Kurama's POV:
As I approached the main gate it was clear I was not hearing things, that obnoxious, foul, incoherent song was playing in a loop. Someone was clearly trying to test the last grain of patience I had and I was certainly not in the mood for silly games.
Hiei came in view, wide stare taking me in as I stopped in my tracks "She's here, just…" for whatever reason he could not find the right words to relate to me the desired information "I think you'd best see for yourself."
"Is she alright?" his nod was affirmative, however his expression did not provide me with much hope. Just what was I supposed to understand from that?
Stepping through the main gate, my eyes landed on Kido speaking with Hana right on the porch. Turning, she flashed a big smile waving at me.
"Finally, about time you arrived." I felt air go into my lungs, yet I could not release it "What, you look like you've seen a ghost." She looked over at me, sitting there barefooted, arms crossed over her chest, curious eyes watching me "Like my t-shirt?" unravelling her arms, she pointed at the fox printed on her clothes "No?" jumping off the porch in one swift move she strut over to me, waving a hand in my face to gain my attention.
Closing my eyes for a second I exhaled, wishing this nightmare away. Unfortunately upon opening them, Hana was still there in her fox t-shirt, that horrid song still playing in my ears "What are you doing?" she looked at me, cheeky grin spread on her lips as anger burned my chest, realisation coming alive, the friend scenario hitting me across the face.
"Just a bit of fun, geez what's with that face?" Shaking her head for dramatic effect I wanted to scream for her to just stop it "We're heading tomorrow to Demon World so I was just setting the mood. Might as well go in there with a smile on my face." I did not expect for her to be alright with going back, not like this.
Cocking my head to the side slightly all my equations failed me. Sheer determination held Hana in place, not a hint of hurt or suffering darkening her face "What do you think will happen tomorrow?" I felt my stomach churn, acid travelling up my esophagus, heart beat picking up as she lowered her eyes to check out her nails, scratching her nose, nonchalantly wrinkling it.
"They will ask me every possible question, but I prepared a presentation. It will explain to them what the soul looks like, those tentacle babies, how Otake's soul looked like, my powers and what I can do." Nothing, there was nothing there, no emotion clouded her eyes.
"And you are prepared, perfectly alright with everything?" she nodded her head as I continued to search, for something, anything that could give her away "What have you done Hana?" grabbing her wrist did surprise her, eyes widening slightly "How are you doing this?" then it became clear, it was there all along, staring me in the face, better yet hitting me over and over "You healed yourself."
"Yes so?" Yanking her hand away was sudden, a glare taking me in "It was the only way I could continue to help so I hope you understand." I did not "I would've been a liability. I'm not as good with my emotions." That was a direct attack and I felt every syllable.
"I see." Clenching my fists became the only comfort I had "So you have erased everything." The back of her hand slapped my chest, laughter ringing in my ears, mocking me, my feelings. How could I not see this coming?
I cannot pretend to know what she saw in my eyes but the sound died inside her throat in an instant. Hana extended a hand to touch my face however I just turned my cheek away "Don't!" I know she felt the harshness leaving my tongue, it was intended after all. I let her get too close and now she was trying to play an extremely dangerous game "You will regret touching me right now." however her fear and surprise were short lived.
"Oh my God." Pinching the bridge of her nose she exhaled "Please don't be simple. I had to explain it to the rest, I thought you at least would know." My face said otherwise "Kurama, I can't heal" some air quotes were apparently in order "feelings ok? I can only heal scars left behind by said hurt feelings." Her brows lifted slowly as she waited for my input.
"Go on."
Rolling her eyes, an exasperated look took over the amusement in her eyes "Killing Otake, finding out you were Yoko, being attacked when we thought we were safe, all of those things hurt me. I didn't want to risk being unstable, unleashing my powers and causing damage, so I healed the pain." Her brows knit as she crossed her hands over her chest, taking half a step back from me "I need to think with a clear head. Of all people you should know better how important that is." Swallowing a lump in my throat I understood what she was saying "Just remember that I'm a healer, not a damn miracle worker. So yes, I am still hurting if that was your fucking problem and no I didn't erase my feelings for you because I can't." pushing a finger in my face anger tightened her muscles "But I am mad at you, we are not together anymore and I can't go back to being friends." Her voice faltered for a moment, regaining its strength shortly after.
