I know it's been awhile again, but if you really think about it, this update came a lot sooner than any other one! Also, I'm gonna try and do some artwork for this story, too. I'm not saying I'm the greatest artist to ever live, but my artwork is pretty darn good! It would be used as a visual part of the story, ya see…
Also! I think I said this before, but, have any of you heard of Blkwidow77? She's the authoress who made Twitch Twitch, and Fate's Plaything. Basically, she's one of the best known writers of Yu Yu Hakusho fan fiction ever! And she's been posting new chapters for her story Twitch Twitch on fanworks (dot) org.You MUST check it out!
And, if you can, e-mail her and convince her to update! But make sure you convince me to update too! The envy won't be enough, sadly….
:suddenly, I feel an ominous shadow at my back. I turn around and nearly faint:
ANNEMARIEH: H-hi, H-Hiei! L-long time n-no see! I hope you enjoyed your nap!
:Hiei doesn't reply. Only comes closer, a deadly look plastered on his face:
ANNEMARIEH: :starting to panic: Look Hiei! And ice cream truck!
:Hiei doesn't look. He's focused only on me at this point:I don't know if I should be happy about this or not:
ANNEMARIEH: Hey! I'm really really sorry! I didn't mean to hit you that hard! I just don't know my own strength!
:Hiei STILL doesn't say anything, he's almost upon me. Forget apologies, I'm outta here:
:I try to run…. Hiei uses his Jagan and I freeze in my tracks:
HIEI: No more games onna. This time I'm going to put you out of your misery for real.
ANNEMARIEH: :struggles, but it's pointless: What more do you want from me! I said I'm sorry! I--….
HIEI: SHUT UP! You had better make a will, and make it quick. Because tonight, you die.
ANNEMARIEH: :in tears: B-but….
HIEI: No buts! Do it now! And maybe I'll make your death painless…
ANNEMARIEH: Well guys, this is the end for me… it was nice knowing you! You go ahead and read this chapter without me.
Disclaimer/my will: I do not, and sadly never will own Yu Yu Hakusho or any of the characters. I give a gum wrapper to Morganna, and a bent paper clip to Beth, the two best reviewers I ever knew. Everyone else, enjoy this EXTRA long chapter.
It's said to be often true, that when someone who fights so fiercely against the lies, is suddenly confronted with the truth…. They don't know what to do. They hadn't been expecting the sudden change, the overwhelming shift. So they go mad. When faced with a new situation, one that no one saw coming, no one prepared for…. The best solution is to NOT change along with the truth. It is to STAY the exact same. And this was exactly what went through my mind at that moment…..
…..For about ten seconds until….
Botan gave me an enthusiastic shove towards the portal and I stumbled, falling right in. My first thought was 'Oh shit! This isn't good!' My first reaction was to scream. So I screamed…. For about five seconds, then… "Oof!" I landed face-first into the ground, nearly getting a mouth of red carpet. I sat up and massaged my neck. Ouch, that really hurt! Now I'm really pissed!
"Aki! I'm glad you could make it! Though I wish you wouldn't scream like that…." came the rather annoying voice of Koenma. I turned and scowled, remembering my reason why I was going to kill Botan. I looked at Koenma…. Or, what I thought was Koenma. A little baby sat perched upon the desk. I blinked… then blinked again. Huh? I could've sworn I heard Koenma's voice. It couldn't have been the baby?
My pondering was halted as Botan landed beside me, all smiles and giggles. "I'm sorry Aki! I didn't mean to push you through if you weren't ready!" she gushed, pulling me to my feet. I was too stunned to say anything. How did she get---? Oh, the portal….
I shook free of her grip and growled. "Alright Botan! Where is he? You better come out of hiding Koenma!" I said, crossing my arms over my chest, scowling darker than the clouds on a sunny day. A chuckle reached my ears. "I'm right here Aki." he said, or rather, the 'baby' said. I'm sure the shock was more than avid upon my face. I even rubbed my eyes to make sure I wasn't hallucinating. Had anyone slipped a drug in my tea this morning? Because I know babies don't talk….
Botan giggled like a school girl and gave me a pat on the back. "Aki! That's really Koenma! The form you saw him in was just for official business. This is what the real Koenma looks like." she said proudly, as though the child sitting on the desk was the next Jesus Christ. I raised an eyebrow questioningly. "So Koenma's a baby? A baby runs this Reikai?" I asked, thoroughly perplexed.
'Koenma' stood up suddenly, impatience setting in. "Yes Akira. I may be small, but believe me, I'm 700 years older than you." He said, and my eyes widened comically. I felt the familiar tug of a smirk crawling upon my lips. "Really? Then why are you still wearing diapers? It takes you that long to mature?" I replied sarcastically, watching in satisfaction as his face turned red, with either embarrassment or anger, I didn't know. But I did know I had set him off.
