Sooooo….I'm back lmao :D I finally managed to get around to writing the chapter ya"ll been waiting years for. I've been seeing lots of reviews of The Promised Kept, I've read them while I was away, and I honestly think this is the most popular story in all of my content. I totally appreciate everyone for sticking around and I apologize for the super lateness. I'm not done with this story and I plan to expand it longer and go deeper into the meat of everything, but again, it will take me a looonnggg time to get my writing process set and uploaded, so please be patient with me, it'll be worth the wait. Again, I thank everyone for reading, reviewing and sticking with the story, I prefer to take my time and not worry about pressuring myself into deadlines. So as rapper Dababy says "Lesss goo!"
Chapter 11: Showdown of the Rivals
Why? Yukina asked herself, what is the meaning to all of them fighting like this? What can I do to stop it? I-I can't move…
Yukina's mind filled with anxiety and grave fear, her eyes wide with the realization of bloodlust coming from Touya and Hiei. Touya began to form his ice sword once again, this time it was sharper and longer than earlier during his fight with Kuwabara. Hiei grabbed the hilt of his sword resting behind his back. Hiei's angered ruby colored eyes stared daggers of hate towards Touya's frost blue eyes, his anger also on display as he readies his stance. Kuwabara stood aside, growling as he readies his Jigen Tou.
He stopped to look at Hiei with bewilderment, his eye brows raised.
I'm more than pissed at Touya, but why is shrimp boy here? Does he have an issue with Touya too?...or…
"Hey, Hiei!" Kuwabara irately shouted to him, "Are you also fighting for Yukina's hand?! Because I already called dibs a long time ago!"
"You idiot!" Hiei screamed back, astonished and disgusted at the red headed teen's outburst. A sudden slash exploded the ground, just at the same time Hiei quickly leapt backward a few feet away. Fresh demon blood dripped from Hiei; he had been wounded with a gash across his left shoulder from Touya's sword, thanks to Kuwabara's distraction throwing him off guard.
"Got you!" Touya chuckled as he licked the blood off his ice blade, preparing himself once again, "Thanks, Kuwabara, you have become useful this time. You should be proud."
Hiei turned to Kuwabara furiously, "If you are going to fight, then fight! Otherwise, get the hell out of my way, fool!" using his quick speed, Hiei followed Touya and matching him sword to sword. The sound of metal clashing made Yukina cover her eyes, only for her to peak through to see what was happening. Both warriors went back and forth trading sword blow after blow, the speed of both demons was nearly hard to follow.
Hiei managed to throw Touya off guard by feint stepping in front of him, slicing him through his clothing and leaving a slicing wound on his chest; blood dripping from him again, aside from his earlier wounds from fighting with Kuwabara, his powers were already weakening since then.
"I don't see how this is fair; you are fresh for this fight while I am still injured? Pathetic." Touya complained, spitting blood from his mouth as he seethed towards Hiei.
Taking advantage, Hiei then leapt in the air, ready to bring his sword downwards, when Touya looked up, smiling mischievously. "I was hoping you would do that!"
He stood, placing his left hand out front of himself. He removed his tattered sleeve, revealing a long chain of demon spell writings all over, "Winter Coffin!"
Out of the palm of his hand formed razor sharp snowflakes, ranging in the hundreds blasting into the wide area and in Hiei's landing path. Hiei could not move in time, as the air surrounding him turned cold. He yelled in pain as the sharp snowflakes started cutting at his black cloth to bits and through to his skin. Heavy ice started to form around his feet, dropping Hiei to the ground and leaving him immobile. The ice started to quickly move upward to Hiei's leg.
Hiei took his right arm, glowing black fire surrounding him, "Dragon of The-"
"Don't be foolish, Hiei." Touya chimed in. The ice formed on Hiei's arms, the black flame fanned out. Hiei struggled, trying to break out by heating up his body, but the ice would melt and reform stronger, further encasing him when it stopped, leaving his neck and head free.
