Katanas on Ice, Hearts on Fire YYH Hiei Mystery Solved
You actually walked. You wandered among the many corridors, where everyone else in the citadel slept. A few hours later, you were back in the corridor where your room was located. Absentmindedly, you look at the room numbers. 363, 365, 367, 369, 371-371. Could it be- a room number? Was the answer really that simple? You stop and take a step toward the door.
You knocked. No answer. You send a soft breeze through the crack underneath the door. It brought back no sound. You send it again. Nop- Was that a snore? Unable to contain you curiosity any longer, you pull a lock pick out of your pocket and start on the door.
An old trick. Still works. The door slides open. You peek in. The room was very clean, and smelled like roses…
A few human years ago, 15 to be exact, a thief troupe tried to ransack the village of Mizuho. All the people had rushed underground into their hidey-holes. One young girl, however, hid only long enough to suit up. Grabbing her katana, she slipped out of the hiding place, past her mother, and out into the open air. She came out just in time to hear a little girl scream. Throwing caution to the wind, the young girl whipped across the landscape just in time to pull a little girl to safety as a stream of black fire shot where the girl had been moments before. The originator of the blast was furious. When he came to investigate, he found two girls. One girl was in hysterics, while the other had her sword drawn, and was ready to fight. So they fought. He blocked over and over, but could never get a hit in. They were caught in a stalemate. The battle would have raged on for days if the leader hadn't stepped in and separated them. The girl took a few steps away from them. The little girl she had saved earlier rushed up behind her.
"Rai…lets go…"
The older girl shakes her head.
"Go back to the bunker, Maemi."
"But-"
"GO!"
The younger child runs off. The older girl tightens her grip on the sword. The leader of the group was a silver fox demon, not much older than the girl herself. He steps forward.
"The people behind me did not act on my command."
"But act they did. And I have no proof what you say is true."
"None but my word."
"The word of a thief is nothing."
He looks hurt.
"Actually, the word of a thief is worth more than gold. They don't give it very often."
The young girl makes no reply.
"You seem to like to fight."
"I fight when I have to."
"Whatever. Let's fight. If I win, you have to put up with us for a week, you forgive my group of renegades, and we leave in peace. If I lose, you get to decide what to do with us.
"That seems like a win-win situation in the long run. Fine."
And the fight began. A long whip lashes out toward the girl, and a sharp blade cuts it. Occasionally, one might manage to get a hit in. But not often. Hours later the pair collapse to the ground, both exhausted. All sides agree- draw.
"So now what do we do? Try again?" Asks the girl.
"Nope. We compromise. I'm Youko Kurama. And you are?"
"Rai Kazemaru."
"Okay, so how about we stay in the village for a couple days, and you decide what happens to us, during that time. At the end, we leave, and you forgive us."
The young girl is too exhausted to argue, but manages a nod.
A week later, the village was in full splendor, and thieves were getting ready to leave. All but one. The leader had stopped the girl one last time.
"Sure you don't want to come with us? We could use someone of your talent."
She shakes her head.
"I am needed here."
" Well, I'll be stopping by to check in on you every once in a while. Got to make sure you don't get into trouble."
He ruffles he hair and takes off with the rest of the troupe.
The girl smiles. She'd found a friend for life.
True to his word, he stopped by occasionally. When word of his death reached her, Rai became cold and reclusive. No one but her closest friends knew the real her.
The flashback ended, leaving you a little dazed.
I thought I sealed that away…Why did this room trigger it? You shake the rest of the daze from your head and step into the room. Not a sound.
Huh…
You walk over to the four-poster bed, pull aside the bed curtains and find a very familiar fox demon on the bed, sleeping like a baby.
"No way!"
Although you tried to be quiet, he woke up anyway, staring round sleepily.
"What? Who?"
Well, no point in being quiet now.
"YOUKO KURAMA! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN! YOU JUST DISAPPEARED AND NOW YOU POP UP HERE? WHY COULDN"T YOU HAVE JUST TOLD ME! WHY DID YOU HAVE TO CREEP ME OUT! YOU-"
He puts a hand over your mouth.
"Nice to see you too, Rai."
When you stopped screaming he took his hand away. You start talking again.
Eventually you stop to breathe.
"Are you going to listen now?"
You nod.
"Well, after the last time I left Mizuho, I found something I wanted very badly. Unfortunately, the burglary botched. And I ended up almost dead. I fused my soul with that of a human being born. I take over usually during the full moon."
"So, uh, who are you sharing with?"
He smiles.
"I think you know them." Then he pulls out a rose and begins playing with it, leaving you to think about it.
Rose…Youko Kurama…room smells like roses…someone else smells like roses…
"Kurama?"
Youko nods.
"Yep. Took you long enough. Hiei made the connection almost instantly."
You perk up at Hiei's name.
"Hiei? You know Hiei? I mean, before now?"
He chuckles. "Of course. We even worked together on a few jobs. I never thought of doing was introducing the two of you. I should have though. You seem to get along nicely."
"We do not!"
"Oh yes you do. You can't lie to me."
You open your mouth to speak but shut it. It was useless.
You spend the rest of the day talking and getting to know each other again. You left, positively glowing like you haven't for years. If only Hotaru were here…
You reach your door, but find it locked. You know you hadn't locked it before you left. You take your lock pick out, and slip it into the keyhole. When the door opens, there is no one inside, and the room doesn't look like it's been entered.
Very strange…
You shrug it off. Maybe the lock had slipped. You change into your PJs, a tank top and stretch pants, then curl up under the blankets, relishing in the darkness of the room. I wish I could say you enjoyed a dreamless sleep. But that would be lying…