No; I don't own yuyu in any way, shape or form (that was for chapter four
-_-;).
Yu Yu Hakusho and all characters/things related to it do not belong to me (that was for chapter five -_-;;;).
Kita: I don't own yuyu. Never have, never will (are ya happy now?! You got me to say that awful sentence THREE STUPID TIMES..........*sniff sniff*............).
Warning: This chappie may be a little . . . gruesome. Don't know if it's still PG 13 after this, but hey, I sure hope it is (if it isn't, this will probably get deleted from the site . . . . 0.0 uh-oh . . .).
The Roots of a Rose by Kita –– Part Six: Demon Tears
Kashi suddenly felt Hiei's ki flare, somewhere in the city. She straightened at her desk, and glanced at the chair where Kurama usually sat, next to her. She sighed . . . wondering how long the fox's Reikai punishment would last . . . and why Hiei was in Ningenkai. Then she realized she felt another's ki . . . someone powerful, caught by surprise at the moment . . . it came to her suddenly . . . Urameshi! The other ki, near Hiei, was Reikai's spirit detective . . .
After the brief talk with Yusuke, Hiei sensed something was wrong . . . Hn. He hadn't *looked* at the stupid tape . . . it was just another case for the idiot ningen who had managed to get the best of him . . . Yukina . . . he thought, wondering suddenly where she could be . . . he hadn't seen her in a while . . . his Jagan eye glowed red under the white ward that covered it as he searched for her . . . crimson eyes closed, concentrating on finding her familiar spirit energy . . .they snapped open in shock. He couldn't place her . . . it was as though she had disappeared off the face of the earth . . . where was she?! He started panicking inside / . . . What has happened, that I can't even . . . no. / A chilling thought came to him. / Surely . . . surely . . . she isn't . . . could my only sister . . . be . . . dead? . . . NO! / Came the firmer thought. / I will find her . . . she must be somewhere . . . I'll search all three worlds if I must! /
~Hiei.~ A soft, familiar alto voice appeared in his mind . . . / Kurama? . . . no . . . it's just another flashback of . . . what happened that night . . . when they had all been 'partying' . . . after managing to defeat the Four Saint Beasts . . . /
~Hiei . . . are you there?~ The voice persisted, and now the youkai realized the kitsune was talking to him telepathically.
~Hn. What do you want, Kurama.~ There was silence for a few moments, and Hiei used his Jagan to root out the fox's feelings . . . / Hn . . . seems to be battling with himself . . . there's concern in there, as well . . .and . . . something else . . . I can't place it . . . /
~How is Yukina, Hiei?~ The fox asked casually . . . too casually.
~Hn. What are you getting at, fox.~ Then he realized Kurama had spoken of his sister.
~What do you know, Kurama. Where is she.~
~Sumanai . . . I can't tell you. ~
~Then why did you bring it up, baka kitsune.~ He commented bitingly. / Stupid fox! . . . I need to get back to searching for her . . . she'd better be all right . . . /
~I just thought that you might want to reconsider . . .~
~Hn! Reconsider what.~ / Hurry up, Kurama . . . I've got no time to waste . . . /
~Well . . . about helping Yusuke with his newest case . . . Hiei.~ And with that final cryptic comment, Kurama's mental voice was gone. For a moment, the youkai allowed himself to imagine the kitsune . . . his soft, silky red locks . . . those expressive green eyes . . . / Wait . . . / he thought, thinking back on the recent conversation . . . / What did Kurama mean . . . how did he know Yukina was missing . . . / The truth clicked into place suddenly, and he cursed himself. / D—n . . . I'm just as much of a baka as the idiot himself (a.n./ 'the idiot' a.k.a. 'Kuwabara' ^-^). /
He blurred away into the night . . . pinpointing Urameshi's unique spirit ki as he ran . . .
/ . . . Yukina . . . I'm coming . . . /
As he followed the reikai tantei's ki signature, he thought, smirking to himself. / Baka kitsune . . . you managed to bend the rules . . . and stopped just in time to keep them from breaking . . . I'll get you . . . someday . . . /
/ Kurama . . . /
Miles away, in spirit world, the fox smiled secretly to himself. He was very pleased that he had managed to help his friend while not . . . ahem . . . *quite* . . . breaking his promise to Reikai . . . and Kurama knew that Hiei would end up needing Yusuke's help . . . and vice versa . . . after all . . . *he* couldn't be there . . . the youko frowned slightly at his predicament. He hated just sitting around, useless, only here for Koenma to 'keep an eye on him.' He rather be out *there*, heading toward Tarukine's mountain stronghold . . . helping his friends fight and retrieve Yukina . . . who had no idea she was Hiei's twin . . .
(a.n./ Yes, that was my attempt at explaining how Hiei found out about Yukina's kidnapping . . . err . . . demon-napping . . . because of her hiraseki-stone ice-apparition tears with Tarukine, when we first meet the Toguro brothers and when Kuwabara first fell in love with Hiei's sweet lil sis . . . and why Kurama said that he was 'confident' that Hiei would work with Yusuke (that's what he said in the English version , anyway . . .) . . . but . . . wha'd ya think? ^-^;;; Nevermind . . . well, on with the fic! ^- ^)
Kashi sighed. School was such a bore without Kurama around. He had been there practically since her first day . . . and now . . . was gone. She sighed again . . . thinking back to the strange predicament they had been in a few months ago . . . and blocking out the teacher she had been stuck with for her last period subject. Before allowing her thoughts to drift back, she mused at how she was failing geometry. / Who cares about some baka ningen class, anyway . . . /
She frowned, finally remembering . . . she was going to die, that much was clear . . . but she didn't want to endanger Kurama, as well . . . she couldn't stand to do THAT. She didn't want to leave, either . . . the vixen puzzled over the situation for the entire class period, completely oblivious to the snickers around her when the teacher would call on her to answer some dull problem. She had more important things to worry about . . .
