Email: swythangel@hotmail.com
Title: The Reddest Rose
Type: Series 4/?
Rating: PG (just to be safe)
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.
Wai wai! All good people who commented, I'm sorry for being so reticent. Here's the next part and its longish! ^-^
I tell you guys its hard not to write yaoi, really really hard! And this will prolly be my one and only hety fic for a very long time. (Hopefully not. I need to be normal. lol)
Anyways, on with the ficcie!
The Reddest Rose
"I really don't see why Keiko couldn't have come with me on this…" Hitori sighed, staring straight ahead at the tree-lined path, all too conscious of the boy walking beside her. Her voice was clear and steady, a feat achieved through iron control over vocal cords that threatened to close up every time Kurama came near her. It was something that baffled her, an illogical event spurred on by nothing within her experience as a kitsune.
He is only a guy, Hitori, just a guy. Think Yusuke or Kuwabara. Somehow it wasn't the same, her mind conjuring up the goofy faces of both Yusuke and Kuwabara whenever they were ribbing each other. Something she couldn't envision Kurama being goofy. She shook her head. Nothing to be afraid of, really. Big words from someone who had taken pains to avoid being alone with Kurama the past few days.
"Oh, I don't mind, I wasn't really doing anything." Kurama shrugged, smiling down at her. Hitori didn't know it but Kurama wouldn't have minded even if he had a ton of homework to do. Ever since the walk in the woods (he remembered the quiet companionship they had shared, something he had only felt with Shiori-kaasan and Hiei, the rightness of being in her presence), he had decided that kitsune or not, Hitori had become an important part of his life.
He was startled. Nothing like this had ever happened to him in his thousands of years as a kitsune. He wasn't sure, but could it possibly be the same feelings Yusuke had for Keiko? What Kuwabara felt for Yukina?
Unknown to Kurama, Hitori's thoughts were also on the same topic his was on, although it was on a different bend. Like Kurama, Hitori had been thinking of the feelings she had whenever Kurama was around. She had been reading some books Keiko had left in her room (romance novels that Keiko had stuffed into the philosophical books Hitori had borrowed) and the symptoms she had been feeling—the accelerated pulse and pounding heart, the stuttering and blushing— all had been symptoms of "falling in love". But what was love? In the Kitsune tribe, there was no such thing, only cold cruelty and callousness. Love was a puzzling enigma she couldn't conceive of. All she knew was that she was happy everytime she talked to Kurama.
But unlike Kurama, she was trying valiantly to fight off the emotions she was feeling. Now that everyone had accepted her again, her thoughts had turned back to her father and the Kitsune tribe. Now that she was happy here in the Ningenkai, she couldn't help but feel apprehension.
She had broken Kitsune law and her one-month was almost up. Whether she liked to or not, she knew she would be dragged back to the Makai. Yusuke and the others would certainly fight the messengers but kitsune were cunning and persistent. Someday, maybe not by the end of the month or the year, but someday the kitsune would catch them all off guard and she wouldn't be here anymore.
There was also the problem of Fox-Fire and her father. She didn't think they would ever understand if she told them she liked her former target. She sighed. No, there was no way out of it. Before she really "fell in love" with Kurama, she had to distance herself from him. She wondered about just how much had changed about her after 3 months. Before, she would have been on her guard every time, expecting treachery from all sides, only relaxing when it was Fox-Fire who was with her. She hadn't had an opportunity to laugh at all. Now here she was, laughing with ningens, sleeping under the same roof, enjoying this walk in the company of a man who had gone from target to friend and more in a short span of time.
And what about Kurama? Surely her father would not stop at her failure to kill the Silver Fox. He would send others after he had punished her. Her face crumpled with worry for Kurama. So far, the power she sensed in him couldn't even compare to her, and she was only a five-tailed kitsune. If Fox-fire had been the one her father sent, Kurama would be killed…
She had been so deep in thought that she was startled to find a rose staring at her in the face, a perfect copy of the roses she always found on top of her pillow every night.
"You looked so preoccupied that I felt I had to do something to cheer you up." Kurama said with a slight smile.
Hitori's face lightened a bit. "How do you do that?" She asked.
"Do what?"
"Make roses out of thin air."
Kurama shrugged. "I just do. It's a part of my power."
"I've never known a kitsune who used rose weapons before, thorny brambles and vines maybe but never roses." Hitori brought the flower to her face and inhaled the sweet aroma.
