Kurama's POV:
As soon as I saw the name flashing on my screen I answered her call, relieved to hear she was alright. Let her believe I was holding my breath waiting, there was no lie in that.
When mother called me that night I could feel something ugly trying to rear its head, but I kept it at bay since I needed to think clearly. Going up to her apartment, seeing scattered items on the stairs and floor, I still kept a leveled head.
It was the smell of blood, HER blood that got to me. Fear could be felt in the air, leaving a heavy taste in my mouth, tears evaporated yet still trying to cling to my skin.
She had been all alone in front of him, helpless.
I did not bother knocking, heading straight inside the apartment where I found the bastard on the couch, sniffing his nose, the stench of whisky coating his breath. Red rimmed eyes rose to look at me, horror installing in them a mere moment later "Who the fuck are you?" his hands carried signs of the sins performed, the crimson liquid now dry on his skin.
Telling him my name was of no use as anger tightened my muscles. He did not realize when my hand reached for his throat, sharp nails threatening to crush his wind pipe "Look at me." I shook him applying more pressure, growling in his face "I want you to look at me." finally his eyes found mine as silver hair encompassed his vision, fangs too close for his comfort "I want you to remember this face." Sweat formed on his forehead in small beads disgust wrinkling my nose "This will be the last thing you will ever see if you touch her again." Pushing him, he hit his head was against the wall "Keep your shitty apartment, she is far better off with us."
"Monsters" he finally managed to spit out "you are all monsters." I smirked as he froze in place, vines stretching on the walls surrounding us.
"Call us what you want, but we outnumber you, we outmatch humans in every way." Leaning closer his heart rhythm picked up, ringing clear in my sensitive ears "Consider yourself lucky that I am not ending your pathetic life this very moment. Next time we meet you would be wise to run. At least give me a bit of thrill before I slice you open and feed you to the dirt. I will show no mercy as I rip the flesh off your bones." The horror he felt was palpable "I will deny you death until you beg and beg on all fours."
He ran that night, fleeing Yoko and the apartment that Hana called home. I was certain he would not try to return any time soon, yet I could not have her return either. She needed to be safe, I needed to keep her safe.
Hiei found me roaming the streets trying to pursuit her scent as Yukina must have told him I called the temple looking for her. Even if I knew Hiei was right, that we had to let her face her emotions in order to evolve, I could not. That night I wished I possessed the Jagan instead of him, that I could run like the wind and take her in my embrace.
That was not what happened, my fantasies would not come to life unfortunately, but I trusted my friend, that he would do the right thing. Yusuke was the second one I contacted, him going out on the streets to scan a few bars he knew. No, Hana would not be hiding in a bar. She would be alone somewhere, licking her own wounds, hiding in order to form a new plan and get over it all, gloss over the events. If that was even possible at that stage.
When she rang, everything in me collided. I wanted to get out of the office then and there, hop on the next train to the temple yet she was still reluctant. And in a sense so was I.
Once more everything clashed, sides of me taking different stands. Suichi Minamino wanted nothing more than to be honest and just get it over with the guilt, give her the last dose of pain that I could give, tell her the truth and then just give her space. Let her see things from her own perspective.
Yoko was mad, his anger bubbling constantly under my ribs, reverberating through my core. He wanted to be with her, to hold her so tight until she fell weak in his strong embrace, to kiss her lips raw and promise to never leave her side. He was selfish and ready to destroy anyone who would wrong her.
As for me…I was caught, them boxing me in and I did not appreciate the sensation. Of course I wanted to hold her, of course I wanted to see with my own two eyes that she was alright.
I needed to see her.
That's how on Wednesday afternoon as soon as I finished work, I ordered a taxi that took me straight to the train station. By the time I reached the temple steps, the sun was setting, drowning the forest in a surreal light, calming the sounds of the wild life. It managed to ease my spirits with each step taken, voices soon reaching my ears.
Hiei's was the first one I heard "Pick it up before I pick you up and throw you down those stairs." Obviously he was fed up with someone, the ultimate surprise coming when Hana's voice spoke next.
"I said no, swords are not my thing, it's too much of a close range weapon." As I ended up at the temple gates, I saw her crossing her hands over her chest, Hiei glaring daggers "How about I also get a whip? Get a leather costume as well and I can be freaking cat woman. I'm not a fighter."
"Are you small minded? You need to learn to use a weapon." Leaning against the massive door frame, I just stood there watching them argue. She was grinding him yet Hiei's voice did not hold its usual edge. Hana looked like she had been through the training of her life, yet she was smiling, enjoying it.
"How about this, how about I continue to use what I already know?" they entered the bargaining stage but Hiei was having none of it. I found myself smiling as I continued to watch them, a warm feeling swelling in my chest.
I vividly remember their first encounter, her first visit to the temple. She was lost inside our world, trying to make heads and tails of everything happening around her. And now? Just look at her now.
"Kurama you'd better be here to put her in her rightful place." Hiei snapped me out of my daze, Hana turning on her heals to look at me.
"Yes, that is the reason for my abrupt visit." Spreading my arms wide Hana ran in my embrace "This is your place." I whispered in her ear as I held her close "This will always be your place."
Wiggling free she smiled big at me "But first I need a shower." She turned to run inside the temple, turning back to me after a few steps "Thank you for coming." Her eyes held such sincerity and pain entrapped behind them. She wanted me to come just that like always she would put herself second.
"Go, I'll be right here." With a small smile gracing her lips, she finally left.
