"I figured it would be only a matter of time before you came. So...how long
I'm in for? 100yrs...or life?" The redhead asked thoughtfully.
Yusuke frowned at the youko's nonchalant attitude towards the situation but continued anyway. "You've been sentenced to death Kurama.the Reikai council have concluded that you're helping Hiei and will soon team up with him again to steal like you have in the past."
"Hm.and my family?" He waved a graceful hand behind him, motioning towards the stairs. "What about them? Do they really expect me to leave them so suddenly?"
"There's two ways to go about the situation. You can have them drugged to where their memory of you will be gone, or you can tell them about your luxurious past life."
"Surely they don't expect me to-"
"No..." Yusuke replied shaking his head. "Koenma made the excuse saying that you currently can't be found." He turned his head sharply to the empty streets before pushing Kurama inside and ducking beneath the window. Before Kurama could question his friend about his actions Yusuke told him to act natural and to be quiet. Nodding, now sensing what had him so troubled, Kurama sat down in a chair pretending to be sleep until the thing past.
Cursing Yusuke got back up to his feet and dusted himself off. "Damn.they're looking for me."
"Yusuke?" Kurama questioned from his chair, his face stern.
"They're watching me and Kuwabara to make sure we don't sneak off and warn you. You're already a wanted man, you've recently committed a crime and now you've helped a wanted criminal escape, they're after you.and now that they know you're around here they won't hesitate to go after you. Listen you can't stay here, if you do they'll come for you here and I know you don't want them involved." Yusuke nodded towards the stairs where his mother and little brother were. "So your safest place is back on your own turf. You also need to remove Hiei from your den, if they find him there he'll be killed on the spot."
The fox blinked with surprise. "How'd you...?"
"Where else would you take him?" The youth replied with a chuckle.
"Why are you telling me this?" Kurama inquired softly. He didn't have to come here; Yusuke could have just left him alone until they came for him...
"Because..." Yusuke's eyes traveled to the floor again. "We're not the ones assigned to this case. Since we're friends the council doesn't want anything to get in the way of us capturing you so they're handling it."
Kurama stared at him for a while as if processing what was just said and then smiled. "You should go home now...enjoy the holiday." There was nothing to worry about after all, for now that is. But let it come. He would worry about it when the time was right.
"But how can you be so cheerful?"
"I am Youko Kurama...if anyone tried to bring me in I'll make them regret the day they ever heard my name whispered."
*~*~*~*~
The sun shone brightly through the entrance of the cave, but that wasn't what woke him up, it was footsteps. "Baka Kitsune! If you don't let me go this instant I swear I'll slit your throat and wash your face in the pool of your own blood!" Hiei screeched, still confined to the bed with Kurama's rose whip. If he wasn't wounded it would've only take a few moments to hunt the fox down and beat the snot out of him, which was his plan as soon as he healed
Red eye's widened in shock as they peered into the cave. "Hiei! Watch you're language..." Yukina scolded walking to the bed. He snorted at her then turned away as she began to unwrap the whip from around his body. "How long has it been?" she added finally, breaking the silence that had settled between them. "How long has it been, since you started looking for me, brother?" Hiei turned to match her soft gaze with his questioning one.
He opened his mouth to answer any answer but none came. "Yukina..." Then Hiei turned his head, his eyes instantly dropping to the floor. He couldn't look her in the eye, no, not now.
"Answer me Hiei." She whispered softly, a hint of anger on her quiet face. The fire demon had closed his eyes, appearing asleep almost. "All this time I've been looking for my brother and you've been right besides me the whole time. To find out that you lie to me is...it's too much. Did you not care for me?"
Hiei sat up, resting himself on his elbows. Opening his eyes he sighed, a small smile playing upon his lips. 'Yukina.you has always been thought of as my sister. I've never failed to watch you, or keep you from danger. I just...didn't want you to know."
"Know what Hiei?" she interrupted softly, her eyes softening with sadness. "Know what?" She now rested her hands in her lap, her head turned away from him.
"Don't worry about it." He snapped. Not now, he'd tell her later.
"Well, whatever it is, you should know that it doesn't matter to me. I'd love you anyway." He nodded never looking her in the eye. She was right, she didn't care, but for some reason her never had the courage to... "They're coming for you, you know."