"You're right. There isn't any." Kurama replied, pausing for a few minutes to appreciate the lush greenness of the forest. "When I was still in the Makai, my power of plant manipulation extended only to demonic plants. My whip came from thorn-filled demon vines as well. No roses. Not until Shiori-kaasan…"
His ningen mother? What does she have to do with it? Before Hitori could voice her question, a rose appeared out of thin air and Kurama twirled it between his fingers. A faraway look entered his eyes as he began to speak. "I love red roses. Did you know that there's a myth that said all roses were white before. It was a princess' blood that dyed the rose red. She had killed herself after she found out that her lover died in a war. After that, many of the kingdom's roses had the reddest tinge. Those were the stories Kaasan always told me. When I was young I used to wonder about that…it seemed a crime to have white roses, somehow white roses don't seem as alive as red ones." Kurama shook his head a little, as if to banish the thought.
"Do you know that the reddest, most sweet-scented roses have the sharpest thorns? The more beautiful the rose, the harder it is to pluck them. It would seem that the thorns are protecting their prize. " Kurama smiled a little smile. "I remember, Shiori-kaasan used to call me her little rose-brambles back when I was a baby. I used to kick and cry whenever anyone except Kaasan picked me up from the crib. She had always told people that I was just showing my "thorns". I remember she kept insisting that all they needed were patience and understanding."
"Is there a point in all this?" Hitori asked impatiently. She didn't see the point of Kurama's ramblings.
That shook Kurama out of his reminiscing. "Ah, the famous kitsune impatience, its been a long time since I encountered it." Except for Hiei that is. "The point is, roses only manifested themselves when I became a ningen. Once I gained human emotion. That is why you will never see a kitsune with roses in their repertoire. They don't have the human element."
Oh. Hitori colored a little, embarrassed at her rudeness and inability to follow his line of thought. They lapsed into silence as each of them became alone with their thoughts.
"Oniisan! Onesan!" A little boy appeared in front of them, smiling up at them with a brochure in his outstretched hands. He looked so endearing and trusting that Hitori couldn't help but return his smile.
Kurama bent to take the brochure and ruffle the boy's hair, he was smiling affectionately.
"Orei, ototosan! Here buy yourself some candy."
"Wow! Domo arigato gozaimasu, oniisan, onesan!" The little boy bowed to them and ran off to the nearest candy store.
Kurama straightened and examined the brochure.
"What does it say?" Hitori was still smiling.
"Something about a ' Summer Beach Festival'…"
"Oh, I heard Keiko talk about that. When is it?"
"It starts tomorrow and will go on all week."
"Knowing Keiko, we'll probably be going. Anyway, we'd better get that sake…"
***
"Ake and Shuki are here already, aren't they?" The dark voice hissed at the cowled figure that wavered in the darkness of the Reikai.
"Hai, so desu. The only ones left are Akemi… and him."
"Yessss…." The voice was brimming over with dark delight.
"I think that now would be a good time to let him go."
***
Day 19
"Oy, Yusuke!" Keiko called out, "This spot should be fine." she pointed to the spot where she was standing and waved to the others. Keiko was wearing her favorite emerald one-piece bathing suit and was drawing no small amount of male attention.
"Hoo hoo! Its hot, hot, hot!" Yusuke was jumping around in the sand in his blue trunks (haven't you guys noticed how Yusuke loves blue? And jeans?). He was followed by Yukina in her ice-blue suit. Kuwabara was acting goofy again, covering up Yukina with a blanket and glaring at the guys that were looking at her. An action that amused the others.
Behind them was Hitori who didn't don a bathing suit. However, because of the heat, she had opted to forsake her usual outfit consisting of a long-sleeved karate gi (filched from Yusuke) and changed into one of the cooler sleeveless dresses Keiko had given her, much to Keiko's and Kurama's secret delight. Kurama, as usual, was dressed impeccably in tight blue jeans and a shirt, the only concession he made was to open up the shirt up to the fourth button, exposing a lot of his chest.
Yusuke placed the blanket on the sands and plopped down on it. "Whew. That was close. My tootsies were getting burned." He blew on his foot.
Kuwabara was still glaring at the guys that were looking their way.
"Stop that, Kuwabara-san, you're acting childish. Now sit here beside me and enjoy the day." Yukina patted the place beside her.
Kuwabara sighed and sat down. "Gomen nasai, Yukina. I can't help it. You should have worn a dress in the first place, like Hitori." He pointed to Hitori who had sat down next to Keiko.
"Like Hitori what?" Hitori asked as she sat down. She had only caught the tail end of the conversation.
"Kuwabara thinks Yukina should have just worn a dress like you. If you ask me I think he's just jealous because lots of guys like looking."
Kuwabara blushed. "Keiko!"
"Well, its true!"
Everyone laughed at this.
Keiko stood up. "Well, I'm going swimming. No use wasting the day. Anyone coming with me?" She ran towards the waves.
"I am." Yusuke ran to catch up.
"Wait for me, Keiko, Yusuke." Yukina said and turned towards Kuwabara. "Coming, Kuwabara-san?"
"No, I'll catch up later. I wanna rest awhile." Kuwabara told her, craning his neck to look around.
"Alright. What about you guys?" Yukina asked Hitori and Kurama.