After school, instead of heading home, Kashi took a turn and found herself at the Minamino residence. Looking up at the common, nothing-special house of her lover, she sighed. Kurama wasn't here . . . she couldn't sense his ki . . .
Just turning to go, a dark breeze rustled around her and trapped her left wrist. Blinking, surprised, she looked down to see a pair of annoyed ruby eyes. Smiling slightly, her fox nature taking over, she teased him.
"Hello, Hiei. Did you miss me?" A growl rumbled from down in his throat.
"Yon'na. Kurama's back." Kashi smiled brightly.
"Thank you, Hiei! I'll go see him, then." And she made to walk away, but was stopped by Hiei's hand still grasping her wrist. The kitsune-girl turned back, annoyed, but stopped her retort when she saw the look in his eyes. The normally hardened, cold, unfeeling gaze of the fire youkai showed a deep pain . . . she looked into his ruby depths, stepping closer, puzzled. He noticed this, and released her in an instant, blurring away without a word. She sighed, leaning against a tree for a moment . . . pondering the look in his eyes . . . it reminded her somewhat of . . . Kurama. Then it hit her.
Hiei had given her 'the look' . . . a look so uncannily like the one youko Kurama had given her in the demon world . . . when she had been on the bed where she would die . . . gazing mournfully down at her . . . pain and love both sketched equally into that normally emotionless face. Hiei was in pain . . . and in love at the same time. Her heart ached for him. She knew all too well what *that* felt like. Lying, helpless on that cursed bed, unable to soothe Kurama's worried mind, she had been kept silent . . . until simply withering away. Shaking her head clear of the sad thoughts, she wondered who the short Jaganashi was in love with . . . it couldn't be her . . . no, she hadn't known him long enough, and he most definitely *wasn't* attracted to her. Lost in her inner musings, the black-haired girl didn't notice, as the door handle to the Minamino house started to turn, revealing a smiling Kurama. His eyes danced over to her . . . and Kashi, sensing his gaze, brought her silver stare up to meet his green one.
Realization dawned upon her as she took in the smiling, gorgeous redhead before her. Hiei loved *him* . . . Kurama. Her silver eyes suddenly widened with shock, remembering how awkward the two had acted a few months ago . . . during that late-night card game . . . Kurama, noticing her look of surprise, frowned, walking up to her and placing his arm around her shoulder in a comforting embrace, drawing her close. Her mind was still running like crazy, and she was stiff and unresponsive under his gentle touch. / Hiei . . . he's in love . . . with Kurama . . . why didn't I see it before!! BAKA!!!! / She felt Kurama's aura start to creep upon her, trying to soothe her . . . but then she remembered her dream . . . when their ki merged . . . pushing him away from her, she stepped backwards, hiding her sadness with anger.
"Don't touch me!" His face changed from a caring smile to a small frown of puzzlement. He reached out for her, but she slapped the hand away.
"I SAID don't TOUCH me, baka!" She fished around in her mind for a reason for her anger, trying to ignore the deeply hurt look the fox was giving her. Then it came to her.
"You left! For three days, you just LEFT! Not one word! You keep doing this, youko! Well, I won't stand around and wait for you anymore! I'm DONE with you!" And she coolly turned on her heel, starting to walk away. But then she stopped. Two firm vines had entangled her lower legs. She attempted to get them free when Kurama strode in front of her, forcing her chin upwards with one hand so she could see the question in his eyes.
"Why did you just say that, nazo kit—"
"DON'T CALL ME THAT!" She shouted, using a few small, sharp leaves to cut the vines and stepping past him. "I'm NOT your property ANYMORE. Just LEAVE ME ALONE! It's OVER, Kurama!" He caught her right arm, and she glared back at him, fighting the tumult of emotions within her. / I'm . . . I'm hurting him . . . but . . . this is how it has to be. There's no other way I can . . . / a tear slipped down her cheek / . . . can say good-bye . . . forever . . . / He noticed the tear, and raised a hand to brush it away . . . and she almost allowed it. Then, determination flashing in her eyes, she slapped him with her left hand and pulled free of Kurama's loosened grip, running away into the night, trying valiantly to fight the ocean of tears that threatened to run down her face.
/ Hiei . . . I've got to find him . . . Hiei . . . /
Rikou snarled from his place in the tree. So close . . . he had been so CLOSE! If only that baka vixen had let the bandit embrace her for a few moments longer, Kurama would have been infected with the spirit-sickness as well . . . the redhead kitsune heard the growl, and immediately lashed his rose whip out at the stalker. The black-haired assassin jumped down from the tree, eyes glinting at the angered youko.
"Who are you." Kurama said simply, though his eyes were burning with concealed sadness, the red, angry handprint still clear on his cheek . . . / No doubt it is still stinging . . . / Rikou thought with a wicked smile / And probably more so that it's from HER . . . /
"I am Rikou." Unexpected recognition flashed in those green depths, and Kurama growled menacingly at him, remembering what Kashi had tried to stutter out in her most painful moment . . .
(::flashback::)
"Don't worry now, Kashi. We'll get you back to camp and—"
"N—no . . ." Kurama stopped in mid sentence. "P—poi . . . son . . . Ri . . . rik—ah!" she grasped onto him as a wave of pain enveloped her, then her hand relaxed as the girl's voice grew fainter. "T—tired . . ." He shouted at her as loudly as he dared.
