Okay everybody, as you can see, Koenma has been taken out of the running. Sorry. But I have to lower the votes every once in a while, makes it easier for us to keep track of who's winning. Well, currently, Hiei is still in the lead. So, you guys who want Jin or Kurama to win, you'd better hurry up! Remember, reviewing with your vote gives your favorite bishie a better chance at winning Yume's heart! And if you think that the votes don't really correspond with what's in my review list, then you'll have to remember that I also count votes from my friends and stuff. Oh, you Kurama/Yume voters are gonna love this chapter. And I am adding a lot of stuff into this chapter that did NOT happen in the anime. But it should have in my opinion. Anyway, I don't own the song in here. Please don't report me! I couldn't help but add it!
Here are the current vote tallies:
Kurama: 17
Hiei: 19
Jin: 16
Also, I wanted to introduce my friend KawaiiNekoYokai, the writer of fanfics that ROCK! If you love Harry Potter, YYH, or Inu-Yasha, you HAVE to read her fanfics. Especially her fanfics Earthbound Goddess (YGO), I Must Not Chase the Boys (HP), and Running with My Lover Beast (YYH).
Chapter Seven: Kurama and the Forlorn Hope
"Yeowch!" Yume yelped, holding onto her arm as Botan added a lot of cleaning alcohol to a minute cut.
"Jeeze, anymore alcohol and I'll need a licensed driver!" She yelled, blowing on the stinging wound.
From what Botan could tell of Yume's injuries, she had a few cracked ribs, two broken, a sprained ankle, shattered collarbone, and…well, a little internal bleeding.
Though, with Botan's healing powers, all of her wounds were being dealt with.
"So…what are you going to do about the Forlorn Hope and the Sword of Darkness?"
Yume's eyes shadowed slightly as she thought back to not three hours ago.
Yume walked along the street, holding her shoulder tightly.
It hurt her to walk at all, but she had to make it home with the Orb in her pocket.
Her demon compass started to go haywire.
Oh no! If I run into one of them here, I'm dead meat on a stick! Her eyes searched the area frantically, finally resting on a very familiar redhead. He wasn't wearing the horrid pink school uniform, but instead a simple white t-shirt, blue jeans, and a black jean jacket.
There…it's Kurama…Hope he's not angry about the trick I pulled. Of course, it didn't help matters that she remembered trying to hide a blush when he had been holding her in his strong, warm arms.
She had to admit he did know how to carry a girl.
Kurama walked up to her, green eyes serious.
He spared her a glance as he walked past her, but she heard a voice in her head.
Come with me, Detective.
Yume blinked, but followed the redhead, although a might bit apprehensive as he led them into a café.
"What the hell?"
He offered her a seat and she sat across from him.
"I bet you're wondering why I invited you in here."
"No duh."
Kurama chuckled, a slight smirk on his face. "Oh, and I must congratulate you on a wonderful trick. You used my weakness against me."
Yume blinked.
He smirked. "I never could resist a beautiful maiden in trouble."
Before she could stop herself, Yume meeped, looking at her hands in her lap, a strong burst of red going across her nose.
"Wh-What the…no one's…ever said that before…and I ain't no maiden."
Kurama blinked. "Really? Well, they're blind. And…well, as opposed to you not being a maiden…I don't see any males with a chest."
Yume blushed, but finally got enough sense into her head about what was going on and shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. "Wait a minute. I can't be here with you…I mean, you're my case! A thief, a demon, and a criminal." She muttered the last parts, so as not to be overheard by everyone else in the area.
Kurama looked at his cup of tea. "Yes…you're right. But the reason I brought you in here was to ask you a request."
"What?" she rose a delicate eyebrow at him, gaze untrusting. Though…she felt a tug at her heart when he looked directly at her, studying her with those flawless emerald eyes.
She blushed again. Dammit Yume! Snap out of it! You've never let some damned pretty boy make a fool of you before, and you sure as hell aren't gonna start now!
Yume sighed. "Now, what was the reason you dragged me here? I should be going to get medical help after the shit you're friend Gouki put me through." She rubbed her stomach in memory, wincing.