"No, not me. You know how I hate water." Hitori told Yukina, smiling. "I think I'll stay here and enjoy the sun instead. What about you, Kurama?"
"No, I'll stay here. Besides, I didn't bring any swimming trunks. You go on, Yukina and enjoy. We'll look after Kuwabara for you. See that he doesn't get into trouble." Kurama joked.
"Okay. See you guys!" As she ran to catch up with Keiko and Yusuke, Kuwabara just gave her a distracted wave. Kuwabara is acting strange, I think he's up to something… She shrugged. Oh well, I'm sure its nothing. He loves the water, he'll catch up.
Kuwabara didn't come in the water at all, staying on the blanket with Kurama and Hitori until Yukina and the others came back.
Damn, why isn't she here yet? Kuwabara was a little on edge. He had been expecting her to show up just as they arrived on the beach…
"Shuuichi-saaaaan!"
There she is. He smiled and watched as a girl in a fetching yellow bikini ran right up to their blanket. A startled Kurama turned around to see who was calling him and recognized the girl. He smiled. "Ohayo, Akari-san…Kyara-san!" He said, noticing another figure behind Akari.
"May we sit here with you?"
"Why not, Akari-san? The more the merrier." Keiko told her, getting over the surprise she felt at seeing Kurama's classmate.
"Oh, Kuwabara-san, Keiko-San! You're here too. Konnichiwa!" Akari bowed. "Oh, Shuichi-san." She sat down next to Kurama and only just noticed Hitori at Kurama's left side and Yukina near Kuwabara. "I see you have other friends." She smiled. "Hello, my name is Akari Saeba. This is my friend Kyara. We're Shuichi-san's classmates."
"Oh, that's right you haven't met our other friends have you?" Keiko told her since Kurama seemed too surprised to talk. "This is my fiance, Yusuke." She introduced Yusuke who nodded in reply. "This is Yukina, Kuwabara's girlfriend." Yukina blushed but managed to say hello. Keiko paused. She knew Akari had a crush on Kurama. Who doesn't? The whole school knows except Kurama. "And this is Hitori….Ku…that is, Yusuke's…cousin."
"Konnichiwa, Akari-san. Kyara-san." Hitori smiled at them.
A glint of knowledge flashed through Akari's eyes. She had heard the slight pause and somehow knew that that wasn't what Keiko had been about to say. Why do I feel that she is competition? She narrowed her eyes to look at Hitori again, noting the prettiness of the girl and the long luxuriant brown hair. She smiled to herself and lifted her chin up in a challenging manner and scooted closer to Kurama.
Keiko was in a panic. She had seen Akari sizing Hitori up and she knew that the girl felt that Hitori was competition. I wonder what Hitori is feeling…She looked towards Hitori to find the girl edging farther away from Akari and Kurama. This couldn't be a coincidence because if it is, it's a bad coincidence. I wonder who invited her…Her gaze slid to the only person she knew capable of doing so and saw Kuwabara smiling that sly grin of his. Her eyes narrowed. "I'm hungry. I think I'll go down to the canteen. Hey Yukina, didn't you tell me you were hungry too?" Her eyes were sending signals to Yukina.
"I didn't.." Yukina caught the glint in Keiko's eyes and changed her mind. "Oh, right. I am hungry. I'll go with you."
"Yusuke, Kuwabara, why don't you come with us?" Keiko suggested, pulling Yusuke up.
"Sure. I'm always up for a snack." Yusuke told her.
"I think I'll come with you guys." Hitori started to rise.
"No!" Keiko told her almost vehemently surprising almost everyone. She smiled to take the sting out and told Hitori in a softer tone. "No, you should stay here. We can handle it. Just tell us what you want to eat and we'll get it for you. Besides, someone should watch the blanket. So what do you guys wanna eat?"
Hitori sighed. "Just iced tea, please."
"Me too." Kurama told Keiko. She could see Kurama was a bit uneasy at Akari's close proximity.
"What about you Akari, Kyara?"
"Nothing for me, thank you." Akari said not taking her eyes from Kurama.
"No, thanks. I want to take a swim." Kyara told them and ran off to the sea.
"Well, we're going…" Keiko said and walked off, straining to hear what would happen next.
"Shuichi-san, why don't you show me around? This is my first time here…" Akari's voice seemed to be just a little bit flirtatious for Keiko's taste.
"Alright."
Idiot. Keiko thought. How can you buy such a line?
"Hitori, do you want to come along?"
"N…no, I think I'll stay here, Kurama-san. Someone's got to watch the blanket."
Keiko ground her teeth in frustration as she heard Hitori's last remark.
***
"What got into your cockamamie head to ask Akari here?" Keiko burst out.
