Disclaimer: Roses are red violets are blue. I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho so
you no sue! *But* I had a really freaky dream last night. Kurama, Yusuke,
and Hiei were in it. They were in *my* dream, doesn't that mean they are
somewhat of my property?
Some one asked why I am introducing new characters so late into the story? If you mean as in Maya and that dog (they will most likely stay) that is just how I write, and I wanted to get the feeling of this story down, so I would not have to put what the other characters were doing all this time while this, this, and this were happening. You can even go as far in saying that I am downright lazy ^_^().
Chapter 12 Life is But A Puppet Show
Shuuichi was lured off into sleep against his own will, because of that honey rich voice that kept on singing in his head.
This time, the song was different, but Shuuichi was not awake enough to remember the words that were being sung. Some times, when he tried to remember what the words were, and he made a strong effort. He could not remember. It was as if he set his eyes upon something holy, and pure as infancy, and then he forgot it, due to safety reasons, what ever they were.
He could feel his parent's presence on the other side of the room. His heart had a dull ache in the middle, which grew with every beat, because Shuuichi could feel their pain. He did not want them to feel sad for him for he would finally be free, released from all bounds from the earth, and could soar in his dreams.
~§~
Kurama had the kitchen tapon, filling it up with warm water as he looked in the refrigerator for something to feed the dog he had found, "Hmm, the only things we have for you, is slices of lunch meat and cheese, but you do not care do you?" Kurama asked the dog who was practically sitting on his foot as he looked through the refrigerator, "You first eat, and then a bath." Kurama said as he took a plate and bowl out of the cabinet that was beside the refrigerator.
As Kurama was making the puppy a meal, the puppy watched him with curious eyes that shone with delight and caution. It started to wonder if he would be like his pervious owner, or the kids that thrown rocks at him when he was dumped on the streets.
Then it stopped wondering, and started to trust the red haired semi- stranger, and its tail started to wag happily at the smell of cheese. It walked up beside Kurama and gave him the thing that puppies give the best, 'the puppy dog look'.
Kurama could feel the puppy's eyes on him as he was slicing the cheese and meat, so he turned around and chuckled as he sliced the block of cheddar cheese and then placed it on the plate.
The puppy tilted its head innocently up at Kurama, melting his heart. He gently laid the white, glass plate in front of the puppy and watched it eat with large bites, not bothering to pause so the food could move down his throat quicker.
Kurama wanted to reach out to rub the puppies' head, but he knew that it could bite him, because the poor thing was most likely ravished.
After the dog was done eating, it looked up at Kurama for more. Kurama shook his head 'no', "I don't want to shock your stomach, and you will have more later. Now, it is time for you to get clean."
~§~
After Kurama had the sink almost filled up to the rim with warm sudsy water. Behind his back, the puppy started to slowly back away, and then when it thought it was out side of Kurama's hearing range, it ran as fast as it's big feet would let him.
Kurama turned around with his hands and sleeves wet as soon as the puppy took off. He then started to chase after it.
The puppy, not knowing the layout of the house, climbed clumsily up the stairs. He then looked fearfully back down them to see Kurama closing in.
~§~
"Shuuichi?" Maya's voice shook the red head out of his own universe inside of his head when he walked into Koenma's office, "Where have you been? You had all of us worried... Ohh! What a cute puppy!" Maya said, her attention immediately diverted from her scolding.
"I am sorry, but I found this dog along side of the road, so I took it home, fed it and gave it a bath." He said in a tired voice and rubbed the puppy's head gently, and then placed it on the floor.
Every one in the room, including Koenma, looked down at the floor at the now hyper-full-of-energy-ball-of-black-fur bounded around the room, its ears flapping behind it's head as its large puppy-like paws as it accidentally slipped and skidded to a halt right before Maya.
Maya cooed as she took slow steps forward and scooped it up in her arms, and then looked at Kurama with large eyes, "Where, where did you find him?" Maya asked as she rubbed the puppy's stomach, trying to ignore the fact that she could plainly make out it's rib cage.
