Disclaimer: I own neither X-men nor Yu Yu Hakusho. I don't know WHO owns
them, but it certainly isn't ME.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
"blah." means that the words are in English (unless the section is told from a Japanese-speaker's point of view with only Japanese people talking -- I.e. Kurama, Yuusuke, Hiei, Logan, Genkai, etc.)
~"blah."~ means that the words are in Japanese.
="blah."= indicates words spoken in a Makai dialect. (Wait a few chapters . . . you'll see what I mean . . .)
- : - : - : - : - : -
A/N: This will not be a blatantly yaoi or shounen-ai story. There will be brother-brother relationships between Yuusuke, Kurama and Hiei, but I suppose that some of you out there could interpret their actions as 'love' if you wanted. It's your call, however you want to view it.
- : - : - Chapter Four: Some Goodbyes Need a Little Interpretation - : - : -
Logan and Ororo waited in the cockpit of the Blackbird, warming up the engines for takeoff while the two Japanese boys had a short, private conversation with Genkai. Logan's dark eyes were fixed firmly upon the various screens and gauges lining the control panels before him while Ororo checked the radar for any indication of planes flying near enough to spot the Blackbird.
Occasionally, he would lean forward and look out the cockpit windows, watching the two boys and their teacher conversing quietly amongst themselves, and a pensive look would cross his face.
He turned back to his pre-flight checks a few seconds later but called to Ororo. "How'd yours go?"
Sounds of movement behind him ceased as the African woman paused momentarily in her work. "Fine," she replied, but her tone was thoughtful.
"You don't sound like it went 'fine.' "
She sighed, but her hands went back to skimming over the numerous keys and switches on the console before her. "It was . . . odd. The boy's mother, Shiori Minamino . . . when we first came in, she was smiling and polite. She hugged Shuichi and he hugged her back. They looked like they were perfectly happy . . . after we had been introduced, I told her why I had come --Shuichi translated for me, thankfully-- . . . and I told her that Shuichi was a mutant . . . and she . . ."
Ororo's voice trailed off, and then . . .
"She said something . . . in a breathless sort of way, as though she couldn't believe it. One word, I think, and all the blood just drained straight out of Shuichi's face . . . He . . . He looked like he had just seen something out of his nightmares."
Logan turned in his seat to face the silver-haired woman, a frown upon his face. "What'd she say?"
"Shuichi didn't translate . . . but it sounded like . . . like ah- . . . ah- koo-mah, I think." Her lips stumbled over the unfamiliar syllables, but Logan understood well enough. The dark-haired man's eyes narrowed, and he cursed softly under his breath.
Ororo looked at him strangely. "You know what it is?"
"Akuma [1]," hissed the man, looking INCREDIBLY pissed. "It means 'demon' or 'evil spirit.' It's the Japanese slang term for mutants, like 'freaks' is for us back home."
"You're serious?!" Ororo looked appalled. "No wonder he looked like she had slapped him!"
Logan growled under his breath. "Did you at least get her signature on the papers for their transfer?"
"Yes. She signed them, and Shuichi could not get me out of that house fast enough . . . the poor boy . . ."
Silence reigned for a long period of time, and Logan could not help but think over his own experience meeting Yuusuke's mother.
- : - : - Flashback - : - : -
Logan followed at Yuusuke's heels as the young man led the way to his home. He worried somewhat about leaving Ororo alone with the redhead, Shuichi, -- since Ororo could not speak English and Shuichi could act as translator, and Yuusuke needed someone who also knew Japanese,-- but comforted himself with the thought that the weather-manipulator could always zap the kid with a several thousand volts of electricity via a few well-placed lightning bolts if he got out of line.
At the moment, he was more worried by the wary Looks continuously shot toward him by Yuusuke.
They said nothing during the entire walk which Logan freely admitted to himself was quite long. He wondered how early the kid had to leave his house to get to the old woman's shrine so early in the morning.
At last, Yuusuke turned down a slightly smaller side-street, dodging between groups of people with the fluid ease that came only from growing up 'street-smart.' A few moments later, the raven-haired young man stopped before a modest, if somewhat unkempt, white house.
Yuusuke looked back at Logan, a warning look in his eyes. "We're here. Let me talk to her, okay?"