"No! Kashi, listen to me! You can't fall asleep!"
(::end of flashback::)
"Are you . . . then . . . the one who poisoned Kashi?" The crimson-eyed killer laughed.
"If you mean that w—re, Shika, then, yes, I am." / Oh, am I going to pay for this . . . / Rikou thought to himself as he saw unbridled anger glint behind those usually calm emerald eyes / But . . . at least I will have the last say . . . there's no escaping that spirit-sickness . . . / He blurred away into the darkness, smirking and calling behind him.
"Follow me, if you dare, youko! I'll be waiting!" Without a moment's hesitation, Kurama raced after the mocking voice, rose whip held ready, and anger pulsing through his mind, clouding his thoughts to all but one objective . . .
/ . . . I must kill him . . . /
Kashi ran, calling out brokenly, all her pride dissolving.
"Hiei! . . . Hiei, please! . . . Where are you! . . ." She ran, crying, unrestrained, through the city, getting odd looks or pitying glances from passers-by, finally coming to the park. Running past the familiar areas, she tripped over a root and fell, face-first, on the ground, crying her heart out . . . / I've caused him so much pain . . . I've left him . . . AGAIN . . . but . . . I'm too much of a danger to him . . . this . . . this THING inside me will infect him if we're together . . . I can't . . . I can't go back . . . I've got to . . . / A hand rested on her back gently. Surprised at being noticed, she raised her tear-stained face to look up to her left . . . and saw the fire youkai kneeling on the grass beside her, a puzzled look on his face.
"What are you crying for, yon'na." Nearly at the end of her rope, and finally finding the one person she so desperately wanted to understand, she flung herself at him. Clearly surprised, he allowed her to cry into his shirt, soaking the dark fabric in a matter of minutes. Soon she pulled away, her broken pride returning, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand and sitting back, not looking at him.
"Now, yon'na . . ." Hiei said when he was sure all her fits of sobbing were over. "What were you crying for." She looked at him now, silver eyes hard.
"I'm leaving." Obviously, he was surprised. / What the h—l is she talking about . . . /
"Nani." He stated, unsure of what he had heard.
"I'm leaving." She repeated simply. His ruby eyes narrowed.
"Doushite." She sighed, preparing to tell him everything.
"Because I've caused Kurama too much pain, been infected with a Makai-born disease that will infect HIM if we get to close and not to mention the fact that some psychotic fox from my past is set on killing me for what I did to his brother." . . . . . . . Hiei just sat there, mouth hanging open, eyes wide . . . . . 0.0 . . . . . she had said this all very fast.
"Nani?!" He said, finally recovering. She sighed.
"You heard me. THAT'S why I'm leaving."
"You can't leave!" He burst out uncharacteristically. "Kurama—"She interrupted him.
"Kurama can't love me."
"But . . . he does . . . and this will . . . hurt him . . . HOW CAN YOU EVEN THINK OF DOING SOMETHING THAT STUPID, BAKA!?!?!" She silenced him, leaf-sword held to his throat, eyes hard and cold.
"Now listen to me. I'm only going to explain this ONCE. Kurama loves you. YOU will always stay by his side. *I* will be out of the picture, so you will have the kitsune all to yourself." Hiei's red eyes narrowed.
"He doesn't love me, you baka yon'na, he loves you. And if you leave, he'll be so broken up about it that he'll push everyone away. No one else will have a chance at his heart because—"She cut him off, pressing the sword against his throat, drawing a small trickle of blood.
"No. The only one who can get through to him is YOU, Hiei." She sighed, bringing both the sword and her gaze to the ground. "He'll get over me . . ." She whispered / . . . he *has* to . . . / she thought, praying to Inari . . .
Hiei, however, was wondering about what she had said. / Does Kurama . . . really . . . care for . . . ME . . . ? /
Kashi sighed. If she was going to end this HER way, it would have to be soon . . . she could feel the familiar burning sensation start to creep up on her again . . . / No . . . I will NOT die helpless and weak . . . never will I let THAT happen again . . . /
"Hiei." She said softly, cupping his chin in her hand, bringing the ruby eyes full of confusion to meet hers as he tried to grasp the situation. She smiled. He could be so kawaii at times . . . he almost looked like a child, staring at her with those shimmering crimson depths . . . she shuddered slightly . . . his red eyes slightly reminded her of Rikou's foreboding ones . . . she forced the thought out of her head, whispering to the confused fire demon as she drew closer to him . . .
"Give this . . . to Kurama . . . for me." And she kissed him gently on the lips. The fire demon's eyes widened, but before he could strike out in anger at being so violated (a.n./ hey, this is Hiei, remember . . . he has 'issues' with personal space *dodges objects thrown at her* ^-^;;) she pulled away, a foxy grin on her face.
"Only . . . make sure YOU mean it." And after a moment she sighed, getting up and heading toward the forest.
"Yon'na . . ." The fire youkai called after her. She looked back, and he was standing.
"What are you going to do, vixen." She smiled sadly, calling to her plants and using a very 'Kurama-like' trick. They entwined his legs and he struggled against them, trying to slice them with his katana. It was no use. They were as strong as steel . . . just like the ones that guarded the entrance . . . to the two foxes' long-abandoned den . . . in the Makai . . .
"Oh . . . and Hiei?" He looked back up at her, his confusion intensifying his fiery temper.
"Nani, baka." She just smiled mournfully.
"Don't let him come after me."
