Unfamiliar Familiarity Chapter 21: Hamlet's Death, a yu yu hakusho fanfic

(grins) Okay, here's the proper chapter…I'm so evil. I really am. EVIL UGLY KITTEN! Okay, Kurama, do the disclaimer.

Kurama: (calmly holding his Rose Whip) You really want me to hurt you, don't you, Lady UK?

UK: Er…(sweatdrop) No…not necessarily…

Hiei: Hn. Cats. They never realize how deep they are until they can't see the sun any more.

UK: Hey! You talk! (pokes Hiei)

Koko: Back away from my man, cat.

UK: Er…can someone please do the disclaimer before I get shish-kebobed by a very angry fire demon and his mate?

Random Reviewer (Insert you): I will! runs round in circles Let me, let me, let me!

UK: (pinned to a tree by Hiei's katana) Do it!

RR: UK does not, nor will she ever, own Yu YU HAKUSHO! On with the new chappie!

UK: Oh, yeah, one more note on Hamlet. (grimaces against point of Hiei's katana) In the original play, it was Hamlet's plan to have a play put on in the exact stages of Claudius's murder of Hamlet's dad. That is the "play-within-a-play" that Kurama talks about.

Chapter 21: Hamlet's Grave

…Kurama…

I had known, before she even began to stir, that it was her. The play, ironically as Claudius had seen his own acts unfold in the play-within-a-play, I had seen mine in Hamlet. I had seen my love through Horatio's eyes, looking at Hamlet. At Bri Wolf, the girl I had fallen for not once, but twice. I remembered a time, spanning three years, in which I had not left her side, when I had saved her.

When she'd saved me from myself.

When we had danced our way through the Chronodom, had fought Matsu and Une, and Karasu again. My blood boiled at the thought that those very three demons had been here at the tournament. They had left already.

Still alive.

While she had slept in her bed, Yomi had come into our room, carrying a tape. He explained quietly that he had spoken with Bri. Kuronue and Koko did not leave, but the others had ducked out.

…Flashback…

(Quick AN: All words in italics are Yomi, boldis Bri, and regular is Kurama when the tape starts.)

"What damn hell is on this tape, Yomi?" Koko demanded. She was fearless, as always. I admired Bri's cousin for her way with words. Somehow, she always managed to get exactly what she wanted. She reminded me of Yusuke in many ways.

"Two confessions. Do not attempt to stop Kurama from listening to them. I must take my leave."

Polonius had confessions, too. In the play.

Was someone trying to tell me something?

Yomi placed the tape on the table, next to the boom box that Kuronue had brought with us for some reason. The former Makai lord left.

"I won't stop you from listening to whatever the hell's on that tape," Koko said, her voice low in her throat. Was she crying? "But you better damn well think before you act on it."

"I rarely act without thinking," I said.

"I know. Don't make this an exception."

She slid out of the room, gone before I could say a word.

I glanced at Kuronue, then at Bri's sleeping form.

"You hurt her, you die," Kuronue said. I barely heard him, but he knew I had heard correctly. He slipped away as well, a shadow of the old Kuronue surfacing. What was on this tape that had so much to do with me?

I had the feeling that I knew the answer already.

You love him, don't you. Yomi's voice.

A soft growl. Bri? Why does everyone say that! I don't even know you!

A chuckle from Yomi.

How did you meet him, anyway? Or can you remember that long ago?

Who was Bri talking about? Her boyfriend? Yomi knew him? Or was she talking about Kuronue or myself?

How did you meet him?

Answer for an answer, then. He was my godfather's best friend.

They were talking about Yusuke? Kuwabara? Me? Hiei only had a few friends.

That is not the first instance in which you met him.

What?

And just how do you draw that conclusion?

There was a bit of static, and I got the feeling that something had been edited out. Yomi's voice came back. I assumed he was still talking to Bri.

You have powers, scents that surround you. Similar to Kuronue in ways, and in others very unique.

You know I have a different past because of my scent?

Yomi sighed.

I am one of few who would notice it, having had dealings with the cats shortly before Kuronue was killed.

It was you. You're the one who had Kuronue killed.

