Reaching Your Limits: Continual Cycle
Episode 3: Unknown Answers. Hiei's Motive
Kazuma was surprised when he came out of school the next day to find Yukina waiting for him at the gate. She hadn't been in class, so he had assumed the worst and hadn't thought he would see her again. When her figure became visible through the crowd of students, Kazuma let out an almost giddy whoop and ran to the young girl's side, barely remembering to call goodbye to his friends.
"Yukina, I'm surprised to see you," he exclaimed, trying to compose himself although he was certain his face was red.
Smiling, the Koorime reached out and took his hand, making his cheeks flush even more. "I knew that we would see each other again, Kazuma. You are too good of fighters for Koenma to pass up on. However, I wish it were under better circumstances," she replied, her eyes turning a little sad.
Kazuma mumbled a few things, trying to figure out how to comfort her, but was interrupted before he could get far. "I need your help," Yukina went on.
"My help? With what?" Kazuma questioned.
"I can't find my brother. I've looked in all of the usual places where he goes, but he isn't there. The night that we left the temple, he vanished. Our connection is still open, so I know that he is okay, but I don't know where he is. I'm worried," Yukina said, sniffling slightly.
His breath catching in his throat, Kazuma sent out a thousand curses to the bastard who had worried Yukina so much. "Urameshi and I will bring him back. I'm surprised that Koenma hadn't spoken to you yet," he said.
The Koorime blinked at him for a moment, then reached into her pocket. "Koenma sent me this, but I was so worried about Hiei that I haven't even thought to read it yet."
Kazuma was quiet as she did so, watching her facial expressions change. He could tell exactly what she was thinking just by watching her face. "I'm guessing that Koenma has just informed you of Urameshi's and my own new assignment?" he questioned, wording himself carefully just in case he was wrong. He didn't want to upset her even more.
Yukina shook her head, but it was more in disbelief than it was denial. "Why would he do something like this? Stealing one artifact could of landed him in jail. Stealing another could get him executed!" she exclaimed.
"I don't really know his motives, but I suspect he is doing it for Kurama. Whether he denies it or not, I can tell his feelings," Kazuma commented, tapping his temple with a smug look on his face. The intense emotions of the male Koorime were almost startlingly easy to pick up mentally.
"What does Kurama have to do with it?" Yukina questioned, looking confused.
Briefly, Kazuma explained what he'd learned about the Mirror of Utter Darkness from Koenma. By the end of his explination, Yukina looked like she was either going to burst into tears or grin her head off. Finally, she opted to smile.
"Well, at least my brother cannot deny it any longer," she comented.
***
Why the hell was he doing this?
Hiei scowled at nothing in particular, staring up at the night sky. He and Kurama had successfully retrieved the Mirror of Utter Darkness. Now, they were hiding in the Humanworld, close to Tokyo, until the day it could be used. It was obvious that Koenma would come after them, so they had decided to lay low for two days and enter into the city only that night.
It was boring, doing nothing but laying down all day, but also exciting at the same time. Memories of the past seemed to flood into his mind, images of when he and Youko Kurama had done this same thing. Hunting through the trees for something to eat, talking softly under the starlight, existing in the world as though it had been made for only them.
Of course, in the past, the atmosphere had been very different. Although the same type of tension sat between them, they wouldn't act upon it this time around. Couldn't act upon it, this time around.
For every moment which passed, Hiei was painstakenly reminded of the fact that the now-Kurama and then-Kurama were very different. Not only their physical bodies, or their personalities, but even the very way which they precieved life. It was so different that it was hard to believe that one could possibly be the other in any way.
Still, as he had desired the past form, he desired this one. He loved the being that was Kurama, no matter what form or mind that being took shape in. As much as he hated to admit it, that was why he was here. No other reason than that, other than a very faint respect toward Shiori. This mission could very well end his life just as easily as it would Kurama's. It was a lead weight on his shoulders and mind, to realize that, by tomorrow night, Kurama would be dead. And, no matter how much he loved the other, he could not bring himself to force Kurama's hand. The decision would rest on the reincarnated Youko's shoulders, and his alone.
Unbidden, Hiei's eyes slid to the sleeping figure beside him. Unaccustomed to staying up late in his human lifestyle, Kurama had fallen asleep only a few hours after the sun had gone down. There was a fire to keep him warm, since Hiei didn't have to worry about such things, and he was sleeping rather peacefully for someone who had lived a pampered human life for the past sixteen years.
His breathing coming so shallow that his lungs were pinching, his actions almost automatic, Hiei reached out and brushed some of the crimson bangs from Kurama's forehead. He smiled slightly when they fell right back to where they had been. He studied the fox's sleeping face, his breath catching when his eyes landed on slightly parted lips.
Tomorrow night, this person would be gone.
Closing his eyes, Hiei leaned forward slowly. Afraid to breath, afraid to move too quickly, afraid that Kurama would wake up any moment and demand to know what was going on, Hiei gently pressed his lips against the soft ones of the other.
The crackling of the fire was all he heard for several moments, the warm pressure against his mouth all he felt. Hiei longed to make the contact last longer, longed to wraps his arms around the other's form and feel Kurama's wrap around his own. Yet, he knew that it was impossible. Even if Kurama would somehow live past tomorrow night, it was impossible.
Pulling away, Hiei stared once again at the face before him. He slowly shifted backward, placing some distance between them. Then he turned and put his back toward the other, wrapping himself up before closing his eyes. He forced himself not to think, not to feel, anything until he'd fallen asleep. He would let his dreams take care of the rest. Tomorrow, he would forget about it.
***
In the darkness of the night, by the light of the fire, a small black jem glittered against the crimson red hair spread out below it.
