Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho
A/N:
"Talking"
'Thoughts'
Flashback
Chapter Six: The End of the Beginning
Erica walked down an old path through the woods. She came up to a rusted gate and glanced at the sign above it.
'Oak Falls Cemetery'
She sighed as she read the sign.
'I haven't been here in a while.' She thought as she tightened her grip on the flowers she was holding and walked into the graveyard. Heading towards the center, she stopped in front of a group of three gravestones. Reading the names on them she drifted of in a memory.
"Ahh! Stop jumping!" A little girl yelled in the air. Two older boys were bouncing as high as they could, trapping the frightened girl on the huge trampoline. Ever since she had broken her arm on one, the small child had been afraid of them. The neighbors all knew this, and some of the older kids used it against her.
"Aww, what's wrong? Is the wittle girl afraid of falling?" One of them taunted, "That's too bad, now isn't it?" The other boy laughed at the bully's words and shoved the girl off. She hit the bar around the trampoline before landing hard on the ground.
"Erica? Is that you? What's wrong?" A blonde boy came up to the now crying girl as she held her bleeding knee.
"They were bullying me again Tsume," the five-year-old said, looking up at the boy.
He angrily looked at the two boys before helping Erica up.
"Go home. Now."
She nodded her head and quickly limped home. Tsume walked up to the huge trampoline.
"Hey, you"
The two older boys looked down and stood still. "Yeah, what do you want?"
Erica stood by a window, anxiously waiting for her brother to return home. Tsume walked through the front door slightly roughed up. Erica quickly ran up to him.
"Tsume, are you okay?" she asked, glancing at some of the bruises he had.
"Yeah, I'm fine"
"Tsume!"
His mother caught his attention as she walked up to him.
"Young man, what are doing coming home so late? I just got a call from David and Eddie's parents saying that some bully had beat up their kids. Do you know how worried I was?"
"Sorry ma'am"
"Do know about anything that happened?"
"No ma'am" he lied.
She looked him over for a moment, "Alright, go wash up, dinner's almost ready."
As soon as their mother was out of sight, Tsume turned to Erica.
"If that ever happens again, just come to me and I'll protect you."
"How pathetic" Hiei said, drawing her out of her thoughts, his Jagan Eye open. Erica looked over at him. "What are you doing here?" she asked irritated.
"Uh…Kurama asked that I watch you."
"Liar. Just go away," she said and looked back at her family's gravestones. She placed a flower in front of each of the three graves and started walking back from the path she came.
As Erica walked down the street Hiei walked behind her. Erica stopped and turned around. "Stop following me. I'm not in the mood to deal with you right now."
"Hn."
Ignoring him Erica turned to continue walking, but instead bumped into Kurama.
"Hi Erica I was-" he said as Erica looked up at him, an unreadable emotion on her face. Without saying anything she brushed past him. She continued on to her house and upon entering she immediately ventured to her room. With a weary sigh Erica sank down on her bed and not much later fell into a fitful slumber.
"You did that for what reason?" Kurama asked Hiei.
"She is annoying and we would be better off with out her."
"You do realize that you aren't allowed to kill humans. Even indirectly."
"Well at least remove her memories. It's obvious she hates you now."
"Hiei that's enough. Let's do something other than arguing about Erica."
"What do you have in mind? " Hiei asked.
Kurama stood outside Erica's window several hours later. Hiei stood next to him, the Jagan open. As he watched Erica's nightmare he told Kurama.
A six year old child sat in the police station. An officer walked up to the girl and looked down at her.
"Little girl, do you know your name?" He asked, placing a hand on her shoulder and crouching down to her eye level. She nodded her head.
"What is it?"
"Erica"
"Alright Erica I need you to tell me what happened." He said pulling out a note pad and pen.
Erica looked away. "A fire took away my mommy and daddy," She said, starting to cry again. The man wrote something down and looked back at her.
"Did you have any brothers or sisters?"
Erica sniffed. "Yeah, my brother Tsume, he's gone too."
The man continued. He held up a picture and showed it to Erica. A man lifted a laughing girl smiling. A young man stood next to a happy woman. All four stood in a park. The edges of the picture were burnt. "Is this your family?"
She stared at it and barely nodded her head 'yes'. "That was my family," she answered, voice breaking slightly. She burst into fresh tears and the officer patted her back.
"I'm sorry, but I need you to tell me how the fire started."
"I don't know. I don't…know" she said in between sniffs. He nodded to another officer and had Erica led away.
"She is being chased by a bunny. And it…it just ate her." Hiei lied to Kurama, still watching her dream.