"Out on the streets. I believe it's owner abandoned it a few weeks after it was born. I was wondering if I could let it stay here-"
"Of course you can!" Botan bounded into the conversation energetically, "Did you give it a name yet?"
"No, I have not." 'Nor have I had any decent sleep.' He thought.
"What about. Sekisetsu? I have always like that." Botan voiced her thoughts.
"Well, it is all black Botan." Maya commented.
The two girls sprung possible names back and forth for a couple of minutes. Kurama walked over to the toddlers' desk, "May I ask you a question?"
"Go on."
"Would you happen to know the date my stepbrother will die?"
"I am sorry, but I cannot tell you that."
"I understand..." Kurama sighed quietly.
"Hey, Kurama, you look tired, why don't you go home? You can come back here on a weekend."
Kurama heard Maya's voice, and a thought occurred to him, "Why are you keeping Maya here this long?" Kurama asked.
"To tell you the truth, I feel like I owe you a favor or two. And I have also heard that you two were good friends a while back."
"Koenma-sama," George started, "Isn't that puppy the cutest thing you have ever seen?"
"Well. Uh." Koenma started, watching the puppy try to worm it's way out of Maya's arms until she finally let it down.
"I will be leaving now. Thank you for keeping the puppy here." Kurama smiled tiredly, and then left.
~§~
"Father?" Shuuichi asked weakly.
Hatakana's head flew up and he walked quickly to his son's bedside, "Yes, Shuuichi?"
"Do I have to make a will?"
Hatakana's eyes grew wide in shock, and his heart was amidst in chaos, for he did not know what to say but, "lets not think about this for a while, okay?"
"But, father, do I? Do you really think I am going to get better?" Shuuichi asked as if he was discussing the weather.
Hatakana stood there, eyes blank as if his son's life was flashing before his eyes.
~§~
"New evidence of the man who shot." A female news reporter started as Shiori turned off the TV that was evidently left on all night and put the remote back down on the table. Her eyes then turned to the couch, where there was. Black hair? She blinked and tiredly rubbed her eyes, since she had just woken up a few moments ago.
Shiori's eyes then focused in on the wall clock that read 7:00. She stretched, walked over to the stairs, and walked up them to wake up her sleeping son.
~§~
. Who finally got to bed around 1:30a.m. Kurama was currently sleeping on his side, hugging his pillow with his red hair disarray.
Shiori stood in the door way to his room, watching her son sleep peacefully. It would almost be a crime to wake him up out of his dream. But he had to go to school.
~§~
"Shuuichi?" A female voice called on the edge of his consciousness, "Wake up, time to go to school." His eyes closed as tight as they could, still half in his dreams and half woken up. Kurama turned over in his bed to face the wall, bringing his blankets tightly around him.
Shiori laughed, "Come on, time to wake up."
Kurama's eyes opened, but closed again due to the light, "I'm up." Kurama said tiredly as he sat up in his bed.
"What time did you get to sleep last night?" Shiori asked.
"After one I believe. I could not fall asleep." Kurama stated, which was true in one light, and a lie in another light.
"Don't worry, what happens is what happens, we have no control. Nature is always one step ahead." Shiori stated dismally, "School will be starting soon, you better get going." Shiori said, and then started to leave the room, but she remembered something, "Oh, and that reminds me, I will most likely not be here when you come home. I will be at your brothers' school. I think the chances of him returning back to school is slim. Please, do not tell him this, I believe it will disappoint him." Shiori asked. "Sure, but I believe he knew that you were going to do this some time or another."
Shiori nodded her head, and left Kurama's room to go make breakfast.
"I wonder when this chapter of my life will come to a close." Kurama voice his thoughts quietly to himself, 'I know a name for the puppy, Jiro.' Kurama thought.