"Clearly." That one word left a bitter taste in my mouth, her happy nod evermore so "Then what is with the fox theme?"
"Revenge, petty really, but revenge nonetheless." For a second I wondered if I were to wrap my hands around her neck, would she return to normal, see the error of her ways? Would that scare her more? Shaking my head, I drove everything to the back of my head passing her.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night, but I am warning you, do not push it." Looking over my shoulder she stuck her tongue out at me "Pushing it Hana." Stepping at her side, Hiei placed a firm hand on her shoulder shaking his head. I did not care for what he had to say to her. Kido looked at me, just stepping to the side as I made my way inside the temple.
Resisting the urge to slam the door to my room, I exhaled sharply, counting to fifty in my head. There was ration behind her decision, cold, calculated ration. She was stable, able to hold her own and not bend to the will of those around her. On repeat, I was going to play it on repeat until I believed it.
Heading to the bathroom to wash my face I stopped after taking one step inside as I looked up at a bag that broke on top of my head. The content? Flour. Of course it's flour.
One.
Two.
Three.
Screw it!
Existing my room I headed to where she was, ignoring everyone encountered on the way to the kitchen "Hana" she turned, a hand flying over her mouth as she laughed "you have ten seconds to run, I am not in the mood and you have taken this far enough." Blinking a couple of times, I heard her heart beat pick up "I said run. Run as far away as you can from me."
"Never." What is this double meaning? She was trembling slightly, trying to hide it, yet I could see it. She was pushing it and I was trying to determine if it was on purpose or not.
"One, two, three" she was not moving, just standing there as I took slow steps, that dear in the headlights look engraved on her face "four, five, six. Not very smart of you Hana."
"Oh boo-huu." Scared yet tempted, the perfect pray. Reaching in a drawer I initially thought she will take out a knife, but no, of course not. In her hands she held a small toy guy. Pulling the trigger a small suction arrow stuck to my shirt for a moment, before falling to the ground. I followed its motion before looking back up at her.
"Seven, eight, nine." Grabbing the gun out of her hand she jumped at the sudden proximity "Ten." Grabbing her by the arm, I twisted it behind her back, pushing her against the counter, placing her head under the water faucet that I had just turned on, cold of course. Using my free hand, I opened the cabinet in front of me, pouring on her head all the flour I got my hands on "This is how you do it." Letting her go, I saw red marks on her white skin, a shocked Hana looking at me.
It took her a few seconds before she burst out laughing and honestly I could not hold it in either. We both looked ridiculous. Oh Hana how lucky you were for pulling a toy gun out of that drawer. I would have done worse that a hand print on your delicate body.
Yusuke entered the kitchen, looking at us as if we have lost our minds. Honestly what's to say we have not?
He grabbed us both so fast that neither of us had any idea what he had done until we raised our hands, cuffs infused with his own spirit energy binding my hand to hers.
"Yusuke…" he grinned at us from ear to ear, slapping both palms together.
"Now talk it out or else you are going like that to Demon World. Have fun." Hana pulled me as she tried to grab him, staring at the inconvenience stuck to her. He must of felt the sudden spike in my energy, this was him giving both of us an ultimatum: talk it out or kill each other. Well, perhaps not that extreme...perhaps.
"You have got to be fucking kidding me you asshole." He had already left the kitchen but that did not stop him from yelling back at her.
"Both of you can suck it for all I care, you'll thank me later." Staring back at me she measured the length of the chain, tugging at it relentlessly.
"I do not think they can be taken off so easily."
"Great." She huffed, yanking at my hand "How am I supposed to shower?" her eyes grew wide as realisation hit her "That fucker." Frustration was now clear on her face however that mischief spark light up "So, my room or yours? Or do you want to leave tomorrow like this?"
As much as I wanted to shower, the idea of us two in there was a draconian punishment, one I was not willing to submit myself to. She was overstepping and in no means was safe with me. Then again she did ask for me to not go soft, to teach her, be cruel if I had to, so cruel I will be.
Taking her hand into mine we both went to my room first to get some items, then proceeded to hers "Are the pranks over?" shrugging her shoulders she searched in a drawer for a pair of scissors.