And just like any 'baby'… he pitched a fit. "NO! NO! NO! Botan! Don't just stand there! Pull out the papers!" he screamed, stomping his foot on the desk, huffing and puffing like the big bad wolf. Botan did as she was told, while I just stood there and could only laugh to myself. This was all so overwhelming, but… at the same time, incredibly funny, too. And maybe alittle on the weird side….
"Here they are Koenma sir!" she said, handing him a folder. The exact same folder Koenma had pulled out on me a couple days ago… Suddenly, everything ceased to be amusing. This wasn't funny anymore. This was something very serious. And it all had something to do with me. As much as I detested the idea, I was more worried about what he was going to tell me, instead of what was happening. Sometimes, it's just better off to not know, then to know and face the truth…
Koenma flipped the folder once again to draw out some papers before setting the folder on the desk beside him. He glanced up at me. "I trust you won't pass out this time around? I didn't get to explain the whole story to you, you know." He said, and I nodded my head in understanding. I couldn't speak my consent or disapproval. My throat had dried like the desert. My voice had faded away.
"Yes, well. You should recall before you passed out that I told you you were a half-breed, right?" I nodded. Yeah, how could I possibly forget that? All this time I thought I was human, that I was normal, and then I found out I'm not! No one can forget that type of information, no matter how much they want to.
"….Okay. So you did remember that. Good. And then you should know that because you are a half-breed, there will be bounty hunters after you that want to kill you-…" "So I'm being hunted like an animal!" I interjected, my voice finally cooperating with my thoughts. It's time I speak my mind, especially when I'm being…. When I….
Koenma shakes his head at me sadly. "Yes, I'm afraid it's just like that. And that's not the worst of it yet, either…. Akira Torimea, I think you should sit down for this one." I said nothing in reply but took the chair beside me. He had never addressed me by my full name before. It must be that important. An uneasy feeling had wormed its way into the pit of my stomach, spreading the faint sense of lethargy throughout my body like poison. I didn't want to know. I didn't care to know. But he was going to tell me anyway. I convinced myself not to scream…
"These… bounty hunters, follow a leader. They work as a team to capture their designated target and bring it in. The leader is the one who calls the shots, and tells them what to do and how it is to be done. I hate to tell you this, but… the leader is your father…" My heart stopped dead in its tracks, as all the color drained from my face. My ears were ringing and my mind had ceased to function. Somewhere in the distance, I could faintly hear Botan calling my name.
I couldn't believe what I had just heard. This can't be true. It's not true! But the sudden surge of fear faded away into nothingness, and I… did nothing. There was nothing I could do. I hadn't been expecting this. I hadn't seen this coming, and if I had… would I have been able to do anything about it? Probably not… most likely not….
I jumped when I felt a hand upon my shoulder, and looked up into the concerned face of Kurama. It was time for me to go. Everything began to move forward again. "Aki? Are you okay?" he asked, taking my hand and pulling me to my feet. I didn't say anything but looked away. I didn't want him to know. He doesn't need to know the information I've just found out. Because I know if he finds out, he'll ask a million questions or try to 'help'. And I don't want any of that.
Kurama must've thought my unresponsiveness was seriously unusual, and turned to Koenma. "Koenma, why is she acting like this? What did you tell her?" he inquired, and the toddler sighed. "The truth about the bounty hunters." He replied in a solemn tone, and Kurama's eyes widened in surprise. He looked down at me. "Aki? Aki. Please look at me." He commanded softly, and I reluctantly met his gaze.
His soft green eyes sparkled down at me, and in a vague way, I began to feel a little bit better. I was still upset, but not as much. "Hey, it's going to be okay Akira. You're safe amongst us now. Your father will never hurt you again…" My eyes widened in surprise. How… how did he know? Who told him! I pulled away from him, my eyes suddenly filled with suspicion.
"Who told you, about that?" I muttered bitterly, and he merely sighed. "Hiei… he found out about it the day you confronted him in the rain. I think that's why he's so protective of you, Aki. He cares about you as much as we do." Kurama explained, but I was too angry to hear the rest of what he was saying. So that's why they look at me like that. That's why they're so 'concerned'. They pity me. A weak little girl, who's lost her innocence. Who needs all the sympathy she can get. Wrong. I need no pity.
And Hiei! I'll get him for this! How dare he speak of such things to other people! A feeling of betrayal stung at my heart, and I bit back the tears. I can't believe he would do something like that. Even though he doesn't know me, he thinks it's okay to go and tell everyone about my life? I'll kill him! As soon as I learn how….
I hadn't realized how quiet it had gotten in the room, when Koenma finally spoke up, breaking the deafening silence. "Kurama, I think you should take Akira back to the temple. Tomorrow she can train with you, and you can even show her the greenhouse! I've already told her all that she needs to know, so she can leave." He said, placing the papers back into the folder.