Logan nodded and followed the kid up the sidewalk and into the house through the unlocked door. The X-man hung back slightly, hovering near the door and taking in his surroundings while Yuusuke stepped further inside, calling for his mother.
The place was messy --there was no getting around THAT-- but Logan had seen worse places in his time. Old food and unwashed dishes lay in many surface, as well as dirty clothes and garbage, and Logan's keen nose easily detected the scent of alcohol in the air, but it wasn't unbearable. Several areas showed signs of clean-up jobs . . . done, Logan suspected, by Yuusuke himself.
Yuusuke moved among the refuse easily, stepping over various piles without barely having to look at them. "Mom?"
"YUUS'KE!" A middle-aged woman, unremarkable in appearances, with long brown hair appeared in one of the far doorways that led to the bedrooms, calling out, her voice slightly slurred from drunkenness. "Yuus'ke! Y're here!"
The woman swayed slightly and leapt toward her son . . . or she TRIED to, at least. She managed a few shuffling steps before pitching headfirst into Yuusuke's chest.
Yuusuke caught her easily and lowered the both of them to the floor. His mother's arms were wrapped tightly around his waist, and she was mumbling into the front of his shirt.
Yuusuke's eyes were soft and dark. "Hey, mom," he murmured.
Logan only managed to catch a few words of the woman's ramblings.
" . . . god, Yuus'ke, don' scare me like . . . NEVER ag'n, y' hear? . . . thought you'd gone . . . again . . ."
"Yeah, mom." Yuusuke's eyes rose challengingly to meet Logan's, daring the other man to say something about the picture before him.
Logan kept silent.
Yuusuke looked slightly relieved, turning his glance back to his mother. "Mom . . . you went out partying again, didn't you?"
"Yeah . . ." She raised her head with a low hiccup and a drunken smile. "Out t' K'rosa's place . . . partyin' ALL night LONG . . ." She giggled, but the smiled upon her face faded swiftly as her eyes turned back to her son's face. "But . . . but I woke up this mornin,' an' you were GONE . . . an' I thought, 'They've tak'n 'im ag'n!' an' I worried so MUCH . . . Don' leave me, Yuus'ke, not ag'n!"
She tucked her head against Yuusuke's shoulder, squeezing him tightly. Yuusuke hugged her back. " 'S alright, Mother of the Year. You don't have to worry. I always come back."
" . . . swear?"
"I swear."
The woman's arms relaxed her death grip upon her son, and she looked around for the first time since she'd entered the room. Her unfocussed gaze landed upon Logan, and she stiffened, frowning. "Yuus'ke . . . who's that?"
Yuusuke looked up at the taller man. "He's a . . . friend. He needs to talk to you."
" 'Bout what?"
"School." Yuusuke stood, drawing his mother up with him, his arms wrapped firmly around her waist. "Come on, let's wake you up a bit more first. We'll talk later." He looked back at Logan. "Make yourself at home."
Logan watched the pair of them shuffle back through the open doorway, disappearing from sight . . .
- : - : - End Flashback - : - : -
"So how was yours?" Ororo asked quietly.
Logan jerked out of his reverie, sending another glance down at the dark- haired young man outside the jet.
"Enlightening," he said at last.
- : - : - : - : - : -
"Are you sure Yukina won't mind?" Yuusuke's eyes searched his mentor's face for some reassurance.
"She's been bored out of her mind here at the shrine," replied Genkai. "Looking after Atsuko will probably be a vacation for her. You know how that little koorime loves making people feel loved."
Yuusuke grinned wryly. "True enough. . . Thanks, Grandma."
Kurama stood silently to one side, acting even more withdrawn than normal. His eyes, which usually gave his companions some slight idea of his temperament, were carefully blank of any emotions.
The once-youko bowed politely to the old martial artist. "Thank you for your help, Genkai."
Genkai grunted.
Kurama managed a small smile. In Genkai-speech, that particular grunt meant, --'You're welcome.'--
The youko in him had taken to translating all of the odd conversations between Yuusuke and Genkai into what the pair probably TRUTHFULLY meant by their harsh jibes. It was a hobby of sorts. Kurama privately prided himself on the fact that he was the sole person --other than Hiei, perhaps-- aside from Yuusuke and Genkai who was fluent in 'Yuus-Kai'-nese.
