Disclaimer: I own nothing
Chapter 3 Park and Past
Korien woke up the next day aching and in pain, but she showered quickly and felt her spirits had lifted slightly. Today was Saturday, which meant no school, no work, and an entire day away from dad. Korien walked back over to the bed and shook baby Higue gently
"Sleepy head, today we get to go to the park!" She spoke softly rubbing his shoulder. He turned over slowly and opened his eyes.
"Morning Mommy. Park!" His eyes lit up "Park!"
"Yes we're going to the park today, but only if good boys go and wash up before eating breakfast."
Higue jumped from the bed and scampered to the bathroom sink. He climbed up his little stairs and found his toothbrush and began to brush his teeth. Korien smiled gently watching him, but turned to gaze out the window. The sun was high and shining, not a cloud burdensome. She indeed planned to have a lovely day with him.
Higue returned dressed, backwards and inside out, him being so young and innocent, and nothing matched. Korien placed her hands on her hips but smiled and laughed as she straightened him out. She picked him up and turned her face next to his.
"Where do you want to go to for breakfast?"
"Esso Esso!" He giggled
"Oh mean Espresso! Okay, we'll go to the coffee shop. Now what does Higue want to eat"
"Uffin Uffin!"
"You want a muffin? What kind do you want baby?"
"Kor Kor!"
"You mean a CORN muffin! Corn starts with Mommy's name sound"
"Yay! Bekfast mommy!"
Korien laughed as she picked up her purse and slung it around her neck on the opposite side of Higue. She walked down the blood stained stairs, and walked through the kitchen picking up some bills on the table. She turned around slowly and locked the door on her way out.
Espresso was a very quaint coffee shop, where all the customers knew each other, every one of the a daily customer. Higue giggled at the sound of the bell that rung as you pulled open the door. The man from behind the counter looked up and smiled
"Aw if it isn't Korien and baby Higue, how are you both?" The man asked. The store owner was an older man, in his later years, he had known Korien for three years now. He still had a full head of hair, and he dyed it black. He was slender, tall too, and his face was aged with the expression of love and experience.
"Good morning Luke" Korien replied happily. She always came here when she was down, and Luke was always to see baby Higue. She sat at a stool against the counter, and allowed baby Higue to sit on the floor below them. Luke had even put in carpet, when Higue was first learning how to walk, he could crawl around and not get hurt as he fell.
Everyone who visited Espresso loved baby Higue and Korien. No one cared about her past, or her abuse from dad. Luke slid a coffee in front of her, and came around behind the counter and handed little Higue his muffin.
"Corn Muffin" he said slowly.
"C-orn M-m-uffin" Higue repeated slowly and giggled before taking a bite.
"Good boy little man" Luke replied rubbing the baby's head. He came back behind the counter and rested his chin on his hand. "How are you Korien, I haven't seen you around here lately, everyone's been asking about you"
"Oh I've just been busy with a lot of work and school. Someone has to make money to feed him" Korien jerking her head down at the adorable baby who's face was smeared with muffin
"I know precious, but you should be careful, overworking yourself isn't healthy. So, where are you taking the kid today?"
"The park. He's been wanting to go for a while, and I can rest there."
"Ya know, some strange fella came in here a few days ago asking about. He had one of your beads, he wanted to know who it belonged to"
"My beads? Whatever for?" She asked cooly, trying not to be nervous
"He didn't say, he wasn't much of a talker, a rude one too. But I told him that I didn't know who it belonged to. You don't need any more weird folk around you"
"Oh thank you Luke" She replied letting out a sigh "Yeah. Some men, they tried to umm...get me again" She replied quietly sipping at her coffee
"Are you serious!" Luke asked jerking up
Korien nodded quietly staring down at her coffee "What is it about me, that everyone wants to get at? I'm no better than any of the other girls." Korien shook uncontrollably, the fear from her past.
"Fuck, you've been through so much, are there no people in this damn city with any dignity"
"I sometimes wonder Luke. I really do." Korien replied running her hand through her gold hair. She bent over and picked up Higue, wiping away the crumbs with her napkin and kissed his nose. Higue giggled and looked to Luke
"Uffin all gone!" He giggled holding up the empty wrapper
"All gone!" Luke replied smiling taking the wrapper.
