Prepare yourself for a seriously serious chapter... All though... No matter HOW much I try to stave away from comedy, it nips at the edge off reason, and ends up SOMEWHERE in my stories... Oh, well, whatcha gonna do?
Chapter Eight...Blue Skies
The koorime obaba's voice. A crying face. The sensation of falling..., "Gomen ne..."
"You killed my son!"
Hiei's eyes snapped open as he gasps aloud. He is sitting in a tree, nearby where he had left Yukina and Kurama a while ago, "Guess I fell asleep...," he looks around and sees that his sister and the fox are both gone from their original spot. He notices the lengthening of the shadows of the complex, and wonders how long he had been asleep.
"Stupid fucking ningens...!"
Hiei looks back tp see Yusuke hurrying off somewhere in a rage. He could sense Kuwabara's reiki nearby... But he wasn't near Yukina's youki... Odd... Just what exactly transpired during his nap? He "hn"s and leaps away.
Elsewhere, Kurama sits next to a river that was about two miles from Yusuke's place. The river Hiei was found in... Kurama sighed and dipped his bare-foot into the river, breaking it's smooth surface. He remembered coming here many times before. It was a sanctuary to him, for some reason. It had an odd feeling to it, peacefulness, something he wasn't very accustomed to.
He already knew what Kuwabara had shown Yusuke. He had heard news of that law threatening to get passed while he was traveling by himself. He knew it was that by how Kuwabara acted. It was subtle, but he noticed it.
Suddenly, Kurama let out a soft laugh. It even amazed himself how he could read the emotions of someone he'd never even had a conversation with. He frowned, and dipped his other foot into the water. Everytime he came to this river, he was greeted with memories, ones he was pleased to remember, and ones... that hurt. Like a dull knife turning and twisting within a wound. What he remembered today was... Hiei... Hiei, Hiei, Hiei...
Why do I keep thinking about him! It was true. Everytime he tried to shut the hiyoukai out, he came back, brighter and clearer than ever before. Usually he would be answered by his instincts, but they told him nothing now.
Something brushes against Kurama foot, and he leans forward to see. It was part of a broken plant that was probably growing above the water's surface. Kurama smiled without his notice as he recognized what kind of plant it was. Similiar to the human's "cacti" in appearance, but more close to a snake in defensive mechanisms. It's spikes injected vemon into those who accidently touched them.
"Ow...," it was said soflty, as if it didn't want to be heard. But the fox heard it anyway, due to the sensitive hearing of his furry ears. He looked behind him, to see "that boy" who they found floating in a river a few years back. How he'd grown...
"Something wrong?"
"No," the boy snapped. Though it wasn't yet, Kurama could tell he was going to have a surprisingly deep voice, completly out of proportion to his body. The fox sighed, and walked over to the boy to see over his shoulder. He had a small trickle of blood coming from his finger.
"I told you to handle that plant with care, and you've gone and pricked yourself..."
The boy growled and turned around, glaring at the much taller demon, "I DID handle it with care! It moved it's spike by itself!"
Kurama sighed, and kenlt down, closer to the boy's level, "That plant doesn't do that...," he held the boy's bleeding hand in his, but it was quickly pulled away.
"What the hell are you doing!"
"Helping you," the fox answered blandly.
"I don't need your help!"
"I don't care if you need it or not, I'm helping you," he answered agrresivly. He heard the boy make a small noise in reaspon. How loudly did I say that...?
"Why would you wanna help me?" the boy's voice had dropped to a whisper, making it difficult for even Kurama to hear him. He let his small hand be held by the longer, narrower pale ones of Kurama.
"Why do you ask?" Kurama asked while working on the wound. The boy didn't answer.
"You're...," the boy started a while later as Kurama was finishing, "You're Youko Kurama, right? You're infamous... Why're you here, of all places?"
"You're too young to understand," Kurama said simply. The boy growled at that, "It's true... Do you know how long I've lived? What I've seen? What I've been through? No. You don't. You have only been in the world for, what? Four years? That's nothing compared to me..."
"So?" the boy snapped, "Do you know know what I'VE seen? What I'VE been through! No!"
Kurama stared sadly at the small boy's young, angry face. No, he didn't..., "Do you like your name?"
"What?" the boy was taken aback by the sudden question, "What do you mean?"
"Your name, the one you remember your people calling you..."
"They're not my people..."
"Imiko... Forbidden Child... You can't honestly be satisfied with that name, can you?" the boy shadowed his eyes a bit, and realized the fox was still holding his hand. He quickly wrenched it away.
"It doesn't matter what my name means. It's my title. I can't change that."
Kurama felt sorry for this boy. He had his childhood naivete taken from him just hours after his birth, "I can give you a new title... If you want to, that is."
"Huh?"
"You know my name is that of a mountain in Ningenkai's Japan?"
"Yeah..."
"You know why that is?"
"...No," Kurama found it funny how the boy tried to hide his interest.
"I've lived when the border seperating the worlds didn't exsist. I was such a terror even then that the humans named a mountain after me..."
"What're you getting at?"
