. : Muichimotsu : .
: . By Akikazu . :
. : Chapter Twenty Five : .
"Koga, a powerful youkai has been detected on the western border."
Keiko stirred from her sleep as the voice rang into her ears. She curled into herself in an attempt to stay asleep but a strong hand gripped her shoulder and shook her.
"Wake up Keiko. You need to move to the back of the cave," a voice told her.
She was shaken again and her eye opened sleepily. She caught sight of Koga hovering over her face.
"Come on woman, you need to get to the back before whatever youkai that's coming gets here."
"I have already arrived, ookami (wolf)."
Koga and Keiko looked over to the entrance and saw a tall man, with long silvery white hair, step into the cave.
"Ah shit, Sesshomaru-sama, you scared the crap out of me," Koga yelped.
"Why is a ningen girl in your lair?" The man demanded.
"Actually I got her at the slave market," Koga admitted sheepishly.
"You will return her to the Ningenkai (human world) at once." Sharp golden eyes landed on her. "Did you know of youkai prior to this fiasco?"
"Yes, my ex boyfriend is a Spirit Detective," Keiko said softly.
A silver brow rose at the unexpected answer. With a last inscrutable look at Koga he turned about.
"Come girl, I'll deliver you to Koenma myself."
"What! Why!" Koga shouted.
"Koenma had assigned the Reikai Tantei (Spirit Detectives) to protect my younger sister. After returning this girl they spend more time on that task then the futile search for a human girl in the Makai (Demon World)."
"Sister? You mean…" Koga's body tensed.
"You are not to come near her, wolf." He stepped out of the cave. "Come girl we'll leave now."
Keiko was startled and scrambled to her feet. Bobbing a rushed bow to Koga she hurried after Sesshomaru. Apparently the tall demon had created a portal for the next thing she knew they were inside a brightly decorated office fill to the brim with jostling, ogre-like creatures.
Sesshomaru stepped further into the loud room and the noise died down with a speed that left her reeling. The ogres scuttled out of Sesshomaru's way, bowing as low as they could without tripping themselves, repeatedly.
"Sesshomaru-sama, is there something you needed?" A large blue ogre asked.
"Koenma is present?"
"I'll get him."
The ogre continued to grovel for several seconds before turning and running off, presumably to find his child boss.
They could hear the ogre's wail from their place in the room.
"Koenma-sama!"
Minutes later a small toddler barged into the room followed by the ogre.
"Sesshomaru-sama, what can I do for you?" The pacifier in his mouth bobbled with every syllable he spoke.
He moved aside allowing Koenma to see Keiko.
"I believe you were looking for this ningen," he said simply.
Koenma's eyes bugged out and he took a disbelieving step forward.
"Keiko?"
"Hi," she answered weakly.
He burst into a flurry of movement, coming up to Keiko's side and patting her in order to assure himself that she was uninjured.
"I'm glad that you've been found Keiko, we've been d worried. Let's have a medic look you over and we'll decide what to do with you form there."
Koenma began to lead Keiko away and turned to give Sesshomaru a last worried look.
"Sesshomaru-sama, will you please wait here for my return. I have received some disturbing news," he said.
Keiko's last look at the demon lord had him taking a seat in a large padded chair behind a massive wooden desk.
As they traveled down the hall, Keiko could feel Koenma's hand trembling in hers.
M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M
Yukina stirred fitfully.
Her body burned but felt cold at the same time. It was as if someone was pressing dry ice to her bare skin. Sleepily she pulled her blanket over her shoulder and curled in order to conserve her minimal body heat.
Moving had been a bad idea.
Her breath left her body as a scorching sensation raged over her abdomen. She inched her hand to the area and tried to call her cooling powers forward.
Her power was unresponsive to her demands and continued to flow unhindered through her body.
Whimpering at the excruciating feeling, Yukina lifted her head and looked for Shizuru. Her friend wasn't present and her bed was made, leading the koorime (ice maiden) to the conclusion that she had awoken and left.
