A Past Love: Sequel
Chapter 5: Chosen Partners
by AngelK
Author's Note: Hello, everyone! Welcome to A Past Love/ Lost and Found: Love's Sequel: Chapter Five. Please enjoy!
My usual blather, I do like comments and suggestions/criticism. But, if you don't like this story as you read it, it's kind of pointless just to tell me how much you hated it and how terrible I am. So, I want a reason for why you dislike it so much if you do (in other words, constructive criticism). If you see a problem with it, state it. Otherwise, enjoy yourself.
Disclaimer: This is a story based upon characters of Yu Yu Hakusho. It is for entertainment purposes only.
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"So, you're telling me your mother has the same exact illness that Keiko has?" Yusuke asked, still trying to take in all the information Kurama had just given Hiei and himself.
The redhead nodded. "I monitored the exact same symptoms and I know the cause. The poison is extremely lethal to humans. Demons typically have lower scale affects if infected. It is caused by an insect-"
"Hold your horses, boys! We've got a problem!" Botan exclaimed as she rushed into the room, holding a silver briefcase.
Yusuke glared at his former assistant. "I hate how you refer to me as a boy, Botan."
Hiei rolled his eyes. "Foolish ferrygirl…"
Kurama was the only one that gave a proper and somewhat positive greeting. "Hello, Botan. What is the problem?"
"No time for talk." The Grim Reaper set the briefcase on the bed and quickly opened it. She knelt on the floor beside the bed.
An image appeared on the lid. Koenma was seated in his red high-backed chair behind his desk.
"Hello, you three. I was hoping you'd all be together before I tell you this news." The Junior Prince of Spirit World commented.
"Hn." Hiei flitted off, sending a thought to Kurama that he would fetch everyone.
"Hiei will be back shortly with the others. They'll be at least two minutes." Kurama explained to the three others in the room.
Yusuke nodded and sat beside his wife, stroking her hand. He smoothed hair from her closed eyes and leaned down to kiss her forehead. "Keiko…"
Hiei returned through the open window with Kuwabara, Genkai, Akita, and the children coming in through the door.
Genkai seated herself in the chair at the window.
Hiei lounged in the windowsill while Akita took a seat near Botan.
The children sat on the ground, whispering quietly amongst themselves.
Kuwabara's eyes widened, glancing around the room. "Where's-"
Yusuke quickly shook his head at his best friend.
The human leaned against the doorframe, eyes filled with worry.
"Now that everyone is here, I will relay the information that I received through intelligence reports. Yukina's kidnapping as well as the poisoning of the humans, Shiori and Keiko, are all traced back to the same person." Koenma paused.
A picture filled the monitor. A female's picture filled the screen. The picture was a headshot. Hair that was dark blue with a tint of violet trailed past her shoulders and the screen. Piercing navy colored eyes glared at the group gather. A short horn came from just below her hairline, almost concealed by the dark locks. Her skin was a rich, creamy color and her lips looked as if they had been painted with blood. Her cheekbones were high and she had a razor of a nose.
"This is Karynga Yumeji, a demon in the upper B class. She has powers that can turn any creature to stone and is a master of her weapon, the scythe. From what we've heard, she is gathering an army to overtake all three kingdoms of the Makai. Her headquarters are unknown. Her general is a kyukonki named Goro. There are no other details beside his name and title. She plans to have Yomi and Mukuro assassinated." Koenma sighed. "That could bring about wars that could last for years. We must prevent it. This sort of war would be capable of throwing all of the worlds into chaos." The Reikai prince looked weary. "There seems to be no end to the problems that you all attract like bees to honey."
Yusuke approached the briefcase. "Listen, toddler jerk. I want to know what's happened to Keiko and I want to know now."
Kurama nodded his agreement.
"And I want to know how to get Yukina back."
Akita glanced at her human friend. He had remained silent until then. His dark eyes were filled with tears.
All eyes turned to Kuwabara. His shoulders were shaking as he struggled not to cry.
"Ah, Kuwabara. I have agents searching for Yukina as we speak. As soon as we have an area pinpointed, I will tell you immediately." Koenma dared not look the male in the eye.
No one seemed to be able to look at the ningen male.
