Charms
TAIHEN!!! I need everyone to make a decision! Now's the time to cast your vote! Should Kurama end up with Hiei or Daiki? The choice will determine the out come of this story in a big way! So tell me!
Chapter 24
"Hiei." Yusuke followed the fire demon up the stairwell leading to the roof of the school. "Hiei!" He kicked the door to the roof closed, to bar his path, "Tell me." Red eyes glared, but the teenager never paid it any mind. "It's important."
"First." Hiei held up a finger. "I don't care who you think you are, you can't order me around. Second." he held up another finger. "This has nothing to do with you."
"You're my friends," Yusuke insisted. "It has everything to do with me."
"I'm not your friend."
"Yes you are! And as friends you can tell me anything." Yusuke told him. Hiei looked away. "So tell me...do you love him?"
"Since we're confiding in each other." Red eyes looked more angry than usual. "Maybe I should tell you my thoughts on Keiko. Don't you think she's just a bit of a tomboy? I pegged you for a doe-eyed little girl always in bride's training."
"Why you..." Yusuke growled. Then took a breath. "Keiko's more than enough girl for me."
"Are you saying you want to share?"
"No!" Yusuke was visably fighting to control his temper. He took a deep breath. The boy's thoughts were probably something like, 'Don't kill him...yet.' "There, I told you." Yusuke strained a smile. Hiei looked surprised the teen was acctually trying. "Now you."
"What do you want from me?" The fire demon nearly spat. "Do you want me to tell you that every day begins and ends with him? You want me to cry saying, 'oh how lucky I am?'" he turned away.
"Let's get one thing straight." Hiei's gaze peirced even over the shoulder. "I can't love anyone and Kurama's no different." the fire demon started to walk away but froze. In his path was the object of the whole discussion. "Kurama." the fire demon said his name like he had just seen a ghost.
Suddenly, everything dropped away, except the light and the two standing in it.
"I told you." Kurama hugged himself, not allowing Hiei to see his face. "If you denied that we're together, one more time, I can't be with you."
"..." Hiei said nothing. //He stood there, not looking at me.//
"You're not angry?" Kurama couldn't bare to look at the fire demon. //I asked him...hoping he'd fight me. Wanting him to fight for us. But he just stood there.//
"I see." the red head wanted to cry but refused to let it out in front of the one resposible. "Maybe this is a good thing." The fox demon turned away.
//Hiei, I wanted to say so many things.// Soon, the darkness was the only thing left and Kurama was alone in it. //I wanted to tell you that I loved you. That I wanted to stay with you forever. That I would never stop loving you.//
The red head fell to his knees, shaking. //But you didn't even try.// The fox demon's arms wrapped around himself in a futile attempt to stop his heart from breaking. He clenched his teeth in despiration, punishing himself for wanting to cry. But the sobs came, in waves of short breaths and hot tears.
//Hiei. How can I know how you really feel about me?// Kurama cried out to this empty world of pain, but not even an echo returned to him. His heart cried out for support. //Mother.// he sucked in a gasp. //No. Mother would hate me. To find out I lied to her, kept secrets from her. I can't tell her...not ever.//
"That means of course, you're alone." Yukai-Kurama's voice came as a phantom, accompanied by nothing but memory.
//Alone? We're all alone aren't we?" Kurama's head sank and his shoulders lurched as he pushed the tears away. //I've always been alone.//
"But...I don't want to be alone." the voice of his past life whispered in his mind.
//But, no one wants me.// The tears were starting again when suddenly, warm arms wrapped around him and held him tight. Green eyes were wide for a moment before the fox demon leaned against this friendly body. //This scent...// he took a deep breath //Daiki.//
"Stay away from them!" Hiei's warning voice echoed.
"Hiei!" Kurama sat up from his futon. //Not another dream.// He touched his face. //There were memories this time too. What's wrong with me?// The fox demon shook his head. And considered how rude it was to be shouting, this late and in someone else's home.
Fuyuki had insisted he stay for at least one night. Something about tradition and courtesy. It sounded more like his obligation than Kurama's. But he accepted, because he wanted to be sure Miku would be alright. Of course, she wouldn't be though. She was born with a curse. Kurama stood.
The night was cold, but the fox demon was sweating and the air in this guest room was starting to smell stagnant. He made sure the yukata was tightly secured and decided to take a little walk. Surely since he was a guest of the master himself, it would be alright to just wander the halls a little.