"Korien listen to me" Luke began leaning over with a serious face "You're a very special girl. If someone tries to get at you, I know you're against violence, but you're going to have to fight back. For Higue's sake nothing bad can happen to you, you don't want to leave him in your father's hands. Please dear, be very careful"
"I know that Luke." She nodded and whispered in response but looked to him and smiled "Thanks for the coffee and his "uffin""she laughed "I'll be fine Luke, but thank you for looking out for me, you're like the father I always wanted" She bowed and rose from her chair "About time I get him to the park before he gets restless"
"Have a nice day Korien." Luke replied with his friendly grin and a wave.
IEIEIEIEIEIEIEIEIEIEIEIIEIEIEIIEEIEIEIEIEIEIEIEIEIEIEIEIEIEIEIIEIEIEIEIEIEIEIEIEIE
It was springtime now, and the cherry blossoms were in full bloom. Tokyo park had a lovely fountain in the center of it, with many paths for the joggers and bikers. Benches were scattered about, and overall the atmosphere was peaceful and content.
Higue trotted alongside Korien holding her hand happily smiling. Higue loved the park, just to play with the blossom petals that fell from the sky. It was like magic for the boy. Korien sat down on the bench beside the fountain and looked to Higue.
"Now, what is our rule?"
"Play near" Higue stuttered pronouncing the words
"Yes Higue!" She replied cheerfully rubbing his soft brown hair "Have fun, but stay nearby. I'm right here if you need me" she replied kissing the boys head
"OKAY!" he giggled. He looked up to find a petal falling from the sky and he went off to catch it.
Yusuke and the team entered the park from the south entrance, opposite of Korien's.
"Tell me again Why we're meeting up here?"
"Oh come on Yusuke, it's a lovely day and look at the scenery" Botan chirped happily.
"Well I like it" Kuwabara added defensively
"Botan, are you going to tell us why you brought us along?" Kayko asked
"In a minute dear, let me just enjoy the scenery for a moment" Botan expressed joy as she spun around in a small circle with the blossoms. She was wearing a pink kimono and it matched the blossoms perfectly.
"She probably found some information out about the character the boys are hunting, but its something they can't know" Shizuru whispered quietly.
"Something they can't know?" Kayko looked to Shizuru confused
"Where the heck are Kurama and Hiei?" Yusuke yelled frustrated
"They'll be here, we are a few minutes early" Kuwabara replied
"Hello my friends' A familiar fox demon's voice rang out. He walked over to them with a bow "Pardon my delay, I was checking up on a friend"
"Were you successful Kurama?" Shizuru asked
"No," he replied shaking his head "I'm afraid my friend had already left for the day"
"Where's Hiei?" Yusuke barked
"I am unsure of his location, and he's blocked his energy so there is no real way to find him. He'll show up soon enough, this case as spiked a special interest for him"
"Because its another fire apparition?"
"Indeed. Hiei is either eager for the challenge, or is mostly wondering about the demon in general. How could one have stayed dormant for eighteen years and gone unnoticed. Fire demons are one of the more powerful ranks if trained properly"
"Well maybe they weren't trained or something" Kuwabara suggested stupidly
"It still would have been noticed" Kurama answered.
Hiei had entered from the east wing, and was wandering along when he found a young boy playing in the center of the park. At first he just scoffed, humans could be so barbaric and derisory. But he stopped, seeing a bracelet of black beads around the boy's arm.
Hiei with his fast speed ran up to the boy and took him by the wrist.
"Where did you get this bracelet?"
Higue just looked up at Hiei, his eyes filled with sure hatred and evil and Higue let out a scream of fright. "KORIEN!"
Korien had been reading a book, and she looked up hearing Higue call to her. She dropped her book in shock to find a small black haired man holding him in the air by the wrist. Korien ran over to him "GET YOUR GRIMY HAND OFF HIGUE!" She screamed landing a hard punch on Hiei's face. Hiei dropped the boy while skidding back and Korien caught Higue quickly.
"You wench, you should know your place" Hiei spat blood from his mouth and looked to her angrily
"Stay away from Higue" She barked back. Higue was crying and she looked down rocking him "Its okay baby, Korien's right here." she whispered crying slightly, so worried for her baby. "You bastard, have you no dignity at all to attack a three year old?" She looked to him screaming.
Hiei took another step back, but looked to her neck to find yet again another black beaded necklace. He looked to her face, and saw that her tears were running down her face. Korien looked down startled, seeing the tears and rubbed her eyes quickly and rose to her feet in a run, she couldn't have them become tears
"You won't escape me that way" Hiei hissed speeding after her. Korien turned her head to see him coming, and she picked up her pace, which surprised Hiei, how could she be this fast?