"Hn." Kashi bowed her head in thanks, then turned away again, disappearing into the forest part of the park . . . clenching the 'death tree' seed she had stolen from Kurama in her left hand . . .
/ D—n this vixen! / The youkai thought to himself, watching her walk away. / Kurama doesn't love me . . . he'll probably kill himself over this . . . / Hiei thought angrily. Then, another thought directly answered it.
\ No . . . we'll pull him out of this . . . that yon'na had to have SOME sense in her . . . maybe . . . she was right . . . \
/ You're WRONG, d—n it! Kurama only loves HER. /
\ Still . . . what if she was right? \
/ Hn. Shut up. / He ended the conversation with himself abruptly, trying to think.
/ I'll figure this out . . . / A small smirk found it's way onto his face and he raised a hand to his lips, where the girl had kissed him a few moments ago. / After all . . . I've got to honor her request . . . it's the LEAST I can do . . . considering what SHE'S about to do . . . / Then Hiei noticed the two small wooden beads lying on the ground in front of him. He could just stare down at them, knowing the vines wouldn't allow him to move. He'd fall over, anyway, if he upset his balance . . .
Kurama chased Rikou into a small grove of trees (a.n./ gee . . . I REALLY like forests, don't I? sorry!! ^-^;;). And the fight began.
As anyone could have guessed, Kurama won. (a.n./ wow . . . THAT was a short battle . . . MUHAHAHAHA!!!! I STINK at fight scenes!!!! -_-;;;;;;;;;). Though, to say the least, the bandit DID have several wounds and cuts from the assassin's katana . . . Rikou sputtered up blood, knowing the end was near . . . / Well . . . I don't mind this ending . . . I'm a killer-for- hire, after all . . . / The deadly seed in the back of his neck began to sprout, rendering him frozen. Kurama walked up to him, whip ready, all kindness gone from his face. As the youko in ningen form raised his weapon to kill, Kurama spoke.
"Tell me why you attacked Kashi . . . and I will make your passing swift." Rikou just started to laugh. Kurama's emerald eyes glinted gold as they narrowed even further. "Do you find death amusing?" The doomed assassin continued to chuckle.
"Actually, I do. But that's not why I'm laughing."
"Then why."
"Because . . ." He coughed up even more blood, causing a dark stain on his black cloak.
"Despite the fact that you will kill me . . . Shika will still be gone." Discarding his whip, Kurama grabbed him by the collar, pulling the crimson-eyed kitsune to within an inch of his face, and hissed at him.
"What do you mean." Rikou laughed at him again, spraying a few drops of blood on the angered kitsune's face (a.n./ ewwwwwww!!!!!!).
"It's a spirit-sickness. There's no cure, and she'll use the only thing she can to cure it. I think the b—ch's figured out that it will kill YOU if she let it . . ." Kurama growled and tightened his grip.
"What are you talking about." But the red eyes started to glaze over, as a crooked smile found its way onto the dying fox's lips . . .
"Why don't you go find her . . ." And he was dead. Disgusted, Kurama threw the corpse aside, calling on his death tree to devour any sign of the inhuman body. Kashi . . . he thought, trying to sense her ki . . . there . . . in the park . . .
Hiei felt Kurama coming rapidly closer, and dropped his hand from his face abruptly. Soon the fox appeared on the path and, seeing him, ran over, not noticing the vines wrapped around Hiei's legs.
"Hiei! What happened! Where's Kashi?!?" The fire youkai looked away.
"Hn." Hiei said softly . . . too softly. Kurama's blood froze. / Oh . . . oh, Inari . . . / He thought / . . . she . . . she CAN'T be . . . /
"Hiei . . ." He said in a softer voice, putting a hand under the youkai's chin so he would look at him. Startled red eyes met his deeply worried green ones. "Where is she?"
Hiei, fighting the warming sensation Kurama's touch evoked from his stomach, tried to keep his eyes from flickering to the forest at their left. But it was no use. Kurama just kept staring at him, and those ruby orbs flickered over to the wooded area, if only for an instant. But, being the perceptive bandit that he was, the fox noticed this brief confession, and looked in the direction of the forest, sending out his ki and asking the trees if they saw anything . . . unusual . . . happening in their midst. But they didn't answer, something was blocking him from knowing . . . something . . . inhuman.
Kashi sensed Kurama coming closer, and quickly put up a block, pouring her ki into the death tree seed she held. She wasn't as skilled with this kind of weapon as Kurama was . . . and that was fine. As soon as it sprouted, the red tree sensed that she was not its master, and began to devour her with its many mouths. She refused to cry out, as the branches pulled at her, each eager for their own bit of flesh, though she bit her lip. / I will NOT be thought of as weak . . . in my moment of death . . . / Then she felt the barrier shattering, and a very out-of-breath Kurama stepped into the clearing. Seeing the scene, he was frozen in horror. Realizing her last chance, she sent a mental message to him while giving up the last of her ki to the death plant, which was all it needed to devour her completely, releasing her into the peace of oblivion . . .
/ Kurama . . . / He felt the echoes of her voice in his mind as tears formed in his eyes. / . . . look to your side . . . he . . . will always . . . be there . . . /
*sniff sniff* Wasn't that sad? Poor Kashi . . . HEY! It's not like any of YOU will miss her . . . she's the 'block' that's been putting off Kurama & Hiei's relationship . . . *sighs* . . . but still . . . wait for the next chapter . . . (hey, if you don't like sad stuff, then don't read 'angst' oki?)
BTW: 'oki' is my version of 'ok' ^-^;;; (yes, I know I'm weird)
Next chappie up as soon as I can, I'm writing WIGT (Whenever I Get Time). See ya.