I had known this, of course. But it still stung, and I knew from Bri's voice that she had not known it. Kuronue hadn't told her, then.

In the business of demons, revenge is not nearly as sweet as one might think. I knew Kuronue was himself because of the faint scent of guano and ash that still hangs around him. Although he is now a half fox, the bat side of him still hovers. You have some cat still left in you, though I know you are of the same origin as he is. And although Kurama's normal scent hovers as well, there is also the fox's marking scent, so faint that even he himself can't recognize it.

Me? They were talking about me? When had I marked Bri? I had never marked her, never intentionally. And I thought that it was impossible to mark someone without that intention.

I'm still marked?

Faintly. Few others would recognize it for what it is. Kurama would recognize it, if he was searching for it. You're lucky, he hasn't thought to seek it out. Quite interesting, as Kurama has the clearest mind I know.

He was right. I hadn't thought to look for it.

Why are you telling me this?

You wanted to know how I met him. I, too, fell in love with Youko Kurama. He rejected me, though we remained friends, partners in our goal for lordship. I obtained the title, but I lost the friendship and trust. I do not wish the same for you.

I remembered that irony very well. Yomi had always pursued my affections, though I more than only that once turned him down. I think sometimes that his rashness and thirst for adventure was in part caused by that fact.

I'm sorry.

I chuckled to myself. Even facing her past, Bri held compassion for someone she didn't even know.

Don't be. It wasn't meant to be. But I think for you, it is.

I wish I were so confident.

You didn't answer the question.

Do you know Koko Wolf, my cousin? In the other time stream, she committed suicide, or at least that is what I was led to believe by our mother, Tsuki Sawaguchi. We shared one common dream, the two of us. We wanted to do foreign exchange in school to Japan. I went a few months after her death. Kurama was my host for the exchange. I lived with his family for three long years before I reversed everything by killing my mother before her birth.

As if he hadn't stopped speaking, Yomi continued his own story.

I met him in Gandara. We both wanted to steal the same loaf of bread and ended up taking the whole stand with us.

Yomi and Bri laughed, and I couldn't help but join. What a memory to bring up at this time.

We weren't quite the legendary thieves then.

Indeed.

Everyone has to start out small.

And everyone starts over small, as well.

Yomi spoke softly again, obviously after Bri had left.

If there was ever anyone who deserved you, Youko, it is this woman. I know that you, too, love her. Why are you still waiting?

The tape stopped after a few minutes, or was it several? I don't know. I didn't pay it any attention. I stared at her sleeping, still sleeping in her bed. Kuronue slipped back into the room, the silence a comforting envelope.

"You all lied to me," I said. Bri's ears flicked in her sleep, her tail shifting the covers unconsciously. She would not wake for some time. "Kept it from me."

"It's what she wanted," Kuronue said. He sat down on the armchair and curled his single golden tail around his body protectively. "She didn't want to hurt you again."

Neither of us stopped staring at her.

"Every time I walked into her house, your home, this strange déjà vu feeling all but consumed me. When we went to Sammy's pizza restaurant or the DDR arcade. Even just catching the trolley in Nemoi District. Like I'd done them all a million times before. Then when we got to the Chronodom, it was like we'd been there, lived there. As if it were a home-away-from-home for us."

"Bri always acted as if she'd lived there," Kuronue said. "And she knew the Triple-DR system like she knows how to paint. No human should have recognized that machine."

"She was never actually human," I said, half-joking. She'd grown up in the human world, acted human, but never was really human. I sighed. "I don't understand."

"The great Youko Kurama, unable to understand something as simple as love," Kuronue said. His tone was bitter. He paused, regarding me calmly. It dawned on me that this was perhaps the way I had looked myself on numerous occasions. It looked strange on my old friend's face. "You remember the day you gave me that pendant?"

I paused, the pain still fresh even after a thousand years. "Yes…it was the same day I sent the assassin after Yomi."

"Have you ever once thought of why I treasured that jewel so much that I would throw away my own life for it?"

I stared at Bri. She was sleeping so blissfully unaware…

"No. I didn't."

