Content Warning: suicide by cyanide
Chapter Twenty-Three
Navia
"Bjorn, have you been well?" Kurama greeted the human boy with warmth and a smile. Whether or not it was genuine wasn't any of Hiei's concern. Bjorn got them where they needed to go and that was the extent of their relationship.
'Boy' might be the wrong word. The human was closer to Kuwabara's age, if he had to guess, although human ages always threw him. They aged at such a quick pace perhaps the guy was even older than twenty-five, and Hiei was none the wiser. It, of course, had startled him to learn that Ashley only had twenty-three years to her name, especially when he had decades. That was a thought that sobered him immensely, and something that would have to be brought up at some point, he knew. Just maybe not yet.
They were at Genkai's temple, the sun barely peeking over the horizon signaling the start of the day. Few people were even awake yet, except Genkai, of course, who was mostly awake to see off Hiei and Kurama. She'd slipped back inside for a moment, telling them to wait until she returned to leave. Some demons rose with the sun, especially those who camped on her lands, the temple turned into a refugee station of sorts. After the first Makai Tournament ten years ago, she'd apparently made an announcement that she wanted the temple to turn into a halfway house for demons moving to Human World. And in a way it was still a halfway house, but more so one for demon refugees, fleeing the violence and prejudice of a world that hated what they were. Especially demons who couldn't blend in with their human brothers. Unable to integrate properly into Human World, and unable to return to Demon World for fear of retribution, the ones that needed a place to stay in this region of the world came here, to Genkai's temple.
Houses had apparently been set up across the world to act in a similar manner as the Guardians had gained traction years ago, providing relief and safety for thousands of demons, and they hadn't stopped in their efforts. With so many refugees, even humans volunteered to keep them running.
Some of the demons who were at this location kept at the tree line to watch their departure. Apparently, it was a big deal to see Bjorn use his ability. Hiei, of course, didn't see what the big deal was. He'd utilized Bjorn for his talent on more than one occasion. It was useful, and similar enough to Kuwabara's dimension sword that Bjorn could be used when Kuwabara wasn't around. It allowed the oaf to get back to his life, especially since Bjorn had made his permanent residence at the temple.
The boy in question smiled up through blond lashes. "I have, Kurama, thank you," he said with an accent. He once said he was from Norway. "A little town you've probably never heard of or will hopefully never visit," he'd said when Yusuke had pushed him. "It gets cold in the winter."
"Has the barrier still been tricky?" Kurama questioned. Hiei let out an aggravated huff. The only reason they hadn't left yet was because Kurama had decided to strike up a conversation with Bjorn. The sooner they left, the sooner they could get back.
"It's only two weeks," Ashley had said when he told her that he would have to leave, trying to reassure him. Why was she reassuring him? "Not even a month." She'd tried to reassure him when she could barely sleep and would only nibble at her food. It'd been only a day since Heathrow, but the attack had left her obviously shaken. It didn't help that the British Airways terminal that Isla had landed at had collapsed. Ashley hadn't told him what she'd heard on that phone line - Yukina had filled him in when he'd gotten back - but Ashley was clearly shell shocked. The only thing she'd told him was that she'd gotten a call from Isla right before the terminal collapsed and the line had dropped. They still hadn't found her body, but he knew Ashley was hopeless. Isla's parents had already called her, and Isla's name had been released on the BBC evening news as one of the victims the night before.
And now he had to leave. Because Koenma had ordered him and Kurama. The trip had been planned for a few weeks, but still. They couldn't find anyone else last minute.
Beyond Heathrow, their latest run-in with Dion was over a month ago, but that appearance had certainly put him on edge. Which was why he had watched her from the shadows as she'd traveled around Japan and met up with her when she wouldn't chide him about being overprotective. He'd never tell her that he followed her, or had Kurama check in from time to time, but he was still worried, even with using Kurama's seeds.
Now, both he and Kurama would be gone for a fortnight. Yes, he was leaving her in care of Yukina and Kuwabara, but what if Dion showed up while Kuwabara was at class? It wasn't like Yukina had ever held much power or will to fight.
Ashley had told him she didn't want him to protect her, but that didn't seem to be possible for him. He never saw the change in himself, but out of nowhere, nothing and no one seemed able to keep her safe as he could.
Still, as she'd pointed out: he couldn't keep her safe all the time. It was entirely plausible she could get hit by a bus. But that thought only set his teeth on edge.
This little person had become a large part of his life, and he didn't want anyone or anything harming her.
Bjorn shrugged, shifting his weight from foot to foot. "About the same," he replied casually. "It just… it feels like sand, or soap, that I can't really grasp - at least not for long. Used to, it was as firm as a wall in this world, but malleable. Now, if I try to manipulate it, I feel like I can barely hold on; like it's slipping." He thought for a moment, eyes on the sunrise beyond the trees, hands on his hips. "Maybe it's just the seasons. Or the lunar cycle. You've got to remember, I haven't even been making portals through the barrier for even a year. Maybe this is normal."
Kurama flicked his gaze toward Hiei, a silent question forming behind his green irises. "Perhaps."
"So what you're saying is it's going to be even more of a jarring experience than it normally is," Hiei stated, rather than asking in question. Bjorn was easy enough to get along with, but the sensation of his portals always turned his stomach, feeling like he'd been compressed, flipped, and his mind spinning before he landed on the other side. It wasn't a pleasant experience by any means.
Bjorn adopted a smirk. "If you don't like it, then you should use one of the barrier pockets instead. I heard there's one over in Russia, yeah?"