Yu Yu Hakusho and all characters/things related to it do not belong to me (that was for chapter five -_-;;;).
Kita: I don't own yuyu. Never have, never will (are ya happy now?! You got me to say that awful sentence THREE STUPID TIMES..........*sniff sniff*............).
Warning: This chappie may be a little . . . gruesome. Don't know if it's still PG 13 after this, but hey, I sure hope it is (if it isn't, this will probably get deleted from the site . . . . 0.0 uh-oh . . .).
The Roots of a Rose by Kita –– Part Six: Demon Tears
Kashi suddenly felt Hiei's ki flare, somewhere in the city. She straightened at her desk, and glanced at the chair where Kurama usually sat, next to her. She sighed . . . wondering how long the fox's Reikai punishment would last . . . and why Hiei was in Ningenkai. Then she realized she felt another's ki . . . someone powerful, caught by surprise at the moment . . . it came to her suddenly . . . Urameshi! The other ki, near Hiei, was Reikai's spirit detective . . .
After the brief talk with Yusuke, Hiei sensed something was wrong . . . Hn. He hadn't *looked* at the stupid tape . . . it was just another case for the idiot ningen who had managed to get the best of him . . . Yukina . . . he thought, wondering suddenly where she could be . . . he hadn't seen her in a while . . . his Jagan eye glowed red under the white ward that covered it as he searched for her . . . crimson eyes closed, concentrating on finding her familiar spirit energy . . .they snapped open in shock. He couldn't place her . . . it was as though she had disappeared off the face of the earth . . . where was she?! He started panicking inside / . . . What has happened, that I can't even . . . no. / A chilling thought came to him. / Surely . . . surely . . . she isn't . . . could my only sister . . . be . . . dead? . . . NO! / Came the firmer thought. / I will find her . . . she must be somewhere . . . I'll search all three worlds if I must! /
~Hiei.~ A soft, familiar alto voice appeared in his mind . . . / Kurama? . . . no . . . it's just another flashback of . . . what happened that night . . . when they had all been 'partying' . . . after managing to defeat the Four Saint Beasts . . . /
~Hiei . . . are you there?~ The voice persisted, and now the youkai realized the kitsune was talking to him telepathically.
~Hn. What do you want, Kurama.~ There was silence for a few moments, and Hiei used his Jagan to root out the fox's feelings . . . / Hn . . . seems to be battling with himself . . . there's concern in there, as well . . .and . . . something else . . . I can't place it . . . /
~How is Yukina, Hiei?~ The fox asked casually . . . too casually.
~Hn. What are you getting at, fox.~ Then he realized Kurama had spoken of his sister.
~What do you know, Kurama. Where is she.~
~Sumanai . . . I can't tell you. ~
~Then why did you bring it up, baka kitsune.~ He commented bitingly. / Stupid fox! . . . I need to get back to searching for her . . . she'd better be all right . . . /
~I just thought that you might want to reconsider . . .~
~Hn! Reconsider what.~ / Hurry up, Kurama . . . I've got no time to waste . . . /
~Well . . . about helping Yusuke with his newest case . . . Hiei.~ And with that final cryptic comment, Kurama's mental voice was gone. For a moment, the youkai allowed himself to imagine the kitsune . . . his soft, silky red locks . . . those expressive green eyes . . . / Wait . . . / he thought, thinking back on the recent conversation . . . / What did Kurama mean . . . how did he know Yukina was missing . . . / The truth clicked into place suddenly, and he cursed himself. / D—n . . . I'm just as much of a baka as the idiot himself (a.n./ 'the idiot' a.k.a. 'Kuwabara' ^-^). /
He blurred away into the night . . . pinpointing Urameshi's unique spirit ki as he ran . . .
/ . . . Yukina . . . I'm coming . . . /
As he followed the reikai tantei's ki signature, he thought, smirking to himself. / Baka kitsune . . . you managed to bend the rules . . . and stopped just in time to keep them from breaking . . . I'll get you . . . someday . . . /
/ Kurama . . . /
Miles away, in spirit world, the fox smiled secretly to himself. He was very pleased that he had managed to help his friend while not . . . ahem . . . *quite* . . . breaking his promise to Reikai . . . and Kurama knew that Hiei would end up needing Yusuke's help . . . and vice versa . . . after all . . . *he* couldn't be there . . . the youko frowned slightly at his predicament. He hated just sitting around, useless, only here for Koenma to 'keep an eye on him.' He rather be out *there*, heading toward Tarukine's mountain stronghold . . . helping his friends fight and retrieve Yukina . . . who had no idea she was Hiei's twin . . .
(a.n./ Yes, that was my attempt at explaining how Hiei found out about Yukina's kidnapping . . . err . . . demon-napping . . . because of her hiraseki-stone ice-apparition tears with Tarukine, when we first meet the Toguro brothers and when Kuwabara first fell in love with Hiei's sweet lil sis . . . and why Kurama said that he was 'confident' that Hiei would work with Yusuke (that's what he said in the English version , anyway . . .) . . . but . . . wha'd ya think? ^-^;;; Nevermind . . . well, on with the fic! ^- ^)
Kashi sighed. School was such a bore without Kurama around. He had been there practically since her first day . . . and now . . . was gone. She sighed again . . . thinking back to the strange predicament they had been in a few months ago . . . and blocking out the teacher she had been stuck with for her last period subject. Before allowing her thoughts to drift back, she mused at how she was failing geometry. / Who cares about some baka ningen class, anyway . . . /
She frowned, finally remembering . . . she was going to die, that much was clear . . . but she didn't want to endanger Kurama, as well . . . she couldn't stand to do THAT. She didn't want to leave, either . . . the vixen puzzled over the situation for the entire class period, completely oblivious to the snickers around her when the teacher would call on her to answer some dull problem. She had more important things to worry about . . .