"That's not good enough!" Kuwabara shouted. Lowering his voice, he glared at Koenma. "She's pregnant with twins! Even if she does make… there's no chance that the twins will be alright."
Kurama approached his friend. "Kuwabara… If Yukina lives, there is always another chance for more children…"
"You don't understand, Kurama. You can't possibly understand how I feel." Kuwabara stormed from the room, tears streaming down his face.
Botan closed the briefcase after Koenma promised to send news if he received anything. "Should any of us-"
"I'll go." Akita stood, striding to the door.
Hiei vanished through the window.
Botan took the briefcase in her hand. "I'll come as soon as I hear word." She left the room, leaving Kurama, Genkai, and Yusuke to discuss a plan.
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Kuwabara sat in the courtyard right outside the kitchen.
"Kazuma,"
His head shot up and his eyes lit up. The redhead turned away when he saw Akita rather than Yukina.
Akita sighed softly. "I'm sorry, Kuwabara. We'll all be looking for her everywhere. I'm sure we'll find her…"
Kuwabara sighed. "You don't understand, Akita."
"I understand perfectly well!" The female snapped indignantly. "I know what it's like to be separated from the one you love and not by your own choice. You're like me…you'll stop at nothing to find Yukina, right?"
The ningen gazed at the kitsune as if she had two heads. "Of course. It's my duty. Besides, she is my wife and one of the only people I really and truly love."
Akita studied the man beside her for a moment. "You know, you and Hiei are kind of similar in some ways. You both are incredibly honor bound, with your codes and what not. Both of you care immensely about the ones you do end up loving. However, on the outside, you're extremely different." She smiled helplessly. "You're both considerate when you want to be." Dusting off the back of her kimono, she stood. "Have a good night, Kazuma. Don't do anything reckless."
Hiei rested in a tree that overlooked the courtyard where the oaf had been conversing with his mate. He closed his eyes, watching from within as Akita walked away. There was something…different about her aura. As she walked towards the vegetable garden that lay next to the kitchen courtyard, Hiei did what he normally did. He followed her.
Akita went to sit on the bench in the kitchen garden. She looked as if she was waiting for someone.
Hiei paused before making his presence known. "Akita…what's wrong?"
"Nothing, Hiei. I just…I'm worried about Yukina and her children." The female folded her hands in her lap.
"Hey, Hiei, Kuwabara! Koenma's back." Yusuke called from the bedroom window.
Hiei was hesitant to go. "Akita… What that girl said before? About Haruto? It meant nothing, you understand that, don't you?"
Akita smiled innocently at Hiei. "Of course. Go and hear what Koenma has to say. You need to start looking for Yukina if that's what Koenma wants."
The jaganshi tilted his head to the side. What was Akita hiding? "Yes, well, I'll be back when Koenma's done running his mouth." He turned, glancing over his shoulder before hurrying inside.
Akita held a crumpled piece of card in her hand. She gripped it tightly before she stood and headed to find Puu.
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--"I've already got some news, guys. It turns out that Yumeji's stronghold is underground. That's why no one found it. It's deep…hidden in darkness. There's a series of caverns that are all linked that lie on the border between Mukuro and Yomi's territories." The child-sized ruler sighed.
"How do you want us to look for her? Send out small or large groups? Have the spirit guides start and give us a heads-up as to where to search?" Yusuke raised an eyebrow in curiosity.
"I would like you to search for them as well my spirit guides. I will leave Botan to look after the children and Keiko. Kurama, I believe you want to go and search for the antidote for this illness." Koenma stared at the kitsune intently.
"It is of great importance that I go. Both my human mother and Keiko are at a high risk if I don't go." Kurama bowed his head. "I worry about Shiori. She has never been in good health."
"Don't sweat it, Kurama." Yusuke rested his hand on the redhead's shoulder. "We'll look for Yukina and watch out for any attacks from Yumeji. You go and find that antidote."
"Perhaps you should come along with me, Yusuke." Emerald green locked upon deep brown.
The Spirit Detective turned to his former boss. "That cool with you, Koenma?"
The Reikai Prince nodded. "Please, be careful. I would hate to lose any of you to disaster. Especially when the chaos Yumeji is cooking up could be catastrophic for all three worlds. Good luck." With that, the transmission ended as the briefcase screen went black.
