Author's Notes: Oh my god! This thing now has a plot! A PLOT! Isn't that amazing?! (Yeah, I didn't have a solid plot before now...)
Basically, this is going to be the first story of a Trilogy, I'm currently dwelling on what to name it. Any suggestions will be taken into consideration, and I'll give you a little peek at the outline if you suggest the winning name ^^ Currently, I think it goes along the lines of "Sunsets- Rise and Fall of Hiei," "Impending Catastrophes" or "Ningenkai Control," but all of those are lame, so send in ideas... I've been brain-dead recently.
But keep in mind, these are the three stories' names, so that might help:
Conspiracy of the Dead
Demon Wars
Aftermath of Chaos (or Aftermath of Catastrophe)
Also, for the info, I've come upon a conclusion of when info will be needed:
Location and Appearance of the Koorime Settlement: For anyone who has seen the eppie in which Hiei looks back on it, DESCRIBE IT VIVIDLY. Yes, I need to know the facts about that specific settlement in which Hiei was born. Also, the names of the so-called wise people who decided to throw Hiei off the cliff. If you people can find it, that is. If not, I'll just name one of the elders 'Megan' and squirm in the sheer delight of having my hyper friend killed by her favorite bishie! ^^ hehehe. Well, that was a spoiler.
Youko's perspective on Yomi and Kuronue: I recently found a Yomi/Youko site (O.o) and I'm not sure I need more on either of the guys, but send in stuff, I still need a bit by chapter 16. And is it true that Yomi didn't betray Kurama, but Kurama betrayed him three times?!
Ages of Hiei and Youko: I've been getting too many answers that change. Keep sending!
I'll remind people that I need this stuff at the end of the fic.
Roxy-the-Wolf-Demon: ...cut down on the sugar and Hiei pics or I will be forced to criticize your spelling. Other than that... you will die by the wrath of Hiei! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Unless...
LadyFuzzy: I can't remember your name change for one reason or another. Lady-Eowyn-Shieldsmadien? Anyhow, I HAVE DECIDED THAT I WILL RANDOMLY RANT TO YOU! MWAHAHAHAHAHA! Okay, my fingers have been COLD recently. Do you know how HARD it is to type, play piano, or play 'Variant' on the oboe with A SPLIT REED WITH TAPE, AND COLD, STIFF FINGERS?! *breathes on fingers* Argish. And don't you DARE tell anyone what's going to happen!
Memo: Yes, I know Enma was doing that on purpose. And Karasu was sent to the Ningenkai by him to drive Hiei into insanity, thus making it easy for him to dominate Ningenkai. This chapter is the dethroning of Enma! ^_^ HOORAY! As for your thing on Youko's age.,. did you know that FF.net makes any letter repeated three or more times into one? So, 1000000 would turn into 10. Can you retype that with spaces in between? *sweatdrops*
Madame Arrow Foxfire: OO;; the numbers are making the room spin... I already had enough Algebra homework today! I DIDN'T WANT TO SEE SO MANY NUMBERS YET! *cries* *perks up and looks at review count* NOOO!!!! NUMBER!!!!! (^^;; I'm serious. I was complaining about fractions, exponents, and reciprocals for about 15 minutes. FRACTIONS ARE EVIL!) But anyhow, you're one of the few people who has used that logic to deduct Youko's age, so I'll keep checking what other people say. But who knows, maybe I'll take that into consideration. But for the sake of my plot, I'm hoping Youko has at least a two-hundred-year age difference with Hiei.
Sky-Pirate-Tat: it goods?! ^^ YAY! But.,. uh.,. there are more notes this time.,.
HIEIhotsause: Just for a little note, I think your penname makes me think up a scene where a rabid fangirl walks in a restaurant and says, "I'll have nachos with Hiei hot-sauce, please!" ^^;; As for the Koorime age thing, while it's true Yukina does NOT have children, keep in mind that she's probably a virgin. ^^;; As for Hiei, he's a male. Males do not give birth. But... if you can argue well enough, then maybe I'll accept that.