Erica turned in her sleep, moving around in her bed before waking up. She jerked forward, but soon fell off as she was on the edge. Erica landed on the floor with a loud thud. She sat up wincing, and noticed Hiei sitting on her window sill. Standing up, she backed up and tripped falling backwards into someone's lap. Erica stood quickly and turned around.
"Kurama? What are you doing here?" Erica asked rubbing her eyes.
"Making sure the bunny didn't scare you." He said smiling as he stood up.
"What bunny?" Erica asked confused.
"Nevermind. Would you like to tell me about your real dream?" He asked glaring at Hiei.
Erica looked at the far side of the room, "Not really" she said slightly sniffing.
"I understand" He said. He looked back at Erica. "Erica, did you take a trip with Hiei?"
"Uh, yeah…unwillingly though."
'If that ever happens again just come to me and I'll protect you."
Erica stared at Kurama before her eyes started watering. She quickly wiped her eyes. "Alright, um if you don't mind would you please leave now?" she asked turning around.
"I do. Why?" Kurama said not moving.
Erica didn't answer. Kurama stood and walking over to Hiei took his arm. "I'll just leave now then. But remember if you need anything all you have to do is call," he said dragging Hiei out the door.
Erica sat in class glancing around, noticing that Kurama wasn't there for the second day in a row. Tuning out the monotone sound of the teacher's voice; Erica adverted her attention to the window. She jerked as Hiei jumped on a tree branch covered in blood splotches. Erica raised her hand.
"Can I be excused?" she asked quickly. Without turning the teacher gave permission. Erica jumped up and ran to the door. She opened and slammed into Kurama. She fell down to lay on the floor blinking up at him. The first thing she noticed was the blood splotches covering his shirt. He smiled down at her as he pulled his jacket on, effectively concealing the blood.
"What happened to you Kurama?" Erica asked worriedly as the bell rang and the class exited.
"Nothing." He said cheerfully as a random came up to Erica. As soon as Kurama entered the class to talk to the teacher, she slapped Erica yelling, "Don't call Minamino-kun a horse!" holding her cheek and looking at the girl, Erica realized that it was the same girl that was always bullying her for being with Shuichi. Ignoring her yell Erica punched her in the jaw, nearly knocking her over.
"You witch!" the girl screeched lunging at Erica. Erica stepped back dodging the other girl. She then stepped forward and punched her in the stomach. As Erica turned to leave she heard a yell and turned to see a fist come towards her face. She closed her eyes, but reopened them when she didn't get hit. She looked and saw the girl's fist was an inch from her nose. Angry the girl whirled around and, thinking that one of her friends had stopped her, grabbed a fistful of the person's hair, yanking hard. She gasped when she realized the hair was red. She quickly let go and backed off horrified. "M-Minamino-kun g-gomen nasai! I thought you were someone else." She stuttered.
"Erica-chan are you all right?" Kurama asked ignoring the girl. Erica nodded her head, confused by the '-chan'.
"Good. Nibiki-san, the teacher told me to tell you that you have to go to the principle." Kurama said taking hold of Erica's shoulder and steering her in the direction of the principal's office, Nibiki going in front of them.
Erica walked beside Kurama after running out of the school to escape the principal.
"Hey Kurama, now where are we going?" she asked trying to keep up with him.
"Away from there." He growled. Pausing at his door he opened it and went to his room, Erica following. Entering his room he turned and pulling Erica in closed and locked the door. Ignoring Erica he quickly changed his clothes. Putting her back to Kurama, Erica spoke up, "What's wrong Kurama?"
"Erica? Did I ring you in here? Those girls are really starting to get on my nerves. Sometimes I just want to tell them to lay off." He ranted as he stood by the window.
"Then why don't you?" she asked turning back around and walking to up beside him.
"Perfect Minamino Shuichi doesn't snap at girls. And it would surely get back to my mother." He said absently flipping the lock back and forth.
"You don't necessarily have to snap at them; just tell them to give you more room. If you can't I'll tell them off for you. It's not like I can get into trouble."
"That's thoughtful." He said, then suddenly slammed the lock and closed the shade throwing the room into darkness.
'What is he doing?" Erica thought. Unable to see in the dark she felt her way to the wall.
"Kurama where'd you go?" abruptly the light came on and Erica saw that her face was an inch from his. Startled by him, she only blinked at him, not quite thinking of anything to say.
"I jumped out the window."
"Smartass."
She started to move towards the door.
"Erica don't leave. It's not safe."
"What do you mean 'not safe'?" she asked confused, and ignoring him she continued walking towards the door.
Kurama steeped in front of it blocking Erica's only way out.
"Ah, Hiei is a little ticked with me." he said
"So then it should just be unsafe for you."