It was a bit too cold for this time of year, in this demon's opinion. It wasn't even a month into fall and already such strange weather. The red head rubbed his arms and decided maybe his bed was the better choice. He stopped when green eyes spotted a small crack in the door to the garden. This was one of the few doors he was becoming familiar with.
The red head took a few steps closer and felt the cold air rush in. Kurama held up his hand and watched his breath crystalize. //It can't be that cold.// He tried to tell himself before snow flakes fluttered onto the tatami floor and melted.
The fox demon slid the door open fully. His eyes grew wide at the sight of the entire garden blanketed in white and it was still snowing. The sky was gray and tiny snow flakes randomly danced one by one to the ground.
"Am I...still dreaming?" Kurama asked himself.
"It's not a dream." foot steps compacted patches of snow. "It's the work of Yukiko."
A man in leather and furs, with brown hair and hazel eyes emerged from behind the largest tree in the garden. He was a few inches shorter than the fox demon. His hair was short and scruffy looking. His body was not muscular but had defenately seen it's share of excersize. His skin was tanned and covered in scars.
"She's finally making her move..." the man looked older than Fuyuki but not by much. "It will be soon."
"Hunter." Kurama recognized him and was instantly on guard.
"Hey," he held up his arms, "Easy now. No one's called me that for sixteen years."
"Sixteen..." the fox demon eased his defense, but didn't drop his guard, he couldn't believe his ears. "What are you saying?"
"Sixteen years ago, a fox escaped my grasp." He folded his arms. "In a foolish attempt to keep my reputation as the demon who never let a mark get away, I left the Matsue in persute."
//He came after me? But does he know?//
"But I have a new purpose now." The hunter explained coming closer. Kurama resisted the urge back away.
"What might that be?" emerald green eyes narrowed.
"To protect the son of Yugasa." He said simply.
"Yu..." shock was not the word...but it was close. Son? "Yugasa is a good man, why would a murderer..." Kurama caught himself. This could be bad if he still wants to find his target, to admit he knows the hunter, might make the brunet suspect.
"Yugasa is the only thing in my life that holds meaning. I look on my past as a lesson, not a path." he stopped a few feet from the wooden walk that boardered all sides of the house. "You should relax." He smiled a toothy grin and put a hand on his hip. "I have no interest in you fox."
"How do you..." The question was almost an accusation.
"I could smell you, the first time you set foot in this house." he pointed at his nose. "I must admit though," he shurgged. "it was hard giving up the idea of just taking you out. Turns out I had to save you and treat your wounds." he pointed. Kurama touched his chest, almost subconciously. "I'd tell you to thank me, but you seem to be the only one who can help him."
Kurama was thoroughly confused. Why would he chose now to confront the fox demon? Who is the Hunter really? To cut ties with the Matsue is to ask for death unless...But then how is Yugasa even involved with this guy? Why would he heal his former prey? What's going on?
"Him?" the fox demon asked. "You mean Yugasa?" But how could that be? Kurama knows his master's energy like a child knows the voice of his mother. If his master were here, he would have sensed it.
"No. His son." The hunter told him. He said it again. Son of Yugasa? //My master has a son?//
"Minamoto-San?" Yuma peeked out the door. "Are you alright?"
"Yuma-san." Kurama looked back into the garden and saw Hoyo-chan where the hunter once was. "Hoyo-chan?"
"Oh dear." the old man looked at the snow. "I guess if it's this cold we can make an exception. Come on Hoyo-chan." he beconed the fluffy tailed animal, who came running. "I'll find a dry place for Hoyo-chan, you should get some rest now Minamoto-san."
"I..." Green eyes looked at the animal in the old man's arms and it stared right back. "Yes." He shut the sliding door. "I think I will."
******************
Warning! I will not update until I get an answer! Hiei or Daiki? Dochira ga ii deska? (Which will be good?) The majority rules. Which ever it is, I'll roll with it. Do you want Kurama to be with Hiei or Daiki?
******************
By the way. If it's a tie or you just can't decide. I would be willing to write an alternative ending, attached to the first ending I write.
I'm so generous. *grin*
*****************
There is an alternative even to that, if you want to chance it. *Evil smirk* You can choose both or neither.
