Pt 19
Miya slowly opened her eyes to an incredible headache.
"Ouch!" She rubbed the back of her head. It felt as if she had been clubbed. The rest of her body was not any better off. As far as she could see there were no wounds so the only solution was to just sit there and hope the pain wore off. She contemplated that for a few seconds then thought aw what the hell, sitting here isn't going to help anyway! She pushed herself up. This time she remembered everything…mostly anyway. After summoning a plant and running it through Jougen everything was dim. She figured that she had fallen unconscious; she could only hope that she didn't do any more damage before blacking out. She would never forgive herself if she had hurt Hiei or Yusuke.
She lay on a mat which consisted of someone's shirt/cape. For some reason unknown to her she was in a cave. Bright daylight poured in from the opening. Voices floated in to her.
"… already taken care of the guy you thought was Banshi!"
"That means that Banshi's still out there. I need her right now!"
"What she needs right now is rest and serious training in order to control herself. Sorry Koenma but I can't allow you to take her."
"What the hell's with the sudden change of heart, Hiei?"
"Knock it off Koenma!" Yusuke sounded slightly annoyed. "You want her you'll have to get through both of us first and if you do manage to be successful, well, you saw what happened back there. There's no guarantee that she won't react the same way to you. I've only got one piece of advice for you: leave her alone. When you need help ask us and if we see fit we'll ask her. If she says no then you're on your own. Somebody around here's got to keep an eye out for Kurama's kid." Koenma stormed off muttering about hard-headed fighters.
"He'll get over it." Yusuke and Hiei turned to head back inside the cave. Hiei's eyes widened the moment he saw Miya.
"Baka, Miya!!" He shoved her back down on to the bed. He knelt beside her and regarded her angrily. "What the hell do you think you're trying to pull?"
"But…"
"I don't recall asking you to make excuses! You're going to kill yourself at this rate. Incidentally Yusuke, why the HELL did you bring her back here?!"
"Me!? I didn't take here anywhere; in fact I specifically told her to stay! She followed me of her own accord." Hiei turned his glare from Hiei to Miya.
"Both of you are idiots!" Miya managed a weak smile.
"I didn't know you cared Lord Hiei!"
"Don't get used to it! The moment you can move again I'm going to kill you. I'm pretty sure I specifically told you not to cut off your hair!" Yusuke backed out of the cave.
"This is my cue to exit."
Miya refused to meet Hiei's gaze. Hiei reached out until he could touch her, his fingers tracing the H pattern on the side of her neck.
"Why, Kirai? After I told you not to why did you go ahead and cut off your hair?" She stiffened but didn't pull away; she didn't want to. "I asked you a question; answer me Kirai."
"I …I guess I just got tired of being him." Hiei's head tilted in confusion.
"Being who?"
"My father." Her answer puzzled him even more.
"Who said anything about…?"
"You love him." She said it so simply. The koorime had to hide the shock he felt and he barely succeeded; he couldn't even bring himself to answer. His fingers paused and remained motionless against her neck.
"Kirai…"
"Don't bother trying to deny it. I've seen it in your eyes; you don't hide it well. That's why you hated my mother, because you felt that she had taken him from you. I know how much you loved my father; you couldn't let him go, even after he married and then died. You kept right on loving him." Her green eyes finally met his. "And I grew tired of you looking through me and seeing Kurama on the other side. I'm not him, I will never be. I wanted you to know the real me. I wanted you to see me, Miya, for who I am, not who you wished I was." His face was unreadable and his eyes hooded. Miya was afraid she had hurt him; she hadn't meant to but she couldn't just continue the way she had.
"You're right." She looked up shocked.
"What?"
"You're right, I have not been thinking of you as a person in your own right. I admit that was unfair of me and I apologize." He sighed and pulled away from her; his hand brushed her neck and cheek gently as it retreated. He rose and headed towards the cave-opening.
"Lord Hiei…" He paused but didn't turn, choosing instead to speak with his back to her.
"I have to face reality Miya. To me you can be nothing more than my best friend's daughter." His eyes closed and his hands inadvertently clenched into fists. "That's just the way it has to be," he glanced back his face still expressionless, "whether I like it…or not." Then he left.
