Author's Note: Thank you all for your reviews. I'm glad that you're enjoying the story so far. (Hugs Nite Nite) Here's the update you were waiting for.
Shadows of the Pastby Yami Yue
I opened my eyes and for a moment I was startled to find that I was no longer in the garden. I looked around the room, not finding anything familiar about it. Judging by the furnishings I assumed I was back inside the palace. "You're finally awake." Hiei said softly. I turned my head to the right, facing my mate who was sitting on a chair beside the bed. "I was beginning to worry." "How long have I been out?" I asked. "Four hours." He answered as he rose from the chair and sat beside me on the bed. "What happened?" he asked. "It felt as though you lost control of your spirit energy." "That's what it seemed like." I responded as I attempted to sit up. Hiei gently placed his hand upon my chest and firmly pressed me back to the bed. "Rest." He said softly. I made no protest and no further attempts to sit up. I described to him what I had felt before I had blacked out. Hiei listened attentively until I had finished.
A frown marred his handsome face as he lovingly ran his fingers through my hair. "I think we should go see Genkai about this." He suggested. I made a soft sound of agreement. "For a moment I thought I'd lost you Fox." Hiei said solemnly. "Your spirit energy was faint." "Even now it's not as strong as usual." I blinked in surprise as I noticed for the first time that I couldn't feel Hiei's spirit energy, nor that of anyone around. "Hiei," I said softly. " I don't feel your spirit energy." My mate's frown deepened as he reached up and removed the bandana that covered his jagan. He closed his two natural eyes as his third eye slowly opened. I closed my eyes, not daring to look into the jagan. In my weakened state there was no telling how it would affect me.
I felt a gentle caress upon my cheek and opened my eyes. "There's something different about your spirit energy," he said. "It feels stronger, yet at the moment it's very low." I reached into my hair for one of my seeds. However, nothing happened when I attempted to make it grow into a rose. "It gets worse." I told him as I placed the seed I had attempted to use earlier into my palm and tried once again attempted to command it to grow into a rose with the same result. Hiei's frown deepened. Suddenly, the seed burst into growth and within a heartbeat it had fully formed into my signature weapon. Hiei leaped out of the way as it grew toward him, landing awkwardly on the bed. Then just as suddenly as the whip appeared it reverted back to a seed. Hiei and I stared at each other wide eyed. "You don't think I'm going to something similar to what happened to Kuwabara after the tournament do you?" I asked. "Anything's possible," Hiei said. "Maybe Genkai will have some answers," I didn't respond. I simply closed my eyes, trying to figure out what was happening to me. It seemed familiar somehow, but I couldn't remember ever going through something like this before.
I decided to turn my attention away from my condition for the moment, in favor of getting some answers about the upcoming Dark Tournament. "Hiei, why didn't you tell me that we've been invited to participate in the Dark Tournament again?" I asked softly as I opened my eyes. Hiei shook his head. "Not we Fox, just Yusuke." He informed me. "I didn't find out myself until I reached Mukuro's palace this morning." "We were so involved in getting everything ready, so that if something happened to me you would go unquestioned as Mukuro's new heir, that I didn't get the chance to warn you."
"You weren't planning on me going with you were you?" I asked softly. "No," he answered. "I wasn't." "One of us has to look after the twins Fox." He continued. I frowned. "Since when did I become the subordinate in this relationship?" I growled. Hiei looked at me startled. " Kurama, do you really believe I would think such a thing?" he asked. " You went through a lot during the last tournament." He said softly "I had hoped to spare you that and keep our sons from becoming orphans if the worst happens." My expression softened and I took his hand in mine. "I'm sorry Love." I apologized. "I shouldn't have snapped at you like that. I don't know what came over me." Hiei gently squeezed my hand, then leaned down and gently kissed my lips.
