Chapter 2: Love
by ARaZhi
If the sun, should refuse to rise
And the moon, doesn't hang in the night
The tides won't change, seasons rearrange
When the world is through
I will still love you
-98 degrees
Ningenkai is so different now from how it was when he last saw it. It seems like ages ago.
The streets are dark, damp with blood. The air thick with fear. It seems like the sun hadn't shone in this area for a long time. That wouldn't be too hard, the atmosphere is full of deadly toxic and smoke.
Suddenly, he felt a flare of ki nearby. A strange mixture of reiki and youki, much like Yusuke's.
He rushed to the location of the ki. Someone is surrounded by demons. He smirked, if these fools think that they could take on Yusuke, they have another thing coming. Some kind of light shone highlighting the face of the owner of the strange ki.
His eyes widened in shock. Botan?! Knowing that Botan couldn't take on this many assailants by herself, he rushed to help her. A couple of minutes later, the whole fight is over.
He turned towards Botan. He smirked when he saw a flash of shock on her face. She's probably surprised that I'm taller than her. Hn, baka. He looked at her closer. She blinked. When did Botan have eyes like Yusuke's?
"Thanks for the help," she smiled. Her smile is a lot like Botan's but her voice is so much different from hers. "My name's Kim, you are?"
"Hiei," he muttered, eager to get on his way.
His plans of leaving were cut short by the arrival of new attackers.
"You attract demons this much?" he asked her.
"They're not mine! They followed *you*."
"Hn!"
Several months after...
Kim half-dragged half-carried Hiei through the forest, demons are hot on their tail.
"Just leave me!" he insisted.
She glared at him, "Like hell I will!!"
"Stupid ningen!"
"Stubborn demon! Just shut up! All that talking is making you heavier!"
"Hn!"
They entered a dark cave. Using her ki, Kim created a small ball of energy to light their path. She helped him sit up against the cave wall and threw something on the floor a meter away from him. The "something" turns out to be a seed. It turned into a flower that lit up the small area surrounding them. It looks like the ones Kurama used in Sensui's cave to mark their path.
A lot of the things that she did reminded him of his friends. But he never asked. Besides, there was never any time for talking, only for fighting.
"Lemme see that cut."
"No. I'll take care of it," he said, looking at her defiantly.
"Shut up!" She knelt down beside him and inspected his wounds.
"Hn." Kim is just beyond his comprehension. When he first began to work with her he began to wonder why he allowed himself to work with her. Now he's allowing her to treat his wounds. I'm probably getting soft. A cold chill suddenly run down his spine.
"That demon's claw is poisonous," Kim said, her eyes filled with concern. "How are you feeling?"
He shook his head. He was starting to have double vision.
"Damn!" she cursed. "Stay still I have to take out the poison."
He closed his eyes as she began to suck out the poison on his shoulder.
Kim spat out the blood and poison from Hiei's shoulder. She placed a hand on his forehead. He's cold. "Hiei-kun?"
Hiei shivered.
She pulled off her jacket and arranged it so that it pillowed Hiei's head and protected his wounded shoulder. The bandages she used won't help much, it's made of a torn portion of her shirt. She can't use her powers because it'll give away their hiding place. She silently thanked Kurama for all the healing techniques he insisted she study.
She laid Hiei down as gently as possible on the ground. He shivered again. Her jaw tightened. She laid down beside him and wrapped her arms around his body trying to give his cold body as much heat as possible. She exerted as much ki as she dared and enveloped the two of them in its warmth. She gazed at Hiei's face, so close to her own. Don't you dare fry me when you wake up, Hiei. I'm doing this to save your ass. She held him tighter and closed her eyes.
A crack on the cave wall, allowed a bit of light in. Some kind of light still managed to break through the dark clouds sometimes. The light hit Hiei's eyes, making him blink awake. On reflex, he shielded his eyes. Pain shot through his arm when he moved his wounded shoulder. "Ow!" he hissed. He looked at the body pressed close to his, "What the..."
Kim stirred awake. She blinked at him then her eyes narrow. She started to pulled away but his other arm is wrapped around her waist. She shot a pointed look at his arm.
To his consternation, he felt a blush crept up his neck to his cheeks. "Hn! Don't get cozy," he quickly released her.
"I don't even know what that's like," she replied, flatly.
Two weeks after...