"Well, it just sort of came to me." Kuwabara said scratching his head. The three had cornered him in the canteen. "You did say that we needed a catalyst…"
"I can tell you did something stupid, Kuwabara. Hee hee hee…" Yusuke was enjoying this.
Keiko interrupted him. "But I didn't say we needed Akari here. What did you tell her anyway? The last time I saw her, she was too shy to tell Kurama anything. Now she's all over him…"
Kuwabara had the grace to blush. "I sort of told her that Kurama's very dense in those kinds of things and that she had to act more noticeable."
"You what?" This from Yukina much to everyone's surprise. "That's a stupid thing to do, Kuwabara-san."
"Not only is it stupid. You might just jeopardize what we've done so far. Did you see how Hitori reacted when she saw Akari?" If steam could come out of Keiko's ears, people would be screaming for a fire extinguisher.
This stopped Yusuke from laughing. "It might?" His own eyes narrowed. "Boy are you gonna get it this time, Kuwabara." Yusuke jumped at Kuwabara.
"Halp, Keiko, Yukina!"
"I'm sorry Kuwabara-san but what you did was too stupid. You deserve this." Yukina seemed just a little miffed.
Kuwabara sighed. I thought it was a good idea. Guess it wasn't. He concentrated on blocking Yusuke's punches.
***
The day was a total disaster! Keiko sighed, combing her hair. They had returned to find Hitori alone on the blanket. She had been staring unseeing at the sea. And when Keiko gave her the iced tea, she had waved it away and excused herself to go back to the dojo saying she wasn't feeling so well. Keiko could tell that Hitori was really disturbed because she hadn't noticed how beat up Kuwabara was. When Kurama had returned, they were surprised to find Akari clinging to him like glue. This had thoroughly disgusted Keiko who tried hard not to let Akari see.
They had returned home to an empty dojo with no Hitori. Not that Kurama was there to notice, Keiko snorted. Akari had dragged him off to town to let him see where she was staying. Kurama really should learn how to say no. She knew that Kurama was worried about Hitori too because he had kept glancing towards the dojo.
Hitori had returned home later that night looking better although Keiko could feel her hiding something. She had asked what was wrong and had been rewarded with a brilliant smile and a flippant "Nothing's wrong." Keiko had stopped asking after that and had retired. Now she was stewing. Kuwabara and his stupid ideas! Its all his fault! I have to do something.
***
Hitori was lying in her bed unable to sleep, unidentified feelings were buffeting her insides and thoughts. The day had started so promisingly until Akari had come along. She had seen the look of challenge upon the other girl's face, so much like a challenging kitsune warrior, and she had felt like bashing her pretty face in, especially when she had gotten Kurama to come with her. After that, she couldn't concentrate on what she had been reading. Her thoughts wandered to what the two could be doing and an awful pressure seemed to build up inside of her. That's why she had gone to the woods after she had excused herself from Keiko and the others.
In the woods, she had come to the conclusion that she didn't have the right to feel angry at all. And had decided to stay away from the two while Akari was here. Retreat under fire, her lips lifted up in a mocking smile. Definitely unkitsune and against her warrior instincts. What is happening to me? If Fox-Fire were here, he'd ask me just what I'm doing…
She couldn't figure herself out at all either. She had made a decision to stay away from Kurama, to keep from "falling in love" with him but now that someone else had entered the picture, she couldn't bear the thought of seeing him with someone else. Hitori breathed a heartfelt sigh. Being a ningen sure is harder than being kitsune.
The day had been a humiliating one. She concluded. And worst of all, there had been no rose left on her pillow this night…wetness welled up in her eyes and she closed them tightly.
***
Day 21
"Here try these on." Keiko threw several bikinis to Hitori who deftly caught them.
"I don't want to, Keiko." She told Keiko listlessly.
"Come on. We'll be wasting our time here if you don't." Keiko raised an eyebrow and herded Hitori in the direction of the dressing rooms. An incredible feat, especially when both of her arms were full of swimsuits.
"I didn't want to come here in the first place." Hitori protested as Keiko pushed her inside a dressing room. Hitori thought back to this morning when Keiko had barged into her room to announce that they were going shopping. Keiko had then dragged her protesting. "You've been moping since yesterday. Its time you went and did something about this mess." Keiko had told her.
"Now you'd better try those on, alright?" Hitori heard Keiko's muffled voice in the adjoining dressing room.
Hitori sighed. And did as she was told if only to stop Keiko's bullying. She could hear Keiko talk on and on as she put on the first swimsuit.
"I know you're disturbed about Akari being here and don't tell me you're not because you are." Keiko said before Hitori could disagree. "But you can't just go moping off alone, you know. You've got to fight back." Keiko knocked at the dressing room. "Here let me see."
Hitori opened the door hesitantly. She felt bare in the bikini Keiko had chosen. Keiko smiled, noting that Hitori had a lithe and slim body that complimented the bikini. This plan is going to really work. Kurama had better watch out.