They'd been through similar conversations a hundred times over. At this point, it was as familiar as Yusuke and Kuwabara's constant banter. The barrier pockets were places where the barrier thinned, and demons were able to pass through before Spirit World placed restrictions on them. They were the ways that demons were able to travel between Demon World and Human world after they received traveling permits. Even though the barrier was restricted for most use, mediators like Hiei and Kurama were able to pass through if they found the locations, which were scattered across the globe.
"They don't put me where I need to go," Hiei admitted under his breath. Bjorn, however, caught the words.
"That's a shame. Guess you'll have to put up with me a little longer, then." He said it with his smirk growing wider. As handy as the barrier pockets were when trying to avoid using Bjorn's portals, they were also wildly random. Where they spit out a traveler, that was to be determined only after one went through.
"Will you two knuckleheads knock it off? It's too early to listen to your bickering," Genkai had returned, slipping onto the porch to stand with the trio. "Although, it is better than the dimwit's."
They fell into an easy silence with Genkai there, acting as a force to keep them in line. "You two will be there, what, two weeks?" Genkai asked as Kurama and Hiei led the way down to the lawn around the temple. "You should have brought the girl here while you were gone. I could have started working with her."
Truthfully, Hiei had thought of that, but class was about to start up again for Ashley, and she'd been traveling for most of the summer. He explained it to Genkai, who merely nodded. "Well, get her out here soon. We need to see exactly what you've managed to coax out of her."
The jibe was deliberate, and internally, Hiei winced. Outwardly, he glared. "Keep talking," he growled.
Genkai barked a laugh. "Just stating the truth, Hiei. Your power obviously had some sort of impact on the girl, and from the background you've described to me before, we might be looking at something of significance like Bjorn, here." The boy preened at the mention of his name. "Watch it - don't let it go to your head," she followed up.
"In the meantime, be quick about your trip. You both know what we're dealing with here, and we'd all like to not have two less assets for too long."
That was about as sentimental as Genkai got, and before she could say another word, Hiei turned to Bjorn and nodded curtly.
Bjorn immediately stretched out his hands, clawed, like he was trying to grasp at something invisible. And indeed he was.
Even to Hiei, who had seen him create effortless portals in the past, it was apparent that the barrier had changed somehow. How a barrier as immense as the one between Demon World and Human World could change was a different matter, but something had definitely changed, even in the last few months.
Bjorn's face contorted with concentration as a bead of sweat slipped from his hairline into his shirt.
"Push your spiritual energy, Bjorn; make it grasp the barrier. Push it through," Genkai muttered behind them. It occurred to Hiei, then, that she was less there to see them off, and more to make sure that Bjorn got the job done effectively. The last thing they needed was for the barrier to snap shut on them and their bodies be effectively cleaved. But he didn't say that aloud. That was the last idea he needed to put in Bjorn's head, he knew.
Slowly, painstakingly slow when compared to Bjorn's barriers between locations in Human World, the barrier between Demon World and Human world pried open its gaping maw. Shocks of spiritual energy and demonic energy both snapped and sparked as the portal grew, until it was large enough that both Hiei and Kurama could slip through.
Bjorn was panting behind them like he'd run a marathon. Without a second glance, both demons slipped through to the other side.
Bjorn's portal dropped them right in front of Koji's manor. Once, it was Enki's, and then it was Takayo's, and Hiei grimaced at the memory of coming here that night so long ago to do away with Shono. That was the night that had started this entire mess.
But now, six and a half years later, it was ruled by a very different demon, who was walking toward them with open arms.
Hiei disappeared right as Koji reached them, reappearing several feet away, as Koji bent down and enveloped Kurama in his open arms. Kurama squirmed, obviously uncomfortable as Koji picked him up. "Yoko Kurama!" the man bellowed in greeting. "Hiei Jaganashi!"
Koji placed Kurama back on the ground, who straightened his jacket irritably. Koji turned to look at Hiei, who disappeared from sight again, reappearing behind the man. "Touch me and you lose a hand," he growled.
A look of confusion crossed Koji's face momentarily before he burst out in a belly-shaking laugh. "As if you could! Have you already forgotten our match at the last tournament, Jaganashi?"
Hiei merely tsk'd and narrowed his glare. It was true; Hiei and Koji had indeed had one of the final matches of the tournament. It was Koji who'd given him the scar that ran the length of his back: from hip to shoulder. Koji, however, had escaped the fight without so much as a scratch. Most of his matches he didn't even have an injury. It was only during his last fight that he'd received the scar that ran from his forehead to sternum, across his right eye. He could still see though, and won the match quickly after that.
It had been a fight that no one in Demon World would soon forget.
His black hair was tied at the nape of his neck in a ponytail with a red tie. This, he never changed. If someone touched his hair, like a demon made the mistake of doing in the last tournament, they paid for it with their life.
"Well don't just stand there!" he announced, turning back toward the castle behind him. They followed him in.
Most demons hated being inside a building, but the castle had been built after the first Makai tournament ten years ago, and since then each of the Makai Kings had lived in this castle without complaint. It was cavernous and deep, stretching on for what seemed like forever. But it made the position much more official.
Koji took them to the training rooms. Ever the one for doing something - anything else - while he worked, he started wrapping his hands in preparation for a sparring match.
"So, what is it that our great Spirit World Ruler wants to tell me?" The sarcasm that dripped from his tone was almost too much. "Stay in line? Don't do anything without permission? Did he see me scratching my ass last week? I could've sworn I asked his permission for that." His disdain was obvious, and Hiei removed his sheath from his waist, ready to have another go at this guy. Yeah, he was King, but if Koji wanted to fight, who was he to refuse? Kurama could give him the details.
