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.
The
way I see it we only have around 30 pages or so left for this to end. Hurray!
The
Reddest Rose
Part
12
The first five matches did
not go as expected. The Makai tem was losing 2-3. Mukuro defeated her opponent,
the kitsune Katsura, easily enough. And Shura defeated one of the twin
dynamos, Akemi, as well as could be expected of the boy. But Enki, Kokou
and Kuwabara had been overwhelmed by their opponents.
Things were going badly.
All the kitsune opponents were alive and now the next match slated was
Hitori's and Kurama's.
Yusuke didn't even say anything,
he put out a hand to steady the pale-faced Hitori and whispered two words
into her ear as she stepped into the ring. "Your duty."
He felt Hitori's features
tighten at the word. Yusuke didn't want to say it but they needed to be
sure that Hitori would not let emotion get in the way. It was hard, of
course, Yusuke, knew that but like everything else, personal emotions needed
to be sublimated for the greater good.
If I could, I would want
to lift this burden from you, imoto.
"Ganbatte, Hitori!" And with
that he settled down to see Hitori fight.
***
"Hitori! What are you doing?
Defend yourself!" Yusuke screamed as Hitori took another blow from Youko's
demon plants.
"Hitori-chan!" Tears streamed
down Keiko's face as she saw the quantity of blood soaking Hitori's torn
clothing.
Gomen, oniisan, minna…but
this is something I have to do. Hitori stole a short look back at her
friends outside the ring to see Kuwabara being restrained by Touya and
Yukina crying.
"Hitori no baka! What are
you doing?" Kuwabara couldn't believe what was happening before his eyes.
"That isn't Kurama anymore. It is the Silver Fox. Fight, Hitori-san!"
"Hitori-san! Do not do anything
foolish." Yukina cried out, a small fortune in pearls dropping to the ground
at her feet with every tear she shed.
Regret stole through Hitori's
eyes and she blinked away tears. Gomen nasai! Gomen, everyone. Even
if it is only a slim chance, I have to try it. I would do anything to save
him…She looked back to her opponent.
"Shimaneki-Sou!"
Argh! Hitori went
down on her knees at the intense pain Kurama's…iie, she looked at the cold
amber eyes and stony face of the kitsune in front of her, no it wasn't
Kurama, it was the Silver Fox. The pain from Silver Fox's Death Grass attack
opened up more wounds and the loss of blood left her weak and dizzy. Her
breath was coming in painful short gasps and she knew she couldn't last
much longer. It isn't time yet…it won't work until it is the right time.
She felt around in her shirt and found the thing she had hidden inside.
I only hope this works…for all of our sakes.
"Kurama!" She screamed at
the kitsune.
"What is it ningen-halfbreed?
I have told you before that I am not Kurama." Silver Fox smiled a cruel
smile and tapped a finger on his head. "You insist on calling me by that
name when it isn't me. I am Youko, the Silver Fox. I am not a ningen
called Shuuichi Kurama. How many times do I have to tell you that?"
"Iie, I refuse to believe
that." Hitori said weakly, trying to rise from the ground as blood flowed
freely from the movements she made. Kurama is still in there. I know
he is. I can still feel him. The blackness threatened her consciousness
but she struggled up. " Kurama, please. Remember who you are, your friends…
wasurenaide kudasai! Don't forget us…Please!"
For a moment, a hint of green
appeared in the amber depths of Youko's eyes. A green tint that flickered
and died in a second. Silver Fox's face remained as stony and cruel as
ever.
"Hahaha! Stupid ningen-halfbreed!
Don't you know that you won't ever get your precious Kurama back? He is
the Silver Fox and he is mine now and forever!" Kitsune cried out from
the other side of the ring, a smug look on his face.
Hitori ignored the lord of
the kitsunes and tried to rise. Through sheer will, she managed to struggle
up and started to limp towards Silver Fox.
"Nani? You still want more?"
The Silver Fox's voice registered startlement. "Very well, if you want
to die so badly… Shoukuyuu-Shokobutsu!"
