Kurama POV:
On Friday afternoon Yusuke waited for me outside the office so we could both take the train to the temple. There was no reason for Hana to idle around town for so long waiting for me to finish up work, so Kazuma and her went ahead.
Good for him, not so good for me.
As soon as I met up with Yusuke I knew there was no escaping it. His persistent stare told me everything I needed to know and true to my feelings, the question came as soon as the train left the station. I am certain he waited until then since I would not attempt jumping out of a moving train with so many people around us.
"Have you told her?" I met his gaze head on not muttering a word "I guess not, she's too all over you."
"Yusuke." A small warning on my side "I want nothing more than to get it out, say it and be done with it. It's just that" words failed me as I tried to search for the most suitable explanation.
"You can't? Is that it?" I could read the disappointment on his face, the subtle anger sharpening his eyes into such fierce weapons, anxiety for the situation at hand dilating his pupils.
"No, I can do the right thing." Crossing my hands over my chest came more as a moment provided to myself "I just failed in finding the right time with all that has happened lately. There has been a long streak of bad luck, the more she evolves the more danger she attracts."
"Don't think too much fox boy." Turning his face, he focused on the passing scenery, yet the tightness in his jaw gave him away. In the poorly lit train light he suddenly seemed older, like the years have finally managed to catch up to him. He had always been rather easy to read, yet lately he was slipping through the cracks and I did not understand what he was hiding. What was making him so agitated despite the normal aspect of his life, despite having something most of us could only dream of "We got her back."
"Naturally." I was quite startled, as if I forgot he could talk and it was the first time he did so "I appreciate the concern however I need to be the one to tell her. Perhaps tonight." He looked at me through the corner of his eye.
"Sure, you know better." Somehow it felt like he was making fun of me with that line. I did not know better, I was running from the situation, but I could not rely on another to deliver the truth. I needed to be the one to confess.
Perhaps there is no better moment than the present one.
Once we entered the temple grounds, Hana stormed out in the yard heading directly to Yusuke. In his hands she presented a business card for a clinic.
"Does this mean you got a job offer?" she nodded once, kicking her head back to down a few mouthfuls of beer "However you are not happy about this. May I ask why?"
"Yeah exactly why, because I am Hella confused." Yusuke joined my grief party, both of us looking at her. She was not well, with a straight face and creased forehead, it was clear something happened.
"Guess the name Minoru means fuck all, because it was the same for me. But this dude who is in charge of the clinic is the same doctor who Sensui recruited." It was as if she slapped us both at the same time. Me and Yusuke exchanged a look before I spoke softly.
"Did he hurt you?"
She laughed, a small short spiteful laugh, as if I did not trust her and actually offended her with that question "We measured dicks in the hospital, clashed territories to see how grand we are. Koenma thinks he turned his life around, he said the same thing, rather chill and straight forward guy."
"Does he know you are part of the group?" Hana just shrug her shoulders to Yusuke's question, then shook her head. Even if he did know, he had been manipulated as much as the rest were. If Spirit World knew of his whereabouts and took no actions it meant that until now there had been no reasons to taken actions.
"It's alright Yusuke." He looked over at me like I had just lost my mind "Spirit World are keeping everyone in check by the looks of it."
Clapping his hands together he frowned "Terrific, that means we are all set if toddler breath is on top of it. Great." Slapping Hana's back she almost lunged forward in the dirt "Take the job, what could go wrong?"
"Oh fuck off!" straightening she tried to splash some beer on him but he dogged it easily "I actually want to take the job."
"What?!" both me and Yusuke spoke in unison. I knew Hana had a different way of thinking yet I did not expect for her to want the job. She looked angry, pushed to extremes yet confident. She wanted it even if she did not approve of the situation.
"Mhm." Finishing off the beer, she cocked her hip to the side, arms crossed over her chest "Had a chat with Kido since he was there and I expect some more information from you mister." She gestured to Yusuke who just swallowed hard "The doc is strong and I need a strong psychic, someone who understands territories and how they work."
"If he hurts you" she didn't let me finish talking.
"I can crush him even if I am paralyzed. Are you ok with that?" this was not going well however I could not express my dislike or else she would retreat back into her shell. I had to show her I was on her side, trusted her judgment.
"Alright, I understand what you are trying to do. It is the smart thing." Yusuke would have probably kicked me if I was someone else yet seeing me maintain a calm appearance managed to alleviate the tension he was feeling.
Concluding it was a good approach at least, we all walked inside the temple. I had to get Hana to think things through however with no sleep for the both of us, there was no chance I could manage that task. She was being stubborn, so much so that it was not making anything easy.
However I had to try.
With a gentle pull on her arm, she turned to look at me while Yusuke went ahead to the kitchen "I need you to know that you are not alone in this alright?" offering me a small smile she tilted her head to the side "I am here, for anything. Just please, always tell me what you are planning. Do not put me in an impossible situation where I cannot take any action."
