that helps Silver Lady..)
This long… chapter goes out to all those whom reads my story, whom voted and whom gave me the encouragement to write…
Especially to the Evil Hamsta of DOOM…
(Um.. I reposted chapter one and two. Major changes in chapter one and slight changes in chapter two.)
Edited
1.28am 31.7.2006
9.43pm 31.7.2006
xxx