A/N: Hello once again, Fellow Ningen!
To the next chapter!
Symbols Guide:
* : Written by CM; She writes for Akari and Hiei
3 : Written by Star (supposed to be the 'heart' symbol, but FF doesn't like the 'less-than' sign, so it's a 3 instead); She writes for Toriko/Shikiyoku and Kurama
~!**!~ : A universal transition between scenes or characters, sometimes used to indicate a passage of time, but most often used to transition between major scenes that are happening. As the story progresses, this will evolve into mainly separating the (usually two) scenes happening between authors/characters.
As a general rule, anything in italics is thoughts.
Unless it's used in a sentence like this, which merely indicates emphasis.
"Quotations are usually reserved specifically for telepathic dialogue being transmitted from one being to another, but sometimes this can also mean a character isn't being careful about what they're thinking and anyone with telepathy in the nearby vicinity can listen in without taking any effort."
The only exception to that last rule is for the Shiba Inu dog, Nabu. All of his "spoken" dialogue will be in italics and quotations, but is communicated through body language or dog-like noises, so unless a character is able to translate those they are unlikely to pick up on what he is saying any more than the average person might understand his general moods like aggression (bared teeth, ears back) or excitement (wagging tail).
Previously on Yu Yu Hakusho!
Akari and Kurama continued to speak about the closing of Spirit World,
and what such a thing might mean in relation to the fake Youko and what moves he might be making.
Kurama makes the conjecture that the threat on Spirit World is only a distraction,
and that the true move is the fake Youko bringing in more demons to Human World.
They think that perhaps after such an action, with Spirit World then thinking it is safe,
the fake Youko and the others then invade Spirit World to maybe dethrone Enma.
They think it is possible Shikiyoku was meant to make the job that much easier for them.
With such knowledge, they believe rallying the others in Human World is their best bet,
to make some semblance of a stand when the invaders come, and to be ready when Koenma calls for them.
As they are sitting there, Akari sends out a message for Kamiya, intending to have the psychic heal Kurama.
After a time, Kamiya arrives and approaches the nearly incapacitated redhead...
~!**!~
Brief, inexplicable contact with Maneshi leads to Hiei returning to Shikiyoku in the Elders' Tent
and informing her that he desires nothing other than her presence.
Such a proclamation seems to dismiss her mood entirely, and when he leaves her to finish preparations
he is met by Douji, who shares his food, and then Uryo,
who tells them they ought to move closer to the bonfire for the best view.
While there are already dancers out in the cleared, circular space around which everyone is mingling,
a kimono-cloaked and hooded figures steps out of the bonfire, seemingly on fire,
and begins a fan-dance that eventually ends with the flames incinerating the kimono,
revealing Shikiyoku dressed as one of the Northern Tribe.
She starts dancing the Odori Iro much as she did for the Central Tribe,
but much as she had conjectured, there are too many for her and eventually
the tendrils of her energy begin to thin out.
Hiei responds to this by extending his own energy invisibly towards her,
intending to both comfort and ease her stress as well as offer it up to her for use.
It does such, but Shikiyoku hesitates even so to use it,
soon realizing that it would be either accept his help or shorten her life span...
Hiei's eyes connected with the glowing orbs of Shikiyoku's gaze as she turned, and he felt his own muscles lose the small amount of tension he'd felt beforehand. And this time, when he blinked, he was watching the dance, taking in her fluid motions and how they seemed to relax, even if just a little more.
He turned to the bond momentarily, finding that it calmly thrummed at him, but seemed as if it were… waiting. And so too was he, because now he was certain she wouldn't be able to do this without his help. She did, however, do as he said and had done what she could, giving him enough time to prepare for her to invite his energy to join hers.
He was fully confident that she could do whatever it was she was hesitating to do. And if something happened, again, he was here and ready, energy already surrounding her. He wasn't worried, and neither should she be.
~!**!~
"It's a wonder you're even conscious," the man mused, stretching a single hand out to touch Kurama's shoulder with an index finger. Kamiya sat in silence for a moment, staring at his own finger, and Akari turned her eyes to Kurama with a lopsided smile of sorry. She was glad he didn't seem opposed to this person's presence, but somewhere, she still felt as if it were… wrong… to have his old enemy here and… well… assessing damage that had been done.
She wondered if Yusuke would be as good-natured about the alliance as Kurama seemed to be, as this was her own way of introducing her own form of help. The more the merrier, right?
Kamiya was suddenly sitting back, rocking to his heels and balancing himself with his elbows on his knees, eyes on Kurama's face now. "You've got nerve damage, but other than that, it's not too bad. This person knew what to avoid in order to make sure your death came by blood, not by the actual attack itself." He turned to Akari with an even gaze. "How eager are you to get out and about? Or are you going to use another mouse for them as well?"