Miya didn't know what to do or say. Tears sprang unbidden to her eyes as she slumped back. The tears slipped down her cheeks and dripped onto the floor beside her head. She didn't know why she cried. Everything Hiei had said was true. Besides, wasn't it what she wanted all along, him to leave her alone? Both times he had left her she had acted like this. She was being stupid, acting like a baby, and she couldn't figure out why.
"So I was right; you do feel the same way he does." She looked up. Yusuke leaned in the opening, arm crossed.
"How long have you…I mean…"
"How much of that did I see?" Miya nodded. "All of it. You're right you know, about Hiei and Kurama. I always suspected it. They never said anything and those of us who noticed, well we just looked the other way. I don't think it was serious, as in, I don't think it was that "we're boyfriends!" kind of clingy relationships. I'm pretty sure it wasn't a sexual attraction but they were closer than just best friends. Kurama was the first person Hiei actually cared about." Yusuke chuckled almost sadly. "It almost tore Hiei apart when Kurama announced that he was going to marry Shinbi. I'll swear to this day that I saw tears in his eyes. He refused to go to the wedding. Kurama understood; he always did. I guess that's why Hiei couldn't stay away from him. He might have been jealous of Shinbi, I'm not sure. He never let me forget that I was supposed to die that day, not Kurama. I think secretly he blamed himself; it must have pained him that he wasn't strong enough to protect him. By training you he sought some sort of salvation for himself. He wasn't going to let the same thing happen to you." The black haired ningen sat beside her. "And somehow during the course of things you've fallen in love with him, ne?" Miya pulled her knees up to her chin.
"I don't know. Oh! Everything is just so damn CONFUSING! Why can't it just be simple just once?" Yusuke shrugged.
"I dunno. I'm not gonna pretend I know everything about love and such but I do know that it's stupid of you guys to be going on like this. You both feel the same way about each other!" Miya shook her head.
"No, you're wrong. It's not me, it's my father. He loves my father."
"Maybe you're partially right. Maybe he doesn't love Miya. Have you ever stopped to think that it might be Kirai that Hiei has fallen for?"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Kotsu gently ran his fingers through Yukina's hair. She sighed and snuggled closer to him, pulling the blanket up closer. His other hand caressed her back and his lips regularly brushed against hers.
"Have I ever told you I love you?" Yukina giggled.
"Only about a million times!" He ran his tongue over her lips.
"Just in case you miscounted, I love you." Her lips parted allowing him to enter. He rolled on top of her, careful not to put his weight on her. Eagerly she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Yukina sighed in exasperation.
"Darn it, can't anyone around here survive for one hour without my help!?!" She looked back at Kotsu. "I'm so sorry…"
"…Don't worry about it. It's just part of falling in love with the lady of the house." He kissed her once more then moved aside to let her go.
She slid into a robe then disappeared through the bedroom door, heading to answer the door to her chambers. He watched her, loving the way her petite body swayed beneath the robe. She was back quickly but the look on her face was not that of someone intent on continuing where they left off.
"Is everything alright?" She shook her head.
"Hiei's been spotted on the north side. He's almost home." The news brought a sinking feeling to him but wasn't about to let her know. He reluctantly reached for his clothes.
"Then I better get back downstairs before he comes."
"No." Yukina grabbed his arm. The determination in her eyes surprised him.
"Yukina?"
"Not this time. I'm through with this. I don't care what Hiei wants t do when he gets back; I'm not letting you go back down there. It's high time I put a stop to this."
"Yukina, I don't want to cause anymore trouble than I already have."
"It's something I'm going to have to do eventually and I'd prefer to do it before Hiei finds a reason to kill you. There's no telling what I'd do then." Kotsu folded her into his arms.
"Yukina, are you sure?" She nodded, blue eyes shimmering. She stood on her toes to be able to reach him. He returned the kiss.
"I'm positive Kotsu." He smiled.
"Then who am I to stand in your way?" When she swatted him the thin robe fell open, exposing her perfect body. "How long," he asked quietly, running his hands down her flat stomach and around to caress the small of her back. "How much time will we have left?"
"Enough." She smiled and reached up to release her hair. The cerulean waterfall cascaded down the sides of her face and Kotsu didn't resist the urge to bury his face in it.
