Author Note: I appologize in advance for the bad tense-use in this chapter. I
get confused when switching from present to past. I will get this chapter
beta-read in the future so that it will be fixed up. Until then, I hope you can
work past it. Also, I know how strange it sounds for Shuuichi to be saying 'mom'
instead of 'kaasan' but, as I said at the beginning of this story, I'm going to
use as little Japanese phrases as possible.
Reaching Your Limits: A YYH alternate universe
Episode 16: Meeting Mother. Dinner at Shuuichi's
Hiei stared up at the moon, leaning back against a tree that now felt familiar
to him even though he'd only discovered this perch a few days ago. He spent most
of his nights keeping visual of Shuuichi's house. Firmly, he told himself it was
because of the attack before. Luckily, Yuusuke and Kuwabara lived close enough
that he could detect the power of any demons that may approach the other two.
As he stared up at the night sky, Hiei let his mind wander over the happening of
the day. More specifically, what had happened at Shuuichi's. Not used to
spending time with someone other than his sister, Hiei had been tense during the
walk toward the other's home. He'd listened silently as Shuuichi told him what
he'd missed from their morning lessons.
Shuuichi lived in a nice house with a large back yard, mostly filled with
garden. The inside was as well kept as outdoors, most likely Shuuichi's doing.
When Shuuichi's mother, Shiori, had welcomed them at the doorway, Hiei could
tell almost instantly that she was not well. It was almost amusing, watching
Shuuichi worry about his mother as though he were the parent instead.
Shiori had been cleaning the kitchen, a task that had obviously drained her of
most of her energy since she didn't protest to her son's fussing. When Shuuichi
had entered, he'd instantly told his mother to sit down and rest while he
finished up the last of what she'd been doing.
Hiei took the seat across from her, not saying anything as he watched mother and
son talk. Shuuichi explained Hiei's presence and Shiori welcomed him openly, not
seeming to be bothered by his rather cold behaviour toward her. Hiei had never
been known for liking humans, and he wasn't about to end that trait. However, he
had been polite when necessary. It was obvious that Shuuichi loved his mother
very much and Hiei didn't want to end up on his bad side for being rude to her.
While Shiori continued to rest, Shuuichi began preparing dinner. Hiei didn't
offer to help, having no idea how to cook. This didn't seem to bother the youth
in the least, obviously enjoying his tasks. Unlike many of the humans that Hiei
had watched in the past, Shuuichi seemed to enjoy doing the tasks he took on.
Even if his mother was not so obviously ill, Shuuichi would undoubtedly be doing
the same.
"So, Hiei-san, you are in the same class as Shuuichi?" Shiori questioned
suddenly, breaking him from his thoughts.
He blinked at the question, since Shuuichi had already stated such. He had
realized after only a short pause that she was trying to draw him into a
conversation and nodded shortly. "I transfered a few days ago," he replied.
"How nice it is to know that Shuuichi has made some friends. Other than Yuusuke
or Keiko, he doesn't really hang out with other people," Shiori commented.
Shuuichi pouted a little from his position at the counter. "I've made a lot of
friends in the last while," he protested. When he saw his mother's smile, the
youth realized he was being teased and laughed a little. "Hiei and his twin,
Yukina, have become friends of mine. I've also met another student, Kuwabara
Kazuma. He's a nice guy and seems to have a crush on Hiei's sister."
When he'd scowled, Shiori had laughed a little in his direction. "When you are
from a small family, it can be hard to accept that the person you care about
most may love another more," she said, observantly.
Hiei looked at her, trying to keep his surprise under control. He hadn't
expected such an understanding statement from a woman who'd only known him for a
short while, and his sister not at all. "She is free to do what she wants," he
finally stated.
Nodding, Shiori gave her son a warm look. "I understand how you may feel in such
a situation, Hiei-kun. Shuuichi is grown up when it comes to his
responsibilities but, despite his protests, is still very young. When he finally
brings home a girl, I don't know if I'll be relieved or jealous."
Noting the way Shuuichi had paused slightly at this statement, Hiei frowned
slightly. He had often heard Yuusuke teasing Shuuichi about his lack of a
boyfriend and suddenly realized that, despite how close mother and son were,
Shuuichi hadn't told her of his preference. He could only wonder as to why,
although he was relatively certain it was because of the well-known human
prejudice against such relationships.
"You shouldn't worry about such things, mom," Shuuichi finally stated, sitting
down as he finished preparing the last of the food. They just needed to wait for
it to finish cooking before they could eat.
"I forgot to ask if you had homework," Shiori suddenly said, frowning slightly.
Smiling, Shuuichi shook his head. "Hiei missed this morning's lessons, but I
already told him what he needed to know. I thought that we might watch a movie
or something after dinner," he replied.
"How late are you staying, Hiei?" Shiori asked, turning toward the silent figure
across from her.
Hiei shrugged his shoulders slightly. "I suspect that the training will not go
on for too long. When the movie is completed, it should be late enough for me to
head home," he replied. He didn't know what a movie was, but figured it would
give Genkai enough time.
He had already seen what he needed to. Shiori, as unusually tolerable of a human
as she was, had no traces of youki in her. Where ever Shuuichi's demonic energy
had come from, it hadn't been from her. While they ate, he absently
double-checked the energy signatures coming from both figures. Now that he knew
what to look for, he could easily detect the faint traces of youki surrounding
Shuuichi. At the same time, he could detect nothing but weak traces of the usual
spiritual energy a human possesses from Shiori.
Breifly, Hiei wondered why he didn't just make his excuses and leave directly
after dinner. He already had the information he was looking for. It wasn't as
though the movie had been interesting or he'd actually enjoyed the company of
the two humans.
