The bright morning light lashed out at me through the dusty car window making me cover my face. Slowly the events from the previous night came back to me alongside the pain in my body as I forced myself not to squint too hard. Honestly I couldn't even remember falling asleep in the first place, so I must have passed out since my territory was acting outside of its usual pattern.
Taking off my hoody appeared to be a much harder task as I stepped out of the car, examining my arms and the new bruises on them. Lifting my shirt, my ribs were riddled with them, damn jerk didn't even have the decency to take off his shoes while strutting through my house. Wincing I pulled my shirt back down.
Anger tightened my chest as tears tried to make their way back in, but I wouldn't let them, fists wrinkling my shirt. Had enough of crying. Fishing in my backpack for some wet tissues I tried my best at cleaning up the blood off my skin. I was a mess, usually it wasn't this bad, I would escape with just one hit or two across the face. Thankfully I managed to heal the broken nose, so it wasn't as swollen as I expected however bruising formed around my eyes.
Taking a proper look at my distorted image in the car window I felt like smashing it with my bare hands. What was staring back at me was just a weak version of myself and I hated the girl looking back all lost and covered in bruises.
Hopping back in the truck I drove until I found a gas station where I stopped to get some fuel and water. The guy at the cash register stared as soon as I walked inside and I don't blame him to be honest "Miss, are you alright?" he just scanned the water bottle I placed on the counter alongside the gum since I wasn't talking "Are you in any danger? Do you want me to call the police?"
I would have rolled my eyes, but I felt that even that would suck more for me "Give me a pack of cigarettes as well please and this." I took the first pair of sunglasses I could get my hands on and presented them to him "So I can hide these." I said pointing to my bruised eyes "Don't worry, I'm fine, thank you for asking."
He had gentle eyes, the sort I would imagine a father would have while looking at his kid. He probably has a daughter or a son and I am sure as Hell none of them look like I do right now "Miss I know it's none of my business." My muscles tensed even if that meant my body hurt more "But if you can, get away. Run and don't look back."
Pushing some money on the counter I nodded "You're right." my eyes scanned his name tag before placing the sunglasses over them "That's exactly what I'm going to do. Thank you." he smiled as I waved, a bitter sweet smile that I understood. If I were a mother and saw a girl looking like I did, I would pity her too. How could I not?
Rinsing my mouth hurt, my tongue slightly swollen from where I bit it, but I didn't want to heal. How many times can I cover up and pretend all is fine?
Gripping the steering wheel I contemplated on my options. I have some money saved up so I could rent a place, pay for a few months in advance, but then what? Laughter bubbled in my chest, cheeks hurting, lip splitting where it barely managed to heal a bit. There were tentacle soul destroying things out there and I was worried about my home. About a man who meant nothing to me, I couldn't even call him family, not even close.
I knew my destination, checking the clock on the dashboard, I could probably make it back in the city in an hour. How the fuck did I manage to drive for so long and not have an accident last night? Honestly the drive back was done on autopilot also, my mind going back to certain events.
Once I reached the city, I finally turned on the phone, voice messages and texts invading my screen "Sorry, not today." Shutting the phone once more without checking anything, I took a deep breath before exiting my truck and stepping inside the Dawn café. Why did I have so many notifications?
It felt like forever since I was last serving coffee late into the night and working here. Harada's ice blue eyes widened, his smile falling flat when his eyes locked with mine. The following second he was in front of the counter, scanning my bruises. Cold hands touching my skin brought me a modicum of comfort. It felt weird that such a short time ago he was running around the temple causing problems with his pheromone powers and now he was looking relaxed, smiling to customer, feeling happy with the life Spirit World offered him.
"What happened to you?" his chin quivered, worry setting in all his features making him look older despite his young baby face "Why didn't you heal? You can still do it can't you?" he was attracting unwanted attention, customers whispering behind our backs.
"I'm fine." I mentioned touching his shoulder "I just need to speak with the manager."