"You run fast. I've seen it when Yusuke trains you. Almost like a flying shadow..."
"Hiei?"
"Yes. That's the name of another mountain in Japan... Would you like to make it yours? That would be a much more suited, this "Hiei", rather than being known as the forbidden one, yes?"
"...Yes..."
"Good, then that's what I'm calling you from now on..."
"...Fine, whatever floats your boat..."
In present times, Kurama sighed sadly and rested back on the grass, his feet still in the water. The dead plant he held was harmless. He wasn't afraid to admit it. He missed those days. Back when he saw Hiei grow up. Get stronger. Truelly live up to his new name.
"It doesn't matter what my name means. It's my title. I can't change that."
So serious, he was as a child... And yet, he had a sweet side, too. He always wanted to help, though he acted as though he didn't covering it up with rude comments... He was like that until the day he (Kurama) had left five years ago.
"So, if we really did have sex, who do you think was the uke?"
Kurama blushed and growled slightly. And look at him now! A disgusting pervert!
Elsewhere, Yusuke started to slow his fast walking, as his anger ebbed, "I should kill the idiots who agreed to passing that...," he smiled, "Bet mom and Keiko are havin' fun dealing with them..." Keiko...
"Heeheehee..."
"I don't know why I'm bothering but, who's there?" Yusuke asked, turning around. There stood four demons, obviously not there to chat. B-class... Impressive... Not, "What da ya want?"
"To kill you, of course," one youkai answered, "In this region, you are the only true hanyou worth our time to kill."
"I see... So you're doing the humans a favor by killing the half-breeds off?"
"Kisama! Die!" they jumped at Yusuke at once, but the hanyou just smirked.
"Kazuma-san?"
Kuwabara was startled at bit, which was sad, given how soflty the words were spoken. He looked up from where he sat on the grass outside the complex, to see Yukina, "Yukina-san..."
"Daijobuka? Both you and Yusuke-san seem to most on edge today... Kurama-san and Hiei-san seems that way too, come to think of it... and I haven't seen Mukuro-san at all today..."
"Ah, uh, no... I'm fine... I suppose...," the ningen blushed as Yukina sat down next to him, "Yukina-san...?" she sat with her legs out to her side, her hands in her lap. She stared at those pale hands.
"Are the humans seeking revenge?" she asked suddenly.
"Huh?"
"I know that, even though before my time, the youkai were most cruel to ningens... That's why Reikai put the barrier up between the worlds... I'm asking you, if you think that your kind are passing these dreadful laws to get back at us?" she never looked up as she said this.
So... you know about the law, huh? "I guess... Us humans are stupid enough to do that..."
Yukina smiled a little, but she still didn't look up, "What... would Yusuke-san be considered? A human or a demon?"
"Uh... Well, I've always thought of him a youkai, even when he was a kid living in Ningenkai... but I suppose he'd be both...," Kuwabara answered truthfully. Yukina knodded, acknowledging this. She looked up at the sky. It was purple and red, and far away, lighting could be seen, meaning a storm was coming soon. She had always wondered, ever since Kuwabara's first visit to this place... Was there really a blue sky in the human realm? One that could be clear as far as the eye could see?"
"You say your sky is light blue? Such a wonderful color. And white clouds? That would be a change from the dark gray ones here..."
"Well, sometimes the clouds are gray... But that's when it's gonna rain..."
Yukina finally looked at the ningen, making him blush even more, if possible, "Kazuma-san?"
"Ah, yes?"
"I feel ominous times aproaching here... But would you promise to me, that you'll find some way... To let me see the blue sky?"
"...Of course..."
"Thank you."
"Gwahahahaha...," laughed a hissing voice behind them. Kuwabara stood up and faced the youkai standing there, "Such a touching speech... But I can't allow this filthy human to suck up any more of our air. Sorry, little girl."
"How dare you address Yukina-san as such!" Kuwabara formed his rei-ken and charged at the demon.
"Stop! Kazuma-san!" Yukina cried.
Kurama lay lazily back on the grass, his feet still emersed in the water. Another group of the youkai were sneaking up on him, bi-headed in the fact they were about to get their own hanyou. This one wasn't in any of the papers either...
One youkai thrust it's claws downward, but somehow mud got into his eyes, and he staggered backward. Kurama had kicked some of the soil under the water in his direction. The fox jumped up onto his hands from his spot, and leaped over the youkai, and faster than they could turn around, Kurama spun around once, and kicked them all into the river. As they tried to get out of the water, the tree above them's roots tied themselves around them. They were crushed within seconds. Kurama sighed, sad that he couldn't finish his nap.
"You've got more power than you let on," laughed a familiar voice.
"Are you following me?" Kurama asked as he looked to see Hiei, sword drawn, standing nearby with that annoying smirk on his face.
"No. You just keep going to the same places I do," he huffed. He walked a step closer to the battle seen, "They're everywhere. I felt Yusuke's youki go off a few minutes ago. Meaning..."
"They plan to kill all of the hanyou...," Kurama finished. Hiei knodded.
"And, apparently, they think you're one, too," Hiei laughed.