After school, instead of heading home, Kashi took a turn and found herself at the Minamino residence. Looking up at the common, nothing-special house of her lover, she sighed. Kurama wasn't here . . . she couldn't sense his ki . . .
Just turning to go, a dark breeze rustled around her and trapped her left wrist. Blinking, surprised, she looked down to see a pair of annoyed ruby eyes. Smiling slightly, her fox nature taking over, she teased him.
"Hello, Hiei. Did you miss me?" A growl rumbled from down in his throat.
"Yon'na. Kurama's back." Kashi smiled brightly.
"Thank you, Hiei! I'll go see him, then." And she made to walk away, but was stopped by Hiei's hand still grasping her wrist. The kitsune-girl turned back, annoyed, but stopped her retort when she saw the look in his eyes. The normally hardened, cold, unfeeling gaze of the fire youkai showed a deep pain . . . she looked into his ruby depths, stepping closer, puzzled. He noticed this, and released her in an instant, blurring away without a word. She sighed, leaning against a tree for a moment . . . pondering the look in his eyes . . . it reminded her somewhat of . . . Kurama. Then it hit her.
Hiei had given her 'the look' . . . a look so uncannily like the one youko Kurama had given her in the demon world . . . when she had been on the bed where she would die . . . gazing mournfully down at her . . . pain and love both sketched equally into that normally emotionless face. Hiei was in pain . . . and in love at the same time. Her heart ached for him. She knew all too well what *that* felt like. Lying, helpless on that cursed bed, unable to soothe Kurama's worried mind, she had been kept silent . . . until simply withering away. Shaking her head clear of the sad thoughts, she wondered who the short Jaganashi was in love with . . . it couldn't be her . . . no, she hadn't known him long enough, and he most definitely *wasn't* attracted to her. Lost in her inner musings, the black-haired girl didn't notice, as the door handle to the Minamino house started to turn, revealing a smiling Kurama. His eyes danced over to her . . . and Kashi, sensing his gaze, brought her silver stare up to meet his green one.
Realization dawned upon her as she took in the smiling, gorgeous redhead before her. Hiei loved *him* . . . Kurama. Her silver eyes suddenly widened with shock, remembering how awkward the two had acted a few months ago . . . during that late-night card game . . . Kurama, noticing her look of surprise, frowned, walking up to her and placing his arm around her shoulder in a comforting embrace, drawing her close. Her mind was still running like crazy, and she was stiff and unresponsive under his gentle touch. / Hiei . . . he's in love . . . with Kurama . . . why didn't I see it before!! BAKA!!!! / She felt Kurama's aura start to creep upon her, trying to soothe her . . . but then she remembered her dream . . . when their ki merged . . . pushing him away from her, she stepped backwards, hiding her sadness with anger.
"Don't touch me!" His face changed from a caring smile to a small frown of puzzlement. He reached out for her, but she slapped the hand away.
"I SAID don't TOUCH me, baka!" She fished around in her mind for a reason for her anger, trying to ignore the deeply hurt look the fox was giving her. Then it came to her.
"You left! For three days, you just LEFT! Not one word! You keep doing this, youko! Well, I won't stand around and wait for you anymore! I'm DONE with you!" And she coolly turned on her heel, starting to walk away. But then she stopped. Two firm vines had entangled her lower legs. She attempted to get them free when Kurama strode in front of her, forcing her chin upwards with one hand so she could see the question in his eyes.
"Why did you just say that, nazo kit—"
"DON'T CALL ME THAT!" She shouted, using a few small, sharp leaves to cut the vines and stepping past him. "I'm NOT your property ANYMORE. Just LEAVE ME ALONE! It's OVER, Kurama!" He caught her right arm, and she glared back at him, fighting the tumult of emotions within her. / I'm . . . I'm hurting him . . . but . . . this is how it has to be. There's no other way I can . . . / a tear slipped down her cheek / . . . can say good-bye . . . forever . . . / He noticed the tear, and raised a hand to brush it away . . . and she almost allowed it. Then, determination flashing in her eyes, she slapped him with her left hand and pulled free of Kurama's loosened grip, running away into the night, trying valiantly to fight the ocean of tears that threatened to run down her face.
/ Hiei . . . I've got to find him . . . Hiei . . . /
Rikou snarled from his place in the tree. So close . . . he had been so CLOSE! If only that baka vixen had let the bandit embrace her for a few moments longer, Kurama would have been infected with the spirit-sickness as well . . . the redhead kitsune heard the growl, and immediately lashed his rose whip out at the stalker. The black-haired assassin jumped down from the tree, eyes glinting at the angered youko.
"Who are you." Kurama said simply, though his eyes were burning with concealed sadness, the red, angry handprint still clear on his cheek . . . / No doubt it is still stinging . . . / Rikou thought with a wicked smile / And probably more so that it's from HER . . . /
"I am Rikou." Unexpected recognition flashed in those green depths, and Kurama growled menacingly at him, remembering what Kashi had tried to stutter out in her most painful moment . . .
(::flashback::)
"Don't worry now, Kashi. We'll get you back to camp and—"
"N—no . . ." Kurama stopped in mid sentence. "P—poi . . . son . . . Ri . . . rik—ah!" she grasped onto him as a wave of pain enveloped her, then her hand relaxed as the girl's voice grew fainter. "T—tired . . ." He shouted at her as loudly as he dared.
