. : Muichimotsu : .
: . By Akikazu . :
. : Chapter Nineteen : .
"Itsuki?"
He sat next to her, his eye flickering with inner torment. Keiko watched him with slight interest. This was the first time that Itsuki had come into her room without Sensui calling for him.
"Unrequited love is hard," he said simply.
Keiko nodded, tears burning in her eyes as she thought of what should have but would never be.
"We must have it in for ourselves," she whispered.
Itsuki was only mildly surprised when she grouped them together. He found himself wishing that they hadn't brought her here. He wasn't ready for the feeling of kinship that was sprouting between them.
With the firm desire to stop this feeling Itsuki stood. He took a step forward and a small hand reached out and grasped his shirt. He looked down and drowned in Keiko's pained eyes.
"Please don't leave."
It was impossible for him to leave her now. She was the only one that had ever offered him comfort, however small it was, and the fact that she had done it while she herself was in need highlighted the fact.
Needless to say Itsuki retook his seat without protest. Keiko's hand stayed clutched on his sleeve and her face soon found a spot near it on his leg.
"Thank you," she sobbed.
And her words became incoherent, her tear soaking through the fabric of his pants. Still he made no move away from her. However a slender hand found its way onto her back, offering comfort that he was unwilling to vocalize.
M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M .
The multicolored mob swarmed around him, surging every now and then as girls attempted to touch him. Kurama skillfully dodged each of these attempts, careful to avoid tripping on Jaken, whom was huddled near his feet.
"Shuichi-sama!" They squealed in unison.
Mentally he decided on the direct approach, reasoning that subtly would be lost on the mob.
"I would appreciate you not grabbing at me."
Movement ceased, never had their god Shuichi-sama talked to them like this.
"You see, I already have an intended."
It was true enough, he did have an intended, sort of. The mob about him buzzed into action. He could hear only a couple of their demands as they were all shouting at once.
"Who is she?"
"How dare she seduce…"
"… a whore."
And so it went, his blood heated as their insults continued to pile.
"As if I could want any of you," he whispered furiously.
No one heard him and the ranting and raving continued. Suddenly a girl flung herself at his feet, the crowd was then quite, everyone focused on the kneeling girl.
"Shuichi-sama, as president of your loyal fan club, I cannot allow you to go out with someone who is obviously not worthy of you."
He nearly snorted, how would they have know if Kagome was 'worthy' him, they didn't know her.
"I'm very capable of choosing whom I wish to date."
The words, spoken in his normal calm made the girls freeze. Feeling as if he needed to leave before he did something he would regret, Kurama walked off with Jaken trailing after him. The multicolored mob behind them soon returned to life, though it was not nearly as energetic as before.
Kurama only hoped that the fan girls would now give up on him.
M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M .
She was dead…
Koenma collapsed back into his overly stuffed chair and processed the information George the ogre had given him.
Botan was dead.
The familiar poundings of a headache begun in his head, and his small hand rubbed furiously at his temples. The grim reaper's demise presented many problems, but he had expected this to happen after all she was a Death. He sighed heavily.
"Be sure to choose someone to take her place before the days out," Koenma ordered.
"Yes, sir," George bowed and left, no doubting going to fulfill his orders.
He prayed that Botan's replacement was as submissive and easy to handle as the ferry girl had been.
His head pounded furiously and Koenma gave up his attempt to alleviate his headache and rose. He left the papers scattered around the room and walked out of the room.
He needed some aspirin.
M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M .
Yusuke hobbled out of the room, Yukina on his right watching him closely while he used the wall on his left to support himself.
"I really don't think you should be getting up Yusuke, I think you should stay in bed for at least the rest of the day."
He cast a small smile at her over his shoulder, it soon twitched as a wave of pain washed over him. Yukina noticed.
"See Yusuke, you're pushing yourself, you shouldn't do this."
"It's fine… Yukina… I'm fine."
From the look on her face she didn't believe him, not in the slightest. But she let him have his way, frowning faintly all the while.
His foot caught on a rug and Yusuke stumbled heavily. Yukina rushed to his side immediately rebalancing him.
"I knew you should have stayed in bed."
A grin found its way to his face as he heard her grumblings. She saw his look and blushed. Then Genkai's amused draw came from the hallway.
"Hiei and Kuwabara are approaching the shrine you two."
They both flinched and moved apart.
"Come on Yusuke, let's get you downstairs," Yukina murmured, avoiding eye contact.