Just as I was going to return the kiss, the door opened and Yusuke entered the room. "Uh…I hope we're not interrupting." He said, a sly smile playing upon his lips. Hiei frowned at him. I sat up slowly and gently brushed my lips upon his cheek. "It's alright Yusuke." I assured him. "We were just talking." "Forgive the intrusion but we wanted to make sure you were alright Kurama." Came the soft voice of Toya. "Ya gave us quite a scare ya kno." Jin added as he entered behind the ice master. I felt heat rising to my cheeks and I knew I was blushing. "What brings the two of you here?" I asked. "Urameshi asked us to join his team." Jin answered. I turned to Yusuke with a raised eyebrow. "I figured Kuwabara and Genkai could use the break." He explained. "Then we should find a replacement for Kurama as well." Hiei said. Yusuke smirked. "Feeling protective of him huh?" he asked teasingly. Hiei glared at him. Yusuke raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Hey, I hear ya." He assured him. "Ok with you Kurama?" I gave him a slight nod. Hiei gently pulled me toward him, allowing me to rest against him. Feeling exhausted, I leaned into his embrace and closed my eyes.
"You ok Kurama?" Yusuke asked. I opened my eyes and smiled weakly at him. "I'm just a little tired." I assured him. " After some rest I should be alright." "Then we should let you rest." Toya said as a signal to Yusuke and Jin. "We'll be checkin' in on ya kitsune." Jin said. "Get some rest. We may be needin' ta call upon ya as our reserve member in the finals." "Provided you're well enough of course." Toya added. "I hope it won't come to that." I responded, hearing my mate's low growl of disapproval at the wind master's comment. The two shinobi quickly said their goodbyes and left the room.
"Yuskue, Kurama and I hope to leave for Genkai's in the morning," Hiei said, stopping our raven haired friend. Yusuke nodded. "We'll all go." He responded. "There's nothing here that can't wait until after the tournament, and Grandma's is as good as any place for us to train," I felt Hiei nod his approval. "Stay here for the night. Ryou and Kenji can get your things for you," Yusuke suggested. "Hn, better tell them to pack bags for themselves as well," Hiei responded. "They're coming with us," Yusuke nodded, then quietly left the room.
"How long do we have?" I asked as I closed my eyes. "A month," Hiei answered. I sighed tiredly and closed my eyes. "Why do we always get dragged into these things?" I murmured. "I'd like to know that myself," Hiei responded. I smiled. I felt myself being gently lowered to the bed. "At least this time the committee will grant our wishes when we win," he said softly as he ran his fingers through my hair. "What will you wish for?" I asked. "That none of us will ever be forced to participate in another tournament," he answered. I opened my eyes and rolled on my side to face him. "Just promise me one thing," I said softly. "Name it," he replied. "Just promise me that you'll come back to me," I murmured. Hiei smiled, and gave a slight nod. "If I don't, I know you will give Koemna no peace until we're reunited," He said with amusement. I chuckled and gently kissed his lips. "You know it," I responded. Hiei's smile widened and he gently caressed my cheek. "You should rest," he said. "You'll need your strength for tomorrow's journey," I closed my eyes and rolled over onto my back. In no time I was lulled to sleep by my mate's comforting presence.
The trip to Genkai's compound was an uneventful one. We spent the long hours in travel talking and catching up with each other. Genkai, Yukina and Sata were waiting for us when we arrived. Sata immediately wrapped her arms about each of her nephews in a great hug. Next it was my turn and Hiei's. As she was being introduced to Toya and Jin, Genkai approached me. "Is all well with you Kurama?" she asked. "Mostly," I answered. " There is one problem I was hoping you could help me with," She nodded for me to go on and I relayed to her the previous day's events. "This has never happened to you before?" she asked. I shook my head. "Not that I remember," I answered. "I'll do what I can but I can't guarantee anything," she said. "Thank you," I responded. Genkai gave a slight nod and headed for the temple. I stood and watched my family. We only had a month and then Hiei would be fighting for his life in the tournament. It saddened me that Hiei could be taken from us. I wasn't going to fool myself and think my mate couldn't be defeated. If the worst should happen I wasn't sure I would survive it. However, I had faith in Hiei. He had become much stronger since the last Dark Tournament and even then there were only two opponents who had come close to defeating him. Still, that feeling that something bad was going to happen hadn't left me. Somehow I felt it would involve Hiei and I wanted to protect my mate. First I needed to find out what was happening to me so that I could regain my powers. Without them, I knew there was no chance of convincing my mate to let me and the twins go with him.