"You won't be able to move, so don't bother." Touya spoke confidently, "You see, Winter Coffin is very much like icy quick sand, the more you struggle, the more hardened the ice reforms and surrounds you until you are sealed. This isn't the Human World ice that I've been using against your stupid human friend; this is Demon World ice, summoned from the most brutal, coldest, hellish and harshest winter in the inhabitable southern artic, no amount of fire is going to melt this ice that easily. Any other demon would have died instantly of frost bite just by touching it, but then again, you are a very high ranking demon, aren't you, Hiei? I saved the best for last."
Hiei growled as he tried to heat his body with his demon energy, but once again, the ice melted and reformed, moving closer and hardening around and up to his neck. He could not turn his head, nor could he move.
"I wouldn't keep moving or powering your energy up if I were you." Touya mocked, "The more you struggle, the ice will just force you to use your energy, and whatever energy you put out, the ice will strengthen each time you do so. You're just making your death much faster with struggling, but do as you wish to escape, it's your life."
Hiei grinned menacingly, "So you haven't gotten lazy over the years?"
"Did you think that after both tournaments that we would stop training and not get stronger? This is what we demons do, we live to get stronger and improve, and I'm right at your level. As of today, I am no longer your lackey, I serve my own purpose now, and she will be mine, Hiei." Yukina could not believe what she heard. Looking at Hiei and Touya, she didn't understand what Touya meant.
Touya was hired by Hiei…for what purpose?
Damn it! That bastard! Hiei kept heating up his body and trying to move, but the reforming of ice had become stronger than ever with it nearly squeezing the air out of his body. Hiei felt the ice restricting his chest, barely able to get air flow. Touya was suffocating him. Hiei stopped moving, preserving what chest space he has left to barely breathe.
"If you keep intensifying your struggle, the further the ice will crush your body. Any additional spirit or demon energy you use to try to break out, the tougher the ice forms and when it senses your death, it will create a gorgeously crafted ice coffin and fully engulf your corpse, but you don't listen when I tell you to stop, so continue on." Touya heckled. "Your body will be preserved for years to come."
Just as Touya was about to move in towards Hiei, he heard heavy stomps rushing behind him, "Hey, that's not a fair fight, you dumbass!" Kuwabara charged ahead with his Jigen Tou.
Touya easily stepped aside, tripping Kuwabara's feet causing him to take a tumble and onto the ground head first. Just like Hiei, Touya calls for Winter Coffin, causing ice to form and wrap around Kuwabara as he lay on the floor, with only his head exposed and the rest of his body encased in demonic ice.
"H-hey, what the hell?! Get this crap off of me!" Again, the more he struggled, the more ice formed and hardened. Kuwabara was also feeling his chest immediately being depraved of air as he fought to free himself, gasping harder as he desperately tries to intake air, almost nearing on the edge of blacking out.
Hiei fought to keep his eyes open but he was on the edge of collapsing, "Stop…moving….idiot…"
Touya laughed wickedly, "Don't worry; you'll both have a magnificent funeral. This kind of ice doesn't melt for 100 years so at least your bodies will be peacefully preserved. You'll both have free coffins to slumber in forever. Enjoy your last moments of living, guys."
"NO, TOUYA!"
Touya looked behind him, Yukina running from the temple steps, stopping in between space of Hiei and Kuwabara, her arms stretched out. The Hiruseki tears formed into stones fallen from her ruby eyes, yet she had an unsympathetic expression on her face. Kuwabara and Hiei barely could keep their eyes on her. Kuwabara was especially worried, "Yu-Yukina…don't…"
Hiei managed to look up in front of him, seeing Yukina standing between him and Touya, what is she doing?! Move!
Touya leaned forward, grinning slyly, "So will you be my woman after all?"
Yukina ignored his question; she couldn't stand this secrecy going on any more, "What did you mean by being Hiei's lackey?! Why are you two keeping things from me?! Just please, stop all of this! No more, please!"
Touya remarked back, "Oh, I would ask your friend over there." Hiei's head was hanging low, nearly out of breath from his constant resisting. The ice stopped moving, but Hiei was clearly about to faint. Kuwabara's face was almost turning blue from the strangulation of the ice surrounding his neck and caving in his chest.