PsychoticLoverKitty: Yay! You reviewed some more! *glomps*
Sailor Millennium: About time, I'd say. -_- But still ^_^ THANKS FOR READING! *glompie* *chibi voice* If I continue The Heart With the Cards like a good girl, do I get a Kurama plushie? [Yami Amythest: ...-_-]
R Amythest: self-reminder, don't review your own fic, change it. *pokes self*
Yeah, I haven't updated in a while. I just needed to update the YuGiOh fics that I've abandoned for about 3 months ^^;; (And I DID criticize myself over review.. O_o;;)
Wow... nearly 900 words dedicated to just author's notes and reviewer replies... ^^;; um, let's get on with the fic.
*~*~*Foresight*~*~*
"Did you all hear?! I'm the King of Reikai!" Koenma chirps, clutching the piece of paper to his chest. There are little stars in his eyes, and I mentally roll my eyes at his display of immaturity.
King Enma, apparently, had been rightfully dethroned after the discovery of his plot to send Youkai into the Ningenkai to make his job more useful. When I took over the Ningenkai, he sent Karasu to get rid of me and make all the people practically worship him after 'returning' their land. While Koenma did all the behind-the-scenes work. Quite a plot... until it was uncovered.
Koenma "Yippie!"s and hugs Botan, who, blushing, slowly peels him off.
"So, oh mighty King Koenma, what are you going to do with your new powers?" I say sarcastically, watching the toddler's idiocy with slight amusement.
He stops for a moment and thinks. "I suppose I'm going to have to do something with the Ningenkai now...."
I didn't bother to suggest, "Give it to me?"
"...Hmm... I guess I could erase all the human's memories, not including the psychic's and Spirit Detective's, and then literally bring back the dead. Aiyeeh!" he suddenly wails. "I had enough paperwork!"
I smirk. "Enjoy."
The halls are decorated with small, colorful decorations, a sign of Koenma's excitement. I also catch the whiff of a banquet. Food to celebrate, as well, it seems. My stomach grumbles slightly, and I suddenly remember when I last ate. I think... I last had a decent meal when I destroyed the last 'Fast Food Joint,' as the ningens called it. They're hopeless with the 'chicken' and 'fries,' but that was where I first got a taste of sweet snow. It was delicious, straight out of a hole on a metal thing, still so soft and fluffy. It was a creamy white, shaped like a star. It was cold, like snow, but sweet. Therefore, I dubbed it 'sweet snow.' There were two other holes, and one had a pinkish sweet snow, and the other a light brown. Each as creamy and delicious.
I can't resist the tempting odor, and I take a peek in. There's a large table lined with edibles, and – could it be? – a small table with what I recognize to be similar to sweet snow.
"Hungry? From what I saw, you haven't ate since your domination of Ningenkai," Botan says, appearing next to me.
"Hn," I say simply, walking past her and shrugging one shoulder. Upon closer observation, the sweet snow here is less creamy, and flakier[1]. I poke at it and lick my finger. It's still the same stuff, though. Sweet, cold, delicious. And for some reason, seemingly colder than before.
"Hey! Other people like to have some too, ya know!" a rude voice complains behind me. I turn around to glare at Yusuke, with a bowl and 'spoon' in hand. "If you're going to eat some ice cream, at least eat it in a civilized manner!" He dug the spoon into the container and scooped some into the bowl, and repeated the action until it was full.
"And tell me, what is the difference between your procedure and mine?" I ask, not getting the point of moving it twice. It's just going to get eaten eventually.
"Eh, I didn't pay much attention in science, but I think it has to do with germs," he said, sweatdropping slightly. I shrug and just take the container.
"Hn. Whatever."
I take the sweet snow back to a table, and I see those annoying 'spoons' and a thing with three points on the end. Also... a knife! I pick it up and run it along a finger. No blood. The thing is so DULL! Absolutely useless.
As if sensing my confusion, the girl across from me laughs and shakes her head. "You don't kill people with that, it's used for your food."
"..." ...What did she say?
These ningen lifestyles confuse me to no end. I shrug and stab the knife into the sweet snow. It goes a way down, then stubbornly stays stuck unless I put my weight on it. And when I take it out, there's no sweet snow on it. How do you use it for food?