"Good." He whispered against her neck. Easily he picked her up and laid her back on the bed…
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hiei, Yusuke and Miya were more than slightly relieved to see the castle. To them it almost signified the end of their battles. It was as if nothing evil could touch them there.
"Nice place you got here Hiei!"
"Hn!" Hiei sounded annoyed but the other two could tell he was secretly pleased with the compliment. They followed him directly inside the castle.
"Hiei! Kirai! Oh, Yusuke!" Yukina ran down the hall to them.
"Yukina! Long time no see!" Yusuke grabbed her shoulders and gave her a friendly shake.
"It's been too long. Is everything okay?" She looked back and forth between Hiei and Yusuke. Yusuke met the koorime's eyes for a moment before breaking out into a grin.
"Yep, we've patched it up."
"I'm glad." Next she turned to Miya. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her. "Kirai! I'm so glad you're alright!" She whispered in her ear. "I missed you!" Miya's arms slipped around the ice-yokai's waist, pulling her closer.
"I missed you as well. Are you alright?" She said so softly that the others could not hear. The ice-yokai nodded.
"Yes, at least I will be once I tell him."
"Need help?"
"No, not right now, if I do I'll let you know."
Yusuke watched the two's whispered conversation for a moment then glanced over at Hiei, an eyebrow raised quizzically.
"Are they…" he asked the koorime mentally.
"Lovers? No, not even close." Hiei responded. Yusuke breathed a quiet sigh of relief. By now Yukina had turned to Hiei.
"Welcome home brother." He replied with a nod then froze. He stepped towards her.
"Yukina," his voice was low and dangerous again, "why is your scent different?" Yukina also froze and for a moment glanced over at Miya. Then, as if gathering confidence from the kitsune, she faced her brother. "Whose is it?" Hiei's voice rose. "Whose scent is on you!?!"
"Kotsu's." His eyes widened as if they would burst. Kotsu stepped out from the shadows where Yukina had told him to stand. "I didn't mean to spring it on you like this brother." She placed herself between the two men she loved the most. "…But I love him. I always will." Hiei made as if to rush at the slave but Yukina's small but firm hands held him back.
"Damn You Yukina! I've warned you away from him; I've done everything in my power to give you a future and you throw it all away on this…this SLAVE – this next to nothing creature. I'll kill him!"
"No you won't. He's my mate now Hiei!" Hiei's face turned ashen when Yukina pushed back her hair to reveal two perfectly placed marks on her neck.
"Damn it, yokai mate for life Yukina, do you understand that concept?!"
"Yes I do. And Kotsu is the one I want to spend my life with. I know you want what's best for me Hiei but you have to le me decide!" Hiei growled.
"Hiei! Leave her alone!" Hiei whirled to face Yusuke who had grabbed his shoulder and yanked him back when he made another move.
"Stay out of this Urameshi!"
"I can't." Yusuke glared right back. "You see I seem to remember somebody else falling in love with a slave!" Hiei drew back as if he had been slapped. His eyes darted over to Miya, who in all of this had not moved. For a moment their eyes met, then he wrenched his gaze away from hers. He stormed off without another word to any of them.
"Thank you, Yusuke. I'm just sorry I had to go and ruin your first day here." Yukina said quietly.
"No problem. It's not your fault at all. Somebody needs to be around here to keep that big, fat, koorime ego in check."
Yukina reached behind her and Kotsu was there immediately to hold her. She looked distinctly more tired than she had in a long while. "You should get some rest, Yukina. Facing off with Lord Hiei can be taxing."
"He's right, kid." Yukina giggled; Yusuke had no problem calling her kid even though she was a few hundred years older than he was.
"I will, but first I'm going to show you to your chambers like a good hostess. We have so much to catch up on!" Yusuke followed Kotsu and Yukina. Yukina twisted around. "Kirai, are you coming?" Miya stood, staring in the direction that Hiei went. For a while she was silent until Yukina was about to repeat the question.
"No Yukina. I'll catch up with you later. I have something to do first."
"Like what?"
"I've got to take care of Lord Hiei first."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
A/n: Lemon alert part 20! Sorry to have to put it off!