Yukina looked to Hiei and Kuwabara. Both were almost on the brink of collapse. She held her palm against Hiei's face, "Hiei, please stay awake! You need to keep your eyes open!"
She then ran over to a weakened Kuwabara, trying to hold his exposed head and tapping him awake, "Kazuma! You have to fight out of this!" She saw that his skin was turning faintly blue, sweat dripping down his face as he tried his hardest to keep his eyes open.
As Touya stepped behind her with a wicked smile, she turned back around to him gripping on his pant leg, eagerly begging to him, "P-please, T-Touya! I ask of you to let them go! I beg of yo-"
Touya came from behind, slapping Yukina across her face. She hit the ground hard, drawing a sight of blood on her bottom lip. She whined loudly in pain, only for the cut to disappear.
Seeing and hearing her cry, both Hiei and Kuwabara managed to be stirred awake, seeing Yukina being shoved and kicked in the stomach by Touya as she cried out in pain had finally increased Kuwabara's fury that he never felt before. He felt the surge of his burning spirit energy in his left hand; the neon yellow aura was getting luminous.
Feeling Kuwabara's spirit energy shining, Touya stopped his abuse of Yukina, watching Kuwabara trying to break free as he laughs at his escape attempt.
"Are you guys hard of hearing or just plain stupid? If you use your energies, the ice will just make it harder and you'll be encased forever. Don't you understand, you fool?"
Hitting Yukina was more than crossing the line, he promised her would never let anyone put their hands on Yukina ever again after she was held captive all those years ago. Now, seeing the woman he loved the most being abused, it brought back the shared memories of Yukina being tortured by Tarukane and his henchmen. It was much too far for Kuwabara to take as he couldn't do anything to protect her while in his binding. He felt the ice cracking under his new ball of spirit energy. With all his might, he called forth all the spirit energy he had.
Kazuma is overloading the ice! Yukina tried to hold her head up to see the bright light from Kuwabara, He's trying to break the ice with all of his power!
"TOOUUYYAAA, YOU COWARD!" Kuwabara growled wrathfully, his spirit energy increased with the glow in his left hand again. As he struggled even more, the ice kept regenerating, encasing him in the ice, but it made small cracks where Kuwabara's energy was forming.
"YUKINA!" Hiei yelled, seeing his sister on the ground was more than he could take to see. Hiei managed to heat his body up once more, but the ice had fully encased his head, freezing him and his entire body solid in place.
"Hiei! Noooo!" Yukina screamed, her tears rolling down to the floor in forms of Hiruseki stones.
Before she could move, Touya pushed her to the ground once more, rubbing his boot into her side as she screamed in pain.
"You have been the most difficult." Touya responded.
He went then grabbed Yukina violently by the many strands of her sea blue-green locks. She tried to twist and scratch at his hands to unleash her but he was too strong, holding her a few inches off the ground. The bruising on her arms and legs were fresh, but went away as her body was healing itself. She sustained more injuries when she was being dragged.
"Do you and your dying idiot friend want to know the truth of why I am here? Fine." Touya dragged Yukina by her hair to Hiei's frozen body.
Touya chuckled coldly as he forced Yukina up to Hiei's face, "This is the man that hired me to get with you, to try and trick you into falling in love with me…"
He then forcefully dragged Yukina to Kuwabara, "…As a distraction to make sure you don't fall in love with this idiot. It was an agreement made by Hiei himself weeks before the night I followed you and that fool into the park. I have no reason to lie, but it seems that he does." Motioning to Hiei's frozen body.
Yukina couldn't believe him, "Y-you're lying!"
Touya placed her scared tearful face up to his as he further became enraged; caressing her scared tearful face with his deadly cold hand, "Just ask how I suddenly became so interested in you. And since you clearly didn't fall for me, I'll just have to force you. I was only supposed to trick you, but your legendary Ice Maiden beauty was much too appealing to let you go, I had to have you for myself. We're both ice demons and meant for each other like I said before on our most perfect date, you'll see the light soon enough, Yukina."