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--Akita was walking through the streets of Japan. She was unsure of why she was there. Her fingers stroked the business card absently. Dressed in a pair of jeans, a gray t-shirt, and a pair of white sneakers, she looked like a human. Glancing at the small white card, she checked the address. About six blocks from her current location.
The streets were thriving with nightlife. Teenagers walked past, ready for a night of clubbing. People in business suits were rushing to their homes or some appointment.
Akita shuffled through a crowd, trying not to bump into anyone. She glanced out into the street, watching children run home from a long day at the park.
A lone child stood at the corner of the street, waving to his friends as they headed home. Paying no attention to the 'Caution: Do not walk' sign, he ran straight into the street, looking up to see a speeding car a mere few feet away. With a shriek of terror, he screamed.
The kitsune didn't even think before rushing into the road to save the boy. She picked him up, staring at the headlights. The car caught her in the hip, knocking her back as it tried to steer out of the way.
Screams of terror filled the air as Akita's world went black.
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--"That was a pretty foolish stunt."
Akita's whole mind was blurry but she knew she recognized that voice. It certainly didn't belong to her mate. Well, of course Hiei wouldn't be there. He was probably searching for Yukina that very second. As she struggled to get up, feeling as if a lead weight sat upon her chest, a strong hand helped to guide her into a sitting position.
"You shouldn't even be up." A friendly voice murmured, holding her up.
Akita looked into deep blue eyes. "Takashi?"
The human smiled. "I prefer Haruto. No need to be formal. I'm surprised you regained consciousness so quickly. It's like you're not even human."
"You'd be surprised. So, what's the verdict on my condition? Can I leave?" The female asked, pausing to look at herself. She was dressed in a green hospital robe over her jeans and t-shirt.
"Well, the doctors will be returning on their next round to check on you. You should really just rest until then. Are you hungry? I'll get you something from my father's restaurant." Haruto offered, concern in his eyes.
"That would be fine." Akita glanced at the table beside her. A small stack of papers lay there, including some x-rays.
"But, just one thing. Before I go, I want to do something." Haruto rose and walked towards the bed. He placed his arms on the bed, leaving Akita between the space his arms made. "I have you right where I want you."
Akita's eyes widened almost to the size of plates at he planted a kiss upon her lips.
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--Hiei grumbled, kicking at the path in irritation. Of course that damned fox would do this to him. Leave him partnered with the idiot. While Kurama and Yusuke were on their way to scour the wastelands of western Makai for the plant that contained the juice that would revive Keiko and Shiori, he was left with Kuwabara to find Yukina.
"Look, Hiei, I really don't want to be partnered with you either, okay?" Kuwabara parted through some overhanging tree branches, which had momentarily hidden the path they were walking on.
"Hn." Hiei growled and leapt up into a tree. "I just want to find Yukina."
"Same here." Kuwabara replied.
Suddenly, Hiei froze. There was a high-pitched screaming in his mind. He clamped his hands over his ears, in pain. But, his hands provided no cover for the shrill sound reverberating through his head.
Kuwabara glanced up at the apparition who had sunk to one knee, almost falling from the branch he was balanced upon. "Hey, pipsqueak. What's the matter?"
"My…head…" Hiei winced in agony. It felt as if his ears were going to starting bleeding any minute. Then…there was silence. The jaganshi relaxed until the scream picked up again. "Akita's in danger."
"What?" The redhead focused on Hiei.
The dark-haired swordsman vanished from the branch, racing at top speed. "I'm going to Ningenkai. Wait for me at Yusuke's home." He should've known there was reason for Akita's absence. She'd been missing for a few hours…why hadn't he realized the reason why Akita's presence was so faint? It was because of the barrier between the human world and the demon one. This always happened whenever she went to theNingenkai and he stayed inMakai. The barrier separated his spirit completely from hers. He could only hope that he wasn't too late.
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--Akita sunk her fangs into the human's bottom lip. It would serve him right for forcing himself upon her.
Haruto stumbled back with a howl of pain. "What's the matter with you?"
Appearing in front of the annoyed human male, a black clad creature seized Haruto roughly around the neck. "What the hell do you think your doing with my mate?"
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Author's Note: Hope you all liked.