The redhead simply sighed, already exasperated with the trip. "You know as well as I do that Spirit World is simply trying to contain this. Once the Legion has been dealt with, we can go back to our normal lives."
"Oh, can we?" Koji asked, appraising Hiei. "Have you gotten taller since I last fought you?" As Hiei simmered, Koji turned his back on him to Kurama. "If you remember, Yoko-" he kept using Kurama's demon name, and it clearly bothered Kurama, but he said nothing to stop the King. Koji used the pause to sprint toward Hiei, taking the first swing, to which Hiei disappeared and reappeared several feet away. "-Spirit World was this micro-managing before the Legion as well. It's just gotten worse since. Almost as if they're using the Legion to maintain a tighter grip on all of us. Have you given that any thought?"
Kurama didn't say a word, and in Koji's distraction, Hiei took the opportunity, his fist meeting Koji square in the stomach.
"Koenma asked us to pass along the following," Kurama replied, taking on a detached air, and breezing past Koji's question without hesitation. "First," he continued speaking over the racket that Koji and Hiei made throwing punches. "Spirit World is shutting down the barrier. Permanently. If you need to pass through, you will need to get special permission. This goes into affect on September 18th at midnight.
"Second, if you find any operatives of the Legion, search their person and hold for interrogation.
"Third, we need to discuss what you are doing in preparation for the war." Kurama folded the piece of paper he read from and placed it back in his pocket. Botan had delivered it to him personally from Koenma the night previously. Koenma wanted him to read from it directly. Ridiculous child.
Koji was definitely distracted with the last point, turning away from their fight for the briefest of seconds, to which Hiei took the opening and landed a right hook right on his jaw.
After going flying, and catching himself at the last moment before he hit the far wall, he held up his arms, signaling a time out to Hiei, who was huffing as well. Koji kept him on his toes, at least.
"Wait. Hold up. All this is what we've been hearing for months. Isn't there anything new?"
It was exactly what Hiei had said when Kurama showed him the parchment. "So the kid sent you both here to tell all of us the exact same thing he's been preaching for months?"
Kurama and Hiei stayed silent, both tense for the possibility of Koji attacking them. Of the four leaders they would be visiting, Koji was most likely the one to take his frustration out on them. Another reason why they weren't able to find any one else to cover for Hiei last minute. Few others were able to stand against Koji if he decided to lose his temper.
Thankfully, that wasn't the case. Instead of raging, he started laughing. Laughing so hard he fell to his knees as tears sprung from his eyes.
"You-You know what Koenma, great Prince he is and all that shit, is trying to do, don't you?" Koji swiped at the tears as he tried to catch his breath. Hiei and Kurama, especially Kurama, had understood immediately. They didn't need the explanation, but apparently Koji thought they did. "He's trying to keep us all in line. He's trying to appear as if Spirit World has control of the situation, which they obviously do not. They don't know what the hell is going on because all of their heads are too far up their own asses to even know what the fuck is going on. They're just posturing to try to maintain their own leadership. Fucking twats."
Kurama and Hiei did not stay with Koji overnight. He offered four times until Kurama cut him off, finally, and informed him that they needed to make the journey to Tourin on foot. That got his attention. Immediately Koji offered them to use his portal, created for the Kings to move from territory to territory without wasting time. And it was a convenient way to ignore the civil wars that had been raging across demon world for years. Honestly, to use his portal was what Kurama had been going for. They couldn't necessarily ask to use the portal, but if a leader offered they could certainly utilize the invention.
The technology was modeled after Kuwabara's dimensional sword, and it was just as useful.
"Would you mind behaving this time?" Kurama asked, barely turning to face Hiei as the portal split time and space to reach Tourin.
Hiei scoffed. "Tell that to her."
"She's not the guest. Or the problem."
"Kurama, perhaps you've been blinded by your… affection for the woman," That was still something that Hiei did not and would never understand. "But she is much more manipulative than you give her credit for. I'm not taking chances." Hiei activated the Jagan as he spoke, just enough so that he could keep track of everyone who would be their welcoming party on the other side and know if anyone meant to kill them.
Kurama, however, merely sighed.
After stepping through the portal and it closing after them, both Hiei and Kurama were immediately knocked to the ground, knives held at their throats, and their hands clenched in another's. This was not new.
"Well, well, well, a fox and a dragon. How lucky are we, today?" the question was rhetorical, as her voice slid from the shadows like a snake. The Devil herself stepped from them a moment later, approaching Kurama and bending down, taking his chin in her hand. A wretched smile played over her lips. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"
The Devil of the Terasu Forest. The Captain of the Guard. The Royal Princess. First Princess born in four hundred years. Hana Hitomi had a few titles to her name. The most notable was her reputation as assassin for the king, which was how she earned her nickname as the Devil in the first place. It was rumored that she'd killed the last five squad captains, pushing herself to fill the position. She was ruthless, and enjoyed killing, and led people on for the fun of it. She was easily the last person that Hiei would ever trust.
Kurama on the other hand, was arguably more trusting. "Hana," he began, struggling against the blade pressed against his throat. He was ridiculously calm. Hiei would have thrown his attackers off immediately except this wasn't the first time they had visited the Terasu Forest. This was protocol, just as Koji welcomed them with a hug each time. The Hitomi clan didn't take chances. "We bring a message from Koenma, and we're here to interrogate the operatives you caught last week." He stole a glance behind him, Hana followed his gaze to Hiei who glared back at Hana.