"Mmm… It can wait just a bit longer."
The man nodded and turned to Kurama again, seeming to completely ignore Akari now. "I apologize for any extra pain or discomfort." With that, Akari felt her hair stand on end with Kamiya's energy, which he presented to Kurama in the palm of his hand to give warning before resting his palm on the other's shoulder. *
While pain was certainly nothing new to the avatar, this particular pain swept through his body like wildfire and did have him closing his eyes in discomfort, jaw clenching together as he felt keenly aware, not of the energy itself of which he found he had no awareness whatsoever, but instead of the forcing of his body to rapidly regenerate, at a much faster pace than his human side would ever have been allowed normally.
As for his thoughts on Kamiya?
Mostly lost into the cloud of pain that swirled more heavily about in his head now, but who was he to deny help when he felt help was going to be very severely needed in the near future. And with no contact to Spirit World, they were likely on their own for this one.
~!**!~
There would be no 'easy does it' with this. It would either be all or nothing.
And even so, Shikiyoku felt no sense of worry within the red energy that surrounded her, no minute hesitation from the other party out in the crowd of demons.
Shikiyoku took a deep breath and her lips parted, beginning to softly murmur the words her first Champion's unsuccessful spell had required, one that would deepen her pool of energy and allow her to merge her power with the other, to take it on as her own.
For a moment, a single word shimmered excitedly up from the pact inside her head and blossomed into her mind as she began to draw strength from Hiei's steadiness nearby.
Companion.
At the last of the spell leaving her lips, Shikiyoku found herself releasing a laugh that made her already brightened eyes shine with newly orange-appearing power.
Something searched for so long being right under my nose.
Hiei's energy around her suddenly influxed into her body in a silent implosion, and then erupted outwards mixed with her own, the red and yellow intermingling so deeply that upon first glance the threads about her appeared orange, as a final pulse of energy pushed the last threads needed into the crowd and urged the others onward to loop the final demons the ritual required.
And in that same moment, the energy that licked about her skin also did the same with Hiei, leaving him-under no other demon's notice-also looking like a tongue of orange flame that swirled upwards into the sky. 3
Hiei felt it almost immediately, the change in his energy from being his own to being united with Shikiyoku's. Even before the explosion of flame-hued light, he felt the change in the air. It became charged, and even he himself felt as if he had more power than before.
And when the energy was billowing around them, his eyes were following it, each tendril moving like silk ribbons and wrapping around demons before moving to the next. He felt the pull of that energy and how it affected the other demons nearby, as if it were a calming factor in himself and the crowd both simultaneously.
And it had his eyes turning to Shikiyoku, shining the very color of the energy that moved through the crowd as if the energy made him. As if his entire being were filled to the brim with the united energy. It was a very… uplifting feeling. As if he were flying, running as fast as he could with no obstacles in his way and only the wind in his ears.
And her presence beside him.
It was all he needed, he was sure.
~!**!~
Kamiya worked silently, and Akari simply watched. Nabu was quick to scurry out of the way, moving to sit at Akari's feet and watch in much the same manner Akari was. She crouched down after a few minutes and patted the dog's head, who didn't take his eyes off of the working man and the pained redhead.
Kamiya, however, was concentrated, eyes following a trail of energy that only he could see, mind on each wound that he felt. Here and there his energy paused, centering on a wound that was worse than the others before moving on. He started at the shoulders, close to the heart to ensure nothing had been close enough to cause enough damage there to prove fatal later, should something go wrong.
And when he found the darkness within the redhead, Kamiya bypassed it, not recognizing it as a wound or anything he could help with. It was simply… there. And testing it with his energy didn't seem like the best choice here. So he moved on, healing cuts and gashes on almost every inch of the male's body.
And the closer to the stomach or chest the wounds were, the deeper the damage. In his back, there were nerves that were distraught, tense and pleading for release. Pleading for healing that, naturally, would not have come for several weeks.
Kamiya could feel it, the pain. It was only vestiges of it, nothing like what the redhead was feeling, but it was enough to have the man sitting back after all was said and done, sweat on his forehead and heartbeat erratic.
He hadn't healed someone like that in ages.
Or, maybe ever, now that he thought of it.
"My advice is to not move for a bit. My energy is still there, checking for any other lesions and anything… extra." He stared at Kurama, his breathing under control for the most part. "There will be soreness, as if you slept wrong, but other than that, you should be…. normal." Of course, the word wasn't right to him, as he felt the offness of this person, the dark energy within him alien compared to the energy he'd once felt from this one.
Energy that was now lacking. *
When the psychic had finally pulled away, Kurama's eyes had come open, their green color no longer flecked with the torments of pain that Otento had bestowed upon him.
"I would protest," Kurama began, "And say that we should get moving as soon as possible, but I'm afraid I don't even know to where we are to get moving."