"No! Kashi, listen to me! You can't fall asleep!"
(::end of flashback::)
"Are you . . . then . . . the one who poisoned Kashi?" The crimson-eyed killer laughed.
"If you mean that w—re, Shika, then, yes, I am." / Oh, am I going to pay for this . . . / Rikou thought to himself as he saw unbridled anger glint behind those usually calm emerald eyes / But . . . at least I will have the last say . . . there's no escaping that spirit-sickness . . . / He blurred away into the darkness, smirking and calling behind him.
"Follow me, if you dare, youko! I'll be waiting!" Without a moment's hesitation, Kurama raced after the mocking voice, rose whip held ready, and anger pulsing through his mind, clouding his thoughts to all but one objective . . .
/ . . . I must kill him . . . /
Kashi ran, calling out brokenly, all her pride dissolving.
"Hiei! . . . Hiei, please! . . . Where are you! . . ." She ran, crying, unrestrained, through the city, getting odd looks or pitying glances from passers-by, finally coming to the park. Running past the familiar areas, she tripped over a root and fell, face-first, on the ground, crying her heart out . . . / I've caused him so much pain . . . I've left him . . . AGAIN . . . but . . . I'm too much of a danger to him . . . this . . . this THING inside me will infect him if we're together . . . I can't . . . I can't go back . . . I've got to . . . / A hand rested on her back gently. Surprised at being noticed, she raised her tear-stained face to look up to her left . . . and saw the fire youkai kneeling on the grass beside her, a puzzled look on his face.
"What are you crying for, yon'na." Nearly at the end of her rope, and finally finding the one person she so desperately wanted to understand, she flung herself at him. Clearly surprised, he allowed her to cry into his shirt, soaking the dark fabric in a matter of minutes. Soon she pulled away, her broken pride returning, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand and sitting back, not looking at him.
"Now, yon'na . . ." Hiei said when he was sure all her fits of sobbing were over. "What were you crying for." She looked at him now, silver eyes hard.
"I'm leaving." Obviously, he was surprised. / What the h—l is she talking about . . . /
"Nani." He stated, unsure of what he had heard.
"I'm leaving." She repeated simply. His ruby eyes narrowed.
"Doushite." She sighed, preparing to tell him everything.
"Because I've caused Kurama too much pain, been infected with a Makai-born disease that will infect HIM if we get to close and not to mention the fact that some psychotic fox from my past is set on killing me for what I did to his brother." . . . . . . . Hiei just sat there, mouth hanging open, eyes wide . . . . . 0.0 . . . . . she had said this all very fast.
"Nani?!" He said, finally recovering. She sighed.
"You heard me. THAT'S why I'm leaving."
"You can't leave!" He burst out uncharacteristically. "Kurama—"She interrupted him.
"Kurama can't love me."
"But . . . he does . . . and this will . . . hurt him . . . HOW CAN YOU EVEN THINK OF DOING SOMETHING THAT STUPID, BAKA!?!?!" She silenced him, leaf-sword held to his throat, eyes hard and cold.
"Now listen to me. I'm only going to explain this ONCE. Kurama loves you. YOU will always stay by his side. *I* will be out of the picture, so you will have the kitsune all to yourself." Hiei's red eyes narrowed.
"He doesn't love me, you baka yon'na, he loves you. And if you leave, he'll be so broken up about it that he'll push everyone away. No one else will have a chance at his heart because—"She cut him off, pressing the sword against his throat, drawing a small trickle of blood.
"No. The only one who can get through to him is YOU, Hiei." She sighed, bringing both the sword and her gaze to the ground. "He'll get over me . . ." She whispered / . . . he *has* to . . . / she thought, praying to Inari . . .
Hiei, however, was wondering about what she had said. / Does Kurama . . . really . . . care for . . . ME . . . ? /
Kashi sighed. If she was going to end this HER way, it would have to be soon . . . she could feel the familiar burning sensation start to creep up on her again . . . / No . . . I will NOT die helpless and weak . . . never will I let THAT happen again . . . /
"Hiei." She said softly, cupping his chin in her hand, bringing the ruby eyes full of confusion to meet hers as he tried to grasp the situation. She smiled. He could be so kawaii at times . . . he almost looked like a child, staring at her with those shimmering crimson depths . . . she shuddered slightly . . . his red eyes slightly reminded her of Rikou's foreboding ones . . . she forced the thought out of her head, whispering to the confused fire demon as she drew closer to him . . .
"Give this . . . to Kurama . . . for me." And she kissed him gently on the lips. The fire demon's eyes widened, but before he could strike out in anger at being so violated (a.n./ hey, this is Hiei, remember . . . he has 'issues' with personal space *dodges objects thrown at her* ^-^;;) she pulled away, a foxy grin on her face.
"Only . . . make sure YOU mean it." And after a moment she sighed, getting up and heading toward the forest.
"Yon'na . . ." The fire youkai called after her. She looked back, and he was standing.
"What are you going to do, vixen." She smiled sadly, calling to her plants and using a very 'Kurama-like' trick. They entwined his legs and he struggled against them, trying to slice them with his katana. It was no use. They were as strong as steel . . . just like the ones that guarded the entrance . . . to the two foxes' long-abandoned den . . . in the Makai . . .
"Oh . . . and Hiei?" He looked back up at her, his confusion intensifying his fiery temper.
"Nani, baka." She just smiled mournfully.
"Don't let him come after me."
"Hn." Kashi bowed her head in thanks, then turned away again, disappearing into the forest part of the park . . . clenching the 'death tree' seed she had stolen from Kurama in her left hand . . .