Harada sprinted from before me, grabbing the manager as if he was able to magically make it all go away. We took a coffee and headed out back to talk since I hated that cramped up small office of his, like I couldn't breathe between the stacks of papers and files. Leaning against the very same wall Kido found me losing it, I stared turning to look at my manager after lighting up a cigarette.
"I'm not going to take up too much of your time." The smoke flew from my mouth, clouding the air between us. By the look on his face he probably knew what I wanted to say, but he let me say it anyway, that's the type of man he is "You can probably tell just by looking at my face that I can't make an appearance on the late shift." A simple nod was all he provided me "Also I came to tell you that I am quitting."
"Hana, what is going on with you lately?"
I looked at my feet trying to find the right words to describe it to him as vaguely as possible "A lot is and that's the truth. I'm in it way over my head, I bit off more than I can chew and all that proverbial shit." Looking back at him relieved some of the strain from my face.
A bushy brow lifted as he examined me for the hundred time since I arrived "Clearly." Chewing on the paper cup in his hand, he bit off a piece, looking at the cup as if it offended him "I am not judging you, just be careful out there."
"Yeah, I'm trying." There wasn't any need for more exchange of words. I signed my resignation, calmed down Harada and just left. That was all, that's how simple certain things can be.
Speaking of simple, my next destination had that one word in mind. Stopping the truck near Yusuke's food cart, I just needed a hot delicious meal. As soon as he saw me, he threw the towel in his hand on the ground and stormed over to me.
His hands boxed me in, back pressed against the dirty metal of my car, angry glares being all I could see "Where the fuck have you been?" I didn't get it "Jesus look at you." his eyes looked me over, hands pulling me in for a hug and I was more confuse than ever.
"Yusuke" I spoke against his chest suddenly very aware of how much body spray he uses, my sore hands trying to push him away "what the fuck are you on about?" letting me go he rubbed the back of his head looking away from me. Where they looking for me? But how? They had no way of knowing "Oh my God please don't tell me Kurama came by my place to surprise me or something." I grabbed his shirt, the meat on my bones trembling voice on edge "Please tell me he doesn't know."
Gently he placed his hands over mine, taking a slow breath in "Come on, let's get you some food." Looking around he yelled startling me "You too Hiei, get your scrawny ass down here." My jaw dropped when Hiei appeared near the food stand, arms crossed over his chest.
His expression softened for a second when seeing me but quickly morphed back into what I was familiar to when he diverted his gaze. As we took a seat, Yusuke hung up the closed sign and started cooking up a storm while I was bouncing my right leg up and down, not being able to sit still. Hiei's hand suddenly pressed on my leg, stopping the motion that was honestly shaking the entire cart.
"Quit it." Again his eyes only lingered for a few seconds before he looked over at Yusuke, hand leaving my leg.
"Do you know what happened?" Hiei didn't answer my question, didn't look at me and I couldn't help but think he was actually having a difficult time seeing me like this. Yusuke on the other hand had no issues staring me in the face. Turning, he offered me a cigarette after taking one for himself. Lighting it for me he began his explanation.
"Your mother called Shiori."
"Oh God." Covering my face I groaned. Out of all the times she could be worried.
"Of course she called Kurama to see if you were with him. The first place he searched was near your apartment and in your apartment." My head shot up, the motion causing me to grind my teeth "What did you do to him?"
Looking at my hands I swallowed and finally tried to calm down "I cracked his soul." Hiei couldn't help it then, he just had to look at me, search my face in order to read if I was telling the truth or not "I was so angry that I lashed out."
"Good. You finally stood up to him." Hiei was surprising me more and more lately and from the look on Yusuke's face he also was ok with that I did. Of course, between the three of us, none had a good father figure to look up to, they were either absent or abusive bastards. I didn't know why, but I reached out under the counter, taking Hiei's hand into mine. The gesture caused him to straighten as if I had electrocuted him, but he didn't pull away from me. I didn't know if Yusuke saw it, but if he did he finally shut up for once.
"I'm going to call Kurama and let him know I am ok." Yusuke's brows rose as I waved my free hand in front of my face "Please, this is fine, it hurts, but I'm not made of glass."