~§~
"So, Maya, have you decided on what you are going to do? Do you wish to become a ferry girl?" Botan asked Maya as they sat out in the courtyard.
"Huh? Oh, no, I do not think I am suited for that job." Maya answered, "I would rather help people who have lives that were like mine. Wait. You mean that I am not going to hell?"
"That is an option for you. But I do believe that you are not Christian," Maya nodded, "Then why go some place that you do not believe in? Your other options that I believe you would be interested in are being a ferry girl, guardian angel, or a death leader."
"Death leader? I never head of that." Maya said.
"Oh, a death leader is as old as time itself. They help people through death, especially if it is painful. You can say they are the light at the end of the tunnel for the spirit. They also try to discourage killings and suicides. Some times they sing in people's minds to calm them."
~§~
Kurama had often pulled days with out many hours of sleep, but it seems as if every single thing was catching up with him. He passed by soda machines in the main hall of his school, and decided that a caffeine boost was what he needed. Kurama dug some coins out from his pocket, inserted them into the machine, and chose the drink that held the most sugar.
Kurama retrieved the drink, opened it, and his face scrunched up with it's potent sugary, syrupy richness, a shock then went through his body, 'no wonder why mother never let me drink this when I was younger.' Kurama thought, imagining his mothers face when she saw his dental bill, 'I wonder how Jiro is doing.' An image of the black puppy with a pink bow on it's tail and ears suddenly entered his mind, and then another one of it running around Koenma's office, causing all of the stacks of papers to fall. He cringed at the thought as he threw the half full soda in a trashcan and started off for his class.
~§~
'Life is but a puppet show,' Shiori read as she was trying to get her mind off of her son, 'to attract vengeful gods and goddesses from the universe. We only but have strings attached to our arms and legs.'
"The man who tried to kill his wife was caught today," The blond haired news reporter started, "In his home in the city. He will be charged for." Shiori turned off the TV, 'Too many depressing things going on.' She thought, 'I guess I will go have a word with the head doctor, and then I will go to Shuuichi's school to draw him out, that is, if the doctor thinks he can make a full recovery.'
~§~
"Hey, Botan, can you get Hiei for me, please? I have a favor of him to ask."
"Of course Koenma-sama." Botan horridly said and dashed out of the door, closing it quickly before the puppy cold escape.
~§~
A wile later, somewhere in Makai, Hiei was sitting on a low branch of a tree, "Your owner owes me big time." He said to Jiro who was on a long leash that was wrapped around the base of the tree.
The black puppy just sat there, looking up at Hiei with big eyes, as if it was concentrating on melting his heart and winning him over.
"Will you stop looking at me like that!?" Hiei asked exasperatedly.
~§~
'It was all. Just a dream.' Hatakana reassured himself. He had fallen asleep against the wall of his son's room. Hatakana rubbed his face tiredly with his hands, "it was just all a bad dream. He is not dead yet. No, he is not. Not dead yet." He said out load.
He fought against the images that kept on popping unbidden into his mind, cold rain dropping from an icy gray sky. A women's crying, sadness, everywhere. A new gravestone added to the cemetery. He was slipping ever so slowly and painfully into depression.
His wife fell onto her knees in front of the grave stone, not caring that her black dress was getting muddy. Her tears slid off of her face and dropped onto the ground.
"Is this what you call balance?" Hatakana remembered yelling at the sky, with rain slipping down his face, mixing with his tears, "Must you do this. To me?! TO US!?" He yelled angrily.
But his step son, was acting so. Different, what was it about him that made him question she red haired stepson's existence?
But it was all but a dream.
But it seemed so real.
'Is this what will become reality?' Hatakana thought as he stared at his son's bed.
~§~
Yes! I am finally done with this chapter!!!!! *Balloons fall*
I am so sorry for the delay, my life seems to hate me at the moment, and I only have umm. 2-3 more weeks of school, so the workload seems to have taken a major dosage of steroids.