"That's a great design on you. But I think the red or the yellow one will suit you better."
"If I have to buy a swimsuit, can we just buy one like yours or Yukina's? I don't think I'm ready for anything so revealing."
"No. Have you seen what Akari wears? You have to make him notice you, Hitori, and a regular swimsuit isn't going to do that. Besides, I'm buying a bikini myself." Keiko smiled. "It'll surprise Yusuke." She said impishly.
Hitori sighed a long heartfelt sigh. "I still don't see why I should. I have no interest in making Kurama notice me."
Keiko raised an eyebrow and stuck out her tongue. Sign enough to let Hitori know what Keiko thought of that pronouncement.
***
"Ah-ya. Where is Keiko?" Yusuke looked around impatiently. "She told me she'd be here after lunch."
"Stop fidgeting so much Yusuke. They'll be here." Yukina told him placatingly.
"Its just that keeping Akari from dragging Kurama off to who-knows-where is getting harder and harder. I've ran out of excuses as it is." He sighed and looked to where Akari was amusing Kurama with a sandcastle.
Kuwabara sympathized with Yusuke. As the day had progressed, their excuses had gone from logical to downright silly. Akari-san was bound to notice sooner or later. He had also come to the conclusion that it had been a bad idea from the start, instead of urging Hitori to action, Akari-san served as a repellant that made Hitori stay away from Kurama. He fidgeted with guilt, then flinched. His right shoulder was still aching from the beating Yusuke had given him the day before.
A running boy sprayed sand on Kuwabara's cut, making it sting. "Hey, watch it!" But the boy hadn't noticed and kept running. It was then that Kuwabara became aware of several others who were also running towards the same direction. "Nani? What is happening over there?" He craned his head.
Yusuke jumped up. "I'll go see."
"Its probably some new girls on the beach." Kurama told Kuwabara, sitting down on the blanket beside Yukina and trying to get away from Akari at the same time.
"How would you know, Shuichi-san?" Akari said, foiling Kurama's plan by squeezing in between Yukina and Kurama.
"All those running people are guys." He said.
"Kurama is very perceptive." Yukina said, smiling at Kurama.
"Say, you must be right." Kuwabara said. "Here's Yusuke now. Eeeey? I don't believe it!" Kuwabara was stunned.
"What is it, Kuwabara-san?" Yukina started out and looked in the direction Kuwabara was staring at. "Oh, my…"
Kurama and Akari had also swiveled their heads to find out what had stunned the two. Kurama's eyes narrowed, seeing who was being followed by a group of guys.
"My, aren't those your friends, Keiko and Hitori?"
***
"Hoo! Hoo!"
An owl hooted in the night sky. Keiko smiled while brushing her hair. Today had been a fairly productive day. When Keiko and Hitori had hit the beach in their new bikinis, they've immediately been followed by a group of guys. Just as Keiko had planned. What she didn't plan on was wearing her bikini too but Hitori had been adamant. "I'm not going to wear this thing if you aren't." So Keiko had been forced to wear hers too. A fact that Yusuke hadn't appreciated after seeing just how many guys had followed them. Of course, she had pointed out to Yusuke that many of those guys were looking at Hitori more than at herself. That didn't help either. Yusuke had felt like a big brother seeing his sister being ogled at. He had hustled them to their blanket to find Kurama's eyes narrowed at what Hitori was wearing. Just like Keiko had planned.
Kurama hadn't been able to take his eyes off Hitori the whole day either, much to Keiko's delight and Akari's annoyance. Although he didn't so much as approach her either. How could he? Akari had firmly anchored him to her side.
Hitori didn't notice how many males had suddenly turned clumsy, seemingly falling over their own feet. But Keiko had noticed just how many of those guys were guys that had wandered near Hitori's vicinity. Those guys tripped even before they could come near her, complaining that something tripped them. Only Keiko had noticed how an out-of-place vine would suddenly pop up in the sand near one of the hovering males and disappeared once it had done its work. This had vastly amused Keiko.
Of course, Hitori hadn't noticed anything at all. She'd been too busy being miserable although she did do a good job of hiding it, pretending to be immersed in the beach activities. A great acting job that Keiko had complimented her upon reaching home. One that Hitori hadn't appreciated. She had been too miserable, had even excused herself from dinner. (Keiko didn't blame her since Akari had inveigled an invitation to eat dinner with them.) A fact that Kurama had noticed and commented on. "It must have been sunstroke from too much activity. For someone who didn't like the water, she certainly went in enough times. Or maybe it's a case of severe sunburn. She certainly didn't make an effort to cover up." Un-nice, un-Kurama and definitely jealous.
Keiko had nonchalantly replied. "People change their minds, you know. Wait'll you guys see the other bikini Hitori bought…" Kurama's eyes had narrowed even further.