End Episode 16
R/R Onegai? ^__^
get confused when switching from present to past. I will get this chapter
beta-read in the future so that it will be fixed up. Until then, I hope you can
work past it. Also, I know how strange it sounds for Shuuichi to be saying 'mom'
instead of 'kaasan' but, as I said at the beginning of this story, I'm going to
use as little Japanese phrases as possible.
Reaching Your Limits: A YYH alternate universe
Episode 16: Meeting Mother. Dinner at Shuuichi's
Hiei stared up at the moon, leaning back against a tree that now felt familiar
to him even though he'd only discovered this perch a few days ago. He spent most
of his nights keeping visual of Shuuichi's house. Firmly, he told himself it was
because of the attack before. Luckily, Yuusuke and Kuwabara lived close enough
that he could detect the power of any demons that may approach the other two.
As he stared up at the night sky, Hiei let his mind wander over the happening of
the day. More specifically, what had happened at Shuuichi's. Not used to
spending time with someone other than his sister, Hiei had been tense during the
walk toward the other's home. He'd listened silently as Shuuichi told him what
he'd missed from their morning lessons.
Shuuichi lived in a nice house with a large back yard, mostly filled with
garden. The inside was as well kept as outdoors, most likely Shuuichi's doing.
When Shuuichi's mother, Shiori, had welcomed them at the doorway, Hiei could
tell almost instantly that she was not well. It was almost amusing, watching
Shuuichi worry about his mother as though he were the parent instead.
Shiori had been cleaning the kitchen, a task that had obviously drained her of
most of her energy since she didn't protest to her son's fussing. When Shuuichi
had entered, he'd instantly told his mother to sit down and rest while he
finished up the last of what she'd been doing.
Hiei took the seat across from her, not saying anything as he watched mother and
son talk. Shuuichi explained Hiei's presence and Shiori welcomed him openly, not
seeming to be bothered by his rather cold behaviour toward her. Hiei had never
been known for liking humans, and he wasn't about to end that trait. However, he
had been polite when necessary. It was obvious that Shuuichi loved his mother
very much and Hiei didn't want to end up on his bad side for being rude to her.
While Shiori continued to rest, Shuuichi began preparing dinner. Hiei didn't
offer to help, having no idea how to cook. This didn't seem to bother the youth
in the least, obviously enjoying his tasks. Unlike many of the humans that Hiei
had watched in the past, Shuuichi seemed to enjoy doing the tasks he took on.
Even if his mother was not so obviously ill, Shuuichi would undoubtedly be doing
the same.
"So, Hiei-san, you are in the same class as Shuuichi?" Shiori questioned
suddenly, breaking him from his thoughts.
He blinked at the question, since Shuuichi had already stated such. He had
realized after only a short pause that she was trying to draw him into a
conversation and nodded shortly. "I transfered a few days ago," he replied.
"How nice it is to know that Shuuichi has made some friends. Other than Yuusuke
or Keiko, he doesn't really hang out with other people," Shiori commented.
Shuuichi pouted a little from his position at the counter. "I've made a lot of
friends in the last while," he protested. When he saw his mother's smile, the
youth realized he was being teased and laughed a little. "Hiei and his twin,
Yukina, have become friends of mine. I've also met another student, Kuwabara
Kazuma. He's a nice guy and seems to have a crush on Hiei's sister."
When he'd scowled, Shiori had laughed a little in his direction. "When you are
from a small family, it can be hard to accept that the person you care about
most may love another more," she said, observantly.
Hiei looked at her, trying to keep his surprise under control. He hadn't
expected such an understanding statement from a woman who'd only known him for a
short while, and his sister not at all. "She is free to do what she wants," he
finally stated.
Nodding, Shiori gave her son a warm look. "I understand how you may feel in such
a situation, Hiei-kun. Shuuichi is grown up when it comes to his
responsibilities but, despite his protests, is still very young. When he finally
brings home a girl, I don't know if I'll be relieved or jealous."
Noting the way Shuuichi had paused slightly at this statement, Hiei frowned
slightly. He had often heard Yuusuke teasing Shuuichi about his lack of a
boyfriend and suddenly realized that, despite how close mother and son were,
Shuuichi hadn't told her of his preference. He could only wonder as to why,
although he was relatively certain it was because of the well-known human
prejudice against such relationships.
"You shouldn't worry about such things, mom," Shuuichi finally stated, sitting
down as he finished preparing the last of the food. They just needed to wait for
it to finish cooking before they could eat.
"I forgot to ask if you had homework," Shiori suddenly said, frowning slightly.
Smiling, Shuuichi shook his head. "Hiei missed this morning's lessons, but I
already told him what he needed to know. I thought that we might watch a movie
or something after dinner," he replied.
"How late are you staying, Hiei?" Shiori asked, turning toward the silent figure
across from her.
Hiei shrugged his shoulders slightly. "I suspect that the training will not go
on for too long. When the movie is completed, it should be late enough for me to
head home," he replied. He didn't know what a movie was, but figured it would
give Genkai enough time.
He had already seen what he needed to. Shiori, as unusually tolerable of a human
as she was, had no traces of youki in her. Where ever Shuuichi's demonic energy
had come from, it hadn't been from her. While they ate, he absently
double-checked the energy signatures coming from both figures. Now that he knew
what to look for, he could easily detect the faint traces of youki surrounding
Shuuichi. At the same time, he could detect nothing but weak traces of the usual
spiritual energy a human possesses from Shiori.
Breifly, Hiei wondered why he didn't just make his excuses and leave directly
after dinner. He already had the information he was looking for. It wasn't as
though the movie had been interesting or he'd actually enjoyed the company of
the two humans.
End Episode 16
R/R Onegai? ^__^