"Ah, I must apologize on that. Hiei will not be any better. In fact, he will be much worse." Kurama said quietly, sipping his tea carefully. He fixed her with a gaze. "Do you not like tea or something?"
Yume jumped at the sudden, out-of-the-blue question. "Uh…" she looked down at her cup. "When did that get here?"
Kurama laughed lightly. "A few minutes ago. You might want to drink it before it gets cold."
"What kind is it?" she asked.
"Rose hips."
She snickered.
Kurama blinked, a cutely confused expression going across his face. "Did I say something funny?"
"It's just…that's my favorite…"
Kurama laughed with her. "I must admit, it is mine as well."
Everyone in the café thought they were an adorable couple out on a date.
Kurama caught a snippet of a conversation at a table near theirs, and started to laugh.
Now it was Yume's turn to be confused. "What?"
"Th-They think we're a couple…"
Yume blushed. "Th-That's…insane."
"Not really." He looked at her, smiling in a very…melting manner. "I think we'd look cute together."
Yume blinked in surprise…, but then smirked. "Why, Mr. Minamoto, was that some sort of come on?" She gave him a sly grin, resting her chin in her palm, holding her cup in the other hand.
He smiled. "It might just be."
The two laughed together. Obviously both enjoyed shameless flirting.
Yume couldn't believe this. Here I am, in a café, on a near-date with an enemy. How weird can you get?
She spared a glance at him as he talked to the waitress. She studied him.
But he sure is cute…and a gentlemen from what I can tell. Any girl would die to have him. She accidentally let out a forlorn sigh. But I bet he's just asking me here to drag me off somewhere and then kill me. Course, with those looks, he could have any girl he wanted. And I'd definitely not fit the bill. Wait, what am I thinking!
"Ms. Urameshi?"
"Yume."
"Huh?" Kurama blinked.
"Ms. Urameshi is my mother."
"Okay…Yume…" He smiled at her. "That's the first time I've ever really called anyone by their first name."
"You were there…" she whispered.
"Where?"
"When I died. You were there. I remember, before blacking out, a pair of emerald eyes looking down at me. They were sad, regretful. They looked…heartbroken." She looked at him.
Kurama sighed. "Yes. I was there. I had no idea who you were at the time, except for your name and reputation. But…I felt drawn to you. Couldn't you feel it?"
Yume nodded. "Yeah. I did. But…" she shook her head. "Damn, I'm getting sidetracked. Dammit, tell me what you called me here for!"
"Okay. Three days. Just give me three days and I will gladly return the Forlorn Hope, and I will accept my punishment."
"Why?"
"I said that I had my reasons for using the mirror. And those reasons shall be revealed all in due time. Please," he reached across the table, and took small hand in his larger one. "Please, Yume. Trust me."
Yume blinked for a second, taking in the warmth that spread from that simple touch. She looked into his eyes, and almost drowned in a sea of sorrowful emerald.
He put up a façade most of the time, apparently. Allowing people the pleasure of believing they knew what he was thinking when they truly had no idea.
They assumed he was a smart, lucky, beautiful young man with a one-way ticket to success in life. But you do know what happens when you 'assume', right?
You make an ass out of u and me.
Once you looked past his façade, you could see through right to his soul.
There…right in the middle…a slight glimmer of hope…and that hope was directed at her.
Yume had always had some weird ability to see the true person in people.
And right now she was seeing the real Kurama. Past the thief, and the student of Meiou High School…and right into Kurama, the person he was.
Sad…lonely…yet…at the same time, he was happy. He had been given a glimmer of hope that might be able to rectify what he had done.
Yume smiled gently for the first time in a long while. We're so alike… "We're so alike."
Kurama smiled at her. "Yes. I believe we are."
She looked at him, and really looked. "I'll trust you, Kurama. But you had better not let me down. I don't pass out trust that easily."
Kurama laughed. "Well, what a way to break a very dramatic moment."
Yume laughed to, realizing what she had said. "Yeah, I guess you're right."
Kurama looked at his watch, "Well, it is currently seven. Would you do me the honor of splitting a slice of chocolate lasagna with me? I can't eat a whole one."
Yume blinked. "Why? Why are you acting like this? I mean, I'm supposed to try and kill you."
