Email: swythangel@hotmail.com
Title: The Reddest Rose
Type: Series 1/?
Rating: PG (just to be safe)
Note: This is
supposed to be a fan fiction of the series YuYu Hakusho. Since the creator
didn't see fit to find Kurama a sweetheart, I thought I'd do it for them.
In no way am I sure that I am not butchering the Japanese language and
words, as well as the whole YuYu Hakusho storyline, so please bear with
me.
Disclaimer:
All characters of YuYu Hakusho are owned by their writer and company. They
aren't mine (sigh!) and even if I wished on a hundred falling stars, Kurama
will never be mine. This fiction was made to entertain and hopefully does
not infringe on their copyright.
Ok let's just get one thing straight ne? Not yaoi will never be yaoi and I'm sorry…I'm a yaoi fan myself as my WK fics attest to grin> but this just snuck up on me. Believe me, I didn't think a hetero fic was in me. Ahoho!
Wai thank you for the comments, ginger-chan, lily-chan and everyone else. I love people who comment… and whee just for you guys this is one long installment ^o^
The Reddest
Rose
Part 2
Room 208 was an ordinary classroom, one of many generic antiseptic-white classrooms in the school. Its 4 pairs of fluorescent lights winked in steady intervals, almost in time with the whirring of the ancient electric fan at the middle of the ceiling. If this was any other day, Akari and her classmates would probably have complained about the lights and the fan loudly, knowing that the teacher would listen with a deaf ear, but still complaining, hoping that it would at least take some precious minutes off of the boring lectures this teacher always gave out. But today was different. Today was the last day of the term and for once, no one complained about the lights or the fan.
It was Course Card Distribution Day. Or as some students called it-- D-Day. The students were in various emotional states. You could almost tell who had studied the whole term and who did not. Those who didn't take their studies seriously were chattering endlessly, an almost wild look in their eyes, worrying about failing the course while those who studied were leaning back in their chairs in relaxed ease.
Akari was only half-listening to Kyara's chatter. She didn't have to worry about her grades and she had other things to occupy her rather than listening to Kyara.
"Akari! You haven't been listening to a word I said, have you?" Akari tore her gaze from her object of fascination and saw Kyara with her arms akimbo, an accusing look in her eyes.
"Sorry, Kyara. I was…occupied." Akari shamefacedly said.
"Sorry, Kyara. I was occupied!" Kyara mimicked. "Oh, Akari! You're so obvious that I wonder why he doesn't know how you feel yet." Kyara said. She turned quickly, shouting and waving. "Hey there, Shuichi-San!" Kyara said, smiling at Kurama who had raised his head to look at her. He waved back in reply.
"Kyara, what are you doing? I'll never forgive you!" Akari said, her words were muffled as she was trying to smile and talk at the same time, trying to appear normal, a blush had reddened her cheeks.
Kyara burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" Akari said frowning quickly.
"You should have seen your face! I've never seen a person smile and try to talk at the same time. Hahaha!"
"Whatever possessed you to do that, Kyara. Ooohh, if you weren't my best friend, I'd probably kill you right now!" Akari threatened, lifting her hands and miming strangling her best friend, all the while advancing on Kyara.
"You wouldn't!"
"Wouldn't I?" Akari said, her eyebrows lifting, a mischievous grin on her lips.
"Help!" Kyara ran off shouting and laughing.
***
"Sayonara, Shuichi-San! See you next term!"
"Sayonara, Akari-San! Have a nice vacation!"
Kurama waved at the giggling, waving girl who ran to the school's gate where her friends were waiting for her. They had just received their grades for the term and Kurama was feeling decidedly satisfied with the grades he got. A 1.0 average. I'm in the dean's list. He had called his mother immediately to tell her about it. And she had been so happy. She was with his stepfather and brother in a European tour. A gift to his younger brother Shuuichi (he never quite figured out how his kaasan could call for one of them and have the right one answer her.) for excelling in his classes this year.
With a little smile on his handsome face, Kurama decided to stroll through the tree-lined campus one more time before going home. The campus was eerily quiet now, its facilities empty of the raucous laughter and chattering voices of the 1,000 students that populated the halls when classes were in session. The quiet was split by a very loud shout.
"KURAMAAAAAA!"