"What's wrong?" he asked. They have been travelling for several hours now and Kim still haven't said a word. Both of them most kept to themselves, but this silence is ridiculous! Besides, when she's in a really good mood she could be as cheery as Botan.
"Nothing."
"This isn't nothing! Ever since we left that city you have this weird look on your face."
"What weird look?"
"I don't know! But it isn't like the usual you..."
"I didn't know you pay that much attention to me."
"Hn!" he could feel another annoying blush rising up his cheeks. What is it with this woman making him blush like this?!
"I'm fine, Hiei. Maybe just a bit tired," she gave him a small smile.
"Let's find a place to rest then."
"We don't have time for that!"
"We'll *make* time for that," he engaged in a glaring contest with her. Her glare crumbled first. "Besides I don't want to have to carry you when you pass out."
They found shelter inside a ruined building at the outskirts of the city.
Kim is curled up on the floor, asleep. He is sitting near the door. Himself and his katana between Kim and the only entrance to this ruined place.
At the corner of his eye, he noticed Kim shiver and curled up tighter. He took off his cloak and draped it around her.
"Tousama," she whispered, her voice small and frightened. "Nooo. No! Leave him alone!" her voice is rising. "TOUSAMA!!!" She woke up with a gasp, sweat pouring off her face.
"It's a dream, Kim. Just a dream," he said.
Tears are rolling down her cheeks and her breathing is raged. This is the first time he saw her cry and it stirred something within him. "Kim-chan..." he pulled her close and hugged her. "Shhh..." He closed his eyes and made a silent vow, I won't let anyone hurt you. I'll protect you the way I never had the chance to protect Yukina.
She pulled away slightly, just enough to gaze at his eyes. "Hiei?"
He brushed back her tears with his fingertips. Then, he did something he never thought he'd ever do. He pressed his lips to hers in a soft, passionate kiss.
Several weeks passed...
They are walking in one of the most ruined areas in Ningenkai. Dead ningens and demons litter the streets.
"Where are we going?"
"Home base."
"Why?"
"I want to see touchan," she gave him a smile. "Don't you want to meet him?"
He shrugged, "If it'll make you happy." What made me say that?
She grinned and her eyes sparkled.
A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. *That's* what made me say that.
"You'll like him. He's a really good fighter! He thought me everything I know," her smile wavered a bit. "He's the one who brought me up after tousama left me."
His eyebrow shot up. "Your touchan and tousama are different?"
"Un-huh. I don't really like explaining it." Pause. "C'mon lets move faster, we're near the base."
"Hello? Somebody! Open up!" Kim called out.
The metal door opened and they could hear some shouting inside.
"Kim," a man approached them and gave her a smile. But the smile didn't light up the man's sad eyes.
"Hey! Aren't you happy to see me?" Kim asked.
"Of course we are," but the man's eyes still held that haunted look.
As they walk, the fighters, ningens and demons, part way for them. Hiei noticed a woman run down the hallway.
"This way," Kim pointed towards the hallway that the woman disappeared into.
Kim stopped in front of the wall and pressed her hand on a device. The door opened.
"Come in," a deep voice called out. A very familiar voice.
They entered the room and even in the slightly dim light there is no mistaking the powerful presence of Youko Kurama.
"Touchan!" Kim run towards the youko and hugged him tightly.
Hiei felt his jaw drop. Kim is making him act strangely.
Kurama, still holding Kim, looked at him and smiled. "It's been a long time, Hiei. How have you been?"
"Hn."
Kurama chuckled, "You haven't changed much...personality wise."
Kim pulled away, "You two know each other?"
"We go way back," Kurama replied.
"Where's tousama?"
Kurama's eyes darkened. His gaze and Hiei's locked. Hiei could feel dread settle on his stomach.
Kurama led them to a room. Inside is a bed with Yusuke on it. He looked so peaceful and so alive it almost seems as if he *is* alive. But the absence of his once strong ki means that he's gone.
"Tousama..." Kim rushed to Yusuke's side and cried.
Hiei shut his eyes. Each of Kim's sob sent a sharp pain somewhere within his chest. He stood beside her and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
Kim turned to Hiei and hugged him tightly. He wrapped his arms around her as she sobbed on his shoulder. He turned a bit and looked at Kurama. Kurama gave a slight nod before leaving.
"How is she?" Kurama asked as Hiei entered the room.