Korien ran past the fountain, and the Yu Yu Gang looked up to see this.
"KORIEN!" Kurama looked up. Korien didn't stop but kept running
"STAY AWAY FROM ME YOU STUPID MIDGET" She screamed, and everyone looked to right, where she had appeared from, and saw Hiei dashing after her.
"HIEI!" Hiei skidded to a stop to look at them "Buffoons she has a necklace made out of the gems! And so does the little boy she's carrying!"
"What?" Yusuke looked to the girl who was disappearing. "That's the girl from yesterday" he realized.
"Hiei, don't you think it could've been an ordinary necklace?" Botan asked angrily
"Are you questioning my knowledge of fire demon tear gems! I am one you wench! I'd know them best" he looked and rolled his eyes "Now she's gotten away"
"Hiei stay here. There is much I have to tell you about that girl" Botan began angrily pulling out her spirit book.
She finally got the group to sit down on the benches.
"Her name is Korien Meoji. She's eighteen years old, and a senior at Yusuke's highschool. She's very bright indeed, and very artistic"
"How is this helping you half-wit?"
"I'm getting there Hiei, shut your trap" Botan snapped "That boy she was carrying, Hiei what did you do to him"
"I asked him where he got the bracelet"
"In other words, you grabbed the poor child and screamed in his face where he got the gems which made him frightened so he screamed" Kayko argued shaking her head.
"Hn" Hiei shot a death glare to Kayko
"Well of course, that's no way to get an answer Hiei, that was a three year old boy"
"What was Korien doing with that boy, is that her brother?" Kurama asked quietly "they must have some sort of connection if they both have the gems"
"It isn't important, thanks to Hiei he's made his presence known to the girl. Which we don't even know she's the demon or not" Botan began "So he basically scared a poor innocent girl to death"
"Hn. I'm sure she's the one" Hiei replied angrily
"You have any proof?" Botan asked cunningly
"She had the bracelets!"
"Think about it Hiei, remember how Yukina's gems were sold? What if its just the same scenario?"
"So we're back at square one basically" Yusuke roared angrily
"No we're not. This girl could be a lead, maybe she could tell us who she bought them from. But I think maybe the girls and I should go ask, that way we don't TERRIFY her or the little boy"
"And I shall accompany you" Kurama began rising.
"Oh I don't know..." Botan began wearily
"That sounds like a plan Kuwabara and I can go check around the town, and Hiei can..." Yusuke looked to where Hiei was sitting, but Hiei had already vanished "Hiei can disappear again...like he always does" Yusuke moaned miserably
"We'll meet back here at dark okay?" Botan began
"Right"
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The team then went their separate ways. The girls and Kurama walking slowly, the boys running the opposite direction.
"Was there any real reason you didn't want me to accompany you three?" Kurama asked sadly
Botan turned and looked to him sadly, "I guess I can tell you, I'm just sure the other boys wouldn't understand"
"What is this about Botan?" Asked Shizuru calmly
"Look, there is something I didn't tell you about Korien and Higue."
"What about them?" Kayko asked nervously
"Higue.....is Korien's son"
Kurama's eyes widened in shock. Korien's son? If he was three years old, then she must've been fifteen when she delivered him. "Her son?"
Botan nodded sadly "I told you yesterday Kurama, this girl has had her share of hell."
"But...then...how?" Kayko was at a loss for words, the poor girl.
"She had a boyfriend when she was fifteen." Botan ran her hand through her hair and looked away from them "One day he was drunk, knocked her out, and well...."
"Raped her." Shizuru added angrily
"Then why didn't she just have an abortion?" Kayko asked
"Korien has strong beliefs about life and death." She looked at the book to quote Korien "Who am I to take the life of poor innocent baby who hasn't even taken his first breath or seen the world through his eyes? The way we are born doesn't matter, its what we do with the gift of life that determines the kind of person we will be" Botan shut the book quietly.
"Her mother died when Korien was young, and after that, her father began his drinking problem. He, beats her, badly, with a strong black whip, everyday, twelve if she's late, and ten for usual. He hits her too, just throwing things. She of all people doesn't deserve that. Her father hasn't forgiven her for delivering Higue." Botan was quiet for a while and let out a sigh before beginning "She's constantly being hunted by boys, for well, her figure I guess. Everyone just wants to use her, the day that the warehouse was destroyed, she was attacked again"
Kayko was at a loss for words again, there were tears falling from her eyes and her hand covered her mouth. Shizuru looked away her too feeling the same sympathy for the girl.