"It's because I felt you were my brother, Kurama. The only one I could trust in the whole world. I feel the same way about Bri. I'm threatening a lot more than your balls if you hurt her, Kurama. I just wanted you to know that."

"I love her."

"I know. But there are ways to be blind that even Yomi couldn't imagine."

…End Flashback…

The way she ran from me, spoke to me, brought memories back. Clear ones that I hadn't known were possible to have. She had run from me once before, back when she was still sorting out her Empathe skills. Back when I was still unsure of the love that I felt for her, too comparative between Maya and her. I knew where she would go. She always went to certain places when she was upset. I shivered at the thought.

Fur sprouted from my skin and my clothes shrank away with my body. Foxes were never clothed in their fox form, but the clothes they carried were still intact when they switched. The familiar black nose lengthened from my human one and I knelt on all four dainty paws. I rarely took this form any more, but I knew the nose was best in it. I slipped out of the room and followed Bri's trail away from the hotel.

Now I could smell it.

I could smell my own mating scent, though it wasn't quite as strong as it would have been had I actually mated with her. Bellflowers, lingering chocolate and rainbow trout. I could smell her sweat, both from fear and from the exertion of acting Hamlet out. Catnip and the ocean, and, faintest of all, the scent of Kansas wheat and coconuts. Paint and oil, of roses and cherry blossoms.

The smells of Bri.

My own little kitten, the one I had loved for far longer than when I met her first.

I found her in the woods, stumbling and tripping over the underbrush. She was drawn to the woods, to the field. Just like any fox would be, like any cat in need of a safe haven in a tree. The salt in her tears had left the trail blatant.

…Bri…

I had to get away from him, from here. Why had I even bothered to come back? Kurama was smart—he would have found out eventually, and he had. Why was I so stupid? I stumbled over a log, fallen branches and leaves, heightened ground and animal's burrows. I could hear the stream—how ironic, my choice in death.

Ophelia's death.

I stumbled through the thicket, the branches scratching at my cheeks. Blood dripped down my face, down my neck. I didn't care, I never would care again. All that mattered was the water, the watery death that I needed, needed more than anything else. If Kurama followed me—which he was bound to—he would only find my body.

…Kurama…

I merely followed her, waiting patiently for her to stop. She would, once she thought she was safe. A place I knew that she loved to go was the Chronodom, in that other room. She always came out smelling of hot springs. It was a secret pleasure of hers, I knew that from my very-opaque memories now. The memories made me realize that even if I had ever once been uncomfortable around Bri, it was only when she was upset at me. I would never be able to remain uncomfortable with Bri.

With my mate.

Bri stopped short, her tail twitching in agitation, worry. For a moment, I thought she'd seen me. I watched her glance around, her ears flicking at every sound. Her eyes were cloudy, puffy and red from crying. Once assured that "no one" was there, she collapsed in the clearing, trees thick around her. She was by a stream, rushing water the only sound aside from her soft sobs.

…Bri…

I collapsed just short of the stream. What had possessed me to tell him? I can't believe I told him, I can't believe I even came back. My parents were both dead—Sakyo was no longer the same person as Gun Wa—even Koko was different. A mother. Gina and Gunner were barely more than my teachers now. Who was I kidding?

Who was I kidding?

I couldn't live with this life.

I can't live with this life any longer.

I lunged for the stream and dove head-first into the roiling, mad waves.

…Kurama…

I dove past the thicket, my heart jack-jack-jacking in my chest. She's going to drown herself, a fire fox can't handle water for long. I leapt into the stream after her, my little fox's body rushing in the fast current. Her body floated on the surface, relaxed as if she were going for a mid-afternoon swim.

I knew better.

Bri!

Her head jerked out from beneath the surface, wide blue eyes settling on me. In her panic, she lost the buoyancy and fell beneath the waves again. A breath, a quick paddle for angle and I dove, dove, down to her sinking form. I was tiny in this form, but strong. I found the tip of her tail and tugged her toward the shore. I could do nothing more until she was on the beach.

…Bri…

A fox…Kurama? I didn't know, couldn't know. A fire fox can't swim anyway. I let myself sink. Who cared? Who cared anymore, if I was dead, the world would be lovely again. I could watch from my little white restaurant whiteboard place again. I didn't need to be alive to live.

