Disclaimer: YU YU HAKUSHO IS WONDERFUL AND FANTABULOUS AND EVERYTHING ABOUT IT IS INCREDIBLE! That's how you know it's not mine.
Out of the Rain: Chapter Four: Ichirin no Hana
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?" Shin slammed her books down on the bench at the bus stop, scowling at Miyouku, who jumped. "You should be locked away somewhere safe. I'm sure Akira is freaking out…"
"He doesn't know anything happened."
Shin gazed down at her friend for a moment, then reached for her cell phone.
Miyouku eyed the object in distaste. "What are you doing?"
Shin ignored her and started dialing a number. Ignoring Miyouku's protests, she put the phone up to her ear.
"Who are you calling?" Miyouku demanded, leaning forward and scowling.
Shin held up one finger, looking thoughtful, until the phone picked up.
"Guten Morgen!" came a cheerful voice.
"Akira? This is—WTF!" Shin was promptly tackled by Miyouku, who started wrestling her for the phone. "STOP IT! WHAT ARE YOU DOING! MIYOUKU—"
The phone was shoved out of her hand and flew into the street. Both of the girls stared at it for a moment, shocked, before making a simultaneous leap for the object. They were beaten, however, by the bus, who sent the cell phone bursting into several hundred little pieces as Shin ran, face first, into the vehicle and Miyouku stared at its remains in shock. With a soft ding, the door to the bus opened, waiting for them to enter. Shin slowly lifted her head and gazed down at the remains of her phone in abject horror.
"Shin…?" Miyouku poked her friend, who still hadn't moved after watching the heartless massacre of her phone. Her mouth was open slightly, her green eyes about as round as grapefruits, the right one twitching. "Shin…the…the bus is waiting…"
Shin slowly turned her head to look at Miyouku, who smiled uncertainly. "I'll buy you a new one," the black kitsune promised. "A better one!"
Miyouku gasped as Shin's fingers wrapped tightly around her throat, flinging her to the ground as she started throttling her. Shin's face was rabid, her nose gushing with blood from when it unceremoniously hit the bus's side. "WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING? MY PHONE! THAT WAS THE ONLY THING IN THIS WORLD THAT GAVE ME JOY!"
The roles were quickly reversed as Miyouku flipped Shin onto her back, grabbing her arms and trying to pin them to her side. "It was a piece of plastic! I told you I'd buy you a new one!" Shin's boot met solidly with Miyouku's face, followed by a soft, "Oops."
Shin slowly lowered her foot, gazing at Miyouku's twitching purple eyes and wishing that she hadn't flung her appendages up so readily. "Miyouku? T-that's what you get for breaking my phone! After you buy me a new one, we're even."
"YOU LITTLE—" Miyouku resumed pummeling her supposed "friend" as Shin tried desperately to crawl away, clawing at the sidewalk. "WHAT THE HECK DID YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING! THAT'S FRIGGIN' HURT!"
"OW! SORRY, MIYOUKU, JEEZ! IF YOU HADN'T BEEN ATTACKING ME—"
Both froze as the bus pulled away, billowing exhaust on them unceremoniously as it passed. On the other side of the street stood the Yu Yu gang, staring at them blankly from next to a light pole. They stared at each other for a moment in silence, the girls sprawled out on the ground in a rather peculiar position, the boys trying very hard to figure out how in the world they had managed to get themselves in their respective stances. Finally, Yusuke pointed and laughed, breaking the shock and tension that had been hanging between the two groups.
"Was that your phone?" Yusuke asked between gasps, trying to keep from crying, he was laughing so hard. "Tough luck, huh? Why the heck did you throw your phone out there, anyway?"
Shin's eyes flashed and she leapt at him, ignoring the rush of oncoming traffic. "Listen here, you big prick! MIYOUKU threw my phone, and then—"
"What're you yelling about?" Abadon looked at Shin in mild annoyance from his place in front of the ice cream store, orange freezy pop in hand. "It's too early for this, Shin."