Turning to continue cooking, Hiei gently gripped my hand "You need to get angry more often, get over your wall of bullshit that you try to pull up, only then will you be able to evolve." Yusuke's elbows rested on the counter, piercing gaze drawing me in. In order to empathize Hiei's words he told me how he was back in the days, when feeling were covered up, enabling him from reaching his full potential. Ho Kuwabara had to fake it so Yusuke could make it in short terms.
"I know." Letting go of Hiei's hand I just stared at the counter top memorizing the worn out wood pattern "I know all that, it's just that it's so much going on. I don't even know where to begin." A bowl was placed in front of me.
"How about with a full belly? Then we can worry about your emotional state and where you will be sleeping." Yusuke's warm smile brought me back from the dark place I was trying to wonder into. He was right, I needed to eat first, then worry.
The best option out there was for me to head to the temple, leave the stuff I could gather there, while Yusuke and Kurama would go to my place and try to salvage what little I had to begin with. Upon reaching the forest road, I plugged the headphones in and called Kurama, him picking up surprisingly fast "Hana" there was a small pause as he composed himself "are you alright?"
"I'm in one piece, heading to the temple now with Hiei. He didn't do anything to you I hope."
I didn't have to say more, he understood I was talking about my father. There was a small sigh that reached my ears before he spoke once more "Of course not." It was my turn to let out the air enclosed in my lungs "Hiei did mention he will be the one to find you." I glanced over at him sleeping in the passenger seat "Good, I know he can take care of you if it came to that." Once more he went quiet, like he was trying to sort through too many things at once "You can come stay with me you know."
"I'll think about it Kurama, for now I honestly want to avoid another melt down."
"Hana, I'm here." my name was whispered softly "For anything you need." I caught myself making a funny face in the rearview mirror "Apologies, perhaps the long night is finally catching up to me. Hiei did say I was coddling you."
"I needed to hear that, I need something good right now." Something normal that's what I was in dire need of. We agreed to meet as soon as possible, depending on how demanding his work schedule got, especially with the meetings and presentations lined up.
But in the back of my head, that represented a good thing. For once I was so deep inside my own head that I barely felt the hike up the stairs, apart from the pain that was already a part of me, no matter how I moved.
As soon as Yukina saw me, she ran to me, chill fingers touching my face "Thank you for bringing her here. I'll take over." With that Hiei went on about his business as Yukina gently took my hand into hers, pulling me to the baths. I've lost count on who knew what honestly, I couldn't even be bothered.
What I was focusing on were those ruby eyes taking me in. Her delicate fingers pulled on my zipper, slowly taking off my hoodie "Can you lift your hands?" I was taller than her so I would have liked to see her struggle a bit with taking off my t-shirt.
"I got it." She gasped as I revealed more skin with each clothing item that left my body and landed on the floor. I could see her eyes watering up, fingers fumbling together, ideas swarming in her head as she extended a hand to me and then pulled away "Please don't be sad." That's when she considered it alright to touch me, especially my ribs where the damage was making even me worry a bit.
She wasn't in any way bothered by me standing there, butt naked. She didn't see silly things, she was looking at just my injuries "Who did this to you?" her head shot up in a blink of an eye when I mentioned it was my father. Something flashed in those wide eyes and I saw anger wrinkling her small nose, jaw tightening "I will heal you after a bath."
"Don't bother." I strut off to the bathtub, Yukina quickly offering her aid "I can take it."
"You shouldn't have to." The grasp of her hand on my forearm chilled my skin, almost burning with its frosty kiss "You wear enough scars on the inside don't you?" I knew she didn't want to hurt me, but she was lashing out, her emotions causing the water to turn cold "Because of someone who should have been a parent. Because of a man who thought he could own you."
"Yukina, let go." I spoke slowly, gradually emphasizing each syllable.
"No, not until you let me heal you." my teeth were starting to clatter, but the cold wasn't my main concern. Yanking my hand free, a perfect handprint scared my skin "Oh my, I am so sorry." She was freaking out, too much for me to understand right off the bat why. Stepping outside, I let the water drain and just sat on the floor, waiting for everything to drain so I could run another hot bath.