And so they proceeded to painstakingly make their way down the steps, ever aware of the auras that were swiftly approaching.
M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M .
She knelt, her head bent in an uncommon show of submissiveness. Sesshomaru hardly spared her a glance, preferring to keep his eyes on the kitsune sitting across from him. Kurama stared back, not intimidated in the slightest.
"Jaken's reports that your performance was satisfactory."
Kagome refilled his fine china tea cup before setting the pot back down.
"I should hope that he did."
The raised their cups and sipped in unison.
"Kagome, leave us," Sesshomaru ordered.
Her anger flared briefly but she did as she was commanded, giving the door a loud slam as she left the room. Sesshomaru only glanced in the direction in mild annoyance before refocusing his attention on Kurama.
"Allow me speak bluntly. While you were gone, I made a quick trip to the library in Reikai and I learned some very… interesting facts about you."
He watched the younger male reaction to his statement. Kurama neither flinched nor blinked, however the corner of his brow lifted slightly.
"I find your past life less than reputably but will write it off as proof of your talents. I have also taken the opportunity to speak with Hijikata, he finds you to be a worthy young male."
Sesshomaru paused and leaned forward slightly, drawing more attention from Kurama. His words were barely audible.
"He has told you the story of the Shikon no Tama, ne?"
"Yes, right before we were sent on the mission to rescue Kagome-san."
"Then you've no doubt put the pieces together."
Kurama nodded.
"The Shikon is considered a legend in this time, however no youkai can deny the pull of power it admits, even if they do not know from where it originates. I know you too can feel it, if only because of your youkai soul, but I know you have a higher resistance to the pull because of your originally human body.
"If it wasn't for this fact, I wouldn't let you near Kagome, but as it stands you will have your chance."
The door chose that moment to slam open and a small form came galloping into the room.
"KURAMA! SESSHOMARU!"
The blur that was Shippo paused for a second, hovering in indecision. Then the kit pounced on Sesshomaru's lap, deciding he would like to spend time with the male whom he hadn't seen the longest, that being his 'uncle'.
"Good evening Shippo."
"Guess what! There was an attack on the house and me and Kurama had to protect Momma from all the bad guy."
Kurama held back a laugh, clearly recalling the fact that Shippo had slept through the attack.
"Yes I know, both Kagome and Kurama have informed me of your heroic actions. Perhaps we shall begin your training on the morrow."
Shippo squealed and jumped off the silver haired youkai and to Kurama.
"Did you hear that Kurama! Sesshomaru's going to train me!" He looked back at Sesshomaru, "can Kurama help train me too?"
"You'll have to ask him."
The kit turned his widen light green eyes to Kurama and cocked his head to the side, asking without words.
"I would very much like to help you with your training, Shippo," Kurama said gently.
Shippo squealed and a soft knock was heard from the door. Kagome peaked inside and glanced at everyone inside before focusing on Shippo.
"Shippo, I've been looking for you."
She was tackled by the kit and he babbled on about he was going to be trained to be a strong warrior.
"… I'll even be stronger than Inu Yasha was!"
Kagome's face paled dramatically at the hanyou's name, her eyes darkening and turned sightless.
"KIT!" Sesshomaru barked sharply.
He dashed up and grabbed the kit, quickly retreating and Kagome's miko flared. Kurama stood frozen in place as the pure energy held him in place.
"Why?" He barely heard her.
Two daggers flew past him, one making a neat slice on his cheek, the cut sizzled from the miko energy in the blade. Her hands cupped and a blue light gathered between them, the attack was aimed at Kurama.
M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M .
When Hiei and Kuwabara arrived at Genkai's shrine they were waiting for him. Yusuke sat on a cushion propped up against a wall across from the door. Yukina sat nearby, dividing her time between giving Yusuke worried glances and watching out from Kuwabara and Hiei. Genkai sat with her back against the door, drinking tea and watching the couple across from her with hooded eyes.
Hiei came first, his dark and silent. He stood in the door way his presence blocking the light. The forbidden child, as he was called, took in the scene before moving into a position next to Yukina, eliminating Kuwabara's chances to sit next to her. He observed the way Yukina looked at Yusuke and, while part of him was relieved, he didn't appreciate how this was developing. Still Yusuke had become badly injured when he had protected Yukina and he would tolerate this till he could test the boy himself.