"Not good. She stopped crying but..." he shook his head. "I just don't know what to do! I've never seen her like this before. I feel so ... "
"So what?"
"I don't know!"
"You love her don't you?"
"Don't be absurd!"
Kurama smiled. "It won't kill you to admit it. She's a great kid."
"The keyword is kid."
Kurama looked at him in amusement. "Both of us know that she doesn't behave like one. She's a woman. A very strong and capable young woman."
"A young woman young enough to be my own daughter."
"That didn't bother you before."
"What do you know about *before*?!"
"I know nothing about *before*," Kurama said, gently. "The most I know of is based on how you look at her."
Silence.
"Don't let the fact that she's younger than you get in the way of your relationship."
"Hn."
"The fact that she's Yusuke's daughter shouldn't bother you, either."
He blushed. ARGH!
Kurama bit back a smile. He hit a chord. Hiei is thinking that Yusuke might not find him good enough for his daughter.
"I think I speak for both Botan and Yusuke when I say that their daughter made a good choice." Kurama smiled at him then left the room.
Five months later...
Kurama sifted through a ton of papers and other things that George managed to salvage from what was left of the Reikai palace. He's been going through it for hours now. It's even worse than his ningen homework! Now I know how Koenma feels with all those documents he had to stamp! ^.^
"What's this?" he wondered out loud. It's a book. A large book. The edges are burnt but the seal is still intact. He managed to break the seal in seconds. He skimmed the pages and his heart let out a soft thud. It's Enma's diary.
His gazed settled on one entry:
"...I have to do what I can to protect my son. I know that what I'm doing is wrong. But maybe, just maybe, all these dealings with these lower class demons will lead me to my son's future assailant. Koenma-chan is all that I have left. If I lose him the same way I lost my wife...I no longer will have a reason to continue..."
"He knows! He was convicted of a crime that he commited in the hopes of saving his son. But who is this assailant? How did he know?" Even up to now no one knows who killed Koenma.
He quickly flipped back through a lot of pages. He found the right one. The handwriting is clearly of someone in distress:
"...I saw my son's death in the Orb of Life. I can't believe that I would out live my own son! He was killed by an oni. I don't know who, when, or how. All I know is that he was killed and I saw the killer's face. But he is not here. He's not one of the onis working with my son. But who could he be? I have to find him. I *will* find him! One way or another..."
The Orb of Life? He suddenly remembered his last conversation with Botan, hours before her death.
"Kurama-kun! I found learned something from the orb---" Botan suddenly stopped speaking, at the other end of the line he could sense her tense up.
"Botan? What's wrong?"
"Someone's here," she's scared but trying to hide it. "I'll call you back. It's really important. Bye." Click.
But she never called back. She wasn't given the chance to call back.
He closed his eyes. Was this what you wanted to tell me, Botan?
He began reading the entries, searching for something that could help them get rid of the darkness in the three worlds and hopefully get rid of Meikai.
His head is starting to pound, after a couple of hours of reading. Enma's handwritting isn't so easy to read.
"Hmm...blah blah blah," he muttered. "...my other solution is to use lower class youkais..." he read. "Wait. His *other* solution?" He flipped the page back. Missed one. ^.^ I should probably get some rest.
Blinking back fatigue, he read the entry that he missed:
"...the solution I could think of is time travel. If something happens to my son, I'll send someone back in time to save him. But this isn't such a good idea. Time travelling is never a good idea. If there is no other choice then I will have to do this... until then I'll have to think of another solution..."
Time travel. He flipped to the back of the book and found the procedures for time travelling. He walked up to the window and gazed at the war torn city. The worlds might have a future after all.
He left the room and headed towards Hiei's room.
"Why can't you say it?"
"Say what?" Hiei asked.
"Do you love me?"
"What kind of a question is that?"
"Yes or no?"
"Kim! You know the answer to that!"
"Well, why can't you say it?"
"I heard someone in Ningenkai say: Actions speak louder than words."
"Just say it, onegai?"
"Onegai. There. I said it. Happy?" He pulled her closer and gave her a mischievous smile.
"Hiei!"
"Remind me later. I'll tell you, okay?"
"Hmm..." Kim mumbled as they exchange another kiss.
The footsteps coming from the hallway made them broke apart. Her eyes widened as she looked behind her and found the door unlocked.
"You forgot to lock the door!!" she hissed.