"Can you please get me a cigarette from my bag?" she complied surprisingly fast, allowing a moment alone for both of us. I could feel a migraine creeping up on me, but I tried to push it back as I shivered on the floor. Maybe she's right, maybe I should heal, get a good fucking night sleep and then tackle the next day.
Shyly, she finally made her way back, faster than I would have liked. Taking the cigarette, she light it up for me, placing the lighted in her kimono belt "I'm sorry." Soft fingers grazed my new burn mark "I just got so angry."
"Makes two of us then, but it's ok." I chuckled, letting the smoke leave my mouth "At least I know that way you got more in you than you are willing to admit." She wasn't shocked by my statement, instead getting up and running the bath once more.
"Did Hiei tell you I was coming to the temple?" a small yes answered my hot bath question. Kneeling close to me she smiled softly asking for my hand which I gave without arguing. Her light was different than mine was, her energy warming the place she was directing it "I can do it myself you know."
"Alright." Her hands rested on her lap, one on top of the other "Show me please." She had never seen my powers at work, so I understood her curiosity.
"You're too close." Flicking the ash on the bathroom tiles, I took another deep drag "You will need to be further away so that I don't catch you inside my territory." But she wouldn't budge, shaking her head with so much vigor that I was honestly surprised she didn't get dizzy from the motion.
"I want to feel it. One second." Getting up she looked around for something, deciding on a razor blade near the mirror. I was too slow to even react, crimson blood dripping into the sink "Show me."
The fuck was wrong with everyone?
Throwing the cigarette in the running water I got up, taking a look at her cut. Thankfully there was no way for the cut to be too deep, but I was still shaking on my feet, angry as Hell "What the fuck do you think you're doing Yukina?" It just erupted, beyond my control "Who put you up to this?" it spread out beyond the bathroom walls, passing through rooms, windows, nothing sitting in its way "Is this related to not coddling me?"
Her soul shinned before my eyes, tears gems colliding with the bathroom cold tiles. She was as delicate on the inside as she was on the surface, scared, small emotions dancing around as if her soul was a snow globe someone just shook. I was that someone "Please don't be mad." She couldn't have pulled this stunt on her own. Stretching my territory further, my mind's eye searched beyond what my or Yukina's eyes could witness. As wounds healed, bringing to light healthy white skin, a soul made its way at rapid speed, through the forest, towards the temple.
For me it all worked slow, but Hiei burst through the door in mere moments, sword drawn. Yukina rose one finger to her mouth, hushing him. What I saw in Hiei was different, warmth pulling me in, his presence countering the cold that was surrounding my body. Flames danced before my eyes, yet they were gentle despite the countless hurt riddling his soul. Darkness tried to show itself to me through the cracks, but he kept it hidden very well.
On his forehead, a small second tiny soul looked at me, reading me as much as I was reading it. The Jagan, of course, I knew it was not natural, but I didn't expect for it to be like a separate entity altogether.
"Woman, I am going to do something." His sword pressed against my leg, a clean cut drawing blood. It closed down soon, just blood from a former wound testifying of the truth "Fascinating." Was it really? I was just healing, I healed Yukina, I could heal any living being inside my territory "You can call it back now."
As soon as everything went back to normal, Hiei averted his gaze, slightly bothered by my nakedness, Yukina gasping as the water was overflowing "So now what? Do we all take a bath together?"
"In your dreams woman." Closing the door after him, me and Yukina exploded in a fit of laughter.
Me and her spent the night in her room where she told me about how she met the boys, how she searched for her brother and all the adventures and hardship she went through. She kept my head on her lap, taking softly and playing with my hair, doing so until sleep finally caught up to me, the last thing she was relating was how she discovered human spices and how to use them.
A/N: Hello lovelies ^_^ welcome old, welcome new and thank you for reading, leaving a kind word and overall thank you for your support.
Just wanted to tell you that and send out a big hug to everyone.