Yuusuke cocked his head to one side, folding his arms over his chest and sending a glance toward the Blackbird, listening to the low hum of the warming engines. "Well, I guess our two chaperones are getting cranky waiting for us."
--'It's really time to go.'--
Genkai nodded once. "It's about damn time you left."
--'I suppose it's time for goodbyes.'--
"Meh." Yuusuke snorted.
--'Yeah.'--
"Your idiocy will get you killed on this one, Dimwit, if you don't wizen up."
--'Be careful, boy.'--
"With all the torture-training you put me through? How can I NOT survive anything after THAT nightmare?"
--'I will. You taught me everything I need to know, after all.'--
Kurama's smile became slightly less forced. It was nice to know that SOME things never changed.
"At least now I'll get some peace and quiet, Brat."
--'I'll miss you, Yuusuke.'--
"Maybe I'll get lucky and this training 'll last for a decade or two."
--'I'll miss you, too.'--
"Have fun being hounded by the Sociopath."
--'Tell Hiei that I said, 'Hello.''--
Yuusuke smirked, turning, and walked swiftly toward the sleek black form of the Blackbird. Kurama followed after one last bow toward Genkai.
Yuusuke paused when he reached the top of the loading ramp, saluting his aged teacher cheekily.
"Hey, if I buy it this time, I'll be sure to come back and haunt you, Grandma!"
--'I'll see you soon, one way or another.'--
The smallest of smiles flickered across Genkai's face, but then the loading ramp was raising and she was soon lost to sight.
The two young men turned and walked toward where they assumed the cockpit to be, picking their way through the mind-boggling mess of technology. The humming of the engines was growing stronger with each second, and Kurama's youko senses buzzed with the noise.
As soon as they entered the main cockpit area, Ororo smiled at them, and Logan waved them to two empty seats without even looking up. "Strap in."
Yuusuke and Kurama exchanged a glance even as they moved to obey, the same thought running through both of their heads.
'Here we go . . . again.'
- : - : - To be Continued . . . - : - : -
[1] Akuma- 'evil demon or spirit' . . . I researched this on the internet before using it. As far as I can understand, 'aku' implies evil and 'ma' means a monster or supernatural being. If I'm wrong, blame whoever writes those online Japanese-English dictionaries for their crappy definitions. *glares*
REVIEW RESPONSES FOR LAST CHAPTER:
: Yusukeholic : I'm getting there, I'm getting there . . .
: SSJ Cisco : Thanks. The Lack of Language Barriers is one of my pet peeves in fan fiction.
: Tione : Thanks bunches! I write a new chapter every day, and *shamelessly fishing for more reviews* I look to my reviews for inspiration in my writing! *smiles brightly*
: CJ-Chan : Thankies!
: carla : I'm glad that you like it, and Hiei will show up within the next three or four chapters (no guarantees on an exact time!)
: Rurouni Saiyan : Much thanks, and I hope I didn't make Shiori's reaction way OOC. And I hope I didn't overdo the Yuusuke and Atsuko scene . . . *winces* I'm kinda' worried about that.
: purplepeopleeater : Three things: a) thanks for the support, b) do you have ANY idea how hard it is to type your name? and c) o.O; did you send me three identical reviews on purpose, or was that a computer glitch?
: kailyssia : Oh.*blushes* Sorry. No, I'm not planning on ANY pairings at all right now. Sorry.
: angelbird12214 : You'll have to wait and see!
: oOKeairaOo : Thank you! *bows*
: Dragon Sythe : *giggles* Yeah, I've researched the X-men Evo characters on the internet, but I don't know whether I read the 'X-men Encyclopedia.' Thanks for your support, though. And I don't know a lot about Gambit, but I can try to stick him in somewhere. No promises, though!
: Jaid Skywalker : Thankies in bunches! I hope you like the rest of the story!
: blue moon gurl : Thanks, and you're welcome.
: TCOD : I feel REALLY loved! ^_^ I just really don't have a lot of homework right now and can work on this a lot. There WILL be some times when I don't update every day, but I hope story content makes up for that!