Touya glared menacingly as she winced in pain, "You know that in our world, demon women who are not strong on their own rely on strong, powerful demon men to protect them. This is the social order of our world. A human will not live long to protect you, he'll write you off as soon as he can get rid of you, just like the humans who kept you hostage all those years ago."
Yukina's eyes widen with shock. She couldn't believe what she just heard. Touya threw her to the ground once again, relinquishing her hair. Yukina looked up towards Hiei's frozen body, more tears fallen down her face; "Is it really true, Hiei? Did you hire Touya to keep me from Kuwabara?"
Touya giggled vilely, kicking Yukina and laying his foot on top of her side, grinding it into her rib cage as she cried in pain again. Kuwabara shouted angrily, "YUKINA!" The ice breaking apart quickly under his power.
"Of course he did, don't be stupid! How does it feel to have your friend betray you and that human fool?! I clearly have my own reason to want you by my side and even now, I will make that idiot suffer until I-"
Before Touya could insult any further, Kuwabara's spirit energy flared all around him, breaking the Winter Coffin and exploding into ice pieces all over the now destroyed temple garden. Kuwabara glowed with bright neon yellow energy, his Jigen Tou had become enflamed with his ire and started to mold into something bigger. It resembled a claymore sword, longer and larger with needing two hands to carry due to its massive weight, but with Kuwabara in his deep seeded wrath, it was a simple carry for him.
"You asshole!" Kuwabara shouted angrily. The large swing of his newly transformed sword managed to break Hiei free from his ice coffin. Hiei gasped deeply, trying to gather his breath, he swore that Kuwabara was aiming for Hiei and not the ice.
He turned his sword at the last minute before he swung it down, I know he did! Hiei thought, as he lay on the ground, trying to catch his breath.
Kuwabara then turned to Touya, seeing Yukina under his foot being smothered to the ground.
"Now, as for you…" Kuwabara readied his stance as Touya backed away from Yukina as she ran to Kuwabara's side for protection.
Touya couldn't believe his eyes; a pathetic low grade human like Kuwabara was able to break the most dangerous ice from the depths of Demon World with only his spirit sword, "That's impossible! How did you manage to break the strongest ice in all of the worlds?! I can't be easily defeated, not like this!"
Kuwabara grinned happily as he held his spirit claymore with purpose.
"I've been waiting to say this to you for a long, long time!"
Touya, now fearful and backing away as he tried to flee into the forest, begged for his life.
"No! Don't! I promise I won't bother any of you!"
"Go to hell!" he shouted back.
As Yukina prepared to cover herself, with one giant swing of his claymore, the energy spread in thunderous fashion as the sword landed and began splitting the ground in half with rocks and torn tree branches towards a shocked, terrified Touya, hitting him severely and bringing him into flight and crashing through the miles of forest, tearing through the trees, breaking every branch he came into contact with until he had hit a thick tree trunk causing an indentation with his now battered beaten body, landing at the bottom of the grassy floor below. His body sustained heavy damage, bleeding and a broken arm. He was a great distance away from Genkai's temple. Touya smiled weakly.
"So…I…lost…" he coughed up blood from his lips as he spoke slowly.
"You knew you lost the moment you tried to go after those two." A raspy tone voice spoke from the tree above Touya, it was Genkai. "One thing you will never have is the special powerful relationship that Yukina has with those two men, but Kuwabara was the one who doomed you from the start of this whole thing and that is who defeated you. Not bad for a human."
Touya smirked lightly as he shut his eyes, "Well…I guess so…"
Genkai leapt from the branch and stood over Touya, lighting her cigarette, "Once I heal you enough to walk, I'll help you get to the Demon World gate. However, once you feel completely better, you are to return back to my temple and clean up the mess you started with my garden, and that's an order."
Touya managed to laugh, although painfully, "Why only me? And how do you know I'll be coming back?"
She responded with blowing smoke into Touya's face, he coughed harshly in response, "Because you caused all of this, idiot. You're lucky Kuwabara went easy and didn't kill you. He didn't use his full power because he didn't want Yukina to witness any more fighting."