Kurama nodded, eyes closed. "That is true. But I see you live in the moment, not brooding about the future."
She laughed, scratching the back of her neck. "Ya got that right." She thought for a second. Well…it couldn't hurt…
Suddenly, one of those annoying voices came up in her head. Come on, Yume! This is probably the closest you're going to get to a date! Just take his offer! I mean, look at him? How can you pass up such a hot guy?
Yume smirked. "Sure. I'd love to."
The two lost track of time as they chattered, sometimes near-arguing as they shared a very large slice of chocolate lasagna.
Afterwards, Kurama had paid for it…much to Yume's dislike.
Sure, she liked to get free food…but hey, this was the closest she had ever been to a date.
"You didn't have to pay for it." She pouted.
Kurama smiled at her again. "But I wanted to. And it wasn't that much." The two walked out the door, and she didn't really notice when Kurama walked her to her apartment complex.
"This is your complex, correct?"
Yume looked up, "Oh…yeah. Right."
Kurama smiled at her. "Yume?"
She turned to look at him, only to find that her nose touched his when she had turned her head.
Yume blushed. "Uh…"
Kurama leaned in, and brushed his lips against hers, eyes shut.
Yume stiffened, but she couldn't stop the warmth spreading across her face.
After a second, he pulled back. "Good night and good luck, Yume."
He walked off, leaving Yume to stare at the spot where he previously stood.
What the hell was that?
Yume sighed, sitting on the ceiling of her high school. It had been two days since she'd last seen Kurama, and she couldn't help but miss him for some odd reason.
"Yume! Yume!" Keiko came running up the stairs, a letter clutched in her hand. "Oh, there you are! I've been looking all over for you."
"If it's about me not going to class," Yume started, but Keiko cut her off.
"Not this time." She held out the letter, "A boy dropped this off at the school. It has your name on it."
Yume blinked, then took it. There was a red rose bloom attached to it, thorn-less.
On the front of the pure white letter, was her name in very fancy kanji in emerald ink.
"What?" she opened it, pulling out the tri-folded letter.
Dear Yume,
I wish to express my deepest apologies as to my actions two nights ago. I did not mean to act so forward towards you.
But my letter to you is of a more serious matter. Tonight is the third night of my promise to you.
Would you please meet me in front of Mushiori City Hospital tonight at sunset?
There, I will tell you the reason of my need for the Forlorn Hope.
I do hope that you will trust me enough and meet me.
Until we meet again, my Migoto Onmitsu, (1)
Kurama
Yume blinked, a light blush spreading across her face…one that Keiko noticed.
"Yume! You're blushing! Is it a love letter?"
Yume's blush darkened. "Uh…well…I…uh…" She looked at her watch.
Two hours until sunset. "Um…Keiko?"
"Yes?"
"Could you…help me find something to wear?"
"For what?"
"Well…I'm meeting a guy."
"Nani! Oh, Yume this is wonderful! Now you can finally get a boyfriend who isn't afraid of you!" she hugged the surprised detective for all she was worth.
"Gah! Keiko! Can't…breathe!"
"Oh, sorry! Come on, it's after school and now we can head over to the mall and get you a whole new outfit for your date! Oh, this is gonna be so much fun!" Keiko grabbed her childhood friend's hand and dragged her from the roof of the school, to the torture chamber many girls loved, but Yume feared…the mall.
Yume stared at her reflection in her room, kind of shocked. "Uh…Keiko? Don't you think this is a little much?"
"Of course not! It's perfect for you!" Keiko smiled, obviously happy.
"I'm not so sure." She muttered, trying not to scream.
There, in the mirror, was a her she never wanted to see again.
Keiko had taken her to many different stores until she had bought everything for the perfect outfit.
Hell, she'd gone into Hot Topic to find the perfect skirt. Actually, most of the stuff she was wearing came from Hot Topic. That, she didn't have a problem with. What she did have a problem with was the actual outfit she was wearing.
Her dress was pink-or 'Cyber Rose' as Keiko called it-under the black lace covering, and reached to just under her knees. (I'm going to have a picture of each piece of the outfit she's wearing, look in my bio for the url's. Kay?)