Hiei's eyes traveled in her direction, a quizzical look on his face. "Oh? Really, and just who do they think they are?"
"The council, you've been sentenced to death Hiei. That's how I found out about you being..." Yukina's head lowered, her hand clutched her kimono tightly crumpling it in her hands.
Hiei blinked. So it was those bastards...oh well, better now than never. "So? I can take care of myself."
"Hiei, in case you haven't noticed, you're wounded." she added pointing to his bloodstained bandages.
"So?"
"Don't you care about your health?"
"I'm fine..."
Sighing Yukina finally gave in and used the one thing she had been holding back. "They're going to kill Kurama too."
Hiei's head snapped in her direction, his eyes widening in disbelief. /Kurama.../
"Hiei.I know you care about Kur-"
"Don't talk stupid, they can hang him up from his ass if they want, see if I care." Hiei spat back, his eyes narrowing. Yukina could do nothing but watch as he got up and walked off into the forest, never turning once to look back.
*~*~*~*~
Kurama started at the flask in front of him. If he used it, his mother would have know memory of him, Shuichi Minamino, or no memory who she thought he was. Would she be happier that way? He preferred to have her remember all of him. But if so, that would mean he would have to tell her about his past life. It would make since for him to just up and leave. It would cause her more pain and he couldn't do that. Kurama knew well that he wanted this choice over all, but, how could tell her about that? Most ningens were very skeptical about these types of things. He could always show her. He pictured His mother screaming with terror before falling unconscious while lil' Shu-chan cheered and carried on. /That should be a blast./
"Shuichi?" Kurama turned, looking to see his brother leaning on the rail of the staircase.
"Lil Shu-chan? What are you doing up at time like this?" He threw a side wards glance at the clock on the wall. "It's 2:39am. You know you need your sleep."
The boy crinkled his nose at his brother, not liking the pet name that was given to him. "I can't sleep." He replied, finishing his walk down the stairs and sitting next him. "What's that?" he pointed to the bottle.
"It's a...present, from Yusuke."
"Oh...I see." He snuggled next to Kurama yawning slightly.
"Lil' Shu-kun, what do you think of me?" Kurama asked randomly.
The smaller boy looked up at him curiously, but thought about it for a while. "You're my favorite brother." He answered truthfully, a grin plastered on his face.
Chuckling Kurama ruffled the youth's hair smiling. "I'm your only brother."
"That's true too, but you're still my favorite." The boy piped cheerfully. Kurama smiled, he had to admit that he was nothing like his brother when he was younger, but then again, his brother wasn't a reincarnated fox demon in a child's body either. Leaning back he rested his head on his pillow tired from earlier events. Sadly though, his peace was interrupted yet again by another visitor, and an unusual one at that.
"Botan?"
The bubbling blue haired angel of death winked and smiled at him, waving cheerfully from outside his window. "Hello Shuichi-kun!"
"Botan...we do have a door, ever thought of knocking there?" Kurama muttered.
"Why of course not silly! Now why would I do a thing like that? I'm not staying, I'm stopping by." the girl replied.
Kurama sighed shaking his head; he got up and opened the door for her. "Because it let's people know that they don't have to shoot you, thinking you're some weirdo trying to break the glass of their window."
She shrugged. "Sounds reasonable to me...but anyway. Down to business. I'm here for your final decision."
Kurama's eyes turned away from her and settled on the couch, where two eyes, peered back at him before quickly ducking away again. "We should move this discussion elsewhere." He motioned her up the stairs towards his room.
"Ooh.Shuichi's bringin a girl to his room!" His brother cooed from the couch. This would make perfect blackmail later...now all he needed was his camera.
"Can it squirt. And go to sleep!"
Kurama let Botan in and closed the door behind them instantly setting up a barrier preventing anyone from entering or snooping. "Well, I guess this will have to do for know." Botan said finally.
"What do you mean you guess? I 'm not rich you know!" So what if he didn't have a big office like Koenma or any other rich person. Did it matter? He was happy with his room. Sighing Kurama plopped down on his bed, looking up at the girl.
"Your decision Kurama." She repeated quietly.