Genkai rubbed half of the non-burnt half of the cigarette on to the damaged tree trunk and smiled, "If you don't come back, I'll simply send my lap dog Yusuke to drag your ass back here, and he'll be more of a pain in the ass to deal with when he is told to do chores, understand?"
"Hm, makes sense…" he smiled to himself. Touya looked straight ahead, seeing the vast damage to the forest that lay ahead from his trail of defeat. He was lucky to be alive, that was his only reward.
Touya smiled as he quietly thought to himself, it's ok, I can admit that I lost. That sword transformed for Kuwabara like it was nothing. Yukina was apparently his inspiration to do that. Genkai's right…
"I do have to say this," Genkai smiled as she took out a small jar of healing salve from her sash and knelt beside Touya on the grass, "You did serve a purpose, but not in the way that you and Hiei planned."
"Huh?" Touya responded, "What do you mean?"
Genkai chuckled, "You finally managed to get a real conversation going between Kuwabara and Hiei, that's all. No more secrets and you can no longer interfere. Now shut up and lift up your legs so I can put this salve on them."
Touya smiled and nodded, "Yes, Master Genkai."
YYHYYHYYHYYHYYHYYHYYHYYHYYHYYHYYHYYHYYHYYHYYHYYHYYH
Later that night at the Kuwabara residence:
"Are you feeling better, Kazuma?" Yukina asked as she sat beside Kuwabara on his bed. They were in his bedroom as she used her healing powers on him some more. Aside from cracked ribs, cuts, and lots of bruises, Kuwabara mostly was able to get home somewhat okay with Yukina's healing powers. His shirt was heavily damaged so he threw it off, only keeping his jeans on as he leaned back on his pillow against the wall. Her powers were still flowing through his body, mending and repairing the heavy damages to his body, but otherwise, the physical pain was subsiding slowly. The mental and emotional pain was something her powers couldn't heal.
Kuwabara nodded silently, gave Yukina a small smile, and turned to look out his window. He wasn't really in the mood to be his usual overly happy self, especially after the encounter from earlier. His spirit energy was completely spent, but thanks to Yukina's powers, it wouldn't take no more than a day to fully recover.
Yukina noticed his demeanor had not changed since they came home, Kuwabara was silent the whole bus ride home, only saying he was happy that Yukina was okay and apologized for not protecting her as he should have. Yukina shook her head in disagreement, telling Kuwabara that she only risked herself because she wanted to protect him and Hiei. It only made Kuwabara more furious….
Kuwabara walked up to Hiei, who was still catching his breath. Yukina walked up behind him anxiously, wandering what he was going to do,"Kazuma…"
Hiei stood up, finding Kuwabara standing above him. The rage and anger that Kuwabara had across his face was something Yukina had never seen before.
"Don't think I wasn't done with you yet!" Kuwabara balled up right fist at his side, growling as he spoke, "So, you're the real punk who started all of this, huh!?"
Before Hiei got to speak, he felt a heavy fist land across his face, sending him to the ground and skidding to what was left of the garden fence.
Kuwabara heatedly waked over and grabbed Hiei by the scruff of his cloth, prepared to land another punch.
"What the hell were you thinking, you selfish bastard?!" Kuwabara barked, "You have got to be the most stupid dumbass I have ever come across aside from Urameshi! What's really going on with you, Hiei?! You're not telling me or anyone else what's been eating at you for you to do something this stupid, and even worse than anything else, you almost got Yukina killed in the process! How does hiring that idiot Touya help Yukina when you are going against Yukina's will to make her own choices in her life that you have no right or reason to command over?! How is that fair to her?!"
"Kazuma, don't hurt him! Please!" Yukina begged as she held Kuwabara's arm to keep him from hitting Hiei.
Hiei remained silent; he really couldn't answer those questions. He knew Kuwabara was right. He let his selfishness over step his sister's free will to be herself. He went too far, and was told this by Kurama and Genkai. He was in the wrong completely, but he was in too deep to stop himself.
Kuwabara kept on the pressure, his eyes filled with fury,"ANSWER ME, DAMN IT!"