Her shoes were practically platform boots, with a thousand different buckles going up them in black leather with silver buckles.
(The rest of the outfit is hard to explain, so just go to my bio and click on the url's there to see all of the stuff that are in the outfit. It rocks, believe me.)
Yume groaned. "I can't face Kurama like this!"
"So his name is Kurama?"
Yume slapped her hand to her forehead. "Whatever! I need to leave now!"
"Wait!" Keiko started to mess with Yume's hair, putting it up in a messy fashion with two black faerie clips, making the tips point all over the place, but bangs framing her face. "There. Now go get him!"
"Hopefully he won't be the one to get me." Yume muttered, and left.
As soon as the sun started to set, Yume arrived at the hospital, and saw Kurama leaning against the wall, dressed in the same t-shirt, jeans and jacket as before. "Ah…you're…" he blinked, taking in her outfit. "Well…I didn't expect you to dress up."
Yume sighed. "One of my friends found out I was meeting a guy, and she immediately got the wrong idea. Don't blame me if I look like hell."
Kurama smiled. "I wasn't going to say that. You look marvelous."
Yume jumped a little, blushing. "Hmph. Uh…well…what's the reason I'm here?"
"Oh, yes. Come with me." Kurama lead her into the hospital, where a nurse greeted him in a very friendly manner, like they all knew him here.
He lead her to the elevator, down the hall, and into a room where a woman lay sleeping.
She woke up once they opened the door. "Is that you, Shuichi? It's been such a long time since you brought a friend with you." She sat up, but the motion very obviously strained her.
"You shouldn't sit up, mother! You need to keep up your strength. Have you eaten anything? Would you like me to peel an apple for you?"
"You're just like my doctors. I feel fine, dear."
"But you won't get any better if you don't have any nutrition."
"Who's that young girl?" the woman asked, looking directly at Yume with warm, brown eyes.
"Uh…Yume Urameshi ma'am." Yume bowed, slightly thinking, Why the hell am I acting so damn polite? It's not like me…But then her gaze drifted over to Kurama, who was fussing over his mother.
Is she the reason he needs the mirror?
"So, you're the girl he wouldn't shut up about last night."
Yume blinked. "Huh?"
"Oh, my son told me about a girl he had met. He just couldn't stop talking about you. It's the first time I've seen my Shuichi so excited in a long time."
Kurama looked at the floor, blushing as red as his hair.
"Oh really?" Yume drawled, grinning at 'Shuichi.' "Tell me more." She sat down on the woman's bed, where the woman gripped her hand softly.
"Oh, it was so adorable. He was acting like a young child again. He kept talking about a girl who had beautiful tan skin that was as soft as it looked, warm, cinnamon eyes glowing with life, black hair that flowed down her back in a cascading waterfall when it was out of it's braid…oh, lord! He was right! You are a beautiful young lady." The woman, Shiori, smiled brightly, and Yume found her smile to be contagious.
Kurama blushed harder. "She wasn't supposed to tell you that."
"Oh, so you admit to saying it, eh, 'Shuichi'?" Yume teased, gently poking his chest. "You're right, Shiori, him blushing is adorable!"
Kurama's blush darkened. "Oh lord…"
"So, what do you think of my son, Yume?" Shiori chirped. Even though she appeared to be very sick, she was still a bright and vibrant woman.
"Well…that's a very hard question…" I think I'll make him squirm. Yume grinned, and Kurama got a sinking feeling in his stomach.
She wouldn't…She would…
"Well, I'd have to say that he's very handsome for one thing." Yume said, smiling. "He's also very brave."
"Oh?"
"Yes, you see, we met when I was lost. I accidentally wandered into an unknown area of town, and I ran into some trouble with a gang of trouble makers and thugs."
"Oh dear. You poor thing."
"I was very frightened then. I thought they were going to hurt me…or worse." Yume sniffed, fake tears falling from her eyes… "But…right when I thought there was no hope for my rescue even though I was screaming for help as loud as I could, your son came along and rescued me, beating up the thugs and pulling me away from that dark area of town. Heck, he even carried me part of the way cause my ankle had gotten hurt."
Kurama blinked at her. She is, without a doubt, the best actress I've ever seen.