Her smile widened if possible. "Let them up," she ordered, and immediately the hands of her team that held Kurama and Hiei's hands pulled them to their feet. "You know the law." She purred to Kurama, holding his gaze with a coy smile even though she stood nearly an entire foot above him. She was over six feet in height, but somehow they made it work.
Kurama nodded in understanding, a slight smile playing at his own lips. It was disgusting, really, the way she hovered next to Kurama like a magnet, like she could barely control herself, and the way her eyes slid down his body. Hiei felt the bile rising in his throat, suddenly extremely pleased that Ashley didn't do that shit.
Ashley. The Devil's hair reminded him of her. She had blonde hair as well, braided in places, but completely shaved on one side of her head. Maybe they weren't actually very similar.
"You," she called behind Kurama, directing her attention to Hiei. If he was lesser of a man he would have squirmed beneath her gaze. It was as if she was looking through him, and even as he stood there, allowing himself to be captive to her guards, she was assessing him of his weaknesses. "Do you truly trust us so little?"
Hiei remained silent, and Hana's smile grew; she pressed a memory into the power of his Jagan, manipulating what he saw within her mind, and suddenly that was all Hiei could see, having to focus to see all five of her squad members at the same time.
The memory was drenched in blood lust and revenge, and betrayal of the deepest kind. The man that slept before her was older, or perhaps she had been younger. His throat bare as he slept in trusting peace.
She bound him in the strands of her demonic energy, sucking his own energy from him, and filling her. It was overwhelming and as she rode the high she got from the power flowing into her, she bent over his still-sleeping form.
"Tsukasa. Wake up, my love."
As Tsukasa's eyelids fluttered open and took Hana's face in, he muttered a groggy, "Hana, what?"
"I just wanted you to know," her words started off soft, hesitant almost, as if she was admitting something that she felt guilty about. That quickly changed, and her voice hardened: a promise, "that you will pay dearly for plotting against my family."
It was then that he realized he was bound and began struggling, but Hana quickly shoved a blade into his side, the man screaming in agony.
"This is only the beginning, my love."
The memory jumped away, toward a dark room in a cottage, somewhere in the Terasu Forest, the wooden floors soaked in blood: a torture room.
"Dramatic," Hiei finally replied. As much as he, himself, loved fighting and spilling his enemy's blood, torture was a different method, one that twisted his stomach. Her smile only grew.
"You aren't going to fight us on this, this time are you?"
Hiei knew what she meant - last time he had unsheathed his sword and tried to cut down the guards. Hana had stepped in and calmly bound him with her demonic energy. He'd never felt anything like it, but his own energy seeped out of his body and through the energy binds she held, leaving him weak and drained.
He merely glared in response. The Devil didn't deserve an answer if he could avoid it.
She smirked, as if she knew the exact path his mind had taken. "We have our answer, then. Let's move."
They covered Kurama and Hiei's heads with a black cloth, which also acted as an effective blinder - it didn't let their demonic energy wander to discover where they were taking them. The Terasu forest, outside of Tourin, was a myth. Only the people who searched for the forest made it, and most of the time they were cut down by the border guards before they ever even saw a tree.
The only exception they made was for the warriors that flocked to them. Yusuke, after meeting the King and his son, Koichi, had left them effectively in charge of Tourin, as second in command in a way, and the demons within the territory loved them anyway.
They were a strong family, seeped in tradition and beloved by their tribe. Of course they made for the next best leaders behind the official king of the region.
The journey to the village took time. Maybe half a day, or perhaps a full one. They were running until Hiei's stomach started to growl, and just as he was about to complain that they stop unless the Devil was trying to kill them, Hana made the call for them to slow.
Finally. Of course, the black covers were not removed until Kurama and Hiei had been led through the village and to the bonfire that raged in the center. As their eyes adjusted to the light, they had to squint. Hundreds of torches burned the night away. What seemed like a celebration had stopped, the villagers and warriors circling around Hana and her squad with the two boys in the center. The king had stood from his seat, dressed in full ceremonial garb, his hand outstretched for quiet.
"My daughter," he spoke, his words slow and deliberate. "Why have you brought these detectives to us?"
Ex, Hiei thought, but didn't say.
Hana stepped around them and approached her brother, with whom she greeted with a kiss on each cheek. "They say they have news from Spirit World. And other chores to take care of." Her brother, Koichi, greeted her in the same way, and stepped back to take a look at them.
Side by side it was obvious that Koichi and Hana were twins. Same height, same build, even though Koichi was definitely male and Hana was definitely female. Same nose and cutting green eyes. Same haughty air around strangers.
Although Koichi was first born and inheriting the throne and Hana was second born and assassin for the King. Koichi was easily read, whereas Hana only let you see what she wanted you to. He was casual and carefree where Hana was serious and strict.
They looked alike, but they were nothing alike.
The most infuriating thing, though, was that no one seemed to have the same general unease with Hana that he did. What was obvious to Hiei was a far-off notion to everyone else.
"You must feast with us!" The king was saying, his arms wide. "Yoko and the Jaganashi. You bring good things to our village."
Hiei glared at the king. Dinner would be fine, but feasting with other people was the last thing he wanted at that moment. Dinner, and then a place to rest.
Kurama bowed low. "It would be our pleasure. Tomorrow we shall take care of things."
This was going to be a long night.
It did end up stretching into a long night. Food wasn't even served until past midnight, and once Hiei had made himself a plate, he had stolen away to the forest surrounding the celebration. It was in the early hours before the sun rose that the last fire finally burned down to embers.