Kurama stared for a moment at Abadon, who was watching Shin frolic into the store as he licked at his ice cream. "Your companion seems to have quite a fondness of all edible sweet things. He's even eating it for his breakfast."
Abadon looked at him in annoyance. "YOU spend your entire life working for the god of rice. You know what you get to eat? RICE. I'm so sick of the stuff…."
"I suppose we're walking to school today, huh?" Miyouku interrupted as Shin came stumbling out of the ice cream store, drooling over her strawberry ice cream cone. "Let's go, Shin, Abadon." She turned away, walking straight past the other boys, who stared at her blankly.
Shin paused for a moment to gaze at Hiei, her face suddenly incredibly serious, despite the ice cream clinging stubbornly to her lips. Her yellow green eyes pierced into his crimson ones, her ruby and ebony hair falling around her face in an unsettling manner. There was a silence as they stared at each other, Miyouku and Abadon still walking, apparently oblivious to the fact that their friend had stopped.
"MIDGET!"
With that shouted in Hiei's face, Shin turned to flee back to her friends, tripping halfway there. The ice cream cone sailed through the air, silhouetted briefly by the sun as it soared against the blue backdrop, before falling straight into a passing car's windshield. The vehicle started swerving, the windshield wipers going crazy as the driver of said convertible tried to keep on the road and in control. Other cars, trying to avoid the speeding hazard, started swerving as well, leading to plenty of bumps and side swipes and general mass chaos. Their English teacher, who hated them anyway because of the ruckus in class the day before, was riding his bike on the other side of the road, watching the street in terror. Because he wasn't looking where he was going, he clothes-lined on a shop sign and fell off of his bicycle, which continued its course straight into the road. Running into the broken remains of Shin's cell phone, the bike began to change its course, heading down the street instead of across. One of the chaotic cars hit the puttering bicycle, sending it flying into the air, straight towards the Yu Yu gang, who quickly started to disperse. With a loud crash, the remains of the English teacher's mode of transportation landed unceremoniously on Kuwabara, who collapsed into a heap of twitching limbs and twisted metal.
Shin, Miyouku and Abadon stared at the utter insanity caused by Shin's innocent tumble in solemn silence, Shin's eye twitching. The red kitsune slowly stood and turned to look at her companions, eyes wide. Without saying a word, they bolted down the street, heading for the school.
Miyouku made a mental note to never let Shin order ice cream in the morning.
...:...:...:...:...:...:...:…
Shin was still sniffling over her ice cream when fifth period, independent music study, started. Pouting, heart broken, she lightly tapped the cymbal on the drum set with her drum stick, making a soft clang. She sighed and sat down, staring at the drums in front of her in quiet sadness.
"If you're worried about Kuwabara, he's doing just fine," Kurama offered, plucking lightly at a guitar string as he sat down next to her.
"LIKE HELL I'M WORRIED ABOUT THAT BUFFOON!" Shin glared at Kurama, fists clenched. "If I had killed him, I would be all the happier!"
"I see."
Brief silence. Kurama continued to gently pluck at his guitar as people walked by, setting up instruments or carrying microphones. Shin stared down at the ground, face flushed from yelling and emotion. Blinking, Kurama realized the guitar was off key, and promptly started tuning it.
"WAAAAAH!"
Kurama was knocked off balance as Shin leapt at him, clinging to him as she sobbed. "Wh-what's the matter?"
"THEY'RE NEVER GOING TO LET ME GET ICE CREAM AGAIN!" She continued to sob, occasionally getting strange glances from people passing by. "IT'S ALL THAT MIDGET'S FAULT!"
Smiling, Kurama patted the top of her head, sighing softly. "I highly doubt that Hiei contributed to anything that happened today…" Blinking, he looked down at Shin, who had fallen silent and wasn't crying any more. "What's wrong?"