And also, if you are wondering how some things are fitting in, don't worry, they will all fit tougher later.
I must admit, I know I could have done better, but I had to get this out today.
Some one asked why I am introducing new characters so late into the story? If you mean as in Maya and that dog (they will most likely stay) that is just how I write, and I wanted to get the feeling of this story down, so I would not have to put what the other characters were doing all this time while this, this, and this were happening. You can even go as far in saying that I am downright lazy ^_^().
Chapter 12 Life is But A Puppet Show
Shuuichi was lured off into sleep against his own will, because of that honey rich voice that kept on singing in his head.
This time, the song was different, but Shuuichi was not awake enough to remember the words that were being sung. Some times, when he tried to remember what the words were, and he made a strong effort. He could not remember. It was as if he set his eyes upon something holy, and pure as infancy, and then he forgot it, due to safety reasons, what ever they were.
He could feel his parent's presence on the other side of the room. His heart had a dull ache in the middle, which grew with every beat, because Shuuichi could feel their pain. He did not want them to feel sad for him for he would finally be free, released from all bounds from the earth, and could soar in his dreams.
~§~
Kurama had the kitchen tapon, filling it up with warm water as he looked in the refrigerator for something to feed the dog he had found, "Hmm, the only things we have for you, is slices of lunch meat and cheese, but you do not care do you?" Kurama asked the dog who was practically sitting on his foot as he looked through the refrigerator, "You first eat, and then a bath." Kurama said as he took a plate and bowl out of the cabinet that was beside the refrigerator.
As Kurama was making the puppy a meal, the puppy watched him with curious eyes that shone with delight and caution. It started to wonder if he would be like his pervious owner, or the kids that thrown rocks at him when he was dumped on the streets.
Then it stopped wondering, and started to trust the red haired semi- stranger, and its tail started to wag happily at the smell of cheese. It walked up beside Kurama and gave him the thing that puppies give the best, 'the puppy dog look'.
Kurama could feel the puppy's eyes on him as he was slicing the cheese and meat, so he turned around and chuckled as he sliced the block of cheddar cheese and then placed it on the plate.
The puppy tilted its head innocently up at Kurama, melting his heart. He gently laid the white, glass plate in front of the puppy and watched it eat with large bites, not bothering to pause so the food could move down his throat quicker.
Kurama wanted to reach out to rub the puppies' head, but he knew that it could bite him, because the poor thing was most likely ravished.
After the dog was done eating, it looked up at Kurama for more. Kurama shook his head 'no', "I don't want to shock your stomach, and you will have more later. Now, it is time for you to get clean."
~§~
After Kurama had the sink almost filled up to the rim with warm sudsy water. Behind his back, the puppy started to slowly back away, and then when it thought it was out side of Kurama's hearing range, it ran as fast as it's big feet would let him.
Kurama turned around with his hands and sleeves wet as soon as the puppy took off. He then started to chase after it.
The puppy, not knowing the layout of the house, climbed clumsily up the stairs. He then looked fearfully back down them to see Kurama closing in.
~§~
"Shuuichi?" Maya's voice shook the red head out of his own universe inside of his head when he walked into Koenma's office, "Where have you been? You had all of us worried... Ohh! What a cute puppy!" Maya said, her attention immediately diverted from her scolding.
"I am sorry, but I found this dog along side of the road, so I took it home, fed it and gave it a bath." He said in a tired voice and rubbed the puppy's head gently, and then placed it on the floor.
Every one in the room, including Koenma, looked down at the floor at the now hyper-full-of-energy-ball-of-black-fur bounded around the room, its ears flapping behind it's head as its large puppy-like paws as it accidentally slipped and skidded to a halt right before Maya.
Maya cooed as she took slow steps forward and scooped it up in her arms, and then looked at Kurama with large eyes, "Where, where did you find him?" Maya asked as she rubbed the puppy's stomach, trying to ignore the fact that she could plainly make out it's rib cage.