Kurama shrugged. "How can I choose? No matter what, I'll still lose." He ran a hand through his hair.
"Now I wouldn't say that." Botan replied, a mischievous grin on her face. "I have just the thing to help you make your choice!" Digging within her kimono she pulled out what looked like a mini laptop computer. When she flipped it open Kurama could see that it had no keys at all. The screen was black. "This little beauty here can make a prediction of what might happen."
"Either way it goes there could be devastating effects." Kurama noted softly.
"You never know until you try." Botan insisted.
He threw her a strange look, letting his human side get the better of him. The was one of Koenma's ' toys' it was supposed to have a strange feel to it."
"Well...I guess I do want to know." The small the screen of the gadget begin to glow and soon Kurama begin to have a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach, a pinching feeling. No, wait, it felt like something was tugging on the inside of his stomach. The sensation grew into a slight pain, increasing until Kurama finally gave in to the welcoming darkness that surrounded him.
*~*~*~*~
"Hiei..."
"What?"
She cringed from his harsh tone. "Nothing, it's nothing." She muttered stopping in her tracks. They had been traveling in the snow for a while now, not that it bothered her. She loved the snow. The thing that did bother her was that Hiei hadn't spoken since they had left. Was he mad at her?
"I'm not mad at you Yukina, just thinking about something." Hiei said. He turned around walking back towards her. "I'm...sorry." He added sincerely, and cautiously, as if not used to saying it.
"How'd you know?"
"I'm your brother, I'm supposed to know those things...it's my job to be worried about you or know what you're thinking..." He paused for a moment, his head searching the area for their unwanted visitor. "And it's my job to protect you!" the demon sneered as he pushed her back knocking her to the ground and taking out his sword. Yukina grunted propping herself up on her elbows.
"Hiei!"
"Don't come near me Yukina."
"But Hiei."
"Get back! Run!"
"I'm not leaving you."
"Damn it listen to me an get ba-" A fist connected sharply with the side of his face sending him back. Steadying himself Hiei readied his sword.
A woman's laughter echoed throughout the snowy region. "Hiei...I can't believe I caught you off guard."
Hiei narrowed his eyes. "Show yourself you spineless bitch."
"Hiei!" The fire demon spun around scowling at what he saw.
"You dirty bastard! Let her go!" he spat. The woman before him appeared human, but Hiei knew better. She was hiding her youkai. The demon's skin was pale, and she had soft, silky black hair that fell about her shoulders. Her dark eyes laughed at him, which only succeeded in pissing him off further. Her outfit was composed of a black and white kimono that was accompanied by a cloak. Her arm was tightly wrapped around Yukina's neck.
"Sure...if you lay down your weapon and come with me." the woman replied smiling. Using this sister of his was a great idea, her good would be over sooner than she expected.
"Hiei, don't do it! Don't worry about it." Yukina gasped struggling in her grip. Maybe if she gave him a chance to run he could get to safety and met up with Kurama again.
"No! Have you lost your damn mind! You're not going to be left behind!" He shouted back.
"Well good! Get your ass up here and save me! I kinda can't breathe here!" she answered.
"Now who should what their language?"
"Hiei! I will hurt you..."
"Getting kinda violent aren't we?"
The demon growled with frustration. "Enough talking! What's your answer Hiei!"
You want my answer? I'll give you one..." Jumping into the air he phased away, landing in a tree behind her. She growled looking around for him, still holding Yukina. Suddenly he jumped from the tree kicking her in the back of the neck causing her and Yukina to fall in a pile on the ground. Taking advantage to the moment Yukina quickly got up and ran.
"Oh no you don't sweetie." the Demon mumbled, taking a wooden straw out of her pocket and blowing through it. Hiei, who had landed not far from them, knelt on the ground clutching his wounded side. It seemed that every time he got a chance to let it heal something happened to help it reopen again, damn it. Looking up at the woman he saw a small object zooming away from her and connect, hitting his sister in the back of her neck. Yukina stopped in her tracks, her hand reaching up to the needle in her neck. Pulling it out with a soft grunt, she examined it before swaying and falling backwards onto the blanking snow.
Topazia: I know I haven posted in a while but I have an excuse! The computer decided to start acting up on me. But not to worry, I'll post more soon...promise!
