Fanfic by Yomi no Miko
Chapter 24: Hiei
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That time I had decided - again - to ignore the damn youko no matter what. It was like the band had been split in two factions with opposite realities. The one lead by me lived on small, violent attacks. The other, the "official one", remained in stand by most of the time, waiting for Kurama's orders. I was told that Kurama was acting on his own, alone and far away from that part of Makai, which explained his long absence.
Hekel was Kurama's second in command. That meant that the band wouldn't move a finger while the leader was away. Hekel and his crew were never much of thieves. They liked to command, to plot, but not to drag themselves through the woods, dangerous trails and passageways full of traps. I thought Hekel could cause me some headaches during that period, but fortunately he didn't bother me at all. Instead, he seemed to be quite busy with matters of his own.
One day, I was heading upstairs through a narrow stairway inside the fortress when I met Kurama. It was a quite unexpected and somewhat funny situation since both of us could not pass at the same time. So Kurama climbed back a few steps so that I could pass. None of us said a thing although thirty days had passed since we last met. As he stepped into the light I noticed he was pale as a ghost, with two large, visible scratches on his neck.
"Thanks" I said, trying to be polite and at the same time avoid any commonplace remark.
"You're welcome."
Then, I just couldn't let him pass. I just stood in front of him, hating myself for doing such a thing.
"I'm glad you're back. Things have been quite monotonous these days."
"Really? I though you have been providing those youkai lots of fun."
Well, I have to admit that I asked for it. But that was not even the worst part.
"Ohayo, Yomi-san" Hekel smiled as he came near "So nice to see you here."
Kurama just gave him an annoyed glance and left.
Hekel followed him, a little upset that the youko had interrupted his amusement
so soon. I saw him hug Kurama in a very possessive way. I knew they had
something, but I had never seen they show any kind of affection for each
other before. Then I knew why Hekel didn't bother to harass me for so long.
Some days later, a group of strangers entered the territory with Hekel's permission. I thought they'd be some of Hekel's weird friends, but they were just some kind of decadent thieves. I heard their leader, a youkai named Shorin, used to be one of Hekel's allies before he decided to create his own band. The group was formed by no more than twenty youkai and some slaves. It was kinda pitiful as well. Shorin treated his slaves no better than Hekel treated his prisoners.
Shorin enjoyed his stay a lot. He ate and drank for two, and behaved like a celebrity. It was clear to me that youkai had something Hekel wanted, I just didn't figure out what it could be. After Shorin met Kurama, he started to adulate him. I've never seen anything so pathetic in my whole life. For some unknown reason, Kurama seemed to tolerate him although sometimes the look in his face could tell how bothered he was.
One night I was told that all the commanders were having a celebration at the main room. No one invited me, but I joined them anyway. I was one of them after all. Soon I noticed that Shorin and some of his followers were there too. He was drunk, which made his bad manners even worse. However, Kurama was there and it was so hard to meet him these days that I ended up staying.
Later, I noticed there was something moving under the line of chairs. First I thought it was a dog, then I saw it was the youngest member of the Shorin crew. Since Shorin didn't allow slaves to enter the fortress rooms, I figured out that he was hidden there, trying to steal some leftovers.
After Kurama joined the group, Shorin did nothing but trying to please him. Vain efforts as a matter of fact. Kurama rather looked at him, although Hekel seemed to enjoy the situation.
The best for me to do was to leave. Those party had nothing to do with me. My own crew was outside, waiting for me so that we could decide what would be our next attack. However I would not allow any move that could push me away from the position I had conquered in that band. I knew if I stopped acting as a commander, soon I wouldn't be one of them anymore. Besides, there was still one thing to keep my interest. That little youkai under Kurama's chair.