LET ME KNOW! *Screaming from the mountain tops*
TAIHEN!!! I need everyone to make a decision! Now's the time to cast your vote! Should Kurama end up with Hiei or Daiki? The choice will determine the out come of this story in a big way! So tell me!
Chapter 24
"Hiei." Yusuke followed the fire demon up the stairwell leading to the roof of the school. "Hiei!" He kicked the door to the roof closed, to bar his path, "Tell me." Red eyes glared, but the teenager never paid it any mind. "It's important."
"First." Hiei held up a finger. "I don't care who you think you are, you can't order me around. Second." he held up another finger. "This has nothing to do with you."
"You're my friends," Yusuke insisted. "It has everything to do with me."
"I'm not your friend."
"Yes you are! And as friends you can tell me anything." Yusuke told him. Hiei looked away. "So tell me...do you love him?"
"Since we're confiding in each other." Red eyes looked more angry than usual. "Maybe I should tell you my thoughts on Keiko. Don't you think she's just a bit of a tomboy? I pegged you for a doe-eyed little girl always in bride's training."
"Why you..." Yusuke growled. Then took a breath. "Keiko's more than enough girl for me."
"Are you saying you want to share?"
"No!" Yusuke was visably fighting to control his temper. He took a deep breath. The boy's thoughts were probably something like, 'Don't kill him...yet.' "There, I told you." Yusuke strained a smile. Hiei looked surprised the teen was acctually trying. "Now you."
"What do you want from me?" The fire demon nearly spat. "Do you want me to tell you that every day begins and ends with him? You want me to cry saying, 'oh how lucky I am?'" he turned away.
"Let's get one thing straight." Hiei's gaze peirced even over the shoulder. "I can't love anyone and Kurama's no different." the fire demon started to walk away but froze. In his path was the object of the whole discussion. "Kurama." the fire demon said his name like he had just seen a ghost.
Suddenly, everything dropped away, except the light and the two standing in it.
"I told you." Kurama hugged himself, not allowing Hiei to see his face. "If you denied that we're together, one more time, I can't be with you."
"..." Hiei said nothing. //He stood there, not looking at me.//
"You're not angry?" Kurama couldn't bare to look at the fire demon. //I asked him...hoping he'd fight me. Wanting him to fight for us. But he just stood there.//
"I see." the red head wanted to cry but refused to let it out in front of the one resposible. "Maybe this is a good thing." The fox demon turned away.
//Hiei, I wanted to say so many things.// Soon, the darkness was the only thing left and Kurama was alone in it. //I wanted to tell you that I loved you. That I wanted to stay with you forever. That I would never stop loving you.//
The red head fell to his knees, shaking. //But you didn't even try.// The fox demon's arms wrapped around himself in a futile attempt to stop his heart from breaking. He clenched his teeth in despiration, punishing himself for wanting to cry. But the sobs came, in waves of short breaths and hot tears.
//Hiei. How can I know how you really feel about me?// Kurama cried out to this empty world of pain, but not even an echo returned to him. His heart cried out for support. //Mother.// he sucked in a gasp. //No. Mother would hate me. To find out I lied to her, kept secrets from her. I can't tell her...not ever.//
"That means of course, you're alone." Yukai-Kurama's voice came as a phantom, accompanied by nothing but memory.
//Alone? We're all alone aren't we?" Kurama's head sank and his shoulders lurched as he pushed the tears away. //I've always been alone.//
"But...I don't want to be alone." the voice of his past life whispered in his mind.
//But, no one wants me.// The tears were starting again when suddenly, warm arms wrapped around him and held him tight. Green eyes were wide for a moment before the fox demon leaned against this friendly body. //This scent...// he took a deep breath //Daiki.//
"Stay away from them!" Hiei's warning voice echoed.
"Hiei!" Kurama sat up from his futon. //Not another dream.// He touched his face. //There were memories this time too. What's wrong with me?// The fox demon shook his head. And considered how rude it was to be shouting, this late and in someone else's home.
Fuyuki had insisted he stay for at least one night. Something about tradition and courtesy. It sounded more like his obligation than Kurama's. But he accepted, because he wanted to be sure Miku would be alright. Of course, she wouldn't be though. She was born with a curse. Kurama stood.
The night was cold, but the fox demon was sweating and the air in this guest room was starting to smell stagnant. He made sure the yukata was tightly secured and decided to take a little walk. Surely since he was a guest of the master himself, it would be alright to just wander the halls a little.