Yusuke frowned at the youko's nonchalant attitude towards the situation but continued anyway. "You've been sentenced to death Kurama.the Reikai council have concluded that you're helping Hiei and will soon team up with him again to steal like you have in the past."
"Hm.and my family?" He waved a graceful hand behind him, motioning towards the stairs. "What about them? Do they really expect me to leave them so suddenly?"
"There's two ways to go about the situation. You can have them drugged to where their memory of you will be gone, or you can tell them about your luxurious past life."
"Surely they don't expect me to-"
"No..." Yusuke replied shaking his head. "Koenma made the excuse saying that you currently can't be found." He turned his head sharply to the empty streets before pushing Kurama inside and ducking beneath the window. Before Kurama could question his friend about his actions Yusuke told him to act natural and to be quiet. Nodding, now sensing what had him so troubled, Kurama sat down in a chair pretending to be sleep until the thing past.
Cursing Yusuke got back up to his feet and dusted himself off. "Damn.they're looking for me."
"Yusuke?" Kurama questioned from his chair, his face stern.
"They're watching me and Kuwabara to make sure we don't sneak off and warn you. You're already a wanted man, you've recently committed a crime and now you've helped a wanted criminal escape, they're after you.and now that they know you're around here they won't hesitate to go after you. Listen you can't stay here, if you do they'll come for you here and I know you don't want them involved." Yusuke nodded towards the stairs where his mother and little brother were. "So your safest place is back on your own turf. You also need to remove Hiei from your den, if they find him there he'll be killed on the spot."
The fox blinked with surprise. "How'd you...?"
"Where else would you take him?" The youth replied with a chuckle.
"Why are you telling me this?" Kurama inquired softly. He didn't have to come here; Yusuke could have just left him alone until they came for him...
"Because..." Yusuke's eyes traveled to the floor again. "We're not the ones assigned to this case. Since we're friends the council doesn't want anything to get in the way of us capturing you so they're handling it."
Kurama stared at him for a while as if processing what was just said and then smiled. "You should go home now...enjoy the holiday." There was nothing to worry about after all, for now that is. But let it come. He would worry about it when the time was right.
"But how can you be so cheerful?"
"I am Youko Kurama...if anyone tried to bring me in I'll make them regret the day they ever heard my name whispered."
*~*~*~*~
The sun shone brightly through the entrance of the cave, but that wasn't what woke him up, it was footsteps. "Baka Kitsune! If you don't let me go this instant I swear I'll slit your throat and wash your face in the pool of your own blood!" Hiei screeched, still confined to the bed with Kurama's rose whip. If he wasn't wounded it would've only take a few moments to hunt the fox down and beat the snot out of him, which was his plan as soon as he healed
Red eye's widened in shock as they peered into the cave. "Hiei! Watch you're language..." Yukina scolded walking to the bed. He snorted at her then turned away as she began to unwrap the whip from around his body. "How long has it been?" she added finally, breaking the silence that had settled between them. "How long has it been, since you started looking for me, brother?" Hiei turned to match her soft gaze with his questioning one.
He opened his mouth to answer any answer but none came. "Yukina..." Then Hiei turned his head, his eyes instantly dropping to the floor. He couldn't look her in the eye, no, not now.
"Answer me Hiei." She whispered softly, a hint of anger on her quiet face. The fire demon had closed his eyes, appearing asleep almost. "All this time I've been looking for my brother and you've been right besides me the whole time. To find out that you lie to me is...it's too much. Did you not care for me?"
Hiei sat up, resting himself on his elbows. Opening his eyes he sighed, a small smile playing upon his lips. 'Yukina.you has always been thought of as my sister. I've never failed to watch you, or keep you from danger. I just...didn't want you to know."
"Know what Hiei?" she interrupted softly, her eyes softening with sadness. "Know what?" She now rested her hands in her lap, her head turned away from him.
"Don't worry about it." He snapped. Not now, he'd tell her later.
"Well, whatever it is, you should know that it doesn't matter to me. I'd love you anyway." He nodded never looking her in the eye. She was right, she didn't care, but for some reason her never had the courage to... "They're coming for you, you know."