Kurama turned around to see Kuwabara hurtling down one of the walks with Keiko walking at a sedate pace behind him.
"Kuwabara! Keiko! How are you guys?" His voice carried only loud enough to reach the two of them. He walked towards the two intending to meet them half-way but Kuwabara had managed to cover the distance faster than he expected, and was now in the process of pounding him on the back.
"Hey, hey! So how is the doctor?"
Keiko lightly swatted Kuwabara. "Oh, Kuwabara! Stop that." She faced Kurama and smiled. "Hi, Kurama!"
"Hello, Keiko!"
"So, are you ready to go?" She told Kurama, prying Kuwabara away from his back. Kuwabara raised his fist and almost shouted the words. "He had better. He didn't go last month! He'll go alright, even if I have to drag him!"
Kurama raised his bulging knapsack and used it as a sort of shield against the wildly waving fist that was aimed in his direction. "I'm ready, I'm ready. So stop waving that in my direction, will you? And hey, last time wasn't my fault. Who would've known we'd have a long quiz the Monday after that weekend?"
"We'd better get going. Its getting late and the train won't wait for us, you guys." Keiko started walking away while the other two followed behind.
While waiting at the trainstation, she half-listened to Kuwabara's and Kurama's conversation, amazed at how Kurama had changed from before. He had loosened up a little from the more serious mien he had sported three years ago and sometimes kidded around like a normal person.
"Boy, this weekend is going to be fun! Why, just everyone is going to be there." Kuwabara loudly said, waving his arms around. Then he suddenly smiled slyly and jabbed Kurama in the ribs. "Wait'll you see the surprise we have for …Ooow!"
Keiko had stepped on Kuwabara's right foot.
"Ow! That hurts!" Kuwabara hopped around on one leg, holding the offended foot aloft. "Keiko! What did you do that for?"
Keiko dragged Kuwabara away, smiling at the dumbfounded Kurama. "I…uh, I just remembered. Yusuke wanted me to tell Kuwabara something private. Could you wait there for a minute?"
Kurama nodded. "S…sure."
"Stupid! Didn't I tell you not to tell Kurama about her?" Keiko pinched Kuwabara's ear. "It's a surprise, you idiot. And you're gonna ruin it with your big mouth."
"Oh, right" Kuwabara hung his head and scratched the back of his neck. "I forgot. Sorry. It's just that I'm so excited about this." He looked towards Kurama. "I wonder if he'll even like her. What do you think, Keiko?"
Keiko looked towards Kurama too. "I don't really know…but we'll know soon…"
"Hey guys! Are you finished there? The train is here already. C'mon or we're gonna miss it!" Kurama waved towards them, his voice just loud enough to carry.
"We're coming!" Kuwabara shouted, turning to walk towards Kurama, only to be pulled back by Keiko. "Remember, stay quiet."
"Right." Kuwabara nodded. Just then the warning bell sounded, and they both ran towards Kurama.
***
"Yuuuuu~kii~naaaaaaa!" Kuwabara's shout rang against the quiet solitude of the forest surroundings. Kuwabara had rushed up the stairs of the group's dojo leaving behind Kurama and Keiko staring dumbfounded after him, with a big droplet of sweat forming on both their heads.
Kurama turned toward Keiko smiling. "I guess he hasn't changed at all, huh?"
Keiko smiled back. "Nope. You know Kuwabara. He might just stay like that forever." They had just reached the top when they heard Yukina's quiet admonishment.
"Oh Kuwabara-san! You startled me with your shouting. You should be more quiet."
"Gomen nasai. It's just that I was so excited at the prospect of seeing you again. I'll try to control it next time." Kuwabara hung his head and rubbed the back of his neck, a blush staining his cheeks.
Keiko and Kurama looked at each other; Kurama's right eyebrow had come up. Keiko's eyes danced and she told Kurama. "On second thought, I take it back. He might change after all, if a certain someone has anything to do with it."
Both laughed.
"Oh! I didn't notice that you guys were there. Konnichi wa, Kurama-san! Keiko!" Yukina said, bowing to the both of them.
They both bowed back. "Oh it's nothing Yukina. We're friends. You shouldn't be so formal." Keiko looked around. "By the way, where's Yusuke? He told me that he was going to arrive here two days before." Her eyes narrowed a little. "Don't tell me he forgot to come again! If he has, I am going to punch his lights out."