Demon plants started to tear
through the cemented ring and attack Hitori, juggling the weakened girl
around like a ragged puppet. The Silver Fox laughing cruelly as the plants
did their gruesome work.
//No! Yameru! Yameru!
Stop that. Not her! I don't want to kill her.//
"Hitori!" Yusuke's scream
was punctured by the cries from the others. But they couldn't do anything
except watch in helplessness when finally the demonic plants returned to
the ground and Hitori fell in a dust cloud near Youko's feet.
Hitori tried to get up again,
her legs buckling under many times but she persisted.
"What are you trying to do,
half-breed?" The Silver Fox cocked his head to one side and his voice reflected
curiosity. He couldn't understand why the half-breed persisted in getting
up when she knew he would eventually kill her with his attacks if she got
up again. He ought to just kill her now but something made him hold back.
Hmph! Her death is inevitable and she can't even fight in her condition.
I will give her a few more minutes…see what she is up to before I kill
her. Youko's ears twitched as he stared at the ningen-halfbreed who
was taking something out from her torn and bloody shirt, glancing at it
and putting it back hesitantly.
"Kurama…" Hitori said weakly,
limping forward, eyes pleading. "Please…don't you remember? Its me, Hitori.
And your friends," Hitori looked back to Yusuke and the others, encompassing
them with one arm, "Yusuke, Keiko, Kuwabara, Yukina…Hiei." She turned back
to Kurama. "Don't you remember Shiori? Your okaasan!"
A flash of green. //kaasan…//
"I remember nothing of what
you say, halfbreed. I am Youko, the greatest kitsune thief that ever lived."
The Silver Fox replied stonily.
"What about your roses? You
used to love red roses…"
//red, red roses…//
"Never in my life have I
loved roses or flowers. They are despicably weak, bruising too easily with
a touch." Youko snorted and assumed a defensive stance. "You are no longer
amusing, half-breed. If you are through speaking such gibberish…Makai no
Ojigisou!"
He didn't see Hitori's small
smile, saw only the flash of pain that entered her eyes as the demonic
plants ripped through her body and watched as the plants dropped the bloodied
form back to the ground. His trained eyes told him that the halfbreed was
close to dying…
//YAMERU! Before it is
too late…//
What is this? Youko
wondered. Something seemed to be stopping him from killing the half-breed
at once.
Hitori struggled up again
but this time the violent demonic plants had broken her legs and she couldn't
get up. Instead, she dragged her body forward, using her elbows to propel
her to Kurama, her vision had become a bit fuzzy and black spots appeared
before her. I…I don't know how much longer I can hold out. I am so very…tired...and
hurting…Have to finish this now before…She redoubled her efforts, shutting
everything out from her senses except for the motion of her arms, as she
focused on the kitsune only a few feet in front of her. It must be working,
even a little…She thought to herself as she saw a motionless Youko
whose eyes were now whirling…green tints battling the amber. She moved
closer until she could touch him and tugged at Youko's pants.
"What are you waiting for,
Silver Fox! KILL HER!" Kitsune roared at the motionless kitsune who hadn't
moved once after releasing the demonic plants.
In Youko's preoccupied state,
he didn't hear his ruler's order and had started to kneel without even
realizing it. His thoughts were intent on what was going on inside of him.
He couldn't understand it but something inside of him was preventing him
from killing the girl...
Hitori saw Youko kneel down.
Now's my chance, please Kurama, please remember…She took out the
object she had been hiding since the round matches had begun and propelled
it up to Youko's face…
Yusuke couldn't see what
Hitori had shown Youko but whatever it was it was working. The vicious
kitsune had stopped attacking and seemed to be staring at it.
"WHAT ARE YOU DONG YOUKO?
Finish her off now. I order you!" Kitsune roared at his motionless warrior,
fear tinged his voice. What had the girl shown the Silver Fox? He
couldn't see what the object was because Youko blocked his view.