Yukina begged once more,"Kazuma, please stop!" as she tugged on his arm tightly.
Hiei looked off to the side in shame, "…I was blinded…"
Kuwabara's temper couldn't take it, "Blinded?! Are you dumb?! For the last few years, anytime me or some else mentions anything about Yukina's past, you either get pissed off or start acting weird around everyone. You disappear from Human World and only come back when we benefit your purpose and I'm personally getting sick of it! Now that Touya outted your ridiculous plan to take Yukina away from me and her friends, you and I are gonna settle this like real men and figure this out for the sake of Yukina's well-being! She deserves better than this and you owe it to her after putting her in danger because of you!"
Kuwabara threw Hiei to the ground hard as Yukina breathed a sigh of relief. She walked over to Hiei, seeing all of his bruises and cuts as he continued to take deep breaths.
Kuwabara's breathing was just as harsh from being crushed by the ice, but at the same time, he was filled with wrath; he couldn't stand the sight of Hiei, going to an enemy to do harm to Yukina as revenge against Kuwabara.
It was beyond cowardly to Kuwabara and the worst offense of being highly disrespectful to Yukina. He turned his back to Hiei. He really wanted to punish him, but he didn't want Yukina to see any more violence then she already had today.
"I'm willing to fight and die for my friends, especially if it means I can protect Yukina and her right to live happily and free! I'm also willing to kill anyone who tries to restrict or harm her, and if it means you, Hiei, then so be it! She was willing to put herself in front of Touya and take those beatings because she cares about all of us, even though right now, I can't stand to look at you, she is more forgiving than me! You better apologize to her and mean it!"
Hiei grunted back, "So when you freed me back there, you were trying to kill me, but you pulled back at the last second. I was perfectly vulnerable, what would you have to say for yourself?"
Kuwabara shrugged his comment, snapping back, "I'd just say my sword slipped on impact."
Hiei was awestruck; he never heard such an unyielding commitment from Kuwabara like this before, let alone copping an attitude. The tone in his voice was more than what Hiei expected out of Kuwabara, all for the sake of Yukina.
"…I apologize…Yukina…" he muttered, shame taken into his voice without lifting his head to acknowledge her presence, "I truly am sorry…"
Yukina stepped quietly towards Hiei as she knelt beside him. He turned to her, noticing her very concerned appearance as she got closer to him, "Hiei, you took a lot of damage, please let me-"
"Don't heal me." He responded, looking away from her apprehensive expression, "I'll be fine." He stumbled as he had a hard time standing up. His body was exhausted, broken, bloodied, and half of his energy was depleted. Picking up his sword and sheathing it away, Hiei turned to walk towards the Temple exit, but not before he stopped half way.
Kuwabara crossed his arms angrily as he turned towards Hiei, "What, running away now, you punk?! Got nothing to say now?!"
Hiei spoke softly. With a half turn to Kuwabara and Yukina, he spoke, "Come back here later tonight, just you only…I'll tell you everything…" and he left in a black flash.
Yukina assisted a nearly beaten and exhausted Kuwabara down the temple stairs to the bus line. Kuwabara's resentment did not totally subside, but he remained quiet, his head leaning on the window as he gazed out to the evening sunset going past. Yukina sat next to him quietly, her head held low, pondering if she should say something, when she suddenly felt Kuwabara's warm yet battled bruised hand holding on to her hand and she smiled, a soundless reassurance that she was not to worry. She felt the most secure with his hands on hers, and she was silently happy that he did so.
Yukina and Kuwabara sat inaudibly, anxious for tonight's meeting with Hiei, when a sudden knock on his opened bedroom door jolted them from their thoughts. It was Shizuru holding her wallet.
"Here, catch." She tossed her wallet to Kuwabara, catching it, "Sorry for interrupting yout two lovebirds, but there's enough money to go there and back, and you owe me a lot of cash by the way. I'm heading to bed, good night, Yukina. Good luck, baby bro. Don't get killed."