"I..its not like that Keiko." Yukina said, trying to pacify her friend. "Yusuke arrived a week ago. His been waiting here talking with Hitori for an hour or so. But you know Yusuke" Yukina shrugged. "He got bored and dragged Hitori inside. They're at the practice room right now, training."
"Oh, that Yusuke!" Keiko sighed. "Always thinking about training." She rolled her eyes. A hand tapped lightly on her left shoulder and she turned to find Kurama looking at her with a mild perplexed look in his eyes. "Uh, yes?" She asked him.
"Pardon me, but I couldn't help but hear. Who's Hitori?"
Okay, Keiko, remember the plan. She turned towards Kurama, pretending to be contrite. "Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot that you weren't here last month, Kurama. Anyway, Hitori is…"
"REI GUN!"
Blam!
The whole place shook a little with the force of the last blow, causing everyone to run to the practice room where the blast originated.
"That rei gun was strong enough to render a weak opponent unconscious." Kurama's tone was worried as he followed the others to the practice room. His brows were wrinkled in concern. "Are you guys sure they aren't fighting it out for real?"
Kuwabara let out a short bark of laugh and slowed down somewhat to answer Kurama. "Nah, don't worry about it. This happens all the time. I'm sure Hitori has the situation well in hand."
"Kuwabara's right, Kurama." Keiko reassured him. "Honestly, I'm more afraid for the practice room walls rather than Hitori. I mean, could you guys imagine what Master Genkai would say if she saw any damages? She'd probably haunt us." She joked.
They all laughed at this, remembering how Master Genkai would react. She had passed away three years before and the sorrow of that passing had already healed.
"Well, we're here." Yukina told them, indicating the practice room door in front of them. She was opening the door slowly while talking. "Oh, just remember to be very quiet and watch your step, all right, you never….EEEEK!" Her precaution gave way to a startled shriek as a human body came hurtling out the open door, pass Keiko and Kuwabara who stood on either side and right into Kurama's arms.
Kurama was startled as the reddish-brown topped bundle struck his chest but his arms tightened reflexively around it. As he looked down, his green eyes met dazed red ones, startling him even more…he didn't know any humans who had red eyes…could she be…
"HAHAHAHA! Yeah, I won!" Yusuke stood on the doorway, both of his hands forming 2 V-signs. "I finally beat Hitori."
Kurama was momentarily distracted by Yusuke's boisterous shout but his attention went back to the girl in his arms as she stirred. The red eyes had cleared and the girl raised her eyes to look at him. All rational thought fled from his mind, as he became mesmerized.
Hitori hadn't seen the kick that Yusuke had initiated because she had been distracted by the sound of footsteps and voices in the hallway. She had been distracted for only a second but at the speed that they were fighting, a second was all it took. Yusuke's feet made contact with her abdomen and she flew into the air, dazed, to slam into a warm wall, no, a human being, judging from the arms that prevented her from falling. She heard Yusuke's triumphant laugh, and ignored it. Hitori raised her eyes to thank the person who held her when she promptly fell into the greenest eyes she had ever seen, mesmerized in their depths.
"This feels so great. After 3 months of stalemates, I finally beat her. Did you see me, Keiko? I was awesome!" Yusuke was oblivious to Kurama and Hitori as he continued to extoll his greatness.
"Yeah, yeah, Yusuke. Will you stop bragging already? You sound so immature!" Kuwabara said, exasperated.
"What did you say? Why, you!" Yusuke grabbed Kuwabara's head in an arm lock. "Now take it back, you idiot!"
"No, I won't, you imbecile. Now, let go of me." Kuwabara struggled out of Yusuke's grip.
Keiko ignored the brawling twosome, more interested in what was happening with Kurama and Hitori. Or should she say, what wasn't happening. She smirked. Neither of the two had moved since Kurama had caught Hitori and neither had taken their eyes off of each other eversince Hitori had looked up at Kurama. Keiko felt so happy. Maybe this plan will work after all...
"Aw, shaddup, Kuwabara. You're just jealous coz I'm stronger than you are." Yusuke said, pulling on Kuwabara's right leg.