Kurama knocked before pushing the door open. Kim dove under the covers and Hiei pulled the covers over her head.
"I found something. Go to the war room in ten minutes."
"Hn." There was a bit of hesitation in Hiei's voice.
Kurama noticed that Hiei looked towards his left.
"Who's there with you?"
Kim's head poped out from under the covers. "Hi, touchan!" ^.^
He sighed. "Thirty minutes. And next time, don't forget to lock the door," he added wryly. He locked the door before leaving.
"This better be good," Hiei hissed at him.
Hiei and Kim sat on either side of him as he open Enma's diary. They both placed their hands on the table and leaned in for a closer look. A ring glittered on Hiei's finger, identical to the one on Kim's finger. Yusuke and Keiko's wedding band. The same one that Yusuke and Botan used since there wasn't any other wedding rings available during the war. Kurama kept the rings when Yusuke died, he gave it to Kim days after she learnt of her father's death.
"This is Enma's diary..." he began to explain to them what he found.
"So, your solution to this bloody war is to send someone to the past and save reikai's brat?" Hiei asked after he finished explaining.
Kurama nodded. A dozen emotions are flashing through Hiei's eyes. Hiei turned away from him.
"It's best thing that we could do," Kim said, softly, her eyes downcast.
Then, it hit Kurama. He had been so wrapped up in thoughts of ending all these chaos he forgot that if it isn't for all these chaos Hiei would never be with Kim. Because Kim would never be born.
"Kim!" Hiei's voice cut sharply through his thoughts.
"Hiei-chan, it's the only way!"
"There has got to be another way! Tell her!" Hiei's eyes pleaded with him.
Kurama dropped his gaze. I did everything, Hiei. The possible. The impossible. This is our last hope. I'm sorry. His throat was too tight. The words didn't make it's way out of his mouth. He loved Kim as his own daughter. If they are successful... If we're successful, I probably won't even remember all these...
"We're going through with this!" Kim's statement leaves no room for argument.
"Fine," he said, tightly. "But *I'm* going!"
"NO!"
Hiei and Kim glared at each other.
"Hiei, please... I have to go."
"No."
"Hiei-chan, if you go back there's going to be another one of you back there. That'll be kind of hard to explain..."
"No it's not!"
"Hiei! Try to be reasonable!"
"REASONABLE?! I'm going to lose you and you want me to be reasonable?!"
Kim walked over to Hiei and placed her hands on his shoulders. "I know that you know deep inside you that this is the right thing to do. Don't you want your children to have a better place to live in?"
"My children. What about *our* children?"
Kim's face tightened. "I'm leaving Hiei. I refuse to let these worlds and these people suffer. I'm going to prevent these things from happening even at the expense of my own life. I'm sorry." She pulled away from him. "Start the time travel procedures, touchan. Please call me when it's ready."
Kurama nodded and Kim left. "I'm sorry, Hiei."
Hiei looked at Kim's retreating back. His eyes spoke more than words ever could.
"Kim? We're ready," Kurama said.
"Right." Kim wiped the tears from her eyes. She took a deep breath. She refused to show Kurama and Hiei, if he ever showed up, her pain. If she does that, it'll only make things worse.
"Kim-chan, I---"
"Touchan, please don't," her eyes pleaded him to stop his statement.
Kurama nodded and pulled her into a tight hug.
"I love you. You know that, don't you?"
Kim smiled. "I love you, too, touchan. Thank you, for everything." She kissed his cheek.
He kissed her forehead. "Go now, the portal remains open only for a couple of minutes."
She nodded and stepped closer to the portal.
"Be careful."
"I will."
"KIM!"
Kim turned back.
In a blur of black, Hiei is beside her. He held her tightly as they kiss.
"Gomen nasai..." Hiei whispered when they broke apart.
Kim pressed a finger on his lips. "Shh..."
She hugged him tightly, "Ai shiteru, Hiei-chan."
She pulled away from him and into the closing portal.
"Kim..." he whispered, his voice tight with emotion. Their fingers slipped away from each others. The portal closed. "Ai shiteru, koibito."
Hiei turned away, but not before Kurama saw liquid black fire rolled down Hiei's cheek. The tear hardened and fell into the floor with a hard *Clink!*.
Hiei blurred away from his sight. Leaving behind Kurama and his first tear gem, one that could rival the best black diamond in all of the worlds.