14thShrineMaiden: Happy Chinese New Year! Update in celebration.
Chapter 22:
"We'll be back in a day, Mom." Yusuke tried to loose his mother's hold. "Stop worrying already!"
"I can't help it," she sobbed. "What if my poor baby dies? And Yuki- what if-?"
A rough hand silenced Atsuko's voice. "No 'What Ifs' Atsuko. Not anymore." Jiro kissed her on the cheek. "I promise they'll come home safe."
"Bleagh." Yusuke stuck his tongue out. "Come on, portal's waiting."
"Ja ne, Kaasan." Yuki lifted a hand up in gentle goodbye, dressed in a simple pair. "We'll see you soon."
"Goodbye Yuki!"
"I'll miss them," she murmured, Yusuke catching up. "Everyone- Koenma, Botan, Jiro, Atsuko, Keiko, you, Shizuru, Kuwabara, Kurama, Hiei. Coming to the Ningenkai was such a change for me."
"Hmph. Not like you won't see them again. How bad can that ritual shizbang be?"
She laughed. "You're right. But I still have this foreboding feeling."
"The only bad thing about this is that you didn't get to meet Genkai and Yukina earlier."
"Who?"
"Genkai's an old hag-"
A whap on the head interrupted him. "She's your master, Yusuke."
"Yeah? So what, doesn't mean anything."
"That's like saying I'm your father and it doesn't mean anything." Jiro swung his leg out, catching his son by surprise; he nearly fell face-flat on the pavement.
"What the hell was that for?"
"Surely disrespect should not go unpunished for?"
Yuki shaded her eyes for a moment, ignoring the bickering pair. "There they are." She pointed out the group of people in an alleyway.
"What took you so long Urameshi!" Kuwabara yelled, waving frantically as if he needed to alert them further.
"Meh, Mom wouldn't let him go," Yusuke said, jerking his head towards the older; Jiro fumed, developing a stress mark.
"Yet it certainly took you quite long in that bathroom Yusuke."
"Shut up! It did not!"
Yuki laughed, leaning on Hiei for a moment. "How are you today Hiei?"
"Hn."
She chuckled to herself at his response, tilting her head up for a quick chaste kiss against his cheek. "Good, I'm glad." Detaching herself, she caught a redhead by the arm. "Kurama, a moment." Pulling him aside from the group, she looked up.
"Yen…?"
"She is a person from my past," he replied "Unwillingly under the control of Ichiro. We have settled."
"Kurama, I know you have a mother, and a family, in the Ningenkai. But… I want to make sure all of my brothers have the three kinds of loves." She smiled. "Yusuke is well and covered, Kuwabara too; Hiei and you need some work."
He chuckled. "I think Hiei is 'covered'."
"He has love between friends, but what about familial?"
"A sister- Yukina."
Yuki smiled. "I hoped to meet her in this lifetime, but please as my last wish for you, make sure that confrontation will occur."
"This lifetime-?"
"Kurama, I won't hide it. Our love will not last long. I don't think anything can do me much good now."
"Then are you sure you should do this?"
"Yes. Either way my life will end. I won't last the turning of the year. I didn't tell Hiei- well, I voiced some doubts, but still."
"Yusuke?"
"A minimal hint. Though this blunt- only you."
"But-"
"Please, tell Yen that I hope for her life to blossom as much as her dreams." She grinned mischievously. "It's a pity I won't be able to dote on your future son."
He flushed bright red. "Yuki-!"
"Come on you two! Portal's waiting!" They both looked up at Botan's call; the others were already starting to clamber in. They nodded, following.
"What was that?"
"Nothing, Hiei. Nothing of consequence." They stepped into the portal together after the kitsune.
They ended up in a marble hallway. Demons stopped to look at them, but hurried on after Hotaka's disheartening glares.
"Suzu will prepare Yuki for the ceremony," he announced. "I will take the rest of you straight to the Initiation Chamber."
Yuki nodded, stepping over to the other female. "Say your goodbye to Hiei now," Suzu murmured out of the corner of her mouth. "You might not get another chance."
She gave a small nod of acknowledgement. She reached out, touching Hiei before he followed Hotaka. "I'll see you, one way or another."
"Hn." He pulled her closer to him, drawing her up in a swift kiss. He broke off quickly, though the passion still remained. "Don't go back to your Void."
"Never." She ran after the waiting demoness- Hiei, Hotaka and the others went the other way.
After leading her into the room and positioning her in front of the tall mirror, Suzu helped her into a simple white kimono, obi, tabi, and everything else of that same shade.