"That isn't a laughing matter, Hiei."
"Oh, no?"
They stared at eachother for a bit, until, "AAAAHHH!" Hiei whipped around, "Yukina... Oh, no, she must have been near the idiot!" he charged off before Kurama could say anything, but the fox decided to follow.
The youkai who had attacked Kuwabara now was pulling Yukina's head back by the hair. Kuwabara couldn't retaliate, "Little girl," the demon hissed into her ear with a wicked smile, "Why do you hang around this filth when you can be with a proper youkai like myself?" he smirked even wider, "You are very beautiful, you know," he licked Yukina's cheek.
"KISAMA!" yelled Kuwabara.
"Heheh, what're you gonna do about it?" his smirk dissapeared as he felt the hand holding the girl's hair starting to freeze. He looks and sees ice forming up his arm. He quickly lets go of Yukina as much as he could with the absence of the ability to move his arm, "You... WRETCH!" he paused, and in that second, his face was cut cleanly in half. Yukina ran to Kuwabara (but mostly to get away from the now dead body). He blushed and made sure she was alright.
"Hn," Hiei stood behind the dead body, his sword bloody, "Wasn't even worth my time."
"Hiei-san...," Yukina whispered.
"Oi, oi, oi!" yelled Yusuke as he ran around to meet the rest of the group.
"Took you long enough," Kuwabara sniffed.
"Shut up, I had my own troubles. These guys are after me," Yusuke explained. Hiei smirked and pointed to Kurama behind him, "And apparently, they're after him as well," Yusuke gaped, "Really? Why!"
"'cuz... He's is sorta a hanyou," Kuwabara answered.
"Oh, yeah... Well, sucks fer you don't it?" Yusuke said rather insensitivly. Kurama just sweatdropped.
Meanwhile, another group of the youkai sensed Mukuro's ki near them, but couldn't see where she was, "Where the hell is that bitch?"
"Why're we killing everyone again? I thought we came just for the two hanyou," said another youkai, only to be bonked on the head by a third one.
"Because, moron! That way they won't be able to get stronger and take their revenge out on us!"
"...Oh...," they stared at eachother for awhile, until-
"What a strategic plan," a cool voice said. They youkai whirled around in all directions, but couldn't find where it came from, "But I'm afraid we're strong enough to kill you now," a blast of crimson-colored ki struck them, and they were incinerated. Mukuro jumped from a branch above, "That's why it's best to look up first."
"Shit... How many of these guys are there!" Yusuke yelled as more youkai sprung towards them. The hanyou and the rest all prepared for the fight.
"Stop!"
"Huh? Who said that!" Kuwabara asked. Mukuro walked toward them with a serious expression, "Why should we stop, ma'am?" Kuwabara said with obvious fear in his voice. Hiei rolled his eyes, "He's afraid of her..."
"Do you really not see why?" Mukuro asked in a matter-of-fact way. Yusuke looked the youkai up and down, "Uh... no."
"I see...," Kurama said, "These aren't youkai at all..."
"What?" Kuwabara asked, "How's that possible? They got youkai and everything!"
"They're dolls, in a sense," Hiei spoke, "They may be destroyed, but after a certain amount of time, they regenirate themselves. I've had a run in with these types before," he finished, leaving Kurama thinking, When?
"Correct," Mukuro said.
"So what the hell do we do?" Yuske obviously was having trouble keeping his anger in check. He normally wouldn't even bother trying to keep it down, but lately... His demon blood had been doing strange things to him in his anger...
"We split up," Mukuro answered.
"Huh? What good'll that do?"
"These creatures aren't very smart. They're looking for one target, or one group, all together."
"So if we split up, they'll get confused and wonder off aimlessly," Kurama finished, "Forcing their puppeteer's to come look for them. Then we can attack them."
"Damn, how do you know all the crap?" Yusuke whined.
"Wait!" Kuwabara yelped, "Do we split up entirely? That would leave Yukina by herself!" Hiei twitched at this. Mukuro looked at Yukina, who had been silent the whole time, "Yukina-chan... I may not have known you for very long, but I do know your origin. Your race is very sadistic and cruel. I think, even though you choose not to show it, you can fend for yourself."
"Of course...," Yukina said quietly.
"Are you sure?" Kuwabara continued.
"Yes... It's only for a little while, right?"
"Right. I'll finish this for all of us... But mostly for you, my love!" he blushed. Hiei rolled his eyes once more, "Baka...," Kurama smiled a bit.
"Alright, this has been dragging on for way too long. Let's go!" Yusuke declared, and the group took off in different directions. The "dolls" looked around with dumb expressions, then shrugged at eachother and walked away from the group in random directions of their own.
MOOMEOWBARKCROKE
Yeah, I know I said HieixKuramaness would be this chapter, but I'll cut it off here! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
You can wait another couple days right?
Readers: glare
Good, I thought so.
Also, people be gettin' hurt next chapter! Scratches, scratches, everywhere! A booboo here, a booboo there! (my little "hurty hurty" song)
So stay tuned for my next update, y'all! (not a Texan)