Episode 3: Unknown Answers. Hiei's Motive
Kazuma was surprised when he came out of school the next day to find Yukina waiting for him at the gate. She hadn't been in class, so he had assumed the worst and hadn't thought he would see her again. When her figure became visible through the crowd of students, Kazuma let out an almost giddy whoop and ran to the young girl's side, barely remembering to call goodbye to his friends.
"Yukina, I'm surprised to see you," he exclaimed, trying to compose himself although he was certain his face was red.
Smiling, the Koorime reached out and took his hand, making his cheeks flush even more. "I knew that we would see each other again, Kazuma. You are too good of fighters for Koenma to pass up on. However, I wish it were under better circumstances," she replied, her eyes turning a little sad.
Kazuma mumbled a few things, trying to figure out how to comfort her, but was interrupted before he could get far. "I need your help," Yukina went on.
"My help? With what?" Kazuma questioned.
"I can't find my brother. I've looked in all of the usual places where he goes, but he isn't there. The night that we left the temple, he vanished. Our connection is still open, so I know that he is okay, but I don't know where he is. I'm worried," Yukina said, sniffling slightly.
His breath catching in his throat, Kazuma sent out a thousand curses to the bastard who had worried Yukina so much. "Urameshi and I will bring him back. I'm surprised that Koenma hadn't spoken to you yet," he said.
The Koorime blinked at him for a moment, then reached into her pocket. "Koenma sent me this, but I was so worried about Hiei that I haven't even thought to read it yet."
Kazuma was quiet as she did so, watching her facial expressions change. He could tell exactly what she was thinking just by watching her face. "I'm guessing that Koenma has just informed you of Urameshi's and my own new assignment?" he questioned, wording himself carefully just in case he was wrong. He didn't want to upset her even more.
Yukina shook her head, but it was more in disbelief than it was denial. "Why would he do something like this? Stealing one artifact could of landed him in jail. Stealing another could get him executed!" she exclaimed.
"I don't really know his motives, but I suspect he is doing it for Kurama. Whether he denies it or not, I can tell his feelings," Kazuma commented, tapping his temple with a smug look on his face. The intense emotions of the male Koorime were almost startlingly easy to pick up mentally.
"What does Kurama have to do with it?" Yukina questioned, looking confused.
Briefly, Kazuma explained what he'd learned about the Mirror of Utter Darkness from Koenma. By the end of his explination, Yukina looked like she was either going to burst into tears or grin her head off. Finally, she opted to smile.
"Well, at least my brother cannot deny it any longer," she comented.
***
Why the hell was he doing this?
Hiei scowled at nothing in particular, staring up at the night sky. He and Kurama had successfully retrieved the Mirror of Utter Darkness. Now, they were hiding in the Humanworld, close to Tokyo, until the day it could be used. It was obvious that Koenma would come after them, so they had decided to lay low for two days and enter into the city only that night.
It was boring, doing nothing but laying down all day, but also exciting at the same time. Memories of the past seemed to flood into his mind, images of when he and Youko Kurama had done this same thing. Hunting through the trees for something to eat, talking softly under the starlight, existing in the world as though it had been made for only them.
Of course, in the past, the atmosphere had been very different. Although the same type of tension sat between them, they wouldn't act upon it this time around. Couldn't act upon it, this time around.
For every moment which passed, Hiei was painstakenly reminded of the fact that the now-Kurama and then-Kurama were very different. Not only their physical bodies, or their personalities, but even the very way which they precieved life. It was so different that it was hard to believe that one could possibly be the other in any way.
Still, as he had desired the past form, he desired this one. He loved the being that was Kurama, no matter what form or mind that being took shape in. As much as he hated to admit it, that was why he was here. No other reason than that, other than a very faint respect toward Shiori. This mission could very well end his life just as easily as it would Kurama's. It was a lead weight on his shoulders and mind, to realize that, by tomorrow night, Kurama would be dead. And, no matter how much he loved the other, he could not bring himself to force Kurama's hand. The decision would rest on the reincarnated Youko's shoulders, and his alone.
Unbidden, Hiei's eyes slid to the sleeping figure beside him. Unaccustomed to staying up late in his human lifestyle, Kurama had fallen asleep only a few hours after the sun had gone down. There was a fire to keep him warm, since Hiei didn't have to worry about such things, and he was sleeping rather peacefully for someone who had lived a pampered human life for the past sixteen years.
His breathing coming so shallow that his lungs were pinching, his actions almost automatic, Hiei reached out and brushed some of the crimson bangs from Kurama's forehead. He smiled slightly when they fell right back to where they had been. He studied the fox's sleeping face, his breath catching when his eyes landed on slightly parted lips.
Tomorrow night, this person would be gone.
Closing his eyes, Hiei leaned forward slowly. Afraid to breath, afraid to move too quickly, afraid that Kurama would wake up any moment and demand to know what was going on, Hiei gently pressed his lips against the soft ones of the other.
The crackling of the fire was all he heard for several moments, the warm pressure against his mouth all he felt. Hiei longed to make the contact last longer, longed to wraps his arms around the other's form and feel Kurama's wrap around his own. Yet, he knew that it was impossible. Even if Kurama would somehow live past tomorrow night, it was impossible.
Pulling away, Hiei stared once again at the face before him. He slowly shifted backward, placing some distance between them. Then he turned and put his back toward the other, wrapping himself up before closing his eyes. He forced himself not to think, not to feel, anything until he'd fallen asleep. He would let his dreams take care of the rest. Tomorrow, he would forget about it.
***
In the darkness of the night, by the light of the fire, a small black jem glittered against the crimson red hair spread out below it.