***
Youko's preoccupation was
interrupted as he felt something near his nose. It had a sharp coppery
tang to it and that made him look at it closely. As he did, strange foreign
memories started flooding into his mind. Memories that somehow seemed familiar
as he stared more intently at the object in front of him…time slowed down
to a crawl as his mind tried to cope…
The image of a brown haired-girl
with soft brown eyes floated in his mind's eye…
//Yusuke, you idiot! //
//Kurama, why didn't you
tell us about janen-ju?//
//Take care everybody.
Please come home safe and sound.//
Yukimura Keiko, the perfect
ningen girl who worries about everyone…
A red-haired boy with a loud
voice…
//Yusuke no baka! Ignore
him Kurama, he's always like that. //
//Yuu-kiiii-naaa!//
//Hey, hey, hey. How's
the doctor doing?//
Kazuma Kuwabara, enthusiastic
sometimes coarse-mannered boy with a gentleman's heart…
Ice-blonde girl with the
gentle eyes…
//Kuwabara-san! Don't
shout so much! //
//Gomen, Kurama-san! Keiko!
I didn't see you.//
//This pendant was given
to me by my okaasan. Somewhere out there is someone who has one like this…my
oniisan.//
Yukina, koorime girl who
has settled to life in the ningenkai. Gentlest of them all…
The face of a smiling girl
with bluish hair pulled back in a high ponytail and floating around in
a broom…
//Yusuke no baka! Pay
attention for once. //
//Beee-da! But its true,
all Yusuke has in his mind is training. Unlike Kurama…//
//Gomen, everybody. I
have to get back to Koenma-sama!//
Botan, diety of death,
Koenma-sama's messenger and Yusuke's adviser, someone who always means
well even in her ditziness…
The funny looking boy with
the pacifier…
//Botan! Yusuke! Stop
playing around.//
//Aargh! Paper work, paper
work and more paperwork!//
//Thanks for the help,
Kurama. I couldn't have found the files without you. //
Koenma-sama, Prince of
the Netherworld, steadfast pseudo-boss with the funny pacifier permanently
plastered in his mouth…
A black-haired boy with greenish
highlights and a ready smile…
//Hey guys! I'm hungry!
//
//Kurama, come train with
me.//
//You don't have to give
up your life. Let me help you.//
Urameshi Yusuke, Raizen's
heir, the boy with the goofy manners but pure intentions, someone who would
do everything for his friends and family…
The short black haired youko
with the jagan…
//Why did you heal my
wounds? //
//Hn. Don't get in the
way, Fox, I will do as I wish.//
//Stupid Fox.//
Jaganashi Hiei…oftimes
cold boy intent on building up his strength but possessing of a heart that
truly cares for friends and sister, beloved friend
Flashes of a raven-haired
woman with her hair on a pony-tail and a kind smile that seemed to always
be directed at him…
//My little rose brambles!
Smile for kaasan!//
//Shuuichi-kun, don't
climb up so high, you might fall.//
//Shuuichi-kun, look at
the red roses, aren't they pretty?//
Shiori Kaasan, beloved
mother, I would give up my life for you…
And finally, the image of
a reddish brown-haired girl with red eyes smiling up at him, twirling a
rose in her other hand…
//Really? You forgive
me so easily? I would think that's impossible. If it was me instead of
you I wouldn't have forgiven me easily.//
//Is there a point to
all this?//
/Ai shitteru...I…I don't
know why or even how, all I know is that I love you…Kurama, no matter what
happens.//
Hitori! Kitsune assassin
who had turned from her kitsune tribe to side with the ningens,…I remember
you… beloved…
//And you tried to kill
her…//
Suddenly, Youko screamed
and held his head between his two hands, completely dropping down on his
knees in a dead faint. At the same time, Hitori's strength left her and
she sagged to the floor, letting go of the object she had held in her hands.
At this point, every single
one of Yusuke's team started to climb into the ring.
"Hitori! Kurama!"
The girl referee stopped
them after only a few steps. "I am sorry but I just received an order from
the judges. If the Makai team does not get off the ring after this warning,
the contest will be forfeited in favor of the Kitsune Team. The rules of
the contest state that only one contestant from each team must enter the
ring, no one else is allowed into the ring until such a time that a winner
has been declared."