"Out on the streets. I believe it's owner abandoned it a few weeks after it was born. I was wondering if I could let it stay here-"
"Of course you can!" Botan bounded into the conversation energetically, "Did you give it a name yet?"
"No, I have not." 'Nor have I had any decent sleep.' He thought.
"What about. Sekisetsu? I have always like that." Botan voiced her thoughts.
"Well, it is all black Botan." Maya commented.
The two girls sprung possible names back and forth for a couple of minutes. Kurama walked over to the toddlers' desk, "May I ask you a question?"
"Go on."
"Would you happen to know the date my stepbrother will die?"
"I am sorry, but I cannot tell you that."
"I understand..." Kurama sighed quietly.
"Hey, Kurama, you look tired, why don't you go home? You can come back here on a weekend."
Kurama heard Maya's voice, and a thought occurred to him, "Why are you keeping Maya here this long?" Kurama asked.
"To tell you the truth, I feel like I owe you a favor or two. And I have also heard that you two were good friends a while back."
"Koenma-sama," George started, "Isn't that puppy the cutest thing you have ever seen?"
"Well. Uh." Koenma started, watching the puppy try to worm it's way out of Maya's arms until she finally let it down.
"I will be leaving now. Thank you for keeping the puppy here." Kurama smiled tiredly, and then left.
~§~
"Father?" Shuuichi asked weakly.
Hatakana's head flew up and he walked quickly to his son's bedside, "Yes, Shuuichi?"
"Do I have to make a will?"
Hatakana's eyes grew wide in shock, and his heart was amidst in chaos, for he did not know what to say but, "lets not think about this for a while, okay?"
"But, father, do I? Do you really think I am going to get better?" Shuuichi asked as if he was discussing the weather.
Hatakana stood there, eyes blank as if his son's life was flashing before his eyes.
~§~
"New evidence of the man who shot." A female news reporter started as Shiori turned off the TV that was evidently left on all night and put the remote back down on the table. Her eyes then turned to the couch, where there was. Black hair? She blinked and tiredly rubbed her eyes, since she had just woken up a few moments ago.
Shiori's eyes then focused in on the wall clock that read 7:00. She stretched, walked over to the stairs, and walked up them to wake up her sleeping son.
~§~
. Who finally got to bed around 1:30a.m. Kurama was currently sleeping on his side, hugging his pillow with his red hair disarray.
Shiori stood in the door way to his room, watching her son sleep peacefully. It would almost be a crime to wake him up out of his dream. But he had to go to school.
~§~
"Shuuichi?" A female voice called on the edge of his consciousness, "Wake up, time to go to school." His eyes closed as tight as they could, still half in his dreams and half woken up. Kurama turned over in his bed to face the wall, bringing his blankets tightly around him.
Shiori laughed, "Come on, time to wake up."
Kurama's eyes opened, but closed again due to the light, "I'm up." Kurama said tiredly as he sat up in his bed.
"What time did you get to sleep last night?" Shiori asked.
"After one I believe. I could not fall asleep." Kurama stated, which was true in one light, and a lie in another light.
"Don't worry, what happens is what happens, we have no control. Nature is always one step ahead." Shiori stated dismally, "School will be starting soon, you better get going." Shiori said, and then started to leave the room, but she remembered something, "Oh, and that reminds me, I will most likely not be here when you come home. I will be at your brothers' school. I think the chances of him returning back to school is slim. Please, do not tell him this, I believe it will disappoint him." Shiori asked. "Sure, but I believe he knew that you were going to do this some time or another."
Shiori nodded her head, and left Kurama's room to go make breakfast.
"I wonder when this chapter of my life will come to a close." Kurama voice his thoughts quietly to himself, 'I know a name for the puppy, Jiro.' Kurama thought.
~§~
"So, Maya, have you decided on what you are going to do? Do you wish to become a ferry girl?" Botan asked Maya as they sat out in the courtyard.