Which meant no one else would be awake until close to noon. Wasting an entire half of a day.
He wasn't about to sit around doing nothing. To pass the time, he instead mapped his way through the forest, noting where things were located in relation to the village: a task that was impossible with the Devil around.
Close to mid-day Kurama pressed a thought to his Jagan. Hiei had kept it activated at its lowest level, just to keep an extra sense on the village. He knew Kurama's mind well enough by now that it was easy for the fox to reach out with his spiritual energy and connect with Hiei's.
"They're waking up for the day. Be back at the reception hall by noon."
The reception hall was a grand place. The village itself wasn't modest at all. They had buildings made of clay and other materials from the forest. The king's mansion was the grandest building, and in the center, close to where the bonfire was held the night before. The ceilings were high, and there were ornate items inside the building: a grand chair carved from wood, windows that sported colored glass and intricate details to create pictures within them, tiled floors, and candles that lined the walls in candelabras.
Within demon world, at least, this was the place of myth. Few places, even in the cities, were this decorated for fear that bandits would come and pillage. The Terasu Forest did not have that problem, what with the guards that always kept watch over the borders.
A long table followed one wall of the reception hall, ornately carved, and charts and maps covered the wall space above it. Kurama was already sitting at this table, discussing something with the King and his son in hushed tones. The Devil leaned against the far wall, her knee bent and arms crossed over her chest. As she spotted Hiei enter through the wooden doors, a wide grin broke out over her features.
"You're with me today," she spoke, pushing off from the wall and walking to meet Hiei halfway.
"Like hell I am," Hiei growled, immediately on the defensive.
"Hiei," Kurama's even tone caught his attention. He'd stood from his seat, hands braced against the smooth wood of the table top. "I thought you would go with Hana to interrogate the operatives while I give the King the details from Spirit World."
It made sense, but that was the last thing Hiei wanted. It was less to do with being split up and more to do with having to spend the day with the Devil. With a low growl, he didn't bother answering, instead turning on his heel and leading the way out of the hall.
"What the hell was that?" Hiei roared, pushing Hana up against the walls of the cells. Her guards brandished their weapons at him, but she waved them off, his forearm pressing against her windpipe.
"It's not like we knew, Jaganashi," she spit out, her eyes narrowing, as her voice grew dangerous. "We searched their persons as instructed by our lovely Spirit World, but nothing stood out. Nothing that could be taken as a possible weapon."
"And trust me," she tried to gulp for air. "We know of all their little tricks these days. They're… mimicking the humans too closely for us to be… completely… blind…"
The interrogation was less of an interrogation and more of a mass suicide.
As soon as Hiei was brought to their pitiful cells, they all said the same, "One World. One Life. One Peace," and died, immediately.
Three. There had been three chances to get information and they'd died as soon as Hiei had approached.
They'd fallen unconscious as soon as they said the phrase. And before the guards could even fumble with their keys and unlock the gates they were foaming at the mouth.
Further inspection showed a broken tooth at the back of their mouth. For each of them.
"Well you apparently don't know them that well," Hiei spat. "They had something. And you and your tribe of heathens should have known better." Hiei stepped back, releasing Hana, who nearly collapsed against the wall in a coughing fit. He didn't stay to watch her guards rush toward her or wait for her to retaliate against him. She was nothing after all. The Devil could report back that she'd allowed the rebels to suicide.
He turned away from it all, escaping back to the forest and away from the Devil's incompetence until it was time to leave. Kurama likely wouldn't want to leave until tomorrow, so Hiei was free to find a clearing and blow off his anger.
Night fell soon enough, long after he'd blown a crater into the ground and cleared a few trees, dripping sweat, and huffing in exertion.
Incompetence. That's all this was. Any experienced fighter worth half their salt would have done a thorough search of the rebels.
But teeth! To hide a drug in their own teeth. That wasn't something he'd ever seen previously, especially not among demons. That sounded like a disingenuous human trick.
So close. He'd been so close to entering their minds and finding out exactly what it was that the Legion wanted. What their end goal was, what to expect, where to find their headquarters. Maybe even who their leader was.
So far all they knew was that the Legion created chaos wherever they went - whether that was in their early days in Demon World, or in their new home, in Human World. They created chaos and fighting always broke out. It was like playing a game of chance, trying to figure out where the Legion was going to strike next. There was no pattern that he nor Kurama or anyone else could see. It was random, which meant that they were always a few steps behind.
So close. He'd been so close to getting answers. And again the knowledge had slipped through his fingers.
With that thought a few trees lit aflame, burning bonfires of his own until he was able to burn off that anger, too.
Late at night, he'd gone back to the edge of the forest, where the village started, and saw that they were celebrating again. Maybe they had a festival going on, but didn't they realize they were at war? War raged just beyond the safety of their precious forest and they acted like it was lifetimes away.
Scoffing, he headed back into the forest. Not yet tired, Hiei circled the village, slipping between the trees and following the sounds of the forest, just for something to do.
Kurama was likely enjoying his time with Hana. They knew each other from when he was Yoko and the Devil had been a much less confident woman. She'd tried to cut him down or some nonsense, and after a few centuries they were what they were currently. Whatever that was. It didn't matter to Hiei, really, as long as the Devil did what she was supposed to and didn't fuck up.
The light was the first thing he saw, a light green glow through the trunks of the trees.
Cautiously, Hiei slipped through the shadows until he came to a small clearing. Shallow pools of water dotted the clearing, the water clear, and the plants beneath the water creating the bio-luminescent glow. It was peaceful here, but completely silent. Even the drum beats and music and laughter that he could hear from the village had vanished. As he stepped between the trees it was like all sound had been muted.