"No, since Hiei's mad at me, he'll take it out on you." Kurama replied.
"Oh, well, do you want me to stay here then?" She asked.
"I would much rather that. Hiei is outside and very irritated."
"When can I leave?" she asked.
"I don't know. I've never seen him this mad before." He answered.
"What did you do?" she asked worried.
"I'd rather not discuss that with you."
"All right what do we do while we wait for Hiei to cool off?"
Kurama thought for a moment then looked over at Erica. Erica looked up at him.
"Now what?" Kurama asked looking over at Ericabefore he leaned back closing his eyes.
"Well, since we're stuck in here for a while, mind if I ask you some questions?" she asked looking over at him.
"Sure, I guess."
"Alright, one, why do you have a picture of me?"
He sat there not moving, then, "I said you could ask but I never guaranteed an answer did I?"
"Hey, I know you have one, Keiko told me. Why won't you tell me why?"
He started laughing at her agitated voice. "Have one what? An answer or picture?"
"A picture baka, why are you avoiding the answer?"
"I'm hurt. And am I avoiding the answer or the question?"
"Oh, your just messing with me now. Fine then. Next question, were you that fox that came and rescued me in demon world?"
"Maybe I was and maybe I wasn't. What does it matter to you? Answer me and I might answer you."
"Never mind, final question, what happened to you before I found you in the woods half conscience?"
He opened his eyes and turned to look at her confused. "When was that?"
"About three or so weeks ago, I found you all bloody when I was walking on a trial."
He didn't answer just leaned back and closed his eyes again. A minute later he slumped over leaning on Erica's shoulder breathing softly.
'Is he asleep?' Erica thought irritated. When she realized he was, she reached over and took a pillow as Kurama wrapped an arm around her waist and buried his face in her neck. Her neck being very sensitive, Erica immediately jerked the pillow and hit him on the back of his head. Kurama moved slightly and growling fiercely he started to bite.
Erica squeaked and sat there motionless. Abruptly the weight lifted from her shoulder as Kurama sat up.
"What was that?" he asked voice slurred from sleep.
"I dunno." Erica lied as she slightly ignored him and absently rubbed her neck.
"Well I was." He said suddenly.
"Was what?" Erica questioned, confused.
"Full of questions. I was the fox that helped you. And as to what happened in the woods Hiei had gotten mad at you so he took out his anger on me. That's why I didn't want you to leave earlier, because he was mad at me he might take it out on you."
"Oh, well, thanks for helping me in Demon World. Although I appreciate you finally cooperating, you still haven't answered my first question."
"Yeah, well, the game lost its appeal." he said reaching into his pocket and pulling something out. He glanced at it before handing it to Erica. She took the item and saw that it was a picture of her with her family.
She gasped when she realized what it was.
"How… how did you get a picture like this?" she asked, staring intently at it. He focused his gaze on the floor.
"I- I found it. You're not mad are you?" he asked not looking at her.
"No, I'm not," she said handing it back to him before her eyes watered. He turned to her and noticing her tears he ignored the picture.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you." He said reaching out a hand to her. "I just wanted a picture to remind me of you."
She stood up, "That's fine, but I believe that it is safe to leave now. Pardon me." She said and started walking towards the door.
"Don't go." He said taking hold of her wrist. "Please." He pleaded.
"...Allright." She said, taking her hand off the door knob. He smiled down at her and hugged her close.
"You can trust me Erica. You do realize that don't you?" He whispered.
She looked up at him, not blinking, "Yes." she whispered in reply.
"Then why don't you?" he asked softly. "You care about me in more than just friendship yet you never acted any different towards me on an outward appearance."
"Well, I saw how you act towards all those other girls who ever showed affection towards you and I was afraid that you would start ignoring me like you do them." She lamely said.
"They are different. They only treated me as an object. You've always been aware of my feelings. I appreciated that. You have no reason to fear rejection from me. I promised that I would always protect you and I will always be there for you."
Her eyes began to water again. "Well, I couldn't help but tobe afraid that you'd leave. The last person who told me that is gone. They broke their promise and I've never really trusted anyone fully since then." She suddenly burst out, now starting to cry and look away from Kurama. He turned her around so that they faced each other. With one hand he gently wiped away some tears.
"I've never broken a promise to someone I loved and I'm not going to start now." He said holding her in a loving embrace, erasing her fears.
"Aishiteru matsudai Erica."
Owari
SMK: it's finally over! By the way 'matsudai' means forever.
Scooperchan: Thanks for being patient (looks around empty room)……… uh, or not? Anywho, hope ya'll enjoyed the story.
SMK: watch for the sequel,
Ja ne minnasan!