Aware of the consequences,
Yusuke and the others hesitantly backed out of the ring, casting worried
glances at the prostrate pair. After making sure that the Makai team would
stay put, the referee came near the two on the ground and glanced curiously
at the object that had fallen, announcing what had happened. "Ladies and
gentlemen, it seems that the two contestants are temporarily out for the
count. As we all know, Youko from the Kitsune Team was the one winning
until Hitori of the Makai Team showed him this."
The referee held up a long
stemmed rose, of the reddest hue, for everyone to see, causing some murmurs
from the audience and mixed reactions from the opposing teams. "At which
point, Youko collapsed and Hitori followed suit."
"A rose…" Keiko said wonderingly.
"Hitori showed Kurama a red rose…"
"Impossible!" Kitsune screamed
in fear and anger. "I had a spell around the arena, no red roses could
have gotten through, that should have turned into a white one! How could
she have sneaked one in…"
Drip, drip!
Red beads of liquid started
to run from the blossom to the long stem that the referee held aloft and
finally dropped to the ground in a small puddle.
"Eech!" The referee threw
the rose down. "It seems that the rose is covered in…"
"Blood!" Yusuke said loudly,
figuring it out for himself, drowning the referee's voice. "The rose is
covered in Hitori's blood. That's how it became red!"
"B..but roses aren't very
absorbent…" Kuwabara said wonderingly…
"That is why…" Keiko said,
rubbing away the tears in her eyes, and looking at the at the soaked tattered
tunic and pants as well as the big pool of blood that had accumulated beneath
Hitori's still form. "That is why Hitori didn't fight back…" She remembered
the tale Kurama had told Hitori who had relayed the story to her.
"Kurama told me a story
about why there are red roses. HE said that all roses were white before
but that a princess whose lover died in the war killed herself over the
roses because she loved the man too much. And that's why roses are red.
Have you ever heard of anything so preposterous? Who could ever love someone
so much as to sacrifice his life because the other is dead?" Hitori had
snorted.
"Masaka…the little halfbreed
has outsmarted me…" Kitsune said through clenched teeth. Curse her,
I cannot afford to lose this contest, now that I've lost Youko…
Youko started to move from
his bowed position. As he slowly started to rise to a sitting position,
a transformation began to take place. His nine prominent tails and fox-ears
started to vanish as silver mane also turned to flaming red locks. As his
head came up, Yusuke could see that the kitsune's cruel yellow eyes had
also changed to a disoriented but concerned, compassionate green. The head
turned and saw the bleeding body of the girl next to him.
"Hitori!" Kurama cried out
and quickly gathered her into his arms, cradling her in the crook of his
right arm as his left hand went to her face. ''Hitori, gomen nasai! I am
sorry. Please, please wake up…"
Kurama was frantic and scared
with worry as he looked at the pale face covered in blood. He immediately
called his healing power and focused on Hitori's bleeding body. His thoughts
raced. So much blood! And I…I did it. A lance of pain went through
him. How could I have done it…He couldn't help the tears welling
in his eyes.
"Kurama…"
Kurama stopped his self-deprecation
and turned towards the girl who stirred weakly in his arms.
"You're back…" Hitori smiled
weakly up at him, her hands coming up to cup his face, to feel for herself
that it was indeed Kurama.
"Yes, I'm back." Kurama told
Hitori smiling gently at her, a hand covering one of her hands, the worry
still in his eyes. "And it's all because of you. Arigato."
"I…I knew….that the red rose
…would…ugh!" Hitori stopped in mid-sentence in pain and continued on. "…do
the…trick!" She smiled at Kurama again, tears flowing down her face in
relief. "I…I…am so glad that you are alright."
Kurama flinched as he heard
Hitori's cry of pain. He was near panic as he assessed the damage to Hitori's
body…damage that HE had inflicted. "Ssshh…." Kurama held a finger to Hitori's
mouth. "Don't talk. Save your strength, Hitori…try to concentrate on healing
yourself." Oh, God! There has been too much blood spilled, can I really
heal her? No! I have to try harder, I can't, no, I WON'T let Hitori die!