Keiko smiled. She couldn't wait for tomorrow.
***
Day 22
Complete disaster had struck! Hitori had run off crying to who-knows-where and Kurama hadn't been able to follow. Now everyone was out looking for Hitori and it was all Akari's fault.
"Hitori! Hitori! Where are you, Hitori?!" Keiko ran through the forest shouting. She could hear similar shouts in the distance as Yusuke, Kuwabara and Yukina scoured the surroundings for any sign of the girl who had ran crying from the beach…
Everything had been fine that morning. Akari hadn't shown up at the dojo and Keiko had high hopes for the day. Kurama had stuck to Hitori's side from the dojo to the beach after seeing the red bikini Hitori had been wearing. It had even struck Keiko as funny when Kurama glared a little at the guys whose interests wandered to Hitori. He was acting just like Kuwabara had, albeit with much more dignity, but still very much like someone who was very jealous. And Hitori had actually smiled. Hitori's first real smile since Akari had arrived. Then Akari showed her face at the beach and dragged Kurama off to help her. "It is very important." Once Kurama had rushed off with Akari, Yusuke had ordered everyone to dress up and follow them. "After all, if it's that important, they'll need all the help they can get." The dear boy could come up with the grandest ideas sometimes.
Starting off a few minutes later than Kurama and Akari had, they didn't come in sight of the two until a few moments later to witness what looked like a cozy situation. Akari was in Kurama's arms. Everything was blurry after that. Hitori had ran off crying and here they were trying to find her.
***
"Yusuke. Seen her yet?"
"No. What about you, Yukina?" Yusuke said, catching his breath and turning to look at Yukina who had just emerged from the forest.
Yukina just shook her head and sat down on the steps beside Keiko.
"Nor have I. She's a fast runner." Kuwabara sprawled down beside Yukina.
Yusuke stood up. "I guess we'd better look again."
"No." Keiko held Yusuke's arm. "I think we should eat lunch first."
"Keiko's right. We'll have more energy then."
"I guess you guys are right."
They all stood up and entered the dojo.
***
Kurama came in running to the dojo just as the four were leaving it. Yusuke had to be restrained. He really wanted to punch Kurama in the face.
"Where's Hitori?" Kurama blurted out before anyone could speak.
"Why should you care, you…"
Keiko clamped a hand down on Yusuke's mouth before he uttered something he couldn't take back.
"Care to explain what happened this morning?" She asked Kurama, preferring to hear his side before getting angry.
"She fainted."
"She…WHAT?" All of them exclaimed.
"Akari fainted. That's why I caught her. Nothing more. That's why I arrived so late. I had to get her to a doctor and find Kyara before leaving her."
"Do you mean all this is just because we jumped to conclusions? Oi!" Yusuke slapped his forehead and rolled his eyes, his anger evaporating.
"You guys know me, you shouldn't have jumped to conclusions in the first place." Kurama said, a note of reproach in his voice.
"Gomen nasai, Kurama-san." Yukina bowed in his direction.
"Hey, look you guys, isn't that Hitori coming up the stairs?" Kuwabara said, smiling.
"But who's that with her?" Yusuke craned his head to look at Hitori's companion. "It looks like a guy."
"A guy? How can that be? Hitori doesn't know anyone else. Unless…" Keiko's eyes narrowed and focused suspiciously on Kuwabara, at the same time that Yusuke and Yukina did. They started to advance.
"Hey, don't look at me. I didn't do it this time." Kuwabara stepped back and had raised both hands to ward off everyone. "I really didn't." Sensing impending doom, he cried out. "Help!"
Kurama didn't notice the three's antics or Kuwabara's call for help. He was too intent on watching Hitori and the stranger. He had a sneaking suspicion that the stranger was not human. No, on closer inspection, he was sure the stranger wasn't human. Short silver-gray hair, red eyes, and an outfit that looked suspiciously like what Kurama wore in Youko form, not to mention the eight tails behind him. Kurama's mouth quirked up at the corners. Almost perfect disguise, kitsune…almost. The smile vanished just as soon as he saw how Hitori was hanging on to the kitsune's left arm.
"Hello everyone." Hitori waved, looking at Yusuke and the others and avoiding Kurama's eyes.
"Hello Hitori!" Kuwabara's was relieved. Saved!
"Who's that with you, Hitori?" Keiko said, forgetting Kuwabara in her curiosity at the stranger.
"Oh, this?" Hitori smiled. "Everyone I would like you to meet Fox-Fire, my oniisan." There was an almost childlike happiness in her tone. "Oniisan, these are my friends. Yusuke, Keiko, Yukina, Kuwabara…and Kurama." The hesitation in Hitori's tone was very apparent.
