"Obligation and Duty"
Chapter 5
*****
"Yusuke? Kurama? What?" Rei asked, looking back and forth between the two boys.
"Rei? What are you doing here?" Yusuke asked.
Shuichi, or better yet, Kurama, spoke up, "Her grandmother just died." Yusuke looked straight into Rei's eyes and said, "I'm sorry to hear that..."
Rei nodded, "It's alright, you guys. I'm fine. What I'm really messed up about is this," she said, motioning to Shuichi.
Kurama sighed, "Alright, I'll tell you both. Follow me," he said as he walked through the automatic doors of the hospital. As they walked he explained, "My name is both Shuichi Minamino and Kurama."
He opened the door to one of the rooms and motioned for them to go in. Inside was a middle-aged woman who said, "Shuichi. You brought friends... that's nice."
"How are you, mother?" he asked as he walked to her bed-side.
They talked for a while until the doctor kicked them out. Kurama then led Rei and Yusuke to the roof.
"Okay, I'm still really confused," Rei said as she sat down.
Yusuke nodded his agreement. Kurama started again, "As you know, my name is Kurama. Yoko Kurama to be exact. Fifteen years ago I was badly injured by a hunter and hid myself inside the body of that woman; my mother. I pretended to be their child, just biding my time until I was recovered enough."
"I became attached to my 'parents' and when my mother unexpectedly came down with her sickness, I knew I couldn't just leave. Hiei searched me out and asked me to be in his group and that's when I remembered the powers of the Mirror. So that is why I stole the Mirror of UtterDark," Kurama finished with a sad look.
Yusuke and Rei finally began to understand. "So, you are going to repay her kindness by healing her with the mirror?" Yusuke asked.
Kurama nodded. "That is also why I left Hiei's group. They only wanted to gain power; I just wanted to heal my mother. As soon as I'm done, you may take both me and the Mirror back."
.oO{How sweet. A yukai that actually cares for humans!} Rei thought. Kurama looked up into the sky and saw that the moon was full and said, "Now is the time." He activated the Mirror somehow and it asked him what his wish was. He gave his answer and it asked if that is what he truly wanted. He affirmed this, but Yusuke jumped in.
"You can't do this. Can't we talk about this? What is the point of giving your life if your mom won't be happy. I've seen that happen before. Mirror, take me instead!"
.oO{Yusuke! What are you doing?} Rei thought as both he and Kurama stretched their hands over the Mirror. A bright light shot up and Rei didn't remember much after that.
A few hours later she woke up, to find herself back in her own home. She sat up and saw Yusuke and Kurama laying on her floor. Botan was sitting across from her on the couch.
"What happened?" Rei asked sleepily.
"Well," Botan started quietly, "Since Yusuke's offer was so honorable, the Mirror decided not to take either of their lives. Kurama's mother was cured and I brought you all back here. Kurama and Yusuke were awake for a little while, but I guess the experience tired them out."
Rei nodded and swallowed. She got up and stepped over Yusuke and Kurama as she made her way to her kitchen. She poured herself some juice and walked back into the living room. Kurama had just woken up and was propped up on his elbows, looking around her house. He stopped and looked at Rei with a smile. Rei decided to make some conversation.
"So... You're Yoko Kurama?" she asked and he nodded. Botan jumped in with her ever-ready notes.
"Yoko Kurama is a fox-yukai, and he was known as a great theif in Spirit World."
Rei took a sip from her juice. .oO{Hmm... a fox? That's cool...}
"What's this talk about foxes?" Yusuke asked as he stretched.
Botan explained as Rei got up.
"Okay, you guys. Do ya'll want something to drink?" she asked.
"Juice would be fine, thank you," Kurama said as Yusuke asked for some sake. Rei shook her head at Yusuke and he said, "Why did you bother asking then?"
Rei made her way back into the kitchen as Yusuke talked to Botan. Rei walked back into the living room with the drinks in tow and Kurama asked as she handed him his juice, "This is your house?"
"Well, somewhat. It seems there was a misunderstanding at the insurance agency and so I have to move out..." Rei answered.
Yusuke looked up, "Where are you going to live?"
"There's an old Shinto shrine on the outskirts of town and it looks deserted, so I guess that's where I'll live..."
Botan spoke up, "That'd be just perfect! That way the neighbors won't be able to complain about all the ruckus!"
Rei just about choked on her juice, "Botan! He doesn't know!" she whispered.
Kurama smiled, "Actually, I do know... and also, my hearing is very acute."
Rei's mouth dropped open, "How do you know?"
Kurama stretched out and got more comfortable on the floor as he explained, "There had been a rumor going around Spirit World that Koenma had brought a girl back to life just to sleep with her. I did some research and I found that it wasn't just a rumor... and that the girl was half-yukai."
Rei quickly said, "He has NOT slept with me!"
"But you are half-yukai, yes?" Kurama asked.
Rei nodded, "Yeah."
"Then I have to warn you, there are going to be some other demons after you, or rather, your power."
"Okay, okay, no more of this talk!" Botan quickly cut in. "Kurama, I'm going to have to take you back to Spirit World tonight for you trial."