/ D—n this vixen! / The youkai thought to himself, watching her walk away. / Kurama doesn't love me . . . he'll probably kill himself over this . . . / Hiei thought angrily. Then, another thought directly answered it.
\ No . . . we'll pull him out of this . . . that yon'na had to have SOME sense in her . . . maybe . . . she was right . . . \
/ You're WRONG, d—n it! Kurama only loves HER. /
\ Still . . . what if she was right? \
/ Hn. Shut up. / He ended the conversation with himself abruptly, trying to think.
/ I'll figure this out . . . / A small smirk found it's way onto his face and he raised a hand to his lips, where the girl had kissed him a few moments ago. / After all . . . I've got to honor her request . . . it's the LEAST I can do . . . considering what SHE'S about to do . . . / Then Hiei noticed the two small wooden beads lying on the ground in front of him. He could just stare down at them, knowing the vines wouldn't allow him to move. He'd fall over, anyway, if he upset his balance . . .
Kurama chased Rikou into a small grove of trees (a.n./ gee . . . I REALLY like forests, don't I? sorry!! ^-^;;). And the fight began.
As anyone could have guessed, Kurama won. (a.n./ wow . . . THAT was a short battle . . . MUHAHAHAHA!!!! I STINK at fight scenes!!!! -_-;;;;;;;;;). Though, to say the least, the bandit DID have several wounds and cuts from the assassin's katana . . . Rikou sputtered up blood, knowing the end was near . . . / Well . . . I don't mind this ending . . . I'm a killer-for- hire, after all . . . / The deadly seed in the back of his neck began to sprout, rendering him frozen. Kurama walked up to him, whip ready, all kindness gone from his face. As the youko in ningen form raised his weapon to kill, Kurama spoke.
"Tell me why you attacked Kashi . . . and I will make your passing swift." Rikou just started to laugh. Kurama's emerald eyes glinted gold as they narrowed even further. "Do you find death amusing?" The doomed assassin continued to chuckle.
"Actually, I do. But that's not why I'm laughing."
"Then why."
"Because . . ." He coughed up even more blood, causing a dark stain on his black cloak.
"Despite the fact that you will kill me . . . Shika will still be gone." Discarding his whip, Kurama grabbed him by the collar, pulling the crimson-eyed kitsune to within an inch of his face, and hissed at him.
"What do you mean." Rikou laughed at him again, spraying a few drops of blood on the angered kitsune's face (a.n./ ewwwwwww!!!!!!).
"It's a spirit-sickness. There's no cure, and she'll use the only thing she can to cure it. I think the b—ch's figured out that it will kill YOU if she let it . . ." Kurama growled and tightened his grip.
"What are you talking about." But the red eyes started to glaze over, as a crooked smile found its way onto the dying fox's lips . . .
"Why don't you go find her . . ." And he was dead. Disgusted, Kurama threw the corpse aside, calling on his death tree to devour any sign of the inhuman body. Kashi . . . he thought, trying to sense her ki . . . there . . . in the park . . .
Hiei felt Kurama coming rapidly closer, and dropped his hand from his face abruptly. Soon the fox appeared on the path and, seeing him, ran over, not noticing the vines wrapped around Hiei's legs.
"Hiei! What happened! Where's Kashi?!?" The fire youkai looked away.
"Hn." Hiei said softly . . . too softly. Kurama's blood froze. / Oh . . . oh, Inari . . . / He thought / . . . she . . . she CAN'T be . . . /
"Hiei . . ." He said in a softer voice, putting a hand under the youkai's chin so he would look at him. Startled red eyes met his deeply worried green ones. "Where is she?"
Hiei, fighting the warming sensation Kurama's touch evoked from his stomach, tried to keep his eyes from flickering to the forest at their left. But it was no use. Kurama just kept staring at him, and those ruby orbs flickered over to the wooded area, if only for an instant. But, being the perceptive bandit that he was, the fox noticed this brief confession, and looked in the direction of the forest, sending out his ki and asking the trees if they saw anything . . . unusual . . . happening in their midst. But they didn't answer, something was blocking him from knowing . . . something . . . inhuman.
Kashi sensed Kurama coming closer, and quickly put up a block, pouring her ki into the death tree seed she held. She wasn't as skilled with this kind of weapon as Kurama was . . . and that was fine. As soon as it sprouted, the red tree sensed that she was not its master, and began to devour her with its many mouths. She refused to cry out, as the branches pulled at her, each eager for their own bit of flesh, though she bit her lip. / I will NOT be thought of as weak . . . in my moment of death . . . / Then she felt the barrier shattering, and a very out-of-breath Kurama stepped into the clearing. Seeing the scene, he was frozen in horror. Realizing her last chance, she sent a mental message to him while giving up the last of her ki to the death plant, which was all it needed to devour her completely, releasing her into the peace of oblivion . . .
/ Kurama . . . / He felt the echoes of her voice in his mind as tears formed in his eyes. / . . . look to your side . . . he . . . will always . . . be there . . . /
*sniff sniff* Wasn't that sad? Poor Kashi . . . HEY! It's not like any of YOU will miss her . . . she's the 'block' that's been putting off Kurama & Hiei's relationship . . . *sighs* . . . but still . . . wait for the next chapter . . . (hey, if you don't like sad stuff, then don't read 'angst' oki?)
BTW: 'oki' is my version of 'ok' ^-^;;; (yes, I know I'm weird)
Next chappie up as soon as I can, I'm writing WIGT (Whenever I Get Time). See ya.