He was staring at Kurama's tail, mesmerized by its movements. I knew I should do something before the kid did something stupid, but I just watched the scene with great curiosity. While Shorin babbled, the lad seemed to ponder the risk of touching that silver fluffy thing. And when he finally made up his mind, Kurama must have experienced the strongest tug at his tail of his life. The youko got up abruptly, causing the kid to hit his head on the chair button and scream. Everybody stood up, trying to figure out what was going on. As soon as the cause of all that mess was identified, Shorin started to hunt him like a madman, crashing all the furniture on his way. Most of people laughed at his lack of skill, as the young youkai managed to avoid his hand. Only with the help of some of his followers that the old thief grabbed the fugitive by his shirt.
"Forgive me, my lord! I don't know how this brat could get in here. I'm sorry! He will regret what he did!"
"Who's this?"
"A poor, useless kid I found a couple of years ago. I wanted to sell him as dog food but it happens that he's a good thief for his age, so I kept him. I realize now it was a big mistake, what a nasty son of a bitch he is... I promise I'll break his bones for..." The boy struggled so much under Shorin's tight grasp that his face had turned red by the effort "Quiet, despicable bastard. I'll show you..."
"Hey! It's just a kid" interfered Kurama "What kind of youkai is he?" the youko leaned forwards, as to take a better look at the kid.
"He's nothing, my lord."
"Do you have a name, kid?" the youko asked.
"I'm sorry, Kurama-sama, but he doesn't know how to talk."
"Hiei!" said the little youkai, still staring at the youko.
"Honto? What was that then?"
At least Shorin had found himself the perfect role as a laughingstock. It was also the first time I saw Kurama having some genuine fun in many months.
"Hiei hum... again?" there was a little finger pointed at Kurama's tail. No more words were needed to show what the gesture meant.
Shorin's face turned red. He threw the boy to the ground as his right hand searched for the whip tied to his belt.
"Cut that off, Shorin."
"But I, I mean, he..."
"I don't want the kid to be punished, do you understand?"
"As you wish..."
Kurama's attitude was quite surprising. He never cared about the lost souls that now and then crossed his way, even the young ones. He wasn't even that benevolent to his own family, some weeks ago.
"Hn...?" insisted the kid, with his red eyes still on Kurama's tail.
The lad approached slowly and Kurama did nothing to prevent him from grabbing his tail again. Shorin was shocked to death, as Hiei seemed delighted by the softness of the fur.
"Don't let him fool you. Kurama is just making fun of our visitor. He loves to do that, you know..." said Hekel as he passed by me.
I didn't even bother to look at him. Not that his statement was a complete nonsense, I knew Kurama was probably just amusing himself anyway.
"Goo- Good" stammered the kid "Hiei no" he said pointing at his own butt, "Hiei ugly."
"Who told you that?"
Hiei quickly glanced at his "master".
"Well, I think you're cute. Maybe a little sully. Shorin should take better care of you."
"Kurama-sama, if you like him, he's yours" offered Shorin, with a large smile.
Kurama examined the kid for some time. For an instant I though he was about to keep that child. Touching the soft silver fur could have been a pleasant experience for him, but certainly would not help him survive the years ahead. And it was rather unlikely that Shorin would be any nicer to the kid after that.
"No" he said "This is no place for pups."
"You don't have to keep him, Kurama-sama" Shorin suggested "He's a little sully indeed, but I assure you he's intact. If you like..."
"I don't." interrupted the youko in a rispid tone.
"I'm sorry, but I just want to please you."
"Shorin, you really want to please me?"
"That's all I want!"
"So cut the crap. You don't have anything I want."
And he left.
As he passed by the door, he noticed Hiei was still staring at him.
"Bye, Hiei" he whispered as his hand gently caressed the boy's spiky black hair.
Then the kid surprised him again by holding his hand between his small ones.
"No go" he pleaded.
Kurama softly pulled his hand back and left. When
Hiei opened his hands, a tiny flower bloomed on his palms. First he stared
at it a little suspicious, but then he smiled. Shorin said later that it
was the first time he saw Hiei smile.
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Shrine to Yomi-Sama -