"Oh dear! Well, I'm just glad that Shuichi was there to help you. God only knows what could have happened."
Yume nodded. "Yes. I'm very lucky." She spared a glance over at Kurama, grinning at him 'innocently'.
Kurama rolled his eyes. "Mother, I need to speak with Yume privately."
"First…" Shiori stated, giving him a pout.
"Fine mother."
"Yume has to do it too."
"What? Mother…"
"Can you sing, Yume dear?"
"Uh…well, I've never really tried, actually!" Yume laughed.
"Well, do you know the song, 'Out of My Heart'?"
"Yes. I do. Why?"
"Could you sing it with Shuichi? He always sings a song for me while I'm here. It helps me feel better." Shiori gave her a pleading look, and Yume could not say no.
That woman needs to work for the CIA or something. Yume muttered in her head. "All right, Shiori."
She didn't notice Kurama's smirk.
He sat down on the chair next to Shiori's bed, and pulled Yume down on his lap.
Yume squeaked. "What are you doing?" she hissed at him.
"It will make my mother happy. Also, I thought we should get comfortable if we're going to be singing together." Kurama gave her his unreadable smile, and she glared at him, but couldn't stop herself from leaning against his chest, noting how warm he was and how he seemed to hold her like she actually meant something. She smiled slightly. So…is this what it would feel like to have a boyfriend?
Kurama looked at her, and started to sing. (Kurama Yume Together)
I feel fine
Now the rain is gone
and the sun has come to shine
Nothin can get me down today
Head over heals
Got my mind made up
as i'm driving through the fields
Nothin can get me down again
Catch me if you can
I gotta make a getaway
Yume was amazed at Kurama's voice. It was calming, sweet, and just like him. Yet it held a mysterious note in it that made you want to keep listening, your soul begging him not to stop singing.
Yume snapped herself out of her reverie, remembering that she had to sing in the chorus with him.
As the sun goes down
Wakin' up my dreams
And in my mind you're with me once again
Outta my heart Into your head
And inside my heart there's a place for you
And in my mind i'm with you once again
Outta my heart into your head
Yume grinned at Kurama while singing, and leaned her head and his chest while
they sang together, unbeknownst to them both. They were both too wrapped up in
their singing.
They didn't know the adorable picture they made together.
Chasing the sun
Tryin ta get away
from the rain that's gonna come
Hope I make it all the way
I'm lost in a crowd
Tryin' ta find my way
but the rain keeps fallin' down
Doesn't matter anyway
Catch me if you can
I gotta make a getaway
Kurama blinked at Yume's voice, but it made him smile. She was a wonderful
singer.
Her voice was kind of rough, not high and sweet like most girls' but kind of throaty and beautiful at the same time. (Think Anastacia, if any of you have heard of her.)
As the sun goes down
Wakin' up my dreams
And in my mind you're with me once again
Outta my heart Into your head
And inside my heart there's a place for you
And in my mind i'm with you once again
Outta my heart Into your head
Take a look
At the sky feel the sunshine
In your heart, In your head
In your own time
As the sun goes down
Wakin' up my dreams
And in my mind you're with me once again
Outta my heart Into your head
And inside my heart there's a place for you
And in my mind i'm with you once again
Outta my heart Into your head
Outta my heart Into your head
Outta my heart Into your head
As Yume sang the last note, Shiori clapped quietly. "Oh, you two make the cutest couple!" she squealed.
"Huh?" They both got out, looked at each other, and blushed, quickly looking away.
"Mother…I need to go and speak with Yume now."
Shiori nodded. "Of course, dear. Please come back." She smiled, laying back on her pillows.
Yume lifted herself from Kurama's lap, allowing him to go over to his mother and kiss her forehead tenderly.
Yume smiled. I didn't know demons had mothers. At least, mothers that really cared about their children. From what Koenma told me, most demon mothers abandon their children the moment they're able. But what is this all about? Why is she calling him 'Shuichi'? I thought his name was Kurama. Well, guess I'll find out.
Kurama walked away from his mother, passing Yume on his way to the door.
"Follow me, Yume."
She nodded silently, following him to the roof of the hospital.
