Hiya, all you people out there who reading this! Um, Sweet Snow was really only supposed to be a one-shot, but enough people convinced me that there should be a sequel, so I got bored and…um…wrote one. Yeah. *looks around nervously* So…er…enjoy!
WARNING: As usual, this contains SHOUNEN-AI. Boy/boy love. Deal with it. Or, if the thought makes you gag, now would be the appropriate time to press the "back" button and forget you ever saw this fic. Second on the list, this seriously reeks. And although some think otherwise, I still believe that my work is crap. Just wanted to remind you.
DISCLAIMER: So while my friends are laying back and watching all my beautiful Yu Yu Hakusho episodes, I am busy sitting here writing that I don't own the thing. This world is so not fair. No, seriously, my friends are really in the next room forgetting I exist and just sitting there so they can watch my DVDs. *growls* But—yeah, that's another story and it has nothing to do with K/H goodness. Hehe.
Vanilla
Apparently, Hiei had successfully found a third member for our team. His name, I had gathered, was Gouki and he was a complete idiot. He would do anything we said, as long as we seemed powerful enough rip him to shreds. Or, at least, that's what Hiei had told me.
We walked in silence through the woods, heading for a clearing where I would meet Gouki. I shrugged the weight of my backpack to my left shoulder; Hiei had found me right after school had ended. I hadn't even had time to go visit my mother.
Finally, I found myself in a dark clearing. It reminded me slightly of a haunted forest, one of the typical settings for human fairy tales. Hiei leaned back comfortably against a nearby tree and crossed him arms, staring intently at a towering shadow that was standing at the opposite end of the clearing. He must be Gouki, I guessed as the figure moved forward. He was gigantic, but size was probably the only positive attribute he possessed. His small pupils held no sign of intelligence whatsoever.
"Gouki," Hiei introduced, "Kurama." He inclined his head slightly in my direction.
The giant grinned stupidly. "This is Kurama, you say? How pathetic!" He sneered indignantly. "You mean that after being chased by the Hunter, you've come to survive by possessing this tasty human!? Show me your original form! Otherwise, I'll never believe it!" The idiot then proceeded to stick his middle finger up in my face. I suddenly developed a strong dislike for the demon.
"I can't do that," I replied calmly. "It's closer to say that we've merged together than that I'm possessing him. So while I am Kurama, I am also Suuichi Minamino."
"Don't make me laugh! This job has us stealing the treasures of the Spirit Realm! Do you think things are going to go right if we're teamed up with this bastard? Huh, Hiei?"
Hiei smirked coolly. "Why don't you test him out for yourself to see whether of not he has any skills, Gouki?"
I sighed. This really was a waste of my time. I had to visit my mother, and I had homework to do. There was no time for me to fool around, showing some pathetic demon that I was really Youko Kurama in disguise.
Gouki's grin widened, revealing all of his yellow teeth. "That's a good idea. I haven't seen any blood recently, and all. So, Kurama-san?" he taunted.
"It's true, I don't have the same degree of youki as I had earlier. However, I found myself someone to protect in place of it. If it's for those people, then I can become even stronger than before." I stopped as memories of Shiori flooded my mind. …She was why I was here in the first place… "Care to try?" I pulled a rose out from beneath my mane of red hair.
"This is ridiculous!" Gouki muttered.
Yes, this is ridiculous, I agreed. It's getting rather tiresome. "Rose Whip!" I yelled and cut down every tree that surrounded the clearing in three seconds. I jumped over Gouki and landed gracefully behind him, not bothering to turn around and watch a look of astonishment replace a look of scorn. I heard all the trees fall to the ground simultaneously, the sound resounding loudly in the silent air.
"Hm," Hiei murmured, content with my performance.
"I—I was joking! Let's just get along with each other!" Gouki stuttered.
I slowly turned around and looked at the trembling demon, satisfied with my work, too. "Now," I said, shifting my backpack again, "I have more important things to attend to."
"But—but—what about…?" Gouki trailed off.
Sighing, I turned back to look at the giant. "Hiei and I will tell you when."
"But—but—what do I do in the mean time?" This demon really was an idiot.
"Go live in an alley somewhere," I ordered impatiently. When Gouki had remained silent for at least five seconds, I walked into the forest again, back towards the city…and my mother. I heard the wind whirl around me and a flash of black was suddenly standing beside me.
I smiled gently down at the half-Koorime, then frowned as Gouki called after us, "What's an alley?"
"Just let him stay there," Hiei said.
"Yes, that's exactly what I was planning," I agreed.
"So?" the fire demon demanded after a few minutes of silence.
"So what?" I asked, confused.
"Will he do?"
I nodded. "Yes, I think so. He's much too stupid to do anything by himself. And I'm guessing he has the needed strength, by his build. Yes…" I trailed off, considering. "I think he will do wonderfully. You found the perfect demon, Hiei, perfect." I glanced sideways at the small fire demon. It was too dark to see clearly, but I thought he was blushing.
"Hn."
We came to the end of the forest and started walking on the main sidewalk towards the hospital. Worriedly, I looked at my watch. Damn. Visiting hours at the hospital were over by now. My stomach twisted in knots as I realized that all I could do until tomorrow was pray that my mother was all right. Damn, I repeated.
"What?" Hiei asked in an irritated tone, as if sensing that something was wrong.
The exasperated voice was simply a cover-up, I knew that much. But—was Hiei asking what was wrong? Impossible, I told myself. Hiei only cared that about my stealth and my ability to pick locks. Although… I remembered with a small smile the one time Hiei had asked about my mother.