Hiei's eyes traveled in her direction, a quizzical look on his face. "Oh? Really, and just who do they think they are?"
"The council, you've been sentenced to death Hiei. That's how I found out about you being..." Yukina's head lowered, her hand clutched her kimono tightly crumpling it in her hands.
Hiei blinked. So it was those bastards...oh well, better now than never. "So? I can take care of myself."
"Hiei, in case you haven't noticed, you're wounded." she added pointing to his bloodstained bandages.
"So?"
"Don't you care about your health?"
"I'm fine..."
Sighing Yukina finally gave in and used the one thing she had been holding back. "They're going to kill Kurama too."
Hiei's head snapped in her direction, his eyes widening in disbelief. /Kurama.../
"Hiei.I know you care about Kur-"
"Don't talk stupid, they can hang him up from his ass if they want, see if I care." Hiei spat back, his eyes narrowing. Yukina could do nothing but watch as he got up and walked off into the forest, never turning once to look back.
*~*~*~*~
Kurama started at the flask in front of him. If he used it, his mother would have know memory of him, Shuichi Minamino, or no memory who she thought he was. Would she be happier that way? He preferred to have her remember all of him. But if so, that would mean he would have to tell her about his past life. It would make since for him to just up and leave. It would cause her more pain and he couldn't do that. Kurama knew well that he wanted this choice over all, but, how could tell her about that? Most ningens were very skeptical about these types of things. He could always show her. He pictured His mother screaming with terror before falling unconscious while lil' Shu-chan cheered and carried on. /That should be a blast./
"Shuichi?" Kurama turned, looking to see his brother leaning on the rail of the staircase.
"Lil Shu-chan? What are you doing up at time like this?" He threw a side wards glance at the clock on the wall. "It's 2:39am. You know you need your sleep."
The boy crinkled his nose at his brother, not liking the pet name that was given to him. "I can't sleep." He replied, finishing his walk down the stairs and sitting next him. "What's that?" he pointed to the bottle.
"It's a...present, from Yusuke."
"Oh...I see." He snuggled next to Kurama yawning slightly.
"Lil' Shu-kun, what do you think of me?" Kurama asked randomly.
The smaller boy looked up at him curiously, but thought about it for a while. "You're my favorite brother." He answered truthfully, a grin plastered on his face.
Chuckling Kurama ruffled the youth's hair smiling. "I'm your only brother."
"That's true too, but you're still my favorite." The boy piped cheerfully. Kurama smiled, he had to admit that he was nothing like his brother when he was younger, but then again, his brother wasn't a reincarnated fox demon in a child's body either. Leaning back he rested his head on his pillow tired from earlier events. Sadly though, his peace was interrupted yet again by another visitor, and an unusual one at that.
"Botan?"
The bubbling blue haired angel of death winked and smiled at him, waving cheerfully from outside his window. "Hello Shuichi-kun!"
"Botan...we do have a door, ever thought of knocking there?" Kurama muttered.
"Why of course not silly! Now why would I do a thing like that? I'm not staying, I'm stopping by." the girl replied.
Kurama sighed shaking his head; he got up and opened the door for her. "Because it let's people know that they don't have to shoot you, thinking you're some weirdo trying to break the glass of their window."
She shrugged. "Sounds reasonable to me...but anyway. Down to business. I'm here for your final decision."
Kurama's eyes turned away from her and settled on the couch, where two eyes, peered back at him before quickly ducking away again. "We should move this discussion elsewhere." He motioned her up the stairs towards his room.
"Ooh.Shuichi's bringin a girl to his room!" His brother cooed from the couch. This would make perfect blackmail later...now all he needed was his camera.
"Can it squirt. And go to sleep!"
Kurama let Botan in and closed the door behind them instantly setting up a barrier preventing anyone from entering or snooping. "Well, I guess this will have to do for know." Botan said finally.
"What do you mean you guess? I 'm not rich you know!" So what if he didn't have a big office like Koenma or any other rich person. Did it matter? He was happy with his room. Sighing Kurama plopped down on his bed, looking up at the girl.
"Your decision Kurama." She repeated quietly.
Kurama shrugged. "How can I choose? No matter what, I'll still lose." He ran a hand through his hair.