"Huh? Oh, no, I do not think I am suited for that job." Maya answered, "I would rather help people who have lives that were like mine. Wait. You mean that I am not going to hell?"
"That is an option for you. But I do believe that you are not Christian," Maya nodded, "Then why go some place that you do not believe in? Your other options that I believe you would be interested in are being a ferry girl, guardian angel, or a death leader."
"Death leader? I never head of that." Maya said.
"Oh, a death leader is as old as time itself. They help people through death, especially if it is painful. You can say they are the light at the end of the tunnel for the spirit. They also try to discourage killings and suicides. Some times they sing in people's minds to calm them."
~§~
Kurama had often pulled days with out many hours of sleep, but it seems as if every single thing was catching up with him. He passed by soda machines in the main hall of his school, and decided that a caffeine boost was what he needed. Kurama dug some coins out from his pocket, inserted them into the machine, and chose the drink that held the most sugar.
Kurama retrieved the drink, opened it, and his face scrunched up with it's potent sugary, syrupy richness, a shock then went through his body, 'no wonder why mother never let me drink this when I was younger.' Kurama thought, imagining his mothers face when she saw his dental bill, 'I wonder how Jiro is doing.' An image of the black puppy with a pink bow on it's tail and ears suddenly entered his mind, and then another one of it running around Koenma's office, causing all of the stacks of papers to fall. He cringed at the thought as he threw the half full soda in a trashcan and started off for his class.
~§~
'Life is but a puppet show,' Shiori read as she was trying to get her mind off of her son, 'to attract vengeful gods and goddesses from the universe. We only but have strings attached to our arms and legs.'
"The man who tried to kill his wife was caught today," The blond haired news reporter started, "In his home in the city. He will be charged for." Shiori turned off the TV, 'Too many depressing things going on.' She thought, 'I guess I will go have a word with the head doctor, and then I will go to Shuuichi's school to draw him out, that is, if the doctor thinks he can make a full recovery.'
~§~
"Hey, Botan, can you get Hiei for me, please? I have a favor of him to ask."
"Of course Koenma-sama." Botan horridly said and dashed out of the door, closing it quickly before the puppy cold escape.
~§~
A wile later, somewhere in Makai, Hiei was sitting on a low branch of a tree, "Your owner owes me big time." He said to Jiro who was on a long leash that was wrapped around the base of the tree.
The black puppy just sat there, looking up at Hiei with big eyes, as if it was concentrating on melting his heart and winning him over.
"Will you stop looking at me like that!?" Hiei asked exasperatedly.
~§~
'It was all. Just a dream.' Hatakana reassured himself. He had fallen asleep against the wall of his son's room. Hatakana rubbed his face tiredly with his hands, "it was just all a bad dream. He is not dead yet. No, he is not. Not dead yet." He said out load.
He fought against the images that kept on popping unbidden into his mind, cold rain dropping from an icy gray sky. A women's crying, sadness, everywhere. A new gravestone added to the cemetery. He was slipping ever so slowly and painfully into depression.
His wife fell onto her knees in front of the grave stone, not caring that her black dress was getting muddy. Her tears slid off of her face and dropped onto the ground.
"Is this what you call balance?" Hatakana remembered yelling at the sky, with rain slipping down his face, mixing with his tears, "Must you do this. To me?! TO US!?" He yelled angrily.
But his step son, was acting so. Different, what was it about him that made him question she red haired stepson's existence?
But it was all but a dream.
But it seemed so real.
'Is this what will become reality?' Hatakana thought as he stared at his son's bed.
~§~
Yes! I am finally done with this chapter!!!!! *Balloons fall*
I am so sorry for the delay, my life seems to hate me at the moment, and I only have umm. 2-3 more weeks of school, so the workload seems to have taken a major dosage of steroids.
And also, if you are wondering how some things are fitting in, don't worry, they will all fit tougher later.
I must admit, I know I could have done better, but I had to get this out today.