Hiei's brows rose, a smirk shaping his lips "Not coddling her are you?" a chuckled left me, almost involuntarily.
"You must understand something Hiei." I finally stopped looking in the spot Hana stood "She is like a dandelion."
His face squinted as he tried to wrap his mind around the concept I presented "A weed?"
My look said everything in retaliation to his question "While she is stubborn that is not the point I am making. What is mean to say is that she is now blooming." He looked lost and bored with my explanation and metaphors, granted plants might now have been the best way to describe Hana to him yet I continued to push it "What happens with dandelions after they bloom?" going to pick up his sword he had to spite me.
"Why would I care about some stupid flower? Get to the point fox." Always the epiphany of patience.
Shaking my head I indulged him with the answer "They get blown out into the wind and that is what will happen to Hana if we push her. She is pushing herself yet I fear she will scatter the moment something else arises." He blinked at me not saying anything so I found it prudent to continue, lowering my voice as I stepped closer to him "I understand we need to help her evolve, however we also need to pick the right times."
"And I am sure whatever is happening at the moment is going to just wait for her to straighten her head?" he was pushing all the wrong buttons, however I could see what he was trying to do. I could understand all his reasons, I wanted to do the same…yet….
"Trust me Hiei." Staring at the rock tiles under my feet I continued "I too have been watching and working on her evolution." All he provided me was a snort, but I could not confess everything out in the open like this. Even if he knew, even if he presumed what I was getting to, he did not reveal a thing.
Trust be told why would he care about my torment, about how Yoko was a completely different person to Hana? All that was my own doing and undoing most likely.
"Go to her." That was an advice I took, sharing with him just a small nod.
Approaching Hana's room, music was playing loud enough that she did not hear the knock at the door. Opening it, she came in sight, wide eyes taking me in, a big smile forming on her lips in an instant.
Picking up her phone, she pushed it in my hands after browsing something "Look what I did." Before me were the exams results, all passed with different grades, however they were decent enough to probably ensure her a well-paid job.
"I cannot say how proud I am of you." the smile presented to her was as sincere as it could be, how could I not be happy for what she managed to achieve?
Snatching the phone back she grinned "Right?" lowering the volume on the music, we could finally have a normal conversation "I spoke with some teachers and tomorrow a few of us will be going to the hospital to assist with an operation." Casually she gesticulated with her hands as if she had it all figured out "There will be several doctors from clinics where we could apply for a job."
I just nodded absentmindedly, knowing very well she was trying to keep up a façade. I wanted to break it, for her to trust me, show me, rely on me.
Extending a hand to her face, she flinched and there I saw it, how she was still scared and not ready "Talk to me Hana." Her beautiful eyes widened as she leaned into my hand "Tell me everything." Shaking her head she stepped closer in my arms "I want to know."
"He's never been so cruel." Lifting her head from my chest she gazed into my eyes "I have never been so…"
"Afraid?" I continued as she averted her eyes, fingers pushing raven coloured hair away from her face.
"So not me." that statement took me by surprise as she left my embrace and sat down on the bed, back pressed straight against the wall, urging me to sit with her, hand softly patting the bed. She stared at her palm, hand rolling into a fist shortly "I cracked his soul Kurama."
My body tensed in an instant "Pardon?" repeating the words did not clear my mind. If she managed to do that, if Spirit World saw she could do something like that, then what would the next step be?
"The worst part is that I felt good about it." Her head rested on my shoulder as she continued "For once I had the upper hand, I hurt him. Do you know he doesn't carry scars on his soul? Nothing, just dents." She shrug her shoulders as I lifted her chin up "Until now at least."
"Where did he hurt you?" she was confused by the question addressed "Where did he hit you?"
"I fell, lost balance." She was trying to recall the events "Ran face first into the metal rail breaking my nose." Gently, I placed a kiss on her nose, making her giggle. Cupping her face, I placed a kiss against both her cheeks "He kicked me, my ribs were in pretty bad shape." Lowering my hands I lifted her shirt, pushing her slowly on her back. My lips brushed her ribs, eyes closing shut as I tried to not show any anger on my face.
Lifting myself, I hovered over her after kissing her eyes "Your eyes will not see any more horrors." Her lips curved in the corners when I kissed her "Your mouth will not speak of pain anymore." As her hands tangled in my hair, I felt shivers running down my spine.
"I hope you know that you can't possibly always be there to protect me." of course I was aware of that, but I had to try "I can take it you know, I'm not that easily jinxed."
"True" I hushed her with another quick kiss "yet I cannot help it. Various events have taken their toll on you, how many more can you withstand?"
She scanned me, taking her time to answer "I got this." I felt the tension in her muscles "Believe me when I say it." She looked at me, not blinking, stuck in a pose "You weren't there from the beginning of my pain and I'm sorry mom called you that night. But you can't do what you're trying to do now."
"What do you mean?"
Rolling her eyes, she pressed her hands against my chest, for a moment all ration leaving me as panic set in, thinking she would unleash her territory "You used to tell me to be careful. You used to push me and pick on me just to see how far I would go." Poking my chest she grinned "Don't go soft on me. I still need the same level headed man I know you are." Pulling me by the shirt, I pressed some weight on top of her "Be my strength. Teach me, be cruel if you must be but for fucks sake don't treat me like I am helpless child."
And there it was, the dandelion in full bloom, ready for the wind to divide everything it knew, everything it ever was.