"Now I wouldn't say that." Botan replied, a mischievous grin on her face. "I have just the thing to help you make your choice!" Digging within her kimono she pulled out what looked like a mini laptop computer. When she flipped it open Kurama could see that it had no keys at all. The screen was black. "This little beauty here can make a prediction of what might happen."
"Either way it goes there could be devastating effects." Kurama noted softly.
"You never know until you try." Botan insisted.
He threw her a strange look, letting his human side get the better of him. The was one of Koenma's ' toys' it was supposed to have a strange feel to it."
"Well...I guess I do want to know." The small the screen of the gadget begin to glow and soon Kurama begin to have a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach, a pinching feeling. No, wait, it felt like something was tugging on the inside of his stomach. The sensation grew into a slight pain, increasing until Kurama finally gave in to the welcoming darkness that surrounded him.
*~*~*~*~
"Hiei..."
"What?"
She cringed from his harsh tone. "Nothing, it's nothing." She muttered stopping in her tracks. They had been traveling in the snow for a while now, not that it bothered her. She loved the snow. The thing that did bother her was that Hiei hadn't spoken since they had left. Was he mad at her?
"I'm not mad at you Yukina, just thinking about something." Hiei said. He turned around walking back towards her. "I'm...sorry." He added sincerely, and cautiously, as if not used to saying it.
"How'd you know?"
"I'm your brother, I'm supposed to know those things...it's my job to be worried about you or know what you're thinking..." He paused for a moment, his head searching the area for their unwanted visitor. "And it's my job to protect you!" the demon sneered as he pushed her back knocking her to the ground and taking out his sword. Yukina grunted propping herself up on her elbows.
"Hiei!"
"Don't come near me Yukina."
"But Hiei."
"Get back! Run!"
"I'm not leaving you."
"Damn it listen to me an get ba-" A fist connected sharply with the side of his face sending him back. Steadying himself Hiei readied his sword.
A woman's laughter echoed throughout the snowy region. "Hiei...I can't believe I caught you off guard."
Hiei narrowed his eyes. "Show yourself you spineless bitch."
"Hiei!" The fire demon spun around scowling at what he saw.
"You dirty bastard! Let her go!" he spat. The woman before him appeared human, but Hiei knew better. She was hiding her youkai. The demon's skin was pale, and she had soft, silky black hair that fell about her shoulders. Her dark eyes laughed at him, which only succeeded in pissing him off further. Her outfit was composed of a black and white kimono that was accompanied by a cloak. Her arm was tightly wrapped around Yukina's neck.
"Sure...if you lay down your weapon and come with me." the woman replied smiling. Using this sister of his was a great idea, her good would be over sooner than she expected.
"Hiei, don't do it! Don't worry about it." Yukina gasped struggling in her grip. Maybe if she gave him a chance to run he could get to safety and met up with Kurama again.
"No! Have you lost your damn mind! You're not going to be left behind!" He shouted back.
"Well good! Get your ass up here and save me! I kinda can't breathe here!" she answered.
"Now who should what their language?"
"Hiei! I will hurt you..."
"Getting kinda violent aren't we?"
The demon growled with frustration. "Enough talking! What's your answer Hiei!"
You want my answer? I'll give you one..." Jumping into the air he phased away, landing in a tree behind her. She growled looking around for him, still holding Yukina. Suddenly he jumped from the tree kicking her in the back of the neck causing her and Yukina to fall in a pile on the ground. Taking advantage to the moment Yukina quickly got up and ran.
"Oh no you don't sweetie." the Demon mumbled, taking a wooden straw out of her pocket and blowing through it. Hiei, who had landed not far from them, knelt on the ground clutching his wounded side. It seemed that every time he got a chance to let it heal something happened to help it reopen again, damn it. Looking up at the woman he saw a small object zooming away from her and connect, hitting his sister in the back of her neck. Yukina stopped in her tracks, her hand reaching up to the needle in her neck. Pulling it out with a soft grunt, she examined it before swaying and falling backwards onto the blanking snow.
Topazia: I know I haven posted in a while but I have an excuse! The computer decided to start acting up on me. But not to worry, I'll post more soon...promise!