Lamenting her misfortune she never noticed the door opening.
"Yukina?"
She turned and found Hiei standing at her side.
"Good morning, Hiei," she greeted softly.
"Your fertile period has begun."
It was a statement not a question. Yukina's eyes widen in realization.
"Hn. Lay back," Hiei ordered.
Yukina obeyed and felt the Janganishi (master of the Jagan) laid one hand on her burning abdomen and the other on her cool forehead. His hands glowed red and she could feel the being pulled out of her stomach and pushed to the rest of her body. Soon her body felt wonderfully balanced and Hiei's hands pulled away.
"Thank you, Hiei," she said tiredly.
"Go back to sleep. I'll alert Kurama to this occurrence and he'll take care of it."
"Thank you."
Yawning her eyes drooped closed and she fell asleep, even as the door slid shut.
M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M
Yusuke sat in bed feeling pathetic.
His body ached with his every movement. The lack of anything to do left him with too much time to think.
And think he did.
First he thought about Yukina. How lovely she was. She had an air about her that he had yet to see in any human woman. He remembered when he and Kuwabara had rescued her, such courage she and compassion she had shone. She hadn't even allowed Hiei to kill the man that had captured and tortured her. He had yet to see her cry for herself.
Tears lead to thoughts of another girl whom had cried over him.
Keiko…
Yusuke felt a slight pang in his heart at the thought of his childhood friend and first love. He felt worthless because he hadn't been able to protect her. He had known that there were beings out there that would use her to avenge themselves but at the moment he had only thought of his own breaking heart.
But he didn't feel that heartache anymore. That was what being so near to Yukina had done for him.
Was it horrible that he had abandoned his love for Keiko so swiftly?
But then Keiko had moved on too, if Itsuki was any indication. Besides she had broken up with him. Wasn't he the victim?
There was anger in him at the thought of Keiko and Itsuki being in a relationship. How could Keiko dump him and then fall in "love" with a man whom had been the sidekick to one his greatest enemies.
Still should it matter that she had found comfort in the kaminade (demon with the ability to cross dimensions) when he had comforted her during her capture?
Did he even have the right to judge her when he had gone off and kissed Yukina?
He still had a say as he had grown up at Keiko's side, been her first friend. Didn't he?
Sighing up at the white ceiling he thought to plan a talk with Kurama, Genkai, or maybe one of those teen-help hotlines.
And there he sat, the legendary Spirit Detective Urameshi Yusuke, balancing on a thin line of indecision.
M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M
Koenma walked back into the room slowly causing Sesshomaru to become immediately suspicious.
"You had something to report?"
Koenma fidgeted nervously. Sesshomaru watched him with an unwavering glare from his seat behind Koenma's desk.
"Well you see…" He began to choke slightly.
"Spit it out boy," Sesshomaru ordered.
"Rin's reincarnation was murdered and we can't locate her soul!" Koenma blabbed.
Sesshomaru froze, not expecting what the toddler had practically shouted. His eyes began to redden.
"Is there anything else you wish to tell me?" Sesshomaru growled.
"The souls of several of your sister's companions have also gone missing," Koenma squeaked.
"Useless idiot," Sesshomaru snapped.
There was a flash of green and hiss of acid melting. The air filled with the bitter sweet smell of wisteria blossoms. A large gash appeared on Koenma's torso. Second after the wound was inflicted it healed over. Still Koenma cowered away from the enraged youkai lord and whimpered in fear.
"I'll get my detective team on this case immediately, Sesshomaru-sama."
"Do not bother. I'll have this problem investigated by my people."
"As you say Sesshomaru-sama."
Sesshomaru stood and stormed away, ripping a portal into his territory violently.
M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M
As he walked through the empty halls of the main house Itsuki could almost believe that he was back with Shinobu, on his was to visit Keiko.