: hiei-luver45 : Here you go! Enjoy!
IMPORTANT NOTE:
"blah." means that the words are in English (unless the section is told from a Japanese-speaker's point of view with only Japanese people talking -- I.e. Kurama, Yuusuke, Hiei, Logan, Genkai, etc.)
~"blah."~ means that the words are in Japanese.
="blah."= indicates words spoken in a Makai dialect. (Wait a few chapters . . . you'll see what I mean . . .)
- : - : - : - : - : -
A/N: This will not be a blatantly yaoi or shounen-ai story. There will be brother-brother relationships between Yuusuke, Kurama and Hiei, but I suppose that some of you out there could interpret their actions as 'love' if you wanted. It's your call, however you want to view it.
- : - : - Chapter Four: Some Goodbyes Need a Little Interpretation - : - : -
Logan and Ororo waited in the cockpit of the Blackbird, warming up the engines for takeoff while the two Japanese boys had a short, private conversation with Genkai. Logan's dark eyes were fixed firmly upon the various screens and gauges lining the control panels before him while Ororo checked the radar for any indication of planes flying near enough to spot the Blackbird.
Occasionally, he would lean forward and look out the cockpit windows, watching the two boys and their teacher conversing quietly amongst themselves, and a pensive look would cross his face.
He turned back to his pre-flight checks a few seconds later but called to Ororo. "How'd yours go?"
Sounds of movement behind him ceased as the African woman paused momentarily in her work. "Fine," she replied, but her tone was thoughtful.
"You don't sound like it went 'fine.' "
She sighed, but her hands went back to skimming over the numerous keys and switches on the console before her. "It was . . . odd. The boy's mother, Shiori Minamino . . . when we first came in, she was smiling and polite. She hugged Shuichi and he hugged her back. They looked like they were perfectly happy . . . after we had been introduced, I told her why I had come --Shuichi translated for me, thankfully-- . . . and I told her that Shuichi was a mutant . . . and she . . ."
Ororo's voice trailed off, and then . . .
"She said something . . . in a breathless sort of way, as though she couldn't believe it. One word, I think, and all the blood just drained straight out of Shuichi's face . . . He . . . He looked like he had just seen something out of his nightmares."
Logan turned in his seat to face the silver-haired woman, a frown upon his face. "What'd she say?"
"Shuichi didn't translate . . . but it sounded like . . . like ah- . . . ah- koo-mah, I think." Her lips stumbled over the unfamiliar syllables, but Logan understood well enough. The dark-haired man's eyes narrowed, and he cursed softly under his breath.
Ororo looked at him strangely. "You know what it is?"
"Akuma [1]," hissed the man, looking INCREDIBLY pissed. "It means 'demon' or 'evil spirit.' It's the Japanese slang term for mutants, like 'freaks' is for us back home."
"You're serious?!" Ororo looked appalled. "No wonder he looked like she had slapped him!"
Logan growled under his breath. "Did you at least get her signature on the papers for their transfer?"
"Yes. She signed them, and Shuichi could not get me out of that house fast enough . . . the poor boy . . ."
Silence reigned for a long period of time, and Logan could not help but think over his own experience meeting Yuusuke's mother.
- : - : - Flashback - : - : -
Logan followed at Yuusuke's heels as the young man led the way to his home. He worried somewhat about leaving Ororo alone with the redhead, Shuichi, -- since Ororo could not speak English and Shuichi could act as translator, and Yuusuke needed someone who also knew Japanese,-- but comforted himself with the thought that the weather-manipulator could always zap the kid with a several thousand volts of electricity via a few well-placed lightning bolts if he got out of line.
At the moment, he was more worried by the wary Looks continuously shot toward him by Yuusuke.
They said nothing during the entire walk which Logan freely admitted to himself was quite long. He wondered how early the kid had to leave his house to get to the old woman's shrine so early in the morning.
At last, Yuusuke turned down a slightly smaller side-street, dodging between groups of people with the fluid ease that came only from growing up 'street-smart.' A few moments later, the raven-haired young man stopped before a modest, if somewhat unkempt, white house.
Yuusuke looked back at Logan, a warning look in his eyes. "We're here. Let me talk to her, okay?"