Kurama nodded and stood up. "Thanks for the juice," he said to Rei and he turned to Yusuke, "Thank you for helping me get my mother back."
"No prob," Yusuke said nonchalantly.
"Alrighty then! Let's get going," Botan said as she whipped her oar out of thin air. Soon both Botan and Kurama were out of sight and Rei was ready to fall over.
.oO{I am SOOOOOOO tired... I hope Yusuke won't want to stay tonight.} Thankfully, her wish was granted and not long after Botan and Kurama left, Yusuke left, too.
Rei queitly walked to her room and plopped down on her bed, not bothering to undress. She didn't sleep well that night; dreams of her grandmother and the unseen demons that haunted her kept her awake.
"Oh... my back hurts!" Rei said as she awoke the next morning. It was only 9:30, but the phone rang almost as soon as she awoke.
She quickly jumped out of bed and picked up the receiver.
"Hello?" she said.
"Rei Amerasu? This is Mr. Koichitakwa from the insurance agency your grandmother was with."
Rei nodded, even though he couldn't see.
"We have read her will and it seems you get $15,000 from her savings. I trust she told you about her house?" the voice asked.
"Yes, she did. I still don't understand most of it, though."
"That is to be expected. The house you are living in wasn't really hers, but the town's. She had done some things for the town and they let her live in that house."
"Okay... I have a question," Rei said as she threw her disheveled hair over her shoulder.
"Ask away."
"There's an old, run-down shrine on the outskirts of town. Do you think it'd be possible for me to live there, or is it the town's property?"
There was a pause. "It... COULD be possible, but people say that the shrine is haunted. It's not the town's property, so you can live there."
"Thanks. Is that all?" Rei asked impatiently, wanting to get straight to work on her new 'house'.
"Uh... If you could stop by our office today and claim your inheritance, that would be it."
"Alright, I'll be by soon."
"That's fine. Good day."
The phone clicked on its base, and Rei was out the door.
.oO{I just love fixing things up! This is going to be great!} she thought blissfully as she ran to the insurance agency.
Mr. Koichitakwa was there waiting for her and he gave her the $15,000 and a few other things her grandmother gave her.
"Your grandma didn't have many possesions, and what she did have in money went into taxes," Mr. Koichitakwa said.
"Okay..." .oO{Man, this guy never stops talking!}
"I still don't think it's a good idea for you to live in that shrine..." Mr. Koichitakwa said as he held the door open for her.
"It's alright. I'll be fine..." Rei said and off she was for the bank.
Chapter 5
*****
"Yusuke? Kurama? What?" Rei asked, looking back and forth between the two boys.
"Rei? What are you doing here?" Yusuke asked.
Shuichi, or better yet, Kurama, spoke up, "Her grandmother just died." Yusuke looked straight into Rei's eyes and said, "I'm sorry to hear that..."
Rei nodded, "It's alright, you guys. I'm fine. What I'm really messed up about is this," she said, motioning to Shuichi.
Kurama sighed, "Alright, I'll tell you both. Follow me," he said as he walked through the automatic doors of the hospital. As they walked he explained, "My name is both Shuichi Minamino and Kurama."
He opened the door to one of the rooms and motioned for them to go in. Inside was a middle-aged woman who said, "Shuichi. You brought friends... that's nice."
"How are you, mother?" he asked as he walked to her bed-side.
They talked for a while until the doctor kicked them out. Kurama then led Rei and Yusuke to the roof.
"Okay, I'm still really confused," Rei said as she sat down.
Yusuke nodded his agreement. Kurama started again, "As you know, my name is Kurama. Yoko Kurama to be exact. Fifteen years ago I was badly injured by a hunter and hid myself inside the body of that woman; my mother. I pretended to be their child, just biding my time until I was recovered enough."
"I became attached to my 'parents' and when my mother unexpectedly came down with her sickness, I knew I couldn't just leave. Hiei searched me out and asked me to be in his group and that's when I remembered the powers of the Mirror. So that is why I stole the Mirror of UtterDark," Kurama finished with a sad look.
Yusuke and Rei finally began to understand. "So, you are going to repay her kindness by healing her with the mirror?" Yusuke asked.
Kurama nodded. "That is also why I left Hiei's group. They only wanted to gain power; I just wanted to heal my mother. As soon as I'm done, you may take both me and the Mirror back."
.oO{How sweet. A yukai that actually cares for humans!} Rei thought. Kurama looked up into the sky and saw that the moon was full and said, "Now is the time." He activated the Mirror somehow and it asked him what his wish was. He gave his answer and it asked if that is what he truly wanted. He affirmed this, but Yusuke jumped in.
"You can't do this. Can't we talk about this? What is the point of giving your life if your mom won't be happy. I've seen that happen before. Mirror, take me instead!"
.oO{Yusuke! What are you doing?} Rei thought as both he and Kurama stretched their hands over the Mirror. A bright light shot up and Rei didn't remember much after that.
A few hours later she woke up, to find herself back in her own home. She sat up and saw Yusuke and Kurama laying on her floor. Botan was sitting across from her on the couch.