Yukina waved good night as Shizuru walked off, Yukina stared back at Kuwabara; he was still looking out his bedroom window into the night time stars. Yukina asked worriedly, "Tell me, what are you feeling right now, Kazuma? You haven't said much or ate anything since we got back home."
Kuwabara sighed deeply before he looked into her eyes. He was still somewhat in pain emotionally, but the moon and stars reflecting from his window and into the softness of her face, the need to reassure her were there.
"Right now, I'm just really pissed off for you, Yukina. I don't like anyone who tried to take advantage of you or tell you how to live. I'm not so much angry at Touya as he was just an idiot pawn, but I'm truly angry at Hiei for causing you all this trouble for whatever insane reason he has, although there is none he can give to explain his actions in my opinion. If he's willing to hash this out as a man, I'll hear him out."
He looked down from her eyes, feeling shame and confusion that followed in his mind. He felt his chest feeling heavy with stress as he spoke;
"I thought I could handle making you happy and all, but sometimes, I have no idea what I am doing or even if I am strong enough to help you, Yukina. However, I really am trying my best to help figure out your past and your new life here in Human World with you, I mean that. I'm not here to tell you what to do, not at all. Even with my limits as a human, I swear I'll do my very best to make you happy and protect you, on my honor as a man, with all of my heart."
Yukina spoke gently, taking his hand into her's, smiling, "I have and always believe in you, Kazuma, just as much as you believe in me. We will figure life out together; we have made it this far, right?"
Kuwabara couldn't help but smile, his calloused fingers faintly tracing her porcelain soft palm lines as she giggled lightly from the slight tickle she felt.
"That's true, we have made it this far. You're right, Yukina."
Yukina spoke again, as she gradually moved closer towards Kuwabara, "Thank you for saving me, and in a way, saving Hiei. I know he won't say anything, but I have a feeling that he is grateful that you freed him from Touya."
"No thanks needed, Yukina." Kuwabara giggled quietly, as he pondered some more before he spoke, "Yeah…saving Hiei…guess that's true."
Never thought I could say that I saved that one eyed bastard.
She nodded as she remembered her confession to Kazuma in front of Touya from earlier; she felt the need to nervously tell him once again, "I…truly do love you, Kazuma.
Smiling back at her, he leaned closer to her, speaking softly, "I'll love you always."
They stared longingly into each other's eyes for a while, dark brown into red ruby. Yukina felt Kuwabara's hand move from her hand to tenderly caress her left cheek. Her skin felt so smooth under his rough texture, but it fit so perfectly. She closed her eyes, leaning her head to melt into his palm, resting her hand on top of his as she enjoyed the callousness of his touches upon her smooth skin. Kuwabara beamed faintly as he blushed in response, her beauty was finally his to actually behold and admire deeply this time. No interruptions or interlopers, just them alone.
She suddenly felt something instinctively pulling her towards Kuwabara's orbit. She felt so confident in herself to follow her instincts this time, no more second guessing. Kuwabara suddenly felt the timing was right and leaned in as well.
Both no longer held back their reservations of their feelings.
Kuwabara:
Yukina:
…Go with it…
The distance was closing in, as Kuwabara and Yukina both closed their eyes, their lips slightly touched before finally falling softly and fully into place with each other. Yukina felt her arms naturally go around Kuwabara's neck and with him pulling her body in towards his, his hands resting around her back, hugging her gently and tightly as she was doing the same as he leaned them back towards the wall of his bed.
The moon glistened brightly upon their affectionate moment, with each kiss more magnificent than the last. This kiss felt significantly superior, backed with sweet loving memories, from her time in captivity, to her being at the Dark Tournament cheering on her friends, but all the time spent together with Kazuma. This was her real, true, love filled, sincere kiss that effortlessly replaced the certainly forgotten ugly one with Touya.
Kuwabara was mentally elated to finally be able to have the woman he treasured with his whole heart share a very tender moment that he had dreamed of since the day they had met. All of his patience had truly paid off. He wanted to jump for joy but he wanted to appreciate the moment while he could.