"In your dreams, Yusuke. At least I'm not as stupid as a mule." Kuwabara told Yusuke, kicking with his left leg and flipping Yusuke.
"Ssshhh!" Keiko told them, never taking her eyes off of Kurama and Hitori.
Both Yusuke and Kuwabara swiveled their heads to see what Keiko was so interested in and saw how Kurama and Hitori hadn't moved at all.
"Oohhh! Looks interesting!" Yusuke said, grinning.
"Nani?" Kuwabara exclaimed. "Hey, Hitori! How come when I caught you the last time you and Yusuke fought, you slapped me? Don't you think that's unfair?"
Wham!
A great big bump appeared on Kuwabara's head and Keiko threw away the chair she had slammed down on Kuwabara in frustration. Yusuke was rolling on the floor laughing at Kuwabara.
"Hahaha! Way to go, Keiko. I couldn't have done it better myself." Yusuke shouted, to which Keiko responded by giving him a glare that would have stopped a clock. She was irritated at Kuwabara's uninvited remark.
She looked towards the two again only to find that the magic was broken and Hitori struggling out of Kurama's arms. She was blushing and couldn't look Kurama in the eye as she now stood next to him. What am I doing? Green eyes…this is Kurama. This is my target. Why is my heart racing?
Even Kurama looked flustered, not at all like his calm, quiet self. He, too, was blushing, his face the same color as his hair. What was I thinking of? I don't even know this girl.
"Hey, where's everybody? Yukiinaaa? Keikooo? Yusuke?" Botan on her flying broom, or whatever you might want to call it, sailed into the practice room. "Oh, so there you guys are. Koenma-sama and I have been looking for you people for some time now. What on earth are you guys doing here?"
Kurama was thankful for Botan's arrival. It allowed himself time to control the uncertain emotions that had surfaced earlier.
Hitori was relieved to find the others' attention drawn away from her. She sighed and tapped Keiko lightly on the shoulder. "I..I'm still feeling a bit dazed. I think I'll go to my room."
Keiko gave her a slight nod and a worried look. "Alright. If you need any help, just tell me alright."
Hitori smiled at Keiko, touched by the concern in her voice. "Yeah, but don't worry. This'll pass. Well, I'm going now before Botan sees me." She walked out of the practice room, sure that only Keiko noticed her departure. She didn't notice a pair of green eyes that followed her as she moved out of the room.
***
It is starting…
Dark satisfaction tinged the thought and slitted eyes glowed a deep red, slicing into the swirling darkness of the Meikai.
***
Instead of going to her room, Hitori wandered off into the forest to calm herself down. She had been keyed up all day, waiting for Keiko and the others, and this didn't help her any. As an assassin, she knew that feelings and emotions such as nervousness should never divert her from her mission but she had been here in the Ningenkai for 3 months. In these three months that she had been taken in by Yusuke and Keiko and had been taught the intricacies of human living, she found that she liked it here in this world where she could be an ordinary girl, not the kitsune weapon of a tribe of bloodthirsty youkai. A strange warmth enveloped her whenever Yusuke and Keiko would call her down to dinner or asked her where she would like to go on Sundays. A feeling she had never felt while she had been in her own world. And she didn't want it to end.
She pushed open the heavy wooden door of the house and went out, making sure that the door was partially open so she could get back in later. She smiled as she breathed in the scents of the forest. There's nothing like this forest in the youkai world.
She loved to just stroll through the quiet greenery because she felt so alive while doing so. It served as a reprieve from Yusuke and Keiko's constant bickering (she was amused at how the couple constantly fought knowing that they enjoyed doing it but sometimes it grated her nerves.) and an escape for when Yusuke would ask her to train with him.
Hitori detested fighting especially for no other reason than fighting but she was grateful to Yusuke and Keiko and couldn't refuse (but she could get away to where Yusuke couldn't find her so that's what she did.). She smiled to herself, knowing that after the ruckus of Botan and Koenma's arrival died down Yusuke would eventually try to find her, he wasn't through bragging yet. She imagined Yusuke scouring the dojo and not finding her. Well, he'd just have to wait. I'm not going back until I'm ready to.
"Hitori!"
Nani? I could have sworn I heard FoxFire's voice. She shook her head. Must be the wind.