Logan nodded and followed the kid up the sidewalk and into the house through the unlocked door. The X-man hung back slightly, hovering near the door and taking in his surroundings while Yuusuke stepped further inside, calling for his mother.
The place was messy --there was no getting around THAT-- but Logan had seen worse places in his time. Old food and unwashed dishes lay in many surface, as well as dirty clothes and garbage, and Logan's keen nose easily detected the scent of alcohol in the air, but it wasn't unbearable. Several areas showed signs of clean-up jobs . . . done, Logan suspected, by Yuusuke himself.
Yuusuke moved among the refuse easily, stepping over various piles without barely having to look at them. "Mom?"
"YUUS'KE!" A middle-aged woman, unremarkable in appearances, with long brown hair appeared in one of the far doorways that led to the bedrooms, calling out, her voice slightly slurred from drunkenness. "Yuus'ke! Y're here!"
The woman swayed slightly and leapt toward her son . . . or she TRIED to, at least. She managed a few shuffling steps before pitching headfirst into Yuusuke's chest.
Yuusuke caught her easily and lowered the both of them to the floor. His mother's arms were wrapped tightly around his waist, and she was mumbling into the front of his shirt.
Yuusuke's eyes were soft and dark. "Hey, mom," he murmured.
Logan only managed to catch a few words of the woman's ramblings.
" . . . god, Yuus'ke, don' scare me like . . . NEVER ag'n, y' hear? . . . thought you'd gone . . . again . . ."
"Yeah, mom." Yuusuke's eyes rose challengingly to meet Logan's, daring the other man to say something about the picture before him.
Logan kept silent.
Yuusuke looked slightly relieved, turning his glance back to his mother. "Mom . . . you went out partying again, didn't you?"
"Yeah . . ." She raised her head with a low hiccup and a drunken smile. "Out t' K'rosa's place . . . partyin' ALL night LONG . . ." She giggled, but the smiled upon her face faded swiftly as her eyes turned back to her son's face. "But . . . but I woke up this mornin,' an' you were GONE . . . an' I thought, 'They've tak'n 'im ag'n!' an' I worried so MUCH . . . Don' leave me, Yuus'ke, not ag'n!"
She tucked her head against Yuusuke's shoulder, squeezing him tightly. Yuusuke hugged her back. " 'S alright, Mother of the Year. You don't have to worry. I always come back."
" . . . swear?"
"I swear."
The woman's arms relaxed her death grip upon her son, and she looked around for the first time since she'd entered the room. Her unfocussed gaze landed upon Logan, and she stiffened, frowning. "Yuus'ke . . . who's that?"
Yuusuke looked up at the taller man. "He's a . . . friend. He needs to talk to you."
" 'Bout what?"
"School." Yuusuke stood, drawing his mother up with him, his arms wrapped firmly around her waist. "Come on, let's wake you up a bit more first. We'll talk later." He looked back at Logan. "Make yourself at home."
Logan watched the pair of them shuffle back through the open doorway, disappearing from sight . . .
- : - : - End Flashback - : - : -
"So how was yours?" Ororo asked quietly.
Logan jerked out of his reverie, sending another glance down at the dark- haired young man outside the jet.
"Enlightening," he said at last.
- : - : - : - : - : -
"Are you sure Yukina won't mind?" Yuusuke's eyes searched his mentor's face for some reassurance.
"She's been bored out of her mind here at the shrine," replied Genkai. "Looking after Atsuko will probably be a vacation for her. You know how that little koorime loves making people feel loved."
Yuusuke grinned wryly. "True enough. . . Thanks, Grandma."
Kurama stood silently to one side, acting even more withdrawn than normal. His eyes, which usually gave his companions some slight idea of his temperament, were carefully blank of any emotions.
The once-youko bowed politely to the old martial artist. "Thank you for your help, Genkai."
Genkai grunted.
Kurama managed a small smile. In Genkai-speech, that particular grunt meant, --'You're welcome.'--
The youko in him had taken to translating all of the odd conversations between Yuusuke and Genkai into what the pair probably TRUTHFULLY meant by their harsh jibes. It was a hobby of sorts. Kurama privately prided himself on the fact that he was the sole person --other than Hiei, perhaps-- aside from Yuusuke and Genkai who was fluent in 'Yuus-Kai'-nese.