He hadn't found this place earlier in the day. He'd been all through the forest, even a mile out from the village at any given time, and he'd never found this place.
It was like it had just appeared, but that was physically impossible.
"It's been awhile since I've seen one of those."
The voice to his right was sudden and soft, and it made Hiei nearly jump out of his skin.
It had been a long time since someone was able to sneak up on him. But this old woman had done it effortlessly.
She appeared to have no demonic energy or spiritual energy for that matter; nothing radiated off her, and as she walked away from him, around one of the pools, she made no noise, either. Not even a footfall against the moss and lichen. It was possible that she was merely hiding her energy, but even then it was usually obvious with anyone if they leaned toward the demonic or spiritual side of the spectrum.
She pointed to his forehead. "What did you give up to receive that?"
Hiei, however, ignored her question. "Who are you?"
The woman smiled with a slight shake of her head. "Why does it matter?" She was old, her skin a dark bronze even with the green pools reflecting light off of her. Her white hair was tied up in a bun, and she walked with her hands behind her back, her shoulders slightly hunched from years of life.
Hiei frowned. "What is this place?" He still could not hear the celebration going on. He should be able to hear it. They weren't that far from the edge of town, after all.
"It is a place of knowledge and healing. I am merely the guardian."
Well at least she'd answered his questions, but still, he didn't have the patience to talk to some crazy old lady who lived in the forest and cared for pools of water. Turning, she said, "I know who you are, Hiei Jaganashi," he paused, his back turned. "You are one of the four most tied to the Event. Your future will not be easy. The girls are at the center, and they will have the hardest time. One already is. But you must find her and the other. Time is relative, and so is death. There are many ways to die, so do not let that discourage you."
"What," Hiei began, turning back to her, his question sharp. "Are you babbling about?"
She had stopped walking and turned to face him while his back was turned, now on the other side of one of the pools. Her hands still clasped behind her back, she spoke with chilling confidence, her voice full of promise. "We've been here before."
A chill rose from the bottom of his spine to the base of his skull.
A beat of silence between them, then, "Find the two others and you'll have your answers."
Frustration thrummed through him, pushing the chill away. "I don't want answers-"
"Yes, you do," she cut him off. "Or you will. What is time, really, but a construct of human imagination? And yet it governs all things. Perhaps it was originally a creation of the universe. Who really knows?"
Now she really was babbling. He turned. "When you're ready for answers come visit Amma again," she called out to him, but he kept walking.
Yomi was next on their trip, and Kurama did all the talking, again. Answering Yomi's questions even though he was obviously uncomfortable at times. That was another relationship of Kurama's that Hiei would never understand.
They stayed with Yomi for two nights before the portal opened that would take Hiei on to Alaric. Kurama, however, was headed back to human world. He'd apparently missed too much work and was anxious to return. It would also allow Ashley to go home, since she'd been staying with Yukina and Kuwabara for the past five days. Kurama being in human world meant that he could react immediately if something set off his seeds.
"Do you want me to tell Ashley anything?" Kurama asked, pausing Hiei halfway between Gandara and Alaric.
He snorted in derision. "I thought you knew me better than that," he said and stepped on through the portal.
It closed behind him, cutting him off from Kurama, as he took in Alaric.
Truly, it hadn't changed much at all since the last time he'd checked in with Mukuro. Even with the mounting tensions in human world, and the skirmishes that often broke out throughout the territory, the full force of the civil wars that the rest of demon world was experiencing hadn't yet reached Alaric. Whether that was effort on Mukuro's part or the scope of the conflict was yet to be determined. Even though Hiei had been roped to become a mediator without volunteering to do so, he still had responsibilities in this territory, so he set off, traveling on foot, through the various villages to check in with Mukuro's leaders in each town. The ones who kept everyone in line and reported back to her. Any dispute he needed to take care of, he did, swiftly, and by the middle of the following week he had reached Mukuro's.
He was taken to her hall, a full meal set before him as Mukuro joined him at her table, leaning back in her chair. "Hiei. You look well."
"What intel do you have?"
"Aren't you in a hurry to cut to the chase," she chuckled, not moving from her position in her chair.
"Mukuro," Hiei began, pausing only momentarily. "I'm tired, and I've been fighting with your citizens for five days. I want to hear your intel."
Her organic eye scrutinized him before finally asking, "Ever heard of an Oblivion demoness named Navia?"
Hiei shrugged. "Never heard of her," he said as he began to eat.
"You wouldn't though." He fought the urge to roll his eyes. Why would Mukuro lead with that question if she'd just shoot him down a moment later? "She's from a small village on the outskirts of Alaric originally, but has kept her head low, building followers and using a certain deceased leader to toy with her enemies."
It took Hiei only a moment to think of who Mukuro might be talking about. "Shono. She manipulated him?"
"Seems that way. She built the Legion and disappeared from the limelight until you took him out all those years ago."
If this Navia was as manipulative as Mukuro made her seem, how much of Shono's original actions had been his own and how much had been Navia's? He filed that thought away for later.
"Do you have a description of her? Anything I can use?"
"No more than what I gave you." Mukuro crossed her legs at the knees. She linked her fingers and looped them over her knee. "She's barely more than a whisper. A legend here. It's amazing my spies heard that much at all." Which really said how much Navia was committed to flying under the radar. If not even Mukuro's spies could pick up Navia's movements, then no wonder he'd been struggling for so many years in human world.