Even though I could feel myself slipping, I could still think clearly. Why was that? I'll never know. Life never has answers any more. I need answers, my head hurts, everything is spinning, spinning, twirling out of my control. I never had control. Bluebells saved me the first time I fought—I can't even fight! I was never meant for the battlefield.

…Kurama…

I tugged at her tail, pulling, yanking her to shore. She grew heavier with every passing second. I used my own nine tails to plunge against the current. I pulled her, pushed her, nudged her up onto the leafy banks of the stream. I leapt atop her chest, forcing water from her lungs.

Kuronue is going to kill me!

…Bri…

Tiny paws forced at my lungs—why can't I breathe?

I cough, choke—what is that?

Is the fox trying to kill me?

Or save me?

…Kurama…

Breathe! Breathe, damn it!

I let the changes take over, let my body transform back into Youko, the strongest of the three forms. I pushed at her chest again and turn her as water falls from her mouth, from her lungs.

Breathe, Bri!

…Bri…

Now there are hands…

Hands?

Kurama?

Water…

Is that water?

In my lungs?

Did I drown?

Am I here?

Half an hour left of life…

What would I do?

Would I tell?

Would I tell him…

I love him.

Love…

Kurama.

Water…

Darkness.

Black.

Blank…

Blank…

…

>.>

(glance)

I am so evil.

Seriously.

I added this chapter in after much deliberation. I've been rewriting this again and again since I finished writing it. I finally decided to do this because it just dawned on me that it would be pretty ironic. I mean, Bri called Koko a coward at the very beginning for committing suicide (even though Koko really didn't do it).

So!

Who wants to wait till Monday (my next day off) to find out if Bri's still alive or not? (grin)

Reviewers: (holding pitchforks and torches) GET HER!

UK: Eep! (runs and hides) And here is Kurama to answer your questions from the last chapter.

Kurama: (blink blink) Er…hello, reviewers. (glares in the general direction UK ran off in) I'm just as upset with her as you are. Well, I suppose I will answer these questions as best I can.

Sillylittlenothing: As I'm sure UK already alerted you, the last chapter was not the final chapter. Although we are in a suspended time zone, I am working my hardest to revive Bri and I hope that I will be able to save her. I will probably follow her in death, as Romeo did, if I do not. The loss would be far greater even than Kuronue's death.

Rayne-chan: (ahem) Kindly remove the saddle and reins from my back, I am not a horse, I am a kitsune. I agree, UK has made quite the mess of our lives. (glares in the general direction UK ran off in) I will be sure that she suffers, should anything happen to Bri. I also assure you, that once I have saved Bri, I will kiss her into oblivion. (grins hopefully)

Peeka-chan: Thank you for that quite wonderful image, I will be sure to use that once Bri and I have wed. (toothy grin) But please refrain from throwing things at my mate, or face the consequences. (growl) Oh, yes, Yomi is actually bi-sexual. Most demons are.

Lucifer: It is not as if I had a choice in "allowing" Bri to get away. I will be sure to rectify the situation as soon as possible. I hope that the next chapter does tell, or a certain kitten will be very uncomfortably hugged by one of my wonderful Makai plants.

SilverDragon: I agree. She is evil. We should do something about that.

WindRacer: (glower) I hated that chapter. If anything should happen to Bri due to my actions, I will be certain to harm a certain kitten.

Kuramafan: You really think so? (hopeful) Thank you for the comments. I hope to see Bri's face when I tell her I love her, too. Let us try to strangle a certain kitten for the next chapter as soon as possible.

Aisuhana: I am glad that you are enjoying UK's story, and I hope that things go well for Bri and myself. I quite enjoy the latest image that UK concocted. I just hope that I can employ the technique on Bri soon…

Bookworm: I won't let Bri die. If there's anything I can do, I won't let her die. I believe UK has attained the position of part time cashier. Tonight was her first time out at the registers and she quite enjoyed learning how to bag and ring up things.

Charter Mage Z: Believe me, UK will write the remaining chapters or I will personally hunt her down.