It was a bit too cold for this time of year, in this demon's opinion. It wasn't even a month into fall and already such strange weather. The red head rubbed his arms and decided maybe his bed was the better choice. He stopped when green eyes spotted a small crack in the door to the garden. This was one of the few doors he was becoming familiar with.
The red head took a few steps closer and felt the cold air rush in. Kurama held up his hand and watched his breath crystalize. //It can't be that cold.// He tried to tell himself before snow flakes fluttered onto the tatami floor and melted.
The fox demon slid the door open fully. His eyes grew wide at the sight of the entire garden blanketed in white and it was still snowing. The sky was gray and tiny snow flakes randomly danced one by one to the ground.
"Am I...still dreaming?" Kurama asked himself.
"It's not a dream." foot steps compacted patches of snow. "It's the work of Yukiko."
A man in leather and furs, with brown hair and hazel eyes emerged from behind the largest tree in the garden. He was a few inches shorter than the fox demon. His hair was short and scruffy looking. His body was not muscular but had defenately seen it's share of excersize. His skin was tanned and covered in scars.
"She's finally making her move..." the man looked older than Fuyuki but not by much. "It will be soon."
"Hunter." Kurama recognized him and was instantly on guard.
"Hey," he held up his arms, "Easy now. No one's called me that for sixteen years."
"Sixteen..." the fox demon eased his defense, but didn't drop his guard, he couldn't believe his ears. "What are you saying?"
"Sixteen years ago, a fox escaped my grasp." He folded his arms. "In a foolish attempt to keep my reputation as the demon who never let a mark get away, I left the Matsue in persute."
//He came after me? But does he know?//
"But I have a new purpose now." The hunter explained coming closer. Kurama resisted the urge back away.
"What might that be?" emerald green eyes narrowed.
"To protect the son of Yugasa." He said simply.
"Yu..." shock was not the word...but it was close. Son? "Yugasa is a good man, why would a murderer..." Kurama caught himself. This could be bad if he still wants to find his target, to admit he knows the hunter, might make the brunet suspect.
"Yugasa is the only thing in my life that holds meaning. I look on my past as a lesson, not a path." he stopped a few feet from the wooden walk that boardered all sides of the house. "You should relax." He smiled a toothy grin and put a hand on his hip. "I have no interest in you fox."
"How do you..." The question was almost an accusation.
"I could smell you, the first time you set foot in this house." he pointed at his nose. "I must admit though," he shurgged. "it was hard giving up the idea of just taking you out. Turns out I had to save you and treat your wounds." he pointed. Kurama touched his chest, almost subconciously. "I'd tell you to thank me, but you seem to be the only one who can help him."
Kurama was thoroughly confused. Why would he chose now to confront the fox demon? Who is the Hunter really? To cut ties with the Matsue is to ask for death unless...But then how is Yugasa even involved with this guy? Why would he heal his former prey? What's going on?
"Him?" the fox demon asked. "You mean Yugasa?" But how could that be? Kurama knows his master's energy like a child knows the voice of his mother. If his master were here, he would have sensed it.
"No. His son." The hunter told him. He said it again. Son of Yugasa? //My master has a son?//
"Minamoto-San?" Yuma peeked out the door. "Are you alright?"
"Yuma-san." Kurama looked back into the garden and saw Hoyo-chan where the hunter once was. "Hoyo-chan?"
"Oh dear." the old man looked at the snow. "I guess if it's this cold we can make an exception. Come on Hoyo-chan." he beconed the fluffy tailed animal, who came running. "I'll find a dry place for Hoyo-chan, you should get some rest now Minamoto-san."
"I..." Green eyes looked at the animal in the old man's arms and it stared right back. "Yes." He shut the sliding door. "I think I will."
******************
Warning! I will not update until I get an answer! Hiei or Daiki? Dochira ga ii deska? (Which will be good?) The majority rules. Which ever it is, I'll roll with it. Do you want Kurama to be with Hiei or Daiki?
******************
By the way. If it's a tie or you just can't decide. I would be willing to write an alternative ending, attached to the first ending I write.
I'm so generous. *grin*
*****************
There is an alternative even to that, if you want to chance it. *Evil smirk* You can choose both or neither.
LET ME KNOW! *Screaming from the mountain tops*