A wary look crossed Yukina's features. She was still koorime and the kitsune had been her enemies. Keiko, being too preoccupied in looking Hitori over, was too concerned with the red-rimmed eyes Hitori sported to give Fox-Fire more than a small little smile. Maybe Kuwabara's reception was the warmest of all. Having been saved from an impending beating, Kuwabara was smiling so widely that Hitori was scared his face might break into two. And Yusuke? Where was he? Hitori looked around to find Yusuke pulling at her oniisan's tails.
"Oohhhh, look, everyone. Five…six…seven…eight! He even has more tails than Hitori."
"Uh, Yusuke, I wouldn't…"
Before Hitori could even complete her warning, Fox-fire had already released a lightning–quick punch at Yusuke. Not that Hitori had anything to worry about…Yusuke easily blocked it and jumped away.
"Easy fella! I was just joking around." Yusuke was cautiously coming up to a bristling Fox-fire.
"No one touches my tails, let alone a ningen!" He launched himself towards Yusuke in a furious blur, his power burning brightly around him.
"Kitsune-Kaji!"
He fights like Hitori. Yusuke swept the fire-fox spirit away with one-hand. "You'd have to do better than that, Fox-boy, if you want to get a piece of me." Yusuke grinned. He knew that the kitsune was too riled to listen to reason. At least I get to put in a little training. He thought to himself as he jumped away from Fox-Fire's lightning punches.
***
Kurama walked through the moonlit forest silently, twirling the ever-present long-stemmed rose in his hands. The only sounds in the deepening twilight were those of crickets and an occasional owl. Sounds Kurama didn't notice, being deeply in thought. Hitori…lately she had occupied his thoughts to the exclusion of all else.
He loved talking with her, walking with her and being with her. Even when he had been with Akari-san, his thoughts had always wandered on to Hitori. Not that Hitori could care of course. Kurama scowled, remembering the incidents on the beach and dinner hours before. She was too busy flaunting herself at those idiotic males on the beach and cozying up to her brother.
Kurama let out a disbelieving sigh. Brother? If that Fox-fire only had a brotherly interest in her, I'll eat my tails. The unfamiliar feeling of jealousy ate at him from the inside. A feeling he had only felt in one time before, when Hiei had forsaken him and everyone else for Mukuro. But that had seemed like a light twinge compared to the fire consuming him now. Then, he had been able to hide behind his calm mask. Tonight when he saw Fox-fire throw that proprietary glance over Hitori he almost couldn't help himself. His hands itched to call his rose-whip and strike out at Fox-fire's roaming hands.
His blood had rose to near boiling point and for the first time in more than three years, he felt the unmistakable lure of his kitsune blood call to him, a small dark voice whispering, tempting him. Heady and strong, a promise of power and strength. So very different from when he had transformed to save Hitori from Yusuke's rei gun.
Dangerous ground. To transform in the heat of rage would call back the part of him that was the cruel, cunning, Silver Fox. If he had succumbed, the present part of him, the humane veneer he had painstakingly cultivated as Shuichi could well be overwhelmed. Then, Silver Fox would dominate his personality, and because Youko had always hated the weak ningen, it would wipe out every single trace of who Shuichi Kurama was.
He had almost succumbed to it. And the bastard, Fox-fire knew it, too, as he threw a triumphant glance his way. That had been the one thing that stopped him. He realized that that was exactly what Fox-fire wanted him to do. You aren't here to just visit your 'sister', are you?
He remembered the messengers from the Youko-Kitsune tribe from six-months ago, remembered their notification. "Lord Youko, the Youko-Kitsune Ruler Kawakami wishes you good health. He bids us say that the time of the Great Gathering is at hand. Your presence will be required in the Makai."
He had been shaken then by the news but had managed to refuse. A bit violently and insultingly, he recalled. Hence, he had surmised that that had been the reason why Hitori had been sent to assassinate him. But it seems it wasn't the case. They still wanted him. Damn these nine tails. He had been happy enough with just five. Who would have though that his constant battles protecting the ningenkai with Yusuke and the others would eventually elevate him to nine tails.
And is Hitori part of your plan? His mind clouded with doubt at Hitori's innocence. Then he remembered what he saw as he had looked into her mind. No, if she is, she does not know it at all. At least I am sure of Hitori.
But if a plot was brewing, he knew that his life as a ningen would be in jeopardy, his ningen friends would be in danger too. Damn the Kitsune!
***
Lost in his own thought, Kurama hadn't realized that two others were walking in the moonlit forest. He had almost stumbled on them if not for his plant senses that told him Hitori and Fox-Fire were nearby. He quickly hid himself from plain view and eavesdropped. I'm not eavesdropping! Shiori-kaasan said it isn't good to eavesdrop. I'm just listening in to see that everything's alright.