"Referee!" Kurama turned
his attention towards the dumbfounded girl with the microphone. "I request
that you let the Makai team come into the ring."
"Gomen, but that isn't allowed.
No one has won this battle yet and as long as there isn't any winner, I
cannot let anyone enter the ring."
"Then you don't have a problem.
As of now, I am not part of the Kitsune team, therefore there is no battle.
According to the rules, either you award the win to the Makai team or declare
this a draw."
"Traitor!" Katsura yelled.
"You are one of the Nine Tails of Kitsune, a warrior of the Youko-Kitsune
tribe, you cannot just turn your back on us."
Kurama turned his head to
face the kitsune, being careful not to hurt the cradled Hitori. His green
eyes turned cold. "Try me, Katsura."
Katsura was stunned by the
menacing tone in Kurama's voice.
Meanwhile, the referee looked
uncertain, trying to remember what she should do. She looked up to where
the judges were placed, awaiting orders from the ones above.
"K…Kurama…I…" Hitori couldn't
continue as she was racked by a fit of coughing that made blood run from
her mouth. Hitori's whole body was slick with blood by now and her lips
were turning a slight bluish color.
"Hang on, Hitori, just hang
on…" Kurama told Hitori in a soothing voice. Then he swung his head to
pin the referee with a hard look. "Do one or the other NOW!" Kurama snarled
at the referee. "We have a seriously injured person here and we cannot
afford to wait for your decision!"
The referee stepped back
at the violent tone Kurama's voice had taken. "The judges have made the
decision. This match is declared a draw. There is no winner. The Makai
team may now enter the ring. The next match will be reset to a later hour."
Yusuke, Keiko, Hiei, Kuwabara,
Yukina, Botan and Koenma all rushed to where Kurama and Hitori were.
"Yukina, please, help me
heal Hitori." There was a desperate pleading note in Kurama's voice, his
eyes never leaving Hitori's face.
"Of course, Kurama-san! She
is my friend too. I will help you." Yukina told him soothingly. And gestured
to where Yusuke and Kuwabara had laid their shirts on the ground. "Here,
Kurama-san, put her down here so you can also concentrate your power without
being burdened by her weight."
Yukina saw Kurama hesitate.
"You will not be able to use your full power if you don't free your hands,
Kurama-san. Do not worry, she is surrounded by friends, see?"
Slowly, Kurama laid Hitori
down on the makeshift bed and knelt beside her. He threw a look of gratitude
at everyone around them. "Anou…gomen, minna, for what I caused."
Yusuke was the first to answer
him, dismissing his apology. "Nothing to apologize for. Wasn't your fault."
Nods all around. "Right now, let's concentrate on saving my sister here."
The worry was evident in Yusuke's voice.
Kurama smiled a small worried
smile and took hold of Hitori's right hand.
"Whenever you are ready,
Kurama-san." Yukina told him softly, she had seated herself on HItori's
other side. All the others fanned out in a loose semi-circle around them.
"Hold on, Hitori…" Kurama
whispered and nodded in Yukina's direction. In unison, they closed their
eyes and both of their hands glowed with power that disappeared into Hitori's
still form.
"Oh, Yusuke. I hope they
can save Hitori." Keiko said tearily, feeling helpless at the way things
were unfolding.
Yusuke slipped his hand into
Keiko's and tightened his hold. "We can only hope, Keiko and pray…" His
eyes roamed over the damage Hitori received. He didn't want to tell Keiko
but the situation seemed almost impossible.
Lacerated flesh, various
wounds, probably internal bleeding…and the loss of so much blood. Hitori
is half-dead already. How can anyone possibly live through the beating
she went through? Yusuke remembered just how many demonic plants Youko
had summoned, how many had ripped through Hitori. One was usually enough
for Kurama to win and even then his opponents come out near death or dying…If
the match had been stopped half-way through, Yukina could probably heal
her wounds. But now? I doubt if koorime healing can extend to defying death,
even if Kurama helps her.
No! Yusuke shook his
head. I shouldn't think such thoughts. I must believe in Yukina and
Kurama. I must believe in Hitori. He looked to the prostrate Hitori
and sighed.