At first she had been nothing to him. Another relation to one of Shinobu's enemies at most, but a useful pawn for his latest plot. A brief day of mind control had Keiko breaking the detective's heart and blaming herself for it. It had been easy to nurture the seeds of doubt that were already deep rooted in her mind. With Urameshi out of the picture, her abduction had been easier than Kagome's. He had been indifferent towards her at first, still captivated by the enigma that was Shinobu.
The common ground had been discovered later and the pull of attraction after that.
The feeling of helpless love was a strong bond that settled tightly around them.
They had known that they were on stolen time. Every second was a second closer to the time they would separate but they came together regardless. But they were on opposing sides. Keiko wanted to return to the Ningenkai, to Urameshi. Itsuki still followed Shinobu.
Even at that point in time Itsuki would have done anything for Shinobu.
But Shinobu had asked for the impossible.
To sell Keiko into slavery. Keiko, the sad, hopeless Keiko that haunted his mind. Keiko whom he comforted and who comforted him in return.
It had hurt him to disobey Shinobu, as badly as ripping an organ out of his living body. But he had done it and Shinobu had let Kazuya out on him.
And after all that Keiko was still gone.
It hurt more than it should have because Itsuki knew that he didn't love Keiko. He didn't even feel the drive around her that Shinobu had given him. But for some abstract reason buried in the back of his being he wanted to protect her in any way he could.
Part of him still wished that he had obey Shinobu and he remained at his side. The other part of him only wanted Keiko nearby.
Itsuki wandered through a beam of light that flood through open windows and wondered what on earth he was doing.
Feeling far more alone that he had felt for a long time, Itsuki made his way through the illuminated halls.
M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M
Kurama had been waiting for her right outside her door. Kagome blinked and studied his immaculate figure as he stood before her.
"Is something wrong?" She asked, her head tilting back so their eyes could meet.
"No."
He held his arm out to her and, again, she blinked in astonishment at the polite, old world gesture before taking the offered arm, placing her fingers lightly in the crook of his elbow.
"Did you rest well?" Kagome asked, allowing Kurama to lead her down the hall.
"Very well, thank you. I trust you enjoyed a peaceful night as well?"
Kagome nodded vaguely and rubbed her eye tiredly. Yawning she checked the auras in the house and was surprised to see that nearly everyone had awoken.
"Hiei-san is coming in this direction," she announced even as the blur streaked through the hall in front of them.
"Good morning Hiei," Kurama greeted not pausing in their walk.
"It's begun." He was blunt to the point of being vague but Kurama seemed to have understood.
The kitsune nodded in understanding and glanced towards her. "Kagome will you inform your staff that Yukina will be taking her meals in her room till further notice. Also if all species of the male persuasion should stay clear of the area lest they meet with the sharp end of Hiei's sword."
"Sure." Kagome turned and waved, "hello Itsuki-kun."
"Good morning," the youkai said drawing down the hall opposite of the way the trio was walking.
"It's too early to be morning. 'Morning' starts at nine o'clock," Kagome pouted.
"In that case why are you wake so early?" Kurama asked.
"I have to when we have guest."
"Don't go through any trouble for the tantei," Itsuki said.
"I'm not," Kagome explained, "Ayame's the guest. The detectives are taking up residence for a while and have thusly lost any rights as guest." She glance behind her in the direction the teal haired demon was headed. "Where are you off to?"
"The library."
"Alright, I'll see you later, Itsuki-kun."
Itsuki swept past them and Kagome looked around for Hiei, only to find that he too had disappeared.
"Where's Hiei-san go?" She asked, looking to Kurama for answers.
"He left after you gave your response to our request. He's not one for polite farewells," Kurama explained.
"The strong, silent type, isn't he?"
Kurama nodded. And the pair stepped into the dinning room. It was empty. A maid appeared to their side and informed them that Ayame and Shizuru had already eaten breakfast.
"Well eat in the private kitchen then, okay Kurama?" Kagome questioned.
"It's fine with me."