"Fox?" Hiei asked, looking at me curiously.
"Oh, gomen, Hiei," I apologized as I realized that I had stopped walking. "The—the hospital is closed by now. I'm going home, but you can come if you want." I smiled. "I bought more sweet snow."
The half-Koorime simply nodded and followed me. It was impossible to tell if the mere thought of being with me had attracted him, or if it had been the promise of "sweet snow." I wished it was the former, but my hopes were not high.
Dead sakura blossoms littered the sidewalk, crunching beneath my feet, as I neared my house. Wait… My feet? I looked up from the ground and saw that Hiei was waiting impatiently at the doorstep of my home. I smiled inwardly. I never would have guessed that Hiei had remembered where I lived. The fire demon was frowning and tapping his foot impatiently.
"Sorry," I apologized, a small mocking undertone in my voice. I fished the key to the house out of my backpack and opened the door. Closing the door behind me, I flicked on the lights and slipped my shoes off.
Hiei followed me into the kitchen expectantly. I took out a container of vanilla ice cream, but before I could scoop some into a bowl, he simply grabbed the dish off the counter and sat down at the kitchen table.
"Don't you want a spoon?" I asked as Hiei began to eat straight from the bowl.
The little fire demon looked at me strangely. "A spoon?" he echoed.
I couldn't help but smile. "This," I explained and pulled out a spoon from a drawer, "is a spoon."
"Hn," Hiei muttered. "What does it do?"
"You eat with it. Instead of using your fingers." I pointed at Hiei's ice cream-coated hands.
"It looks like a stick with a ball on the end to me," he said.
I sighed and sat down next to Hiei, spoon still in hand. "Never mind." He looked down at the spoon suspiciously, as if it might come to life and attack him any second. "It's not going to hurt you, Hiei," I promised.
"Hn." He grabbed the spoon and continued to eat the ice cream. I stared at the table, worrying about my mother too much to concentrate on my homework. Worrying about my mother and—well, other…things.
"See? Isn't it easier this way?" I asked, referring to the spoon.
Reluctantly, Hiei nodded.
I grinned and leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes. Images of Shiori floated around in my mind. I suddenly realized that most of my memories of her were sad, gloomy. What about the happy times? And then I thought, What if there were no "happy times"?
Had I caused her unhappiness? Yes, I was fairly sure I had. Just like you caused her disease, a voice in my head reminded me. It must have been hard, raising a child who thought he was superior to his own parents. The stress, the pain, the annoyance…the heartbreak. To know your child didn't look up to you, but rather looked down at you. I must have caused her sickness, I thought, I must have.
What else could have caused it? She had shown no signs of any serious conditions before I was "born." So basically, I am simply righting my wrong. By joining Hiei and Gouki, I was just reverting everything to the way it was before. Of course, there would be one difference after I had used the Mirror of Utter Dark. There would not be a Suuichi Minamino anymore.
For a split second, I considered not going through with it. Not bothering to save my mother, but instead, not using the mirror at all. Or maybe I would make another wish, a wish that might save— No, I reprimanded myself. No. I had to be strict with myself. My mother deserved this more than anyone else did…
Or does she? a traitorous voice in my head challenged.
No! I almost cried out loud. Just once, just once, and that voice could corrupt me. Persuade me to do what…my old self would have done. My youko instincts had been kicking in lately, and, frankly, I was afraid. Afraid that I would act irrational, selfish. Afraid that I would do something I would regret. Like—
Stop it! I screamed at myself and gripped my head tightly with my clammy hands.
But you know you want to.
No, no, go away… I pleaded silently.
"Kurama?" Hiei's voice broke in.
I looked up, surprised. Hiei was still here? And the ice cream was finished. I blinked rapidly.
"What—happened?" the fire demon asked haltingly. I could tell it was painful for him to show even that sliver of emotion, and I was grateful for it.
"N—nothing, Hiei," I answered shakily with what I hoped was a convincing smile. "I'm fine." I smoothed out my hair nervously.
Hiei stared at me in complete awe. He reached forward slightly, hesitantly, and touched a stray strand of my hair. I fell forward a bit in shock, steadying myself by grabbing the table. Damn gravity. The fire demon blinked. I stuttered for something to say, but, oh, Inari…
Deftly, Hiei pushed the strand of hair behind my ear. "It's better like that," he said softly.
"What?" I questioned, not moving an inch. I was terrified that if I stirred, this dream would disappear.
"Your hair," Hiei explained in a whisper. "It used to be short."
I remained silent.
"It's better long."
I closed my eyes to steady my breathing, and when I opened them a moment later, Hiei was gone.
Translations
Gomen: sorry (Japanese)
Okay, okay, sue me. It could just be me, but I am under the impression that I made Hiei act a bit…OC?? Anyone have any opinions on the subject? *sighs* Ack, well…
Oh, yes, one comment on the conversation at the beginning between Gouki, Hiei, and Kurama. It's directly translated from the Japanese version of Yu Yu Hakusho, not the English dubs. That's why it's a bit messed up. 0.o But I wanted to keep it as authentic as possible. So, yeah.
Um, anyone suddenly feeling the need for a third chapter/second sequel? This one really didn't do much, except—well, now that I think about it, it didn't do anything at all. -_-;;; So, um, if enough people want another sequel, I guess I could try. *considers* Or maybe you're so phased out by how sucky this 'un was, you're all scared to read another? Most likely. *nods*
You're goal in the next five minutes or so: to convince me that my work doesn't suck, but only if you believe it!!! Now, how do you do that, you ask? By… REVIEWIN'!!!!!!!!!