It looks hopeless. Koenma
thought to himself and glanced at Botan. The deity of death shook her head,
a sad look in her eyes. How long? The question was in his eyes. Maybe
I can still ask 'tosan…Botan shook her head and her eyes looked sadder
than ever. Not that long then…
Yukina and Kurama can
do this…I know they can. Hitori won't die…Kuwabara was trying to be
hopefully optimistic but failing miserably. Even without any medical background,
he knew that no one can possibly survive that much damage…
Hn. With this much damage,
this kitsune is sure to die. Hiei's thoughts were not as interested
in Hitori as it was in Kurama. He could sense the desperate hope in Kurama.
Fox seems to be really worried…He looked at Hitori. Live, Kitsune,
if you are strong. For my friend…
Time seemed to slow to a
crawl as the group sat in silence around Hitori, unwilling to make a sound
that would distract the two healers from their work. Hitori herself was
only half-conscious and breathing shallowly, one hand tightly clasped in
Kurama's.
Beyond this solemn scene,
the Lord of the kitsunes, Kitsune, was hoping against hope that the halfbreed
would die. If she dies, then Kurama's mental barriers may weaken and
I can probably take control of his mind again. Also, her death might just
affect the others to fight worse. It would also be a fitting punishment
to the one who took away Youko from him after all the time he had invested
in taking control of Youko. The thought cheered him immensely. Die,
halfbreed. Die so that I may triumph.
"Oh…" Yukina almost fell
to the ground if not for Kuwabara who caught her before she fell. This
broke the almost eerie silence surrounding the group. "Gomen, Kurama-san,
but it is no use. I cannot do it anymore." Kuwabara helped her up to a
sitting position. "All the exterior wounds have stopped bleeding but…"
Yukina trailed off, realizing that Hitori could hear her…
"I..I'm dying, aren't I?"
Hitori asked Yukina. Yukina was crestfallen and tears were forming in her
eyes.
"Gomen, Hitori-san…"
"It's alright, Yukina." Hitori
told her friend in a weak voice, smiling through the pain. "It isn't your
fault."
Kurama's fingers tightened
around her hands. "No, it isn't her fault…it's mine." Kurama bowed his
head and whispered almost to himself. Hitori heard him though and pushed
herself up to a sitting position. "Hn…" Closed wounds reopened.
"Be careful, Hitori-san…"
was Yukina's frantic warning.
This prompted Kurama to support
Hitori by cradling her once again in her arms. "You shouldn't exert yourself…"
"H..how can't… I…. when you
were…. spouting non…sense?" Hitori retorted back in a voice meant to be
stern but came out weak and wobbly, looking at Kurama seriously.
"Nani?"
Hitori took a deep breath
and plunged on, drawing on extra reserves to be able to talk coherently.
"You aren't to blame Kurama. I wanted to do it. I couldn't just stand by
and watch…"
"B..but if I hadn't been
controlled…"
"Kurama no baka." Hitori
said affectionately. "You were controlled because you rescued me. If you
hadn't rescued me, I'd have ended up dead or worse…"
By this time, Keiko and Yukina
had motioned everyone to give the two some privacy. "They need to talk
this out…"
The group had quietly moved
a bit away. Not that the two noticed. They're so engrossed with each
other…Yusuke thought dryly.
"Still…" Kurama's voice trailed
off. You're dying because of me…I can't accept this. An empty ache
had started to make itself felt in his heart. What about us? I don't
want you to die, I want you to be with me forever. "But…"
Hitori's finger stopped Kurama's
lips. "No stills, no buts. I was an assassin and a warrior, I am conditioned
to the inevitability of death. And even if I had to do this over again,
I would do the exact same thing." Because I love you…Hitori's eyes
tried to make Kurama understand.
His arms engulfed her then
and hugged her tight.
This made every wound in
Hitori's body scream in agony but she showed no sign of the pain. She knew
that this would be the first and last time she'd be able to lie in Kurama's
arms. Even as her body throbbed in pain, it eventually melted away in the
happiness of finally being held by Kurama. I'm so tired… She laid
her head back against Kurama's chest and whispered. "Hold me please. You
don't know how long I've wanted to be here…like this."