Yuusuke cocked his head to one side, folding his arms over his chest and sending a glance toward the Blackbird, listening to the low hum of the warming engines. "Well, I guess our two chaperones are getting cranky waiting for us."
--'It's really time to go.'--
Genkai nodded once. "It's about damn time you left."
--'I suppose it's time for goodbyes.'--
"Meh." Yuusuke snorted.
--'Yeah.'--
"Your idiocy will get you killed on this one, Dimwit, if you don't wizen up."
--'Be careful, boy.'--
"With all the torture-training you put me through? How can I NOT survive anything after THAT nightmare?"
--'I will. You taught me everything I need to know, after all.'--
Kurama's smile became slightly less forced. It was nice to know that SOME things never changed.
"At least now I'll get some peace and quiet, Brat."
--'I'll miss you, Yuusuke.'--
"Maybe I'll get lucky and this training 'll last for a decade or two."
--'I'll miss you, too.'--
"Have fun being hounded by the Sociopath."
--'Tell Hiei that I said, 'Hello.''--
Yuusuke smirked, turning, and walked swiftly toward the sleek black form of the Blackbird. Kurama followed after one last bow toward Genkai.
Yuusuke paused when he reached the top of the loading ramp, saluting his aged teacher cheekily.
"Hey, if I buy it this time, I'll be sure to come back and haunt you, Grandma!"
--'I'll see you soon, one way or another.'--
The smallest of smiles flickered across Genkai's face, but then the loading ramp was raising and she was soon lost to sight.
The two young men turned and walked toward where they assumed the cockpit to be, picking their way through the mind-boggling mess of technology. The humming of the engines was growing stronger with each second, and Kurama's youko senses buzzed with the noise.
As soon as they entered the main cockpit area, Ororo smiled at them, and Logan waved them to two empty seats without even looking up. "Strap in."
Yuusuke and Kurama exchanged a glance even as they moved to obey, the same thought running through both of their heads.
'Here we go . . . again.'
- : - : - To be Continued . . . - : - : -
[1] Akuma- 'evil demon or spirit' . . . I researched this on the internet before using it. As far as I can understand, 'aku' implies evil and 'ma' means a monster or supernatural being. If I'm wrong, blame whoever writes those online Japanese-English dictionaries for their crappy definitions. *glares*
REVIEW RESPONSES FOR LAST CHAPTER:
: Yusukeholic : I'm getting there, I'm getting there . . .
: SSJ Cisco : Thanks. The Lack of Language Barriers is one of my pet peeves in fan fiction.
: Tione : Thanks bunches! I write a new chapter every day, and *shamelessly fishing for more reviews* I look to my reviews for inspiration in my writing! *smiles brightly*
: CJ-Chan : Thankies!
: carla : I'm glad that you like it, and Hiei will show up within the next three or four chapters (no guarantees on an exact time!)
: Rurouni Saiyan : Much thanks, and I hope I didn't make Shiori's reaction way OOC. And I hope I didn't overdo the Yuusuke and Atsuko scene . . . *winces* I'm kinda' worried about that.
: purplepeopleeater : Three things: a) thanks for the support, b) do you have ANY idea how hard it is to type your name? and c) o.O; did you send me three identical reviews on purpose, or was that a computer glitch?
: kailyssia : Oh.*blushes* Sorry. No, I'm not planning on ANY pairings at all right now. Sorry.
: angelbird12214 : You'll have to wait and see!
: oOKeairaOo : Thank you! *bows*
: Dragon Sythe : *giggles* Yeah, I've researched the X-men Evo characters on the internet, but I don't know whether I read the 'X-men Encyclopedia.' Thanks for your support, though. And I don't know a lot about Gambit, but I can try to stick him in somewhere. No promises, though!
: Jaid Skywalker : Thankies in bunches! I hope you like the rest of the story!
: blue moon gurl : Thanks, and you're welcome.
: TCOD : I feel REALLY loved! ^_^ I just really don't have a lot of homework right now and can work on this a lot. There WILL be some times when I don't update every day, but I hope story content makes up for that!
: hiei-luver45 : Here you go! Enjoy!