The sun was setting far behind the horizon by now, bathing them in the crimson glow of the setting sun.
"That woman is my human mother. Shuichi is the name I was given in this human façade." Kurama started, then sighed. "My truest name is Yoko. I was a fox. A spirit fox, gaining the powers of a demon over the centuries I had lived. I soon grew bored and tried my hardest to entertain myself. Stealing ancient treasures and cracking codes were my favorite sport. But I got careless and nearly died at the hands of a hunter. I cast a spell and threw myself into the living world, placing myself in the soul of an unborn child. Thus, I entered a human family. I knew that if I could last ten years, just ten years as a human, then my powers would have come back enough for me to leave forever and disappear completely. But…then my mother got sick. She had shown me so much kindness, cared for me so deeply. It's hard, raising a child who thinks you are inferior. I feel, in a sense, that it was I who caused her disease…" he pulled out the Forlorn Hope, seeing his reflection on the thin surface. He looked back at Yume. "Did you know that in some species a child eats its mother?"
Yume blinked. "Why are you telling me all of this?"
"I don't know. Maybe because…I'm guilty. Maybe I feel like I am one of those 'mother devouring' creatures." He turned to her. "And besides, I knew that you would trust me."
The wind blew hard, whipping their hair around their faces.
"Please Yume, allow me to use the Forlorn Hope to save this woman's life, and then I will accept my punishment!"
Before Yume could answer, a nurse threw open the door. "Shuichi! It's your mother!"
Kurama ran downstairs, leaving Yume alone.
He came back when the moon was high in the sky, shining brightly down on them both.
"So?"
"She will die tonight." Kurama said, looking down at the mirror. He placed it on the ground, and kneeled in front of it.
Yume stared at him. "So I heard that you had to dish something out to the mirror to make it work…what is it?"
"Life."
"What?"
"It's quite easy to understand Yume. In order to save my mother's life, I must give up my life."
He looked down at the mirror that was starting to glow as moonlight hit it. "Forlorn Hope, arise from your slumber and reveal my greatest wish so you can make it true."
A picture of Shiori's smiling face appeared in the mirror. The happiness of this woman, is that what you desire?
"Yes."
In order to do this, you must give your life. Is that what you desire?"
"It is."
Yume snapped out of her shock. "Wait a minute! Can't we talk this out? I mean, there's gotta be some other way to do this!"
"No…there is not…"
Then your desire shall be fulfilled!
White shocks of energy flowed from the mirror, engulfing Kurama.
He tried to not scream in pain as his life was sucked away from him.
For you…mother.
Suddenly, Yume threw her arms around his neck from behind, whilst being covered with the shocks as well.
"What are you doing!" he yelled.
"Hey mirror-guy, can you hear me! Listen, I want you to take my life instead! That way Kurama can live and still get his wish right?" Yume never relinquished her hold on his neck.
"This doesn't make sense, it's my wish!"
"Yeah, but what's the use in bringing your mother out of sickness just so she can mourn the death of her son?" Yume yelled as images of her own mother sobbing entered her mind. "I've seen that once, and I never want to see it again!"
Your desire shall be fulfilled!
A white light engulfed them both.
And all went black.
Yume woke up minutes later, head aching like a bitch.
"Ow…" she looked up and saw Botan.
"Oh…you're alive." Botan sighed in relief.
"Hey! Cool I'm alive!" Yume said happily, "But y'know, that didn't make any sense what I just did. The point was to stop the whole 'sad-mom' thing, but then my mom would have been sad."
"Stupid…"
"But hey, I did get the Forlorn Hope back!" Yume smiled.
In honor of your noble deed, I fulfilled the wish without taking life.
"The Spirit Detective strikes
again!" Botan laughed.
Yume grinned as she pocketed the mirror. "That's right. I've only got one more
artifact to go."
"To think I doubted the Great Yume, what was I thinking?"
"Nah, Great Urameshi sounds better!"
"Oh, my mistake!"
They both laughed, one relieved as to the fact that it was almost over, and the other, laughing to get rid of the sadness she felt when she noticed that a certain fox wasn't there when she woke up.
A/N: There ya go…really long chapter…Hope you all are happy. Now don't forget to vote!