"We keep our underwear on." I felt the need to fall back on the initial plan yet I just smirked agreeing with her crazy idea as we both started getting undressed. One by one, clothing items hit the floor, shirts being cut in order to take them off.
"Ok I do you then you do me." dangerous words coming out of a pretty mouth, hand finding mine in order to follow. Not lovers, yet there we were handcuffed in the shower, washing each other. Not friends yet there we were looking at each other knowing there is more in between.
"Did you plan for this?" I extended the question as she was on the third round of shampoo. Dropping her hands, I dropped mine too.
"Not this, sorry to disappoint." Perhaps letting her undress was not the wisest of choices, after all I was looking at the woman who shamelessly got on her knees in front of me in my own kitchen "To be honest I didn't intend to spend too much time with you today."
"While the feeling is mutual, the entire prank idea makes it redundant. You knew it would irk me." something dimmed in her eyes, suspicion reaching the far corners of my brain "It is never wise to get me mad, while it does not happen often, you do not wish to see what I am capable of."
She kept watching me, taking in every word that left my mouth "Aha." Was all she said before she reached once more for the shampoo, however I grabbed it first hiding it behind my back "If I slip and crack my head open I am blaming you." her attempts were in vain, so much so that at one point she actually gave up, placing herself on the shower floor. There was abandonment in the way she moved, how she hid her face meant there was something there she did not wish for me to see "Whatever, tell me when you're done."
Crutching to meet her gaze, she did her best to look fed up with me "It's cold down here." She was having none of it, refusing the hand offered to pick her up.
"Stop it. If you want to hurt me, go ahead, it's what you're trying to tell me no?" yanking at the chain felt like she was tugging at all the wrong parts. Getting on her knees she came closer to me "I'm tired of the lies coming out of your mouth, of the double sided meaning of even your thoughts." Gentle finger tips grazed my jaw line even when I shinned away, pulling Hana to her feet "Of not being enough."
"Pardon?" the entire mood shifted as our eyes locked, pain shinning back at me, however she mentioned she healed her soul, so it was either a lie and she managed to play one Hell of an act, or being with me actually caused her more pain than us being apart "What do you mean not enough?"
"Please, you barely trust yourself, I never stood a chance." Finally getting her hands on the much desired shampoo bottle, she got back to scrubbing all the while my mind spun out of control. Just how broken is she truly to even reach such a conclusion? She should have been placing the entire blame on me, yet she somehow found a fault in her as well. Victims of abuse usually take on this sort of pattern and she was one.
We did not share anymore words during the shower, both looked away as we got into clean undergarments and dressed as much as we could since there was no chance of me getting into a shirt, her abandoning the idea of a bra, pulling up her legs a tank top.
As we leaned against the wall, watching a movie, letting our hair air dry I kept stealing glances. She sat as far as the chain allowed it, a blanket draped over her legs and not once had she looked at me "You are not to blame."
"Quit it." The retaliation came as soon as I finished talking. Gently yanking at the chain she finally looked over at me.
"You are enough." Shaking her head she was not willing to listen to me.
"I said quit it." No, it was not the time to listen to her. Using the fact that I could control one of her hands, I quickly got her pinned against the bed, arms above her head.
"No Hana. I need you to listen to me." those long lashes fluttered as fast as her heart did, body melting underneath mine "You may not believe my words, but at least you will hear them. I forge lies far easier than truths. I can break you down so easily, that's how fragile you are." Using one hand to keep her arms in place I caressed her cheek, running my thumb across her lower lip "I try to repress so many things, analyse even the tiniest detail. Like now, you told me you healed, yet your eyes shine with so much pain. Do mine?" turning her face away from my touch she struggled against me "I turned into Yoko the first time out of instinct, to survive the attack." Her eyes travelled back to my face, chest slowly going up and down "I knew you could save me, somehow I just knew and believe me I was under the impression you were already away about my past."
"Kurama, I promise that we will talk, but after the meeting tomorrow."
Narrowing my eyes slightly, my voice turned to a dangerous rumble "Is that a lie?"
"No silly, it's a promise." Wiggling one hand free, action allowed only by me, she placed it behind my head pulling me closer "And I keep my promises." Her lips brushed mine swiftly, so fleeting yet enough to shock my senses.
Not friends, not lovers, then what are we Hana?