She sat up suddenly, turning her head to look out the window, her eyes wide. "He wouldn't…"
"Shin?"
Scowling, she whisked around again, pushing him against the wall. "Listen to me." Kurama looked up at her in mild shock, shifting uncomfortably as Shin tightened her grip on his arms. "I don't trust you. Put simply, I hate your guts. However…" She blinked and turned again, once more looking out the window, searching for something. "You are strong enough to help protect Miyouku. Something's going on out there. It could be just a diversion, but whatever it is, I'm going to check it out. Look after her." Yellow green eyes met with questioning emerald orbs. "If you DARE hurt her, or let anyone else, I will kill you. Understand?"
"What are you—"
"UNDERSTAND!"
"Y-yes."
"Good." Shin released him and raced out the door, managing, somehow, not to trip. She pushed past Miyouku, who looked after her in confusion before shrugging and heading for one of the microphones.
"You sing?" Kurama walked over to her, smiling pleasantly.
"Yes." Miyouku returned to the mike, changing the height to fit her small stature.
"I happen to sing myself."
Miyouku glanced up at the smiling face and smirked. "Are you really that intent on getting your ass whooped by me again?"
"Do I sense a challenge?" The teacher walked over, grinning, his glasses reflecting the sunlight. "Nobody's beaten Miyouku's vocal capacity…"
Kurama continued smiling, grabbing a microphone for himself. "Not so much a challenge as a friendly bout of karaoke…"
"How about it, people?" the teacher inquired, and the entire class let out a cheer as the bell for the beginning of class rang. "Alright, everyone seems to be for it. What song are you singing?"
Miyouku sifted through the karaoke CDs before placing one into the player. "Are you ready, Shuichi-kun?" she asked, smirking. "You said yes the last time, and I whooped your pathetic tail."
The music started up, the words flaring to life on the screen. Miyouku grinned, standing up straighter as she gazed at the TV. "The purple words are mine. The ones in green are yours. Understand?"
"A duet?"
"It's easier than both of us singing two different songs." Miyouku started to frown as she opened her mouth to sing, something tickling the back of her mind.
"Kimi wa kimi dake shika inai yo
Kawari nante hoka ni inainda
Karenai de ichirin no hana"
(You are the only you
There is no such thing as your replacement
Don't wilt away, you lone flower)
I didn't pick this song, Miyouku realized, her skin starting to crawl. It was, indeed, a duet, but she remembered singing it with a different silver kitsune… Kurama's voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Hikari ga matomo ni sashikomanai
Kimi wa maru de hikage ni saita hana no you
Nozonda hazu jyanakatta basho ni
Ne wo harasete ugokezu ni irunda ne"
(You are like a flower
That bloomed in a dark shadow
Even though you're in a place you don't wish to be,
You can't move because of your roots)
The crowd was pleased by Kurama's voice, which emerged as strong and clear as Miyouku's. She was, however, busy focusing on other things. Why had Shin raced out like she had? Regardless, she continued to sing.
"Tojikaketa kimochi…"
(All of your closed up feelings…)
Kurama's voice sounded different to her ears, almost like…
"Haki daseba!"
(Let them out!)
Miyouku was starting to sweat as she continued.
"Itami mo kurushimi mo subete wo uketomeru yo
Dakara nakanai de
Waratte ite ichirin no hana"
(I'll accept all of your pain and suffering
So please don't cry
Please smile, you lone flower)
Where's Abadon? Her heart skipped a beat. Was that why Shin raced out? But wouldn't Miyouku herself be able to sense something was wrong? She did, after all, have the strongest sixth sense of all of her friends…
Kurama lightly nudged her as he sang, growing concerned about the way his singing partner was acting.