"I don't know what else to do other than continue to push myself, put myself in impossible situations and fight my way out." Her eyes found mine and that was when I saw the desperation buried deep inside her "Even if no one is saying it they are looking at me like I know more, like I understand what is going on." Her hands gripped my shirt, an action she did not even look to be aware of as she continued to search my face for answers I did not possess as she continued to speak just above a whisper "What would I tell everyone when we will be called to Demon World?"
"Pardon?" for a moment I thought she was losing her mind or perhaps I was "Who is going to Demon World?"
"I don't know yet, but there will be a meeting. Koenma should inform us when." No wonder she was on edge, it suddenly became so clear. She was afraid they would all point fingers and ask questions, look at her for answers and a solution.
My arms cradled her close to my chest, lips kissing the top of her head "Thank you for telling me. Now I understand better." I could feel the tension in her body, the anger running in her veins "Just remember that I, Yusuke and the rest did not accomplish anything alone. I know it feels like you must do this by yourself, but we will find a way."
Lifting her head she looked at me "I sure hope so, because my brain is fried honestly. Now come on I brought unfortunate cookies."
"Unfortunate?" I could feel the tug at my lips as she realized that was not the correct word.
"Ummm fuck, nope, can't think for the life of me. They are fortune cookies, but have bad fortunes you know?" the innocence on her face made me smile.
The confusion in her eyes was priceless "Misfortune cookies then?" her eyes lit up like I just handed to her the solution to all her predicaments.
"Duh, misfortune. That's the one." Laughter vibrated in our chests and it warmed my heart to see she could still smile despite everything that was happening. Placing a gentle kiss against her lips I wished I could hold her like this and not let her go. Not allow for anything else to exist, for time to just stop and let us have each other, be together and at least let us see a modicum of happiness.
Stepping inside the kitchen, Hana went to a cupboard from which she produces a big bag. Opening, she spilled its content inside a bowl and passed everyone, offering a misfortune cookie as we all sat at the table just chatting. Coming from behind she placed a cold beer in my hands and hugged me. In my ear she whispered a small thank you before letting me go.
Calling out the window she basically summoned Hiei with a cold beer and I snickered to myself. This friendship, alliance or however they wanted to address it, was doing both of them good. His eyes would linger on her face a moment longed, a subtle head nod indicating to her both approval and a thank you for get kind gestures. She would just lower her eyes or also bob her head whenever he would accept the items offer, letting him go to his place of choosing. Tonight he joined us at the table.
Next beer was offered to Kazuma, finding it a tad odd since I expected it to be passed to Yusuke. My friend offered a smile before cracking in between his fingers the misfortune cookie "At least I believe in you. Me, a piece of paper." Eating the cookie he shrug his shoulders, eyes travelling to Yukina.
Yusuke got the following beer, taking Keiko in his lap. No protest followed as she opened his cookie "It says you are generous, beautiful, king and also gullible." Letting Keiko laugh it off, he glared at Hana as if she was the one who wrote the papers.
Waving a hand in front of her face, her hand dove into the bowl, seconds later lips muttering the words inside the cookie "Mine is saying: you're uncharismatic, impolite and unattractive. What were you expecting good news?" she frowned at first then shrug her shoulders, yet smiled.
Hiei looked at the odd messages the rest were holding and lifted a brow. Picking one out of the bowl I explained what they were as I opened and glanced at mine "Apparently I fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down." Rolling my eyes I ignored Yusuke's snickering as I encouraged Hiei to take one.
"This is retarded." But he still broke one in half "Here, this one is actually yours." Passing it to Kazuma he smirked.
"Hey, not funny man." Yukina slid her chair closer, placing a hand over her hand to conceal a smile. Giving in, Kazuma read it out loud to the group "There is a list of better looking people than you, it's call a phone book."
Taking a sip from my beer I sat back glancing at everyone just making small talk. This was needed, always such a welcomed break to be at the temple "How about we play a game to" I froze midsentence feeling a surge of energy in the air.
Hiei got up, hand reaching for his sword. Kazuma and Yusuke also felt it, the girls catching on quickly.
"Hey Kuwabara, stay with the girls alright." A nod was all it took for Yusuke to take Keiko off his lap. He got up looking at me, his intense gaze being all it took "Good, Hiei I need you around, just in case someone comes here." With that Hiei was out of sight to guard the perimeter.
Turning to Hana, I met her wide eyes "Stay here. I need to go check it out." Her skin ran cold and she did not answer me at first "Hana."
"Now fox boy or I leave without you." I did not know if she felt the energy surge or not, but she finally gave me a small nod before I left with Yusuke running to the safe house where Jin and Ito were.
If the enemy has managed to find us, we were in more danger than initially anticipated.