But that's eavesdropping, Shiori-kaasan would disapprove…His conscious nagged him but he simply ignored it. Yameru! She is beginning to talk…
"Alright, Fox-fire." Hitori said, unsmilingly, dropping his arm and her sweet demeanor now that they were alone. 'Why are you here in the ningenkai?"
"My, my. What a great change. And here I thought you had lost your edge, being with the ningens for so long." A taunting half-smile formed on Fox-Fire's lips as he leaned back on a tree.
"Answer the question." Hitori snapped back, not in the mood to play around with her brother.
"The most logical answer would of course be to see you, Hitori." Fox-Fire told her. "I have missed you, you know."
Hitori softened a bit. Since her okaasan had died, Fox-fire had been the only one who had been there for her through her kitsune life, even a kitsune must have feelings left in them. "I missed you too, oniisan."
"DON'T call me that!"
Hitori was surprised and puzzled at Fox-fire's violent reaction. "What's wrong, Fox-Fire? I have always called you oniisan before…"
I tire of this masquerade. Gomen, Tosan, but I want to tell her. Fox-fire resolutely faced Hitori and held her by the shoulders. "There are some things you should know Hitori."
"Like what, oni…Fox-fire?"
"Things like you shouldn't call me oniisan because we aren't the least bit related…" There! I said it…He braced himself for the torrent of questions he thought would be sure to follow and was surprised when he heard Hitori's soft response.
"I know."
"You WHAT?" Red eyes burned like cinders. "You knew? How did you know? And why didn't you tell me? All those years…" Fox-fire was almost sputtering as the words fell from his lips.
Precisely because I knew you'd react like this…Hitori's mouth lifted at one corner in a wry grin. "I don't really see why you have to overreact, 'niisan. To all intents and purposes, I should be the one ranting."
That hit home. Score one for my side. Hitori thought. She couldn't help but be amused at the bug-eyed open-mouthed expression on Fox-fire's face. "I knew even before I reached 25. 'Kaasan told me that Kawakami-Tosan wasn't my real father and that you weren't really my 'niisan."
"Then why didn't you tell us you knew."
Hitori shrugged. "What for? You didn't seem to mind and Tosan never noticed me anyway. Not until I turned warrior that is."
Kurama was the one who flinched as Hitori uttered the casual sounding words. Because of Janen-Ju, he had seen her memory of how much child-Hitori had longed for her father's approval and the tears of loneliness she had shed when she thought no one was looking.
"But did she tell you who your real father was?" Hitori didn't seem to notice the tenseness in Fox-fire's voice.
Hitori shook her head. "Kaasan only told me that he was not of the kitsune tribe, that my real otosan was a gaijin, a chance-met stranger." Sadness tinged her tone now at the thought of her mother, the only one she had really cared about in the Youko-Kitsune tribe.
Gaijin? That's stretching it. Fox-fire thought. Relief flooded him as he realized just how much Hitori knew. "And do you hate me for not telling you?"
"That's silly. How can I hate you? You've been there for me ever since Kaasan died." Hitori's tone lightened. "You protected me when the others teased me. You've been the perfect…" She remembered the times Fox-fire had teased her too. "Hmmnnn….maybe not the most perfect." She said with a teasing grin on her face. "But certainly one of the nicest oniisans ever."
"I told you to never call me oniisan again!" This pronouncement seemed to have come from clenched teeth.
" And why not?" Hitori couldn't understand why Fox-Fire was acting so uptight on such a trifling thing. This made her short temper spark. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't!"
***
Kurama was experiencing mixed emotions. Jealousy was topping the list of course. His hands itched to bring out his rose whip and slice Fox-fire to bits. There was one part of him that didn't want to say or do anything for fear of being caught eavesdropping. I'm not eavesdropping! A part of him wanted to take Hitori away before Fox-fire could say anything else. Another part wanted to shake Hitori. He couldn't believe how naive Hitori was. Fox-fire was on the verge of declaring his feelings for her and she didn't have a clue.
Before Kurama could decide on what he would do, Fox-fire had moved from the tree he had been leaning on, taken Hitori in his arms, and kissed her full on the lips.
Kurama was so startled he couldn't quite move.
"That's one good reason." Fox-fire said, letting go of Hitori, a blush staining his cheeks. "I…I love you, Hitori."
That's it! No time to waste thinking. I must do something! Kurama was about to step out of the tree he had hidden against but was stopped by Hitori's slow, halting voice.
"I…I… love you too, Fox-fire…."
A lance of pain went through Kurama and he didn't know why but the world suddenly felt like it had caved in. A roaring started in his ears and he couldn't quite see his surroundings as his eyes misted over. His left hand had crushed the almost-forgotten rose in his palm, the petals slowly drifting to the ground, the thorns biting into his flesh. A trickle of blood started to drip to the ground unnoticed…petals and blood forming a disjointed line that followed the fleeing Kurama.
TBC ^_~ Comments onegai? I write faster with comments…hint hintbol