"Ima ni mo karete shimai sou na
Kimi no mujyaki na sugata ga mou ichido mitakute"
(I wanted to see your innocent figure
That looked like it was about to wilt, one more time)
He had cooed that over what he thought was her corpse as the knife slid smoothly over her chest, her blood staining his silvery hair crimson. Red hair. Shin's hair. Why was she thinking like this? Somehow, she still managed to find her voice.
"Kimi no chikara ni…"
(Your strength…)
Kurama's voice was distant as he finished the sentence.
"Naritainda!"
(I want to become it!)
Swallowing, her mind running in a million different directions, her hands shaking, Miyouku started singing again.
"Tatoe kimi igai no subete no hito wo
Teki ni mawasu toki ga kite mo
Kimi no koto mamori nuku kara"
(Even if there comes a time
When the whole world becomes our enemy
I'll protect you)
Miyouku stared blankly at the English words floating across the screen, now distinctly hearing Akarume's voice, not Kurama's.
You should notice that there is no other
You should notice that there is no next time
You should notice that there is no other
You should notice
THAT
NOTICE THAT
YOU SHOULD NOTICE THAT
NOTICE THAT
THERE'S NO OTHER!
Shin turned the corner as fast as she could, sweating and breathing heavily. Abadon was tied to the chain link fence with sharp, thin cords, his head tipped down, school uniform a bloody mess. Silvery hair was dark and red, dripping onto the dirt ground with every ragged breath he took.
"ABADON!"
"Shin…" He didn't even have enough strength to raise his head. Grunting, he strained briefly against his ties, succeeding only in causing himself to bleed more heavily. "Don't let…"
"Miyouku," Shin whispered, hands shaking as she tried to untie him. "Is he going after her?"
"Don't let her…see me like this." He turned his head slowly to gaze at her. All of his scars had been carefully traced, leaving his face streaked with blood, just like the first time they had met, when Shin and Miyouku had found him laying on the Shrine's grounds. "That's what he…wants. He wants to break her." Eyes closing, he slumped, falling into her arms as she finished untying his upper body.
"ABADON!"
"Kimi wa kimi dake shika inai yo
Ima made mo kore kara saki ni mo
Tatoe kimi igai no subete no hito wo
Teki ni mawasu toki ga kite mo
Kimi no koto mamori nuku kara
Makenai de ichirin no hana"
(You are the only you
Till now and from now on
Even if there comes a time
When the whole world becomes our enemy
I'll protect you
So don't give u, you lone flower)
Miyouku finished her part and turned off her microphone, hands shaking furiously. She needed to get out. Turning, she started walking for the door, but was blocked by all the students, who had crowded around to listen to them sing. Struggling, she started making her way through.
You should notice that there is no other
You should notice that there is no next time
You should notice that there is no other
You should notice that there is no next
THAT
NOTICE THAT
YOU SHOULD NOTICE THAT
NOTICE THAT
THERE'S NO OTHER!
"We are on internal lockdown. Please close all of the windows and lock your doors. Lights out, nobody near the exits. I repeat, we are on internal lockdown…"
Miyouku's eyes widened as the sound of an ambulance reached everyone's ears. She was hit full force by two things: the feeling of Akarume being near, and the scent of Abadon's blood. She raced towards the window, even as the teacher yelled for her to hide in the supply room with everyone else. Shaking, she caught a brief glance of Abadon's body being dragged into the ambulance on a stretcher, Shin crying next to the vehicle. Shin's outfit and hands were soaked in blood.
"There's no other," a voice whispered, making Miyouku whirl around.
No one was there.
Author's Notes: Hm, yes. The beginning? It was just for giggles. I figured this chapter would be too serious without something like that. Plus, I needed to get some character development going. The song I used was Ichirin no Hana, by HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR. Worship them. I do. If you recognized it, that means that you are a BLEACH fan, because this song is used for the third ending theme. The translations are in parenthesis, since I figured everyone would want to know what they meant. I could translate some of it, but I got the lyrics and translation off of I switched some things around so it would fit with the Japanese better, but other than that….
Peace, and give me some comments!