Yusuke sits down next to the girl and sweatdrops. "Uh, I think y' ought t' use your spoon for that."
I growl. Ningen lifestyles are confusing and useless. I stick the spoon in and lick the sweet snow.
Okay, so that works.
"Yusuke... I think... I think I've seen him somewhere before..." the girl whispers.
Yusuke's eye twitches. "Uh... yeah... he's the guy who jumped you and cut you across the forehead, remember?"
I look up again. Upon closer observations, this girl is, indeed, Keiko. She 'eep!'s at this revelation. "I-I-I-isn't he highly wanted?!"
My eye moves to Yusuke, amused at how he would answer this. "Not anymore. He's not that insane psycho anymore... at least not for now." He gives me a hard glare, the kind that you give when you're overprotective. The kind that shows he's only saying that to reassure his koibito. I respond with a blank, cool gaze.
Keiko seems to relax at her boyfriend's words and continues working on the hot food in front of her. I, myself, continue eating sweet snow. It's still so cold-tasting, a nice addition, I find.
"Nii-san?" a soft voice squeaks behind me. I turn slowly around to find Yukina, rubbing a finger on the Hiruisekan tear gem necklace. I clutch my own as I shift to face her. "Ano...[2] so, you're all right now?"
"Hn. In a way." She seems to relax slightly, but still a bit leery.
"Well, it seems I've been chosen to represent Kuwabara-chan, Kurama-kun, Botan-kun, and Koenma-sama... as well as myself...." She hesitates, flushing slightly.
"Well?" I urge.
"Ano... we'll help get you over this little insane dilemma with Karasu, 'kay? And Koenma's trying to find everything he can to get you out of all the Reikai lawsuits..." Yukina stutters. "But a lot of people here are still kind of leery of you... don't kill anyone, okay?"
I gaze out of the window distantly. "A bit late for that. And Karasu... I've left him behind. It's all in the past. And I know people are leery. I killed them and dominated Ningenkai, remember?"
"Uh, yeah..." she says quietly.
"So then, you can leave me to my eating," I continue, digging the spoon into the sweet snow. She nods quickly and gracefully takes her leave.
I turn back to the sweet snow, staring down at its milky surface. It appears to have melted, but when I taste it, it still has the cold sensation from before. Flawless, smooth, even when its spirit is broken. Like... Yukina. I take a glance behind my shoulder. She's talking to Botan, chattering in a girly style. Typical.
Typical- yet so innocent. Unlike me.
I dip the spoon into the sweet snow.
Cool, calm, sweet.
*~*~*
It's night now. I shift my position on my tree, getting comfortable. The Reikai is too quiet. The Makai was always more wild and desolate... but it's too... orderly here. The trees are neatly trimmed, the soil is a dark brown instead of red,[3] and everything is just too calm.
"Hiei, aren't you coming in?" Botan calls, floating up on her oar. "Angry mobs could jump you up here, you know." She gestured to the tree. "And with that, you could fall."
"Never have before," I grumble, getting back into my comfortable position. "Your little chicken coop is too soft." I close my eyes, hearing her sigh, float off, and leave me in peace. Smirking slightly, I open my eyes again and turn my gaze to the night sky. I once heard a legend of warriors of the sky who each wielded the magical powers of their constellation.[4] Sometimes I ponder the never-ending question if our lives are really controlled by the stars. If so, one of those warriors must really hate me.
"Hiei..."
I nearly fall out of the tree, but I manage to take hold of the branch. After climbing back on, I turn to glare at the kitsune who is currently enjoying my branch. "What now?"
"Would you please come back?"
"Hn. You care?"
"Ano... not particularly. Botan's raising a fit about you being out here and mobs and all those other little things," Kurama replies. Then, catching me staring at him, adds, "Not that I don't care...."
"Hn. Baka kitsune," I mutter, but I jump down from my branch anyhow. Kurama gives a small, mysterious smile and leads me in the palace. Once again, I breathe the muddled, overly rich air. He leads me to my room, gesturing to the bed.