Mukuro was easy enough to read. Especially since he'd joined her over a decade ago. She was telling the truth, and it bothered her. But of course it would. Mukuro prided herself on knowing things and taking out threats as soon as they presented themselves. Takayo's death was seven years ago, and the Legion had been gaining traction for even longer since then. For so long that Navia had been out there, Mukuro had never known. Or at least, she'd never known her name, even though the Oblivion was originally from Alaric.
It was frustrating to the demonness King, and Hiei certainly understood. Oblivion. More often than not, that kind often stuck together. Mako was likely part of them, too, even though his Jagan hadn't picked up on anything that night in the alley. And to be so close to Ashley. He would kill him.
The fork in his hand bent under the pressure as he clenched it in his fist.
"You're distracted. How very unlike you." Hiei's gaze flickered up to meet Mukuro's, his thoughts faltering under her observation. "What is it, I wonder?"
"It's nothing for you to concern yourself with," Hiei muttered, breezing past the issue with ease. "I can use the intel at least. Anything else?"
Mukuro continued watching him, saying, "Just one. How fond are you of the barrier staying intact?"
Hiei waited for the punchline.
"You're not joking."
"Of course I'm not. They're working on it in the former Detective's territory. I doubt the Devil Princess even is aware. We can arrange a strategy to have the threat removed if the child-playing-adult in the next world allows it." Koenma. He wasn't fond of him or his recent decisions, either. She shifted. "You know as well as I what could happen if the barrier comes down. I am not eager to see what chaos would ensue if it was destroyed. For both demon world and human world. Demon world is already divided as it is."
Hiei's brow quirked. "The Legion," Mukuro explained. "Although it should be called Navia's Legion, not the Shono Legion. There's talk of uniting human world and demon world."
"How big is this 'talk'?" Hiei asked, food forgotten on his plate.
"From what I know, I would say that it's the very thing that the Legion is working toward."
It didn't make sense, what she said. The Legion was creating chaos and bringing death, but combining the two worlds? The only thing that supported that was Mukuro's information that they were tampering with the barrier. He trusted her, but why hadn't the Devil or the King mentioned it to him or Kurama? Kurama, if he knew, if the King had told him during their private audience, had been amiss in mentioning it to Hiei.
"Now your turn. What brings you to Alaric that Spirit World wanted so desperately for me to know?"
Hiei recounted the three items, much less diplomatically than Kurama had done it, and not bothering to read of the parchment, but he and Mukuro had reached an understanding about themselves years ago.
Mukuro was less than impressed, an almost bored expression taking over her features. "Spirit World has been saying this for years; why send you on this errand if there is no news?"
Rather than letting Hiei try to answer her rhetorical question, she continued, "They just want to appear strong," funny, that was the same think Koji had called them out on. "They want to appear like they have this under control when they are no father into what's going on than they were four years ago."
It didn't take someone like Kurama to connect the dots of where Mukuro was headed.
It wasn't like Hiei could do anything, though. Spirit World was always posturing, even back during Yusuke's detective days. They would often pretend like they had a clue and cover things up when they didn't want to be found out.
He continued eating his meal in silence. It was only toward the end where he finally stood and reached for his sword leaning against the table that Mukuro finally said what was on her mind. "But I am curious. You're unnaturally distracted. You know I'll find out."
Ever the persistent one. But that was one subject he would keep to himself. Mukuro, as close as he was to her, he was positive that she would not be approving.
"Goodnight, Mukuro."
"So who is Ashley Lynn Wright?"
It had been two days. Two days of taking care of what Mukuro asked of him. Now, they were sparring in one of the lower-level rooms in her castle, and had been for the last several hours. Mukuro rarely liked to spar with anyone except him, she'd told him once.
Her name tossed so casually from Mukuro's lips made him falter and Mukuro landed a blow to his side, sending him into the pillar several dozen feet away.
"How do you know of her?" Hiei ground out, pushing himself to his feet.
Mukuro merely chuckled, a light smirk on her face. "Really, Hiei, I thought you knew me better than that."
His glare bit through her, but she paid it no mind, waving him off like he was being an angsty teen. "I sent my spies to human world to see what has you so distracted," she said matter-of-factly, like she couldn't believe he was actually making her explain this. "She was fairly easy to find. Currently staying with your sister and her husband, usually lives with her dog in a flat in the only high-rise apartment building in the city, where you usually stay, too. She's originally from England and is in Japan to teach-"
"Fine! I shouldn't have questioned you." Hiei finally cut her off, shoving his hands in his pockets and approaching her again, cautiously. Were they going to continue their sparring match? Or were they effectively finished? "Dion threatened to come after her."
"Well," Mukuro began, staying a far enough distance away from Hiei that he was positive they were done sparring. "From what we know of Navia, my guess is she's using Ashley to distract you from something else."
"I doubt that's-"
"Isn't that what she did with Shono?" She cut him off, steamrolling over his objection. "Use him to lure you to Takayo's and then appear with the Legion in Human World? I think that's very much like her, or what we know of her, at least. Don't underestimate her, Hiei."
Hiei clenched his jaw. Even if he defended himself and told her that the last thing he was doing was underestimating the Legion, Mukuro wouldn't believe him.
After a moment, she continued, "Don't let the human girl distract you. Love is all nice, but don't forget about the bigger picture. Will she fit there, too? If not, maybe the Legion has a point and she needs to go. Especially if she's just going to distract you. Humans don't belong in demon world, anyway. What are you going to do when all of this is over?"