"What happened?" Rei asked sleepily.
"Well," Botan started quietly, "Since Yusuke's offer was so honorable, the Mirror decided not to take either of their lives. Kurama's mother was cured and I brought you all back here. Kurama and Yusuke were awake for a little while, but I guess the experience tired them out."
Rei nodded and swallowed. She got up and stepped over Yusuke and Kurama as she made her way to her kitchen. She poured herself some juice and walked back into the living room. Kurama had just woken up and was propped up on his elbows, looking around her house. He stopped and looked at Rei with a smile. Rei decided to make some conversation.
"So... You're Yoko Kurama?" she asked and he nodded. Botan jumped in with her ever-ready notes.
"Yoko Kurama is a fox-yukai, and he was known as a great theif in Spirit World."
Rei took a sip from her juice. .oO{Hmm... a fox? That's cool...}
"What's this talk about foxes?" Yusuke asked as he stretched.
Botan explained as Rei got up.
"Okay, you guys. Do ya'll want something to drink?" she asked.
"Juice would be fine, thank you," Kurama said as Yusuke asked for some sake. Rei shook her head at Yusuke and he said, "Why did you bother asking then?"
Rei made her way back into the kitchen as Yusuke talked to Botan. Rei walked back into the living room with the drinks in tow and Kurama asked as she handed him his juice, "This is your house?"
"Well, somewhat. It seems there was a misunderstanding at the insurance agency and so I have to move out..." Rei answered.
Yusuke looked up, "Where are you going to live?"
"There's an old Shinto shrine on the outskirts of town and it looks deserted, so I guess that's where I'll live..."
Botan spoke up, "That'd be just perfect! That way the neighbors won't be able to complain about all the ruckus!"
Rei just about choked on her juice, "Botan! He doesn't know!" she whispered.
Kurama smiled, "Actually, I do know... and also, my hearing is very acute."
Rei's mouth dropped open, "How do you know?"
Kurama stretched out and got more comfortable on the floor as he explained, "There had been a rumor going around Spirit World that Koenma had brought a girl back to life just to sleep with her. I did some research and I found that it wasn't just a rumor... and that the girl was half-yukai."
Rei quickly said, "He has NOT slept with me!"
"But you are half-yukai, yes?" Kurama asked.
Rei nodded, "Yeah."
"Then I have to warn you, there are going to be some other demons after you, or rather, your power."
"Okay, okay, no more of this talk!" Botan quickly cut in. "Kurama, I'm going to have to take you back to Spirit World tonight for you trial."
Kurama nodded and stood up. "Thanks for the juice," he said to Rei and he turned to Yusuke, "Thank you for helping me get my mother back."
"No prob," Yusuke said nonchalantly.
"Alrighty then! Let's get going," Botan said as she whipped her oar out of thin air. Soon both Botan and Kurama were out of sight and Rei was ready to fall over.
.oO{I am SOOOOOOO tired... I hope Yusuke won't want to stay tonight.} Thankfully, her wish was granted and not long after Botan and Kurama left, Yusuke left, too.
Rei queitly walked to her room and plopped down on her bed, not bothering to undress. She didn't sleep well that night; dreams of her grandmother and the unseen demons that haunted her kept her awake.
"Oh... my back hurts!" Rei said as she awoke the next morning. It was only 9:30, but the phone rang almost as soon as she awoke.
She quickly jumped out of bed and picked up the receiver.
"Hello?" she said.
"Rei Amerasu? This is Mr. Koichitakwa from the insurance agency your grandmother was with."
Rei nodded, even though he couldn't see.
"We have read her will and it seems you get $15,000 from her savings. I trust she told you about her house?" the voice asked.
"Yes, she did. I still don't understand most of it, though."
"That is to be expected. The house you are living in wasn't really hers, but the town's. She had done some things for the town and they let her live in that house."
"Okay... I have a question," Rei said as she threw her disheveled hair over her shoulder.
"Ask away."
"There's an old, run-down shrine on the outskirts of town. Do you think it'd be possible for me to live there, or is it the town's property?"
There was a pause. "It... COULD be possible, but people say that the shrine is haunted. It's not the town's property, so you can live there."
"Thanks. Is that all?" Rei asked impatiently, wanting to get straight to work on her new 'house'.
"Uh... If you could stop by our office today and claim your inheritance, that would be it."
"Alright, I'll be by soon."
"That's fine. Good day."
The phone clicked on its base, and Rei was out the door.
.oO{I just love fixing things up! This is going to be great!} she thought blissfully as she ran to the insurance agency.
Mr. Koichitakwa was there waiting for her and he gave her the $15,000 and a few other things her grandmother gave her.
"Your grandma didn't have many possesions, and what she did have in money went into taxes," Mr. Koichitakwa said.
"Okay..." .oO{Man, this guy never stops talking!}
"I still don't think it's a good idea for you to live in that shrine..." Mr. Koichitakwa said as he held the door open for her.
"It's alright. I'll be fine..." Rei said and off she was for the bank.