The first thing that alerted the quiet group that Kuwabara was close was that they could now hear his shouting.
"Urameshi, you punk I heard you got yourself beaten up and on the same day Keiko dumped you!"
Yusuke winced at the mention of his ex girlfriend and Yukina laid her hand comfortingly on his thigh. Hiei frowned darkly at this but said nothing. Genkai gave no sign that she had seen the motions but inwardly she smiled. This is what Yusuke needed, quiet support in all instances.
Seconds later Kuwabara barged into the room, looking as scratched up as he always seemed to be. His eyes fell on Yukina as his whole demeanor changed.
"… Yukina…"
His expression melted and Yukina, Hiei, and Yusuke stiffened.
"Kon'nichiwa, Kazuma. You look a little cut up, were you in another fight?"
Kuwabara blushed and looked away, his eyes end up on Yusuke's figure and he absorbed his injured appearance.
"What the hell happened to you?" He asked bluntly.
"Nothing, I just had to defend Yukina from a horde of demons while you were out on the town with your buddies."
"The shrine was attacked," Kuwabara gaped.
Yusuke was about to reply when a burning sensation came from the back of his mind.
Why?
His body tingled and rose but he had no control over his actions. The next thing he knew he was running, Yukina calling after him and Hiei tailing closely behind. It only took him seconds to get across town and into the mansion the Youkai Lord owned and the next thing Yusuke knew he had Kagome pinned to the ground beneath him.
"Kagome."
"No! Get off of me!" Her voice was high pitched in fear.
"Kagome…" It was low, bordering on a growl.
"Stop it," his fist beat at him ineffectively, the blue glow lost. "Leave me alone Inu Yasha."
His hands caught her wrist, leaving her unable to defend herself.
"Give it to me."
Kagome screamed.
"MOMMA!"
A body hit his back and the nuisance followed with a couple of weak attacks but Yusuke tossed him off and Shippo met the wall with a loud thud.
M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M .
Kurama's eyes narrowed as he Yusuke toss Shippo into the wall and unbeknownst to him a growl rose from his throat. The force that had previously been holding him had disappeared with the glow of Kagome's hands.
Kagome's sobs now pierced the air and Kurama threw Yusuke off her and gathered her small form to him, moving away from Yusuke. He knew that another force had possessed Yusuke and would take no chances with his precious cargo.
As it was he had no need to worry for Sesshomaru stepped between them blocking them from Yusuke's vision. Kagome was clutching onto him and he was pained at the sight of her, her spirit broken.
"You are my half-brother's heir, then."
"At the moment I am your brother, I knew having a bastard child would help me one day."
Kurama whispered soothingly to Kagome while he listened carefully to Sesshomaru and 'Yusuke's', whom he guess to be possessed by Inu Yasha, conversation.
"Then you are possessing the body of your descendent. You've sunk to a new low half-breed."
"After I take the Shikon from that bitch I'll have no need to do so."
"You'll stay away from Kagome."
His sneer was palpable from Kurama's position across the room. Hiei suddenly appeared at his side and they shared a telling glance.
A small feminine figure dressed in a kimono suddenly appeared in the doorway. The room grew even more silent than it had previously had been.
Yukina had arrived.
"Yusuke, what are you doing?"
M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M .
He looked down to the figure that sat at his feet, a cool smirk sliding chillingly across his face.
"Tell me, have you ever heard of muichimotsu?"
The figure at his feet didn't reply, but he hadn't expected it too.
"It means 'have nothing'. It's a rule to live by."
He stood and the figure tumbled back but didn't make any voluntary moves.
"I think it's time for them to loose it all. Maybe you'd like to come…"
Nothing.
"Fine then, but I'm going to bring you with me one day."
And he left. Still the figure didn't move. For in the room there was not but a chair and a beautiful corpse.
: . End Chapter . :
. : Author's Note : .
You all want to kill me now, don't you?
Well this chapter is full of information, if you care to look and an interesting character in the end. He was talking to the corpse if you didn't get it.
Yes I have made a mistake, muichimotsu is indeed one word and I shall eventually go back in fix all the previous chapters. You might recognize the phrase from Saiyuki, which I have been reading a lot of lately.
I hope all my readers out there enjoy this chapter, have fun.
'bye.
: . Next Time . :
Inu Yasha's heir
Yukina…
Li Shen returns
A broken Kagome
My beloved
Itsuki takes a stand
Keiko's tears