Hikari's eyes opened slowly. He wasn't sure what he expected: something, anything. Pain, anger, everything was gone.
"Am I dead?" Feeling gradually returned to his arms then the rest of his body but his sight stayed missing. "Damn, what the hell happened?"
"We were almost killed. Don't worry, everything will be alright in a moment."
"Who are you?"
"My name is Kiete. I lived inside your body for more than a month. We shared an affinity for female humans. Remember?"
"Yeah, I remember you. What's all this about me dying?"
"Not you, me. My body was destroyed by that kitsune's father. I want your help Hikari."
"What do you need me for?"
"Tell me something Hikari. How would you like to have the power of a god?"
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Kuwabara was sure that Boton was trying to wear a groove into the floor.
"I don't know whatcha got against Urameshi's floor job but it really musta ticked you off!"
"Do you ever stop talking Kuwabara?"
"Just trying to lighten the situation." He looked thoughtful for a while. "You hate Kurama's daughter because she killed Hiei, ne? Or is there another reason why you hate her?"
"She betrayed him."
"Or did he betray you?" asked Keiko. The former Shinigami whirled on her furiously.
"What?"
"I'm just saying what I see. I do recall that you were in love with Hiei at one point. After Kurama died you wanted to be there for him but he pushed you away, like he did with all of us. He was always a loner so that kind of behavior was expected. You thought eventually he'd come around. Then out of the blue Kurama's daughter shows up and steals his heart and suddenly you realize that you really have lost him, that he's never going to come around because he finally found someone to replace Kurama…and that someone wasn't you." She crossed her arms and glared at her.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Deny it all you want Boton." For a moment silence reigned. Then Boton hopped up.
"I'm going to check on Yukina."
"Alright then…say hi to her husband for me." Boton's eyes seemed ready to pop out of her head.
"She's MARRIED!" She sneaked a stealthy look at Kuwabara who studiously avoided her gaze. "I thought for sure that she and Kuwabara…I mean…"
"It happened while I was dead." He said without looking up.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm just glad she's happy."
Keiko shook her head as she walked out of the room. It looked like all of her friends were living in denial.
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"Now how am I going to fix this little mess?" Banshi sighed. Humans, they were so unpredictable…and so damn bothersome. He watched as Urameshi poked around where he wasn't wanted. After seeing all rooms empty he had hoped that the ningen would give up and go away. But still he snooped around; what he was looking for, the yokai didn't know, nor did he plan to find out. It was time he got rid of this menace once and for all. He looked over at his second player. "Well little half-breed, its time you made your move, ne?" The baby girl cooed and the yokai watched as the human's life-light flickered into darkness.
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"What is that smell?" Yusuke had been searching for what felt like hours but the halls of the castle seemed never ending. Now a faint scent came out of virtually nowhere. Everyone seemed to have disappeared. "Damn it, this is going nowhere!" As usual Yusuke's infinite patience showed. He smothered a yawn. Strange, all of a sudden he was tired. He yawned again and stretched. He started thinking of home and Keiko and his big, warm, comfy bed. The third yawn came with shivers. Damn it, when did it get so cold?
"I'll just stop for a minute to rest. It'll be for just a little." He sank to the floor and leaned against the wall. Between breaths he was fast asleep. He slept as his body temperature fell. He didn't feel when the floor crumbled beneath him…
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xx A/n…I decided to change the way Yusuke died…didn't like it. xx
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"Interesting, what a very interesting way to kill someone."
"I didn't want him to feel pain. You never said I had to torture him to death, so I killed him before he hit the ground" the defiant little voice answered in his head. Banshi chuckled.
"Fine, have it your way."
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"Don't we need to find you another body?"
"Am I disturbing you?" Hikari thought for a moment.
"No, I don't suppose you are. I was just wondering how long this would work." Kiete chuckled.
"It worked for the past two months didn't it?"
"I know."
"Don't worry, the moment this is over I'll build myself a new body. Until then we need each other. I know how Banshi thinks…and right now he thinks I'm dead. I'd be vulnerable without you and you'd have no idea what to do next without me."
"Alright, I hear you. So what's our next move?"
"The Makai library…and then…"
"And then we can let all hell loose on the world."
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"Hiei! Hiei can you hear me! Hiei wake up!" Hiei moaned. Somebody was yelling in his ear and was making his already splitting headache much worse. "Hiei!"
"I hear you, alright! Don't yell so damn loud!"
"Sorry…can you get up?" The koorime started to nod but a burst of pain discouraged it.
"Yeah, I think so."
"I'm guessing that means you're getting up whether or not you're physically able." Finally the speaker moved into what was Hiei's limited sight range.
"Miya! Thank Kami you're all right!" He winced as he shoved himself up. "Where the hell are we?"