The strolled through a small connecting door and were enveloped in the warmth of the kitchen. Kagome headed for the cabinets after instructing Kurama to sit down.
"What would you like to eat?"
"Anything is fine."
"Okay, then. Cereal or oatmeal?"
"Cereal."
"…we only have the healthy kind…"
"That's fine."
Balancing on her tiptoes Kagome stretched and grabbed the box that had danged just out of her reach. She set it down on the table and set about getting the bowls and spoons.
"Kurama can you get the milk, please?"
She heard the refrigerator door open as she poured the dry cereal into their bowls. Kurama moved around her and filled the dishes with milk. They worked together efficiently, neither getting in the other's way.
Sitting on a stool Kagome asked Kurama a question that had been bothering her.
"What does your mother say about your deals with the Reikai (Spirit World)?"
"She doesn't know."
Her spoon plunked into her cereal bowl and she looked at him in disbelief. Kurama paid no attention and continued to eat his cereal peacefully.
"And she doesn't ask why you're disappearing all the time?" She asked incredulously.
"I 'spent the night at a friends'. I live on my own now."
"What if you die? Doesn't your mother deserve to know that her son was killed by rampaging demons?"
"If I died by unnatural causes Koenma would cover up for it. Did you tell your mother of the danger you faced in the Sengoku Jidai?"
"Yes! I toned it down a bit, but she knew that one day I might not come home."
He looked at her and their eyes held.
"I do not want that woman to worry for me. She has done enough and it is my pleasure to watch out to be sure she lives a complete and happily life."
"I suppose I want the same for my mom. You know Kurama, you're a good son."
The spent the rest of the meal in silence.
M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M
"Rin I think it's time to confront our nemesis for the first time. Would you like to watch or remain here?"
He imagined she would rather stay then watch what could potentially be a blood fight.
He patted her head and kissed her cold cheek. Letting his beloved settle on the ground he made his way out.
"I'll see you later then."
M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M
One minute he had been having a nice talk with Kagome and the next thing he knew Koenma was off sending them on another assignment. Koenma had even forced them to haul Yusuke along.
The demons that were the cause of the alarm soon learn of his wrath.
Kurama was ruthless as he cut through the horde that was preparing to cutting through the barrier in order to attack the mansion.
The horde was larger and filled with stronger demons, but Kurama still hoped they could finish this quickly and salvage the rest of the day. Another wave of enemies crashed through the trees and his hope began to die.
I will help if you wish.
Kurama saw the dark figure that had been present in Koenma's office not so long back. He nodded, willing to accept help from nearly any quarter. Yusuke was all but useless at the moment. Ayame had decided to tag along causing Kuwabara to become distracted. Hiei was fine, like him he only wanted to return to the mansion but as much as they wished it would take a while for the pair to take the entire mass on themselves in a reasonable amount of time.
And so he nodded.
Very well.
Glowing blade appeared out of no where and flew through the air, striking demons everywhere. They lodged into the demon's bodies and began to sizzle.
They might finish this quickly after all.
M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M
"You shouldn't be here!" Kuwabara said for the millionth time.
"I can kick your ass any day," Ayame shouted.
"But you shouldn't-"
Ayame jumped over the boy and kicked a demon that had been sneaking up on him in the face. Kuwabara turned and stared at her in awe.
"You just saved my life."
She rolled her eyes and attacked another incoming demon with her sword. Kuwabara followed her example and summoned his spirit sword. He stayed at her side as they fought.
"May girls can fight," he mumbled.
Ayame grinned.
. : End Chapter : .
: . Author's Note . :
This chapter's kind of short but it's a whole week early!
Yes I write during class in my notebook and finish the chapter during the weekend. My notebook paper is thinning.
Yeah…
For me the chapter just went down hill after Hiei leaves for some reason, I might go back and redo it later.
'bye.
. : Next Time : .
Separation of hearts
Thorny bracelet
Welcome home
Arrival
Divided mind
Phantom
Sango