Botan, who had been standing off to the side without breathing a word, finally chose to speak. "Aki, don't worry. Like Kurama said, everything will be okay now. I'll drop by later on and have dinner with you. I must go for now. I'm afraid I have duties to attend to. Bye everyone!" she said, once again her happy giggly self. And with that said, she quickly left the room. Either she did have duties to attend to, or… she just didn't want to be around me at the moment. I couldn't tell which.
How I wish I could be that care-free… that happy… Is it even possible to be that cheerful? I wonder if Botan ahs a dark past? Maybe she's not as happy as everyone thinks her to be. With some people, you can never tell…
Kurama smiled down at me and patted my shoulder. "Well, I suggest we get going." He said, and I didn't protest as he led me away, and out of that horrible horrible office. I never wanted to see that place again.
The return to the temple was sooner than I expected, and I quietly walked inside, making a bee-line straight to my room for some peace and quiet. Besides, if Hiei was in the tree outside my room…. A faint smirk graced my lips with the endless possibilities. But before I could take one step further, Kurama stopped me. I look up at him with as much patience as I could muster. "Yes?" I asked, and he frowned slightly.
"Are you sure you're feeling well, Aki? I could ask Yuki-…" "No! I'm fine. Really! You don't have to worry so much about me Kurama. I can do well on my own." I interrupted with a faint smile, holding a hand up to silence him. He looked mildly surprised by my rudeness, but I'm sure he'll get over it.
"All right. If you insist…" he said slowly, and I groaned inwardly. There he goes again! He acts like he agrees with me, but come tomorrow, he'll be asking me a million questions! If he thinks his little tactics are going to work on me, he's got another thing coming! But for now, I'll let him think I'm that oblivious to him. Let him keep thinking I'm that naive…
I finally convinced him to go home, and I managed to convince Yukina I wasn't hungry. Anyone would lose their appetite if they had bounty hunters after them, and the leader was their own father… I sighed, closing the door to my room behind me, before pulling out some night clothes. A yawn escaped my lips, and with it came a sudden wave of lethargy. I didn't think I would be so tired! And all I did was go to Reikai! Reikai…. I quickly dispersed the thought and crawled into my bed. It never looked so inviting.
I looked at my window, to the dark silhouette of the tree outside. I scanned the branches carefully, expecting to see a certain shadow out of place, but I saw… nothing. Hiei wasn't there this time. IN FACT…. I hadn't seen him all day except for this morning. How odd… I wonder where he went?
I scoffed quietly to myself. Who cares about that jerk anyway? I hope I never see his face again! Because if I do, I'll get him good for telling my secret!
'You lie. You know you want him back. You miss him.' came a voice in the back of my mind. I frowned deeply. Those words were so close to the truth, as much as I hated to admit it. In a way, I guess I did miss him. Not only so I could get my revenge, but because… I felt more at peace being around him, despite the fact my 'other half' wanted him…. I yawned once more and closed my eyes. I'll make him pay, but I think I'll make his punishment light. At least for now. I could change my mind again.
But we'll just wait and see how things go….
KURAMA: Well, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. There was a lot of me in it! Oh! And in case you're wondering why I'm doing the talking, it's because Hiei…. he… uh, killed the authoress AnneMarieh…..
:finally looks down at the 'closed' casket, assorted people dressed in black are crying in the background:
YUUSUKE: :comes up at places a hand on Kurama's shoulder: I may not have known her, but she sure did write one hell of a story! Too bad she set Hiei off. You know how crazy that demon gets! :shakes his head sadly:
:suddenly, there's a loud bumping sound and muffled screaming: :It's coming from the casket:
: the casket bursts open:
ANNEMARIEH: :holding her head while glaring: OWWW! I never thought death would be so painful!
:still rumbling to herself as Yuusuke and Kurama try to figure out what's going on:
YUUSUKE: What the hell! I thought Hiei had killed you!
ANNEMARIEH: :finally realizes he's there: Oh hi Yuusuke! How ya been?
YUUSUKE: :sighing hard: Yeah, hi. Uh, do mind telling us how you can still be alive after Hiei brutally murdered you? It's just not possible for you to still be alive after that…
ANNEMARIEH: :thinking hard to herself: Well….. I don't know! Maybe I'm immortal or something! But… :lowers her voice: I think it's because the reviews I get from my fans keeps me going!
KURAMA: 0.0;; Yeah, maybe it's that. Well, glad to see you're still with us! :smiles ALITTLE bit to sweetly:
Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Not even death could keep me from writing it! Just please make sure you leave me a review on the way out! AND, I'm serious about that lemon thing. Tell me in your review if you want one or not! This is very important so don't forget! Tootles.