Tears freely flowing down
her face, she said the words that she had wanted to say for so long. "
Ai shitteru, Kurama…from the first moment I saw you…. Itsu made mo…I love
you…forever…" Please love me too. Her eyes pleaded. If only for
this short time.
"Hitori…" Kurama's arms loosened
a bit as he looked deep into her eyes. She got the answer she wanted when
his lips descended to claim hers in a sweet kiss.
"Oh…" Keiko smiled as she
saw Kurama and Hitori. At last…
It was unlike anything Hitori
imagined it would be. All her pain was forgotten as she was swept in a
tide of happiness. I would not trade this moment for anything…It was
all worth it.
Soon, Kurama lifted his head,
hugged Hitori tightly and whispered in her ear. "Ai shitteru. I love you,
Hitori, beloved, more than anything in this world…"
Oh…Even as happiness
infused her being, Hitori's vision blurred and she could feel herself slipping
away even as Kurama held her.
//It is time.// Botan's
voice resounded in her mind.
"Wasu…wasurenai…de ku….da….sai.
Please….don't….for…get me…" Hitori said. " Ai… shitteru, even in death…Kurama………beloved."
Her voice faded away and Kurama felt her body go limp.
"NOOOOOO! Hitori, don't die,
not yet." Kurama shouted frantically, tears blurring his vision as they
ran non-stop down his face. A golden glow surrounded his hands as Kurama
tried to bring Hitori back using his powers. "Don't die, don't die!"
At Kurama's shout, everyone
rushed back to his side to see him cradling Hitori's limp body, trying
to revive her. He was repeating the words "Don't die" like a litany.
Keiko exchanged a sorrowful
glance with Yusuke who was openly crying. Kuwabara was comforting Yukina
who had accumulated a small fortune of pearls at her feet with the tears
she was shedding. Botan, too, was crying on Koenma-sama's shoulder. The
Prince of the Netherworld was saddened but not tearful, he had seen too
many deaths to be so moved by it, still, Hitori had been his friend. Only
Hiei was clear-headed enough to talk to the distraught Kurama.
//Don't die, don't die!//
"Enough, Fox!" Hiei said,
interrupting Kurama's litany. "You cannot help her anymore. You will only
exhaust yourself."
Kurama continued with what
he was doing like he hadn't heard what Hiei had said.
"Hiei is right, Kurama. There
is nothing we can do. Hitori is gone." Yusuke laid a hand on Kurama.
//Don't die, don't die!//
"Kurama-san? Please…"
//Don't die, don't die!//
"Yameru, Kurama!"
//Don't die, don't die!//
Bam!
…
"Hiei! What did you do that
for?" Keiko asked the koorime as Kurama crumpled to the ground. Hiei had
slammed the hilt of his sword on the side of Kurama's head, causing him
to black out.
Hiei shrugged. "He was in
a state of shock, he wouldn't have listened even if you all talked for
hours. In that time he could have exhausted his powers and killed himself
in the process. I just did what was necessary. Now if you all can put aside
your grief for a few hours. We still have a competition to get through."
Yusuke nodded. The little
runt is right. That was the only sensible thing to do. Thrusting aside
his own grief, he issued some orders quietly. "Keiko, Yukina. Accompany
Kurama to the clinic. Kuwabara, go with them and protect them. You never
know what the kitsunes might try."
"Hiei and I will take care
of Hitori. The matches will resume again in an hour or so, but you guys
better stay with Kurama. Hiei, Koenma and I will do the rest. We'll meet
you guys later." The time for mourning will come, right now, we have
to finish this. Yusuke's eyes met each of theirs.
"Arigato, Hitori." For
all its worth, you have saved the ningenkai and the makai. Koenma passed
his hand over Hitori's face, wiping away the blood.
TBC ^_~ Just a little bit
more…and what! Me? Kill off Hitori? Anou…you'll just have to see the next
parts ne? That'll be up on Saturday. I hope you guys are still reading
^^