"HITORI!"
That wasn't the wind at all and she swung her head to the right to find an apparition of Foxfire wavering in the heat of the afternoon sun.
"Oniisan!" She exclaimed, pleased to see her brother again.
Foxfire's face rumpled. "Don't call me that, alright! Father asked me to check up on you. Its been three months now, Hitori. Why isn't Youko dead yet?"
Trust Foxfire to go straight to the heart of the matter. "My, you seem touchy today." She told him.
"Sorry. Father's been hounding me on this. Besides I've been worried about you."
Hitori became contrite. "Gomen nasai. You should tell Father that I'm on it. Unfortunately, my target has just arrived. I can't very well kill him in front of his friends." That's not it at all. Somehow somewhere I've picked up a conscious. And it's telling me that I don't want to kill him at all. He is Yusuke's and Keiko's friend. And what about what I felt when I looked at him. Her mind shied away at the still-remembered feeling. But I'm not going to tell you that. "Besides, didn't Father say I shouldn't leave tracks or let the Ningens know that the Youko-Kitsune tribe still exists? We wouldn't want any Ghostfighters to know now, do we?"
"Well, you do have a point. So just how long do you need to get this done? The sooner you finish, the sooner you can return here." Fox-fire had a one-track mind.
Something inside Hitori withered at the thought of returning to the youkai world. I'd like to take forever. I'd like to stay here, thank you! But I doubt if you or father would let me. Still, I'm going to drag this out to the utmost. "Hmmm…allowing for discrepancies in my plan, I would like to have a full human year to finish this."
"What? A year? That's too much! I'd say three months should do it. Huh? Yes?" Foxfire swiveled his head to his left. Apparently someone was also there with him, someone Hitori couldn't see. When Foxfire faced her again, he wore a disgruntled look. "I am sorry, Hitori, the Council has decided. You only have a month more to finish this or you will be forcibly dragged back here in disgrace and wed to Kuronue."
"Iie, that's too short." Hitori couldn't believe her ears. "Can't you do anything about it, Foxfire?" Her eyes pleaded with him.
A hint of regret tinged Foxfire's tone. "I'm sorry, Hitori. I can't do anything. The Council has spoken." His head swiveled back to the left. "Will you leave now? I would like to have a few words with Hitori alone. Go out now or I will personally throw you out of this room. And I promise you, you won't like how I'm going to do it!" His red eyes glowed.
Hitori sighed. Foxfire was like all youkos—violent. "What's so important that you had to chase the councilor out of the room, Foxfire?"
Foxfire turned back to her. "Nothing at all but I didn't want him to tell Father everything we were talking about. Anyway, do your job Hitori. Father is angry enough to give you to Kuronue whether you finish this mission or not."
"I can't understand Father at all." Hitori said angrily.
"Calm down. I'll try to reason with him. You just do your job, alright? Anyway, I have to go." Foxfire seemed to hesitate. "Uh, Hitori? I missed you." At that, Foxfire's image faded and winked out, leaving Hitori alone with her thoughts. Her eyes stared ahead as she contemplated her situation.
Why me? Why do I have to kill him? She walked through the forest unseeing, too immersed with her thoughts. Damn, I do not want to return to the tribe. If I kill Youko, maybe…maybe Father will allow me to stay here. She felt hope. She shook her head. What am I saying? Youko is Yusuke and Keiko's friend. She remembered all the things the couple had done for her. How Keiko shared her clothes with her and taught her how to act, cook and do things around the house (she found out she wasn't that cut out for homemaking), how Yusuke taught her how to swear (Keiko had given him one heck of a scolding for this) and showed her some tricks while they beat the crap out of each other training, how they made her laugh with their constant bickering and antics. They had always accepted her for herself, unlike the treatment she had always gotten in the Youko-Kitsune tribe. How can I do that to them? Besides, how can I stay here if I've killed Youko? Yusuke, Keiko and the others would never forgive me. Anger and desperation formed tears in her eyes. Not since she had been small had she ever cried.
"IT'S NOT FAIR!"
Cra—ack!
She violently punched the tree in front of her. Her fist splintering the bark. The tears now freely flowing down her face as she sank to the leaf covered forest floor, the bleeding knuckles unnoticed.
TBC ^_~