"Hiei…"
"Urameshi and Kuwabara were just here a minute ago…damn it, what the hell happened? Why can't I remember anything after that?"
"Hiei…"
"If I could just figure out what the hell Banshi is trying to do…"
"HIEI!" The distracted koorime was too busy trying to sort out his jumbled memories to pay attention. Finally Hiei found himself being pulled back against the fox yokai. Strong arms held him in a close embrace and an amused chuckle sounded in his ear.
"The things I have to do to get through to you Hiei…you're always so hard headed."
"Miya?"
The person pulled him even closer and ran a gentle hand through his ebony hair.
"You've got the wrong red-headed kitsune Hiei-chan." All three eyes widened.
"Kurama... but you're dead!" Hiei pulled away and turned around. Sure enough it was Kurama that stared back at him. Those serious green eyes held him captive, just like they used to. He had imagined this many times, imagined what he would do and say if he ever got the chance to see his Kurama again just one more time. Now all of that escaped him. He looked exactly the same as Hiei remembered: blood-red hair hung down to his waist, framing an almost-feminine face. He was still rather thin. Hiei hoped that it wasn't a dream: it seemed too real. He was afraid to blink for fear that the kitsune would be gone when his eyes re-opened. He couldn't find anything to say.
"Kurama I…"
"Shh." Kurama put a finger on the koorime's lips, effectively cutting off anything he was about to say. "I know. You don't have to say anything. And no, I'm not going to disappear; I'm as real as you are. See?" He reached out and pulled his friend's hand to his face. Hiei let his hand linger there for a moment before caressing the hair he loved so much. After a while Kurama tilted his face up so they could look at each other eye to eye. "Satisfied?"
"No. I know what I saw; I'll never forget when you died. But here you are. You seem real enough. Tell me, am I dead, or dreaming?"
"If the choice is between the two then I suppose dreaming is the closest one. I have to admit, Kuwabara was right about me being Banshi's opponent but this has been going on a lot longer than you think. I came to warn you: the fights are only going to get much harder. We just lost Yusuke. I'm sorry." The words hit him like a load of bricks.
Yusuke can't be gone! He's to dumb to die! Why would the baka go and get himself killed when he knows we still need him?
"Hiei listen to me. Miya wont be able to help you either."
"Kami, no! Not her…"
"Relax, she's alive but…she's at a different level now and she's not allowed to interfere with mortal concerns. You and Kuwabara are going to have to do this on your own. I know you can do this."
"I want to know what's going on Kurama." The kitsune had to smile at Hiei's stubborn face.
"You haven't changed a bit have you? Alright then, I'll tell you everything…"
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A bright light seemed to be aimed directly into his face. Yusuke swore silently at whichever unfortunate person it was.
"Mornin' dude!" Some joyful voice proclaimed. The human was propped up against a column. Around him the room was dark and directly crowding his view were two over-cheerful faces.
"It's about time you joined us gramps!"
"Gramps?" The two brown-haired teens snickered.
"For an old guy you're pretty talented!" The girl said sweetly.
"Talented nothing," the boy interrupted, "that's THE coolest free-fall in like… ever! It's gotta be a record or somethin'!"
Yusuke looked back and forth between them, utterly confused. "What the hell"
"Oh right! I forgot the whole manners bit! I'm Death and this here's my little sis Despair. Wazzup?"
Yusuke shook his head as if it would get rid of the two. "Can either of you explain what is happening to me?"
"You went zero to splat in 2.2 seconds! Record speeds dude! You must have been doing a hundred and forty!"
"Could you try in English?"
The boy sighed in exasperation. What, are you slow or something?"
"He's old bro; you've got to go slow for old people."
"I AM NOT OLD!" They both ignored him.
"Ok, I'm gonna go through this for ya again. Just take a look at the pictures." Death drew a stick-man on the wall. Then he drew a line near the bottom of the wall. After that he drew an upside down stick man with it's mouth open, then he drew a pile of…something on the floor. Finally he drew arrows connecting all the pictures.
"That's a pretty good piccy. You really captured the situation!"
Death stepped back and looked at them. "You think so? I dunno, I think it needs something."
Yusuke wanted to scream in exasperation. "Would somebody just tell me what the HELL is going on here!"
"Ya mean ya still don't get it?" Despair growled. "Look, this is you." She pointed to the first stick-man. "This is the ground." She pointed to the line. "And this," she pointed to the muddle of arrows, "is you HITTING THE GOUND AT A HUNDRED MILES AN HOUR!" Her face was now a picture of complete enthusiasm. "Dude, you're DEAD! But what a way to die huh?"
"Dead!"
"Yep!" The brother agreed. "As dead as an ol' rattlesnake that's been chopped into itty bitty pieces. Say hello to hell old dude!"