A light touch on her arm. "Please, remember, although the binding between you and the gods is painful… the hard life of an Akazuno is worth it." Suzu looked at Yuki in the eye. "Pain is only an illusion of the body. The spirit can only be affected by pain through the body, its house."
"Why did you join?"
She looked down. "I have already said more than I should have. But… the reason… my parents were killed for who they were. I wanted to avenge them, for their honor."
"Who…?"
"The fellow clans of my parents. I killed them all."
"Shadow and light should not hold so much hate."
"And after that oversight I knew." She squeezed her hand. "Revulsion should never be a reason. Though the gods will accept it… it is not right."
Yuki smiled. "I will keep these lessons in mind."
-(Makai)-
"You must not speak during this ceremony at all. Absolute silence from those surrounding is part of the ceremony. Understood?" Hotaka stopped in front of a pair of doors, pausing to allow them to swing open.
"Hn. Hard for the oaf."
"Hiei, please. Don't provoke anyone."
"What do you mean-!"
"If you cannot accomplish this menial task, I must ask you to leave."
Yusuke waved his hands, grinning. "We're good. Why couldn't the Tantai manage it?"
Suzu snorted, coming up from behind them. "What can the Tantai manage?"
"Silence." He glared again. "Enter with silence. There is punishment for speech."
"Hn." They followed him into the chamber.
"Jaganshi." He turned the last to enter. "Remember that your mate has consented herself to the Akazuno, and to the gods. You cannot interfere with her decisions."
"I do what I want wench."
She glared back, miffed at the name. "In the future, what you want might not be for the best of Yuki. There have been stories. Hotaka was right when he said there is punishment for speech. I cannot tell you exactly what, but you must obey that rule."
"Hn." Hiei swept past her, the girl following; he placed himself next to Kurama.
Suzu joined Hotaka and Takehiko in the middle of the room. The three of them were standing before Yuki, who was kneeling on a slab of stone raised above the ground.
"Are you ready to take on this grievous task, offered to all those with forbidden elements inside their body?"
"Yes."
"Then accept this binding pain." Taking the knife, he opened a cut on the back of her left hand, deep enough so that it welled up and trickled, landing on the stone.
"Three drops of blood," Hotaka intoned, "For the three opposing elements she bears." He struck the stone with the bloodied knife. "Gods help this Forbidden Child!"
The winds picked up at his proclamation; he and Takehiko stepped back, Suzu hurriedly following their example. A small whirlwind consumed Yuki, multicolored lights also mixed in with it.
It's been a long time since the last Forbidden.
Not so- the last was a half century ago- Suzu, I think.
Who are you, Forbidden Child?
Speak, Forbidden. Now you alone have lips that can address.
"Akio Yuki," she murmured. They caught it of course.
Your origins?
"Ice, water, and electricity."
Ah, part of my own.
Be quiet Raijin.
Yes, you're only pleased because there are so few of your element left.
Gods and Spirits, please, remember a task is at hand.
Apologies, most noble of us all.
Hold your tongue Fujin.
Who is your father? Boomed another voice, angrier than the last. And your mother?
"My father was Akio Osamu. I do not know my mother's surname, but her first was Rin."
A pair not meant.
Indeed, unlucky.
Why do you wish to become part of the Akazuno?
"…I have medical problems…"
You wish for another chance at mortal life?
"I suppose."
If there is more to it, then you should divulge it.
"I want to be stronger."
Hm.
And now the question of many downfalls: Why?
"It… it just seems like a necessity for me. For me to be able to protect myself. All my life I have been secluded, but the past few months have given me a different view. Now I see two sides of life. I want to be able to make the choices myself, instead of being affected by other's decisions."
To sum it up, perhaps you mean…
"To gain independence."
There's another reason though.
Ah? No secrets now. What more?
"How can you know something is hidden when even I don't realize it?"
We are gods after all.
"I…"
'What do I want?'
"My life… is not yet my own. There are others, who will not yet find that life for me is empty."
Selfish and selfless- both ways for your existence.
The question is who does she strive for?
Quite different though.
Indeed, many Forbidden Children wish for revenge.
"To me… the sweetness of my revenge is nothing compared to the rewards of not obtaining it."
True enough.
Wisdom is something you already have.
You will have Three Chances.
Three tasks to accomplish before you become a true Akazuno, one of the true Forbidden.
"NO!" A hand grabbed hers. "Yuki!"
The lights flashed ominously, the velocity of the wind increasing, and the rumble of displeased voices.
You dare enter the Circle, Forbidden?
: End Chapter
14thShrineMaiden: A little bit… shall we say, abrupt?
And the bolds before were the voices of the gods, if you didn't know.
Reviews d--- it. (Curse rant)