"Enjoy yourself," he says, leaving me.
Or not. I settle into a corner, closing my eyes to doze lightly. I hear a light "click." So, now, what is our imfamous fox up to now? The floorboards creak lightly, and I feel the wood underneath me shake slightly. I snap my eyes open and stand quickly. But instead of Kurama, Botan is there, some blankets in hand.
"...I just came to give you some blankets, did I wake you?" she mutters shyly, tossing the baby blue sheets on the bed, eye wide open with surprise.
"I'm not using the bed," I reply leerily.
"Oh, okay, I'll go now," she slurs hastily. My eyes follow her as she leaves and closes the door. Once I'm sure she's gone, I walk over to the bed and press down. Strangely, it's hard. I blink at this and get on. It's an odd kind of softness, like the bark on trees after it's rained. Yet it's stiff and natural. It's actually my preference. Does someone here actually know me that well?
Deciding to forget about it, I lay back against the bed, kicking off the sheets. I stare up at the dotted ceiling. It's not whitewash. I find odd comfort in this, and simply sleep. Finally putting my confused mind to rest.
*~*~*TBC
[1] Hard-serve ice cream. You know, when you put your spoon into it and scoop some into a bowl, and it looks sort of like it's flaky? Yeah, that. And the soft-serves always look somewhat... softer, ya know? Oh, and the 'seemingly colder than before' refers to the flavor- MINT! ^_^
[2] Ano...: Umm...
[3] For the people who don't take the time to think about it, it's blood... I'm not saying the Makai soil is naturally red.
[4] *sweatdrops* 'Knights of the Zodiac,' known on FF.net as 'Saint Seiya.' And yeah, I will also be crossing over slightly from YuGiOh later on, too. But just as a 'life's not simple as it seems,' theme.
*~*~*
Endnote: Yeah... too much boring dialogue. Not enough scariness. And I hope a fanboy of Yukina out there doesn't kill me for comparing her to mint ice cream... Um, this also seems to be slightly Hiei/Botan... trust me, it's not. It just seems like that. Soon enough, Botan'll give up being nice and revert to being scared stiff of him like in the anime. (Note that 'Soon enough' means 5 chapters later or so. -_-) If it seemed short, believe me, it wasn't, it's a full 1788 words. It just felt short because of the mega-huge author's notes at the top.
Oh, and how can Kurama put a rose in his hair without pricking himself?
Kurama: thick hair?
Hiei: More like poofy. *pokes*
Roxy: that was OOC...
R Amythest: hey! What are YOU doing here? My story is NOT your business!
Roxy: Well, it's about Hiei, and he's my business, so BOO-YA!
R Amythest: -_-
Hiei: *eye twitches* What do you mean by 'business?'
Roxy: *evil grin* *puts handcuffs on Hiei and drags him into closet with her* Mwahahahaha!
R Amythest: God save the characters...
Kurama: *attempts to run away*
R Amythest: *grabs* no, you stay! *glompie* ^_^
Yoshihiro Togashi: *with lawyers in background*
R Amythest: err... I don't own it! I'm just an innocent fangirl-authoress! *lets go of Kurama who RUNS*
Yoshihiro Togashi: okay. *attempts to open the closet Roxy is in*
R Amythest: I don't want to look. *goes to write next chapter* review!
***Other random things***
Written while watching: Knights of the Zodiac, that eppie where Andromeda faces Unicorn and finds Pheonix, his long-lost brother. It was coolish! Oh, and also Teen Titans, the one where the Titans go to disable the time-freeze thingy, and Robin finds out it was just a lure to implant probes in his friends. It was good, the only problem was that they left us on a cliffhanger .;;
Written while listening to: Koori no NAIFU wo Daite, sung by Megumi Ogata, who I found out is a girl. Also, Crawling, by Linkin Park (I listen to it way too much. Maybe because it's right there on my desktop and I don't have to click around to get to it *sweatdrops*). Umm... I think I also listened a bit to Desert Rose, by Sting.
***
PS: GIVE ME INFO ABOUT THE STUFF IN THE AUTHOR'S NOTES.