For Yukina, she felt like she was in a new, vibrantly colorful world, one where there was pure bliss and sweetest intentions from the man who she had grown to love, and she had all along realized that he was always there for her as he promised, waiting patiently and with sincere understanding of her feelings.
I'm truly happy where I am right now…mother…Rui…I never want to leave this place or leave my friends…I don't ever want to leave Kazuma…I'm finally home, where I belong.
It was a very special feeling that neither wanted to let go, and when they had to in order to breathe, Kuwabara's and Yukina's panting giggles went to full on laughter as they held each other, neither of them knowing what do next. She rested her head on his bare, muscular chest as he pulled her in tightly.
"You have no idea how long I've been waiting to do this." He whispered lightly as he delicately ran his fingers through her hair.
Yukina giggled as she looked towards his smiling gaze, "Sorry I have kept you waiting, but it was worth the wait, right?"
"You know it, my sweet love!" he exclaimed energetically as they both laughed again.
She couldn't help but look at his bare chested body. Old scars and injuries were abundant from his years fighting against both humans and demons, many of them were healed by Yukina's power. The most notable one stuck out to her; a very long, dark brown and deep skinned old wound stretched across his stomach and up to his left pectoral. Carefully, she traced it with her finger, entranced by how long it was.
Kuwabara watched curiously as she continued and said, "That one is very, very, very important to me."
Broken from her trance, she replied curiously, "Surely out of all the scars on your body, this one had to hurt the most, it's still deep in your skin and it's pretty unsightly to look at. Why is this one so important?"
Unexpectedly, Kuwabara snuck in a quick kiss on her right cheek. Flustered from the sudden surprise, he simply stated with a wide smile, "That was from Toguro, the day that me, Urameshi, and Botan fought to rescue you. That was one of the first wounds you healed when you were freed from those jerks, I really couldn't keep my eyes off of you. I begged for you to forgive us humans for all that you went through and you never hated us, I will never forget it. It was the happiest day of my life, because I got to meet you."
Yukina was struck with his words, she truly couldn't stop smiling. Kuwabara never left her so choked up before, but this was really special for both of them.
She nodded, "It was my happiest memory among many more to come, and I'm very happy to have met you too, Kazuma." as he grinned back at her for confirmation.
Almost forgotten during their precious moment, Kuwabara checked his clock, it was nearly midnight.
"It's almost time for me to meet Hiei." He said in a nearly sad tone, he really didn't want this special moment with Yukina to end so quickly, but he knew that in order to have Yukina's safety and happiness in the Human World assured, he needed to talk to Hiei and get his answers for everything leading up to this moment.
Yukina nodded, her heart sank marginally. Her concerns were coming back to reality after the fleeting, treasured moment they shared. Yukina stood up first, looking over to his dresser drawer and retrieved a clean white shirt, and tossed it to Kuwabara. As he got up to put it on, Yukina unexpectedly walked over and gave him a tight hug. Amused, Kuwabara reciprocated, hugging her tightly one more time.
They proceeded down the stairs and to the front door. Taking the moment for what it was worth, they held each other's hands and looked into the night star filled sky above; the uneasiness was palpable between them.
"By the time you get to Genkai's temple, my powers should give you enough strength to recover, but you are still not out of the woods yet." Yukina said. She turned to Kazuma, seeking validation, "Please, don't do anything to get worked up in to a fight with Hiei."
Kuwabara reassured her once again that things will be okay and not to worry. He gave her a tender kiss on her forehead, stroking her cheek once again before he proceeded down the walkway, "I'll see you in the morning; this may be a long talk. I'm sure you are exhausted, so get some sleep, my sweet dearest Yukina."
He seemed to have gone back to his somewhat normal attitude. He was still livid at Hiei, but with his heart more than content, he had finally achieved the one most important goal he always longed for and that was more than enough to calm him down.
As she watched Kuwabara walk down the street, Yukina look to the stars and the moon above, hoping for a peaceful outcome with Hiei. She also hoped for Hiei to finally be more open with everyone, as she never truly felt like she connected with Hiei as she had with the others. She hoped truly hoped for the best.
Please…be careful, both of you….