"And here we are...just the same...attacking her and her son...." Kurama whispered sadly.
Botan turned and continued walking "we should find her...."
Kurama, if you have some infatuation with this girl, I suggest you put it aside right now. Things between her and anyone will not work out" I see now why Botan wants everyone to stay away from her....
"Botan, do you know where this Korien lives?" Shizuru asked quietly
"Yes. Maybe it should be better if we pay her a visit"
"On what cause?" Kayko asked
"Well, Kurama knows her."
"So basically we're his lackies following him?" Shizuru sighed
Kurama stifled a chuckle "I've never had a fan club"
The group wandered down the thoroughfare quietly. No one really wanted to talk about Korien, especially after they found out all that she had been through. They left the city quietly and entered the smaller towns, this one in the same neighborhood as Yusuke.
The house was quaint, a decent size, and the backyard was filled with many colorful flowers. They found baby Higue on a swing, and on the deck of the back porch they found Korien rapping a bleeding gash on her shoulder. Kurama was certain it wasn't the same one as yesterday, it was on the opposite shoulder.
Korien didn't know they were there, they were hidden again theplants. Korien was only wearing a sports bra, as she continued to bandage the many wounds on her.
"Oh god." Kayko whispered.
"You weren't kidding when she'd been through a lot" Shizuru whispered.
"Indeed"Kurama added softly
Korien finished with her bandages and slipped a blue collared shirt on. She raised her hand above her head stretching, revealing her small stomach much to Kurama's delight, but said nothing.
Korien walked over to Higue in his swing and picked him up spinning about, Higue giggling all the time. Shizuru and Kayko's eyes softened, seeing the unconditional love that Korien had for her son.She sat down upon the grass with her boy, who picked at the wild flowers.
For a moment, the group exchanged happy glances, seeing those two at peace for once. But Korien suddenly jerked her head, and picked up Higue jumping out of the way before an unseen force smashed into the ground where they had once been sitting. It crushed the earth causing small stones to scatter about and the girls found themselves gasping.
"Why are you back?" Korien asked again, following the quick movements of the unseen force.
"I still have questions to ask you!" The evil voice called out. Kurama's eyes widened "Hiei"
"I'll answer them, if you promise not to harm my son" The voice stopped and appeared before her surprised
"Your son?" Hiei stood shocked
"Yes. I don't care what you do to me, just don't hurt my boy" she cried holding her whimpering baby close. Desperate tears fell from her eyes, and condensed into gems before she could wipe them away.
Higue squirmed in her arms crying and Hiei was for the first time, unsure of what to do. He had found the demon, the one who had destroyed the warehouse, with the infinite energy, but she was nothing more than a school girl, and a mother too. Was this, sympathy, that he was feeling for her?
"I won't hurt him" Hiei finally said. And Korien looked up and bowed gratefully. Hiei took a step closer to her, and she flinched as if waiting for him to strike her. Instead, he bent down beside her, and wiped away her tears. "I won't harm you" his voice sounded harsh, but there was a sad look in his eyes.
Korien nodded nervously, and Higue turned away from her chest to look up at him.
"Why 'ad?"
"Huh?"Hiei looked down to Higue confused
"He asked you why you were sad. He's only still learning to put sentences together"
Hiei actually chuckled looking down at the boy "Brave words for a creature so small"
"'ad?" Higue cocked his head to a side, and from his wrist he pulled off the bracelet and put it in Hiei's hand "'ector 'ector!"
"Translation?" Hiei asked befuddled
"Protector....he thinks you're our protector." She said sadly. Hiei held up the bracelet and looked at it nodding, he now positive those were tear gems.
"Does having a protector mean something important?" He asked harshly
"That's what the bracelets signify to him. I gave him that bracelet, promising I'd protect him. He thinks that you have something like that" Korien explained.
From Hiei's cape's pocket, he pulled out a single gem showing it to her and Higue clapped his hands "'ector!" Korien looked at Hiei surprised
"Where did you get that?"
Author's Note
Well there's Chapter 3. Yeah you people don't review! Poo to you! Oh well, I'm still having fun writing the story anyway