Again, he didn't answer. He'd thought of that, briefly, a few times. Humans couldn't stay within demon world for long; the air effected them and if left untreated they would die. And he doubted Ashley would be okay with wearing a breathing mask for the rest of her life.
And what about him living in human world full time? No. That was preposterous. Humans were weak and self-absorbed. They could never see the bigger picture and settled without ever really trying to better themselves. To stay in human world wouldn't be right for him either. Being there, it felt like a part of him was missing.
But where did that leave them?
He remained silent, his scarlet eyes flashing - a warning to Mukuro not to push the subject.
She shrugged and turned to head out of the room. "I have a mission for you. Out in the borderlands," she said, changing the subject. "A war is about to start out there - much too much for my leaders to handle - and I refuse to let that woman's ideologies corrupt my territory. Handle it for me, will you?"
It was less of a question and more of an order.
"No!" Hiei immediately refused, the word echoing around the cavernous room. "I have to-"
"You have to… what?" she asked, turning slowly back around to face him, her question dangerous. "Get back to your precious human? She's fine. My spies made sure of it yesterday evening. If she can't handle being on her own for more than a day, I can tell you right now, Hiei, you'll get bored of that quickly. I'm surprised you're not already bored. I've never known you to like weak things."
Reaching the borderlands was a full day trip, if sprinting at full speed. Handling the issue would likely take more than a day, which by the end of the second day should have been his return trip to human world. He'd promised Ashley, but Mukuro would hold him to the fire if he backed out. He was still her right-hand, even if he spent most of his time in human world and mediating. That was the one thing in all this mess that hadn't changed, and he was grateful, but it still presented the conflict.
Ashley would understand. She always understood.
Four days after he left for the borderlands he finally was able to get back to the castle. Two days past when he told Ashley he'd be back.
But maybe Mukuro was right. If Ashley couldn't defend herself, why was he trying, really? No, she shouldn't have been dragged into his issues with the Legion, but that was months ago. Yes, she had that little power that had exploded her light, but how deep would that go? And would she even want to try to master it?
And how would she react when she was faced with demon world in general? She seemed to do fine with her students, but would that last? Or would she run back to the comfort of her world first chance, as all humans ultimately did?
Maybe it would be better for them both if he ended it. He'd toyed with the idea before, but she'd always pestered him back.
Anger and frustration rose quickly. It wasn't like he was a pet, who was supposed to watch over her and protect her.
He scoffed. Mukuro was right. He was frustrated. And boredom would only come after.
Ashley's smile flashed behind his gaze, glazed over in his thoughts. He faltered.
But, even with all of that, she was-
"My-my Lord Hiei!"
Hiei's gaze snapped up, jerking him out of his thoughts. One of Mukuro's henchmen, Akihiko, approached him. He was a lumbering guy. Four arms. The strength of a hundred men. He had the confidence of a toddler, though, especially around Hiei.
Akihiko didn't wait for Hiei to reply. "It's Kurama. He's been trying to reach you for the last day."
Hiei's glare could have melted stone. He had just traveled all the way out to the borderlands and back in under four days. That trip usually took a week, easy, and he had to deal with arguing factions at the same time. He was tired, hungry, covered in a few demons' blood, and his clothes were torn. What he really wanted, more than anything at that moment was to be left alone. This guy, however, had interrupted him at the most inopportune moment. "Get on with it," he growled.
"Th-that girl of yours," Akihiko began slowly, still stammering like a fool. "The human one? They can't find her. He says she's been taken, and requests you return to human world at once."
Hiei's stomach dropped as his blood ran cold. He didn't need to ask who Akihiko was talking about.
- End of Chapter Twenty-Three -
DUN DUN DUUUUNNNN. Come on; it had to happen at some point. I've been building up to this for the last fifteen chapters. Aaaaaand we also meet Navia! Well, not meet-meet. Not yet, not really. But at least we know her name.
Here's one GIANT, MASSIVE THANK YOU to kykygirly and WistfulSin for your multiple reviews. Oh my god they made me cackle in laughter and cry with joy. I'm so glad you're both loving the story so much! And jesus, but I'd be amiss not to say a massive thank you to Star CharterandGraphospasm for reblogging my chapter post on their tumblrs. Like OMG Thank you! (silently low-key freaking out). I've noticed since then the chapters have been getting more hits so I just wanted to let everyone know I have a tumblr, o-dragon05, where I post things about this fic and will post chapter updates and mood boards. Like I did yesterday where it got late and I couldn't finish this chapter by yesterday so I posted a note on my tumblr. I often forget to update my profile here, so that's the best place to get up-to-date information.
Speaking of which, I'm so sorry this is late! I got about three-quarters through it and came to Friday and I had no motivation to work on it at all and Saturday I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off and dealing with a headache. Thank you for your patience with me! Chapter 24 will be out on June 16: Prisoners of Our Own Making. Thank you for patiently waiting for my chapter updates every 2 weeks. I so want to go back to updating every week, but with life right now, that's just not feasible. My dad was affected back during Hurricane Harvey, getting about 8 inches of the floodwaters in his home. Long story short, his mom (my grandmother) died 6 months previously so he's trying to juggle handling her estate, fixing his house while trying to get what he's owed from the insurance company, who shorted him thousands of dollars, the possibility of losing the house, and a problem dog that he's trying to re-habilitate. I go help him every week that I can, usually going consecutive weeks in a row. So, thank you for your patience with me.
I do not own, in any way, the characters, places, or ideas of the Yu Yu Hakusho universe created by Yoshihiro Togashi. I only own my own characters and plot.