He did, however, begin to slowly flex the muscles throughout his body to test their strength, finding that they felt strange to him, different without the power of Youko's core flowing through him. Weaker.
He supposed he should just be thankful he hadn't lost his mind.
~!**!~
The music stopped in a last triumphant chord, but Shikiyoku had finished weaving her, no, their ritual the moment before and while the final notes still rang on the air-just before the mass of demons began cheering and exclaiming their appreciation-Shikiyoku was already moving, her eyes bright, the orange energy only barely letting their true emerald color shine through, and locked on her Champion where he stood, beyond the edge of the crowd and nestled back behind those in the very front.
Her energy began to unweave from around those caught in its loops as soon as she started to move to step around the demons cheering at her from the grass, snaking its way back into her body. As it did so, the demons in the giant crowd who had received two swirls about them began to be drawn towards her, pulled with the energy, all of which had been colored orange with their combined power.
When she reached the edge of those gathered about the ground that had been cleared for the dancing, the cheering still continued, eyes on her, but the demons parted to either side to give her a clear path, one that led her straight up to her Champion.
The demons being drawn to her were converging on her position, and one or two of them were close enough to call her name, one even reaching out to touch her arm as she passed, but she ignored each and every one of them, having only eyes for her Champion.
When she stopped in front of Hiei, less than a foot from his face-aware offhand that both Douji and Uryo were very close by-she found that no longer was she eye-to-eye with him as they had been when they first landed in the Ninth Level-a time what seemed like ages ago-but that she actually had to raise her chin several inches to gaze up into his crimson irises. Somewhere in the back of her mind she wondered when he had grown and how she had not noticed until that moment.
"Prince of Fire." Shikiyoku began, her voice clear and full of restrained happiness as she kept her gaze steadily looking into Hiei's face, knowing that only the two of them could see how their energy still mingled together, licking upwards off their skin.
Those around her got a little quieter, sensing the sort of pronouncement, proclamation even, that their Iro was about to make.
Suddenly, Shikiyoku dropped to one knee in a bow before him, throwing the sensibilities of those watching into shock and surprise and wonderment at her as she knelt, resting one arm across her thigh, and tilted her head down in deference to Hiei.
"Would you allow me the great honor of being in your presence this evening?" Her head remained lowered and she did not otherwise move, her question also floating between them on another level that they shared.
Partner. Confidant. Strength.
Companion.
All she was asking was to be close by his side for that night.
The other demons who had been drawn to her waited with bated breath, her energy still enrapturing them in paired loops even as the rest of her power continued drawing away from the other demons gathered that evening.. Even Uryo, standing next to Hiei with his own wreaths of her power about his left ankle, looked between them and waited patiently for the answer. 3
Hiei watched Shikiyoku with an unblinking gaze as she approached him, moving in a straight line in his direction specifically, gaze meeting his still. He wasn't sure what she was doing, but he felt no need to back away. In fact, he was almost positive that the bond was trying to coax him forward, to meet her halfway. But before he could even move, she was in front of him.
And then she was kneeling, and he was looking down at her with a raised brow of curiosity and confusion coloring his irises, shining with the orange glow that still overlapped his normal ruby color.
And with her question, he was almost… confused. Wasn't that how this worked?
But in his soul, he felt the question as if it were her own spirit touching his. Before now, she'd been in his presence because it had been almost required. But now, she was not only asking for his presence, but for him specifically. Perhaps that meant no others, he didn't know.
But it made him recall what Shubou had told him.
Without a beat's hesitation, Hiei reached down and took Shikiyoku by the arm, gently pulling her from the ground to stand.
"You need only ask." he responded calmly, and when she was on her feet, he was shifting his weight, turning so that his side was close to her, and he presented an arm to her much like she had made him do at the palace.
Despite the rather… odd gesture… his expression was one of sneering amusement. "Better than a ballroom."
~!**!~
Akari looked to Kurama, noting the absolute change in his sitting position even as Kamiya sat back and nodded once at the other. "Well, I'm sure moving alone isn't a good idea, since my presence was necessary. I'm sure Yusuke will adore that."
Akari blinked. He didn't know yet. Oops. "I know where to look for what I have in mind, but it's only to find the others…" she said, giving a shrug. "Mitari is likely home right about now. Doesn't like mornings much."
Kamiya laughed. "Neither does Hagiri. But he's with his sister."
"Sister?"
"Oh, something you didn't know. Good." Akari glared at the man who laughed good-naturedly. "I've found nothing else," he suddenly spoke, turning to Kurama as his energy tapered away. "Now you can move as you please." Again, he turned to Akari. "Have a specific place in mind to reconvene? Or should I be listening for squeaking mice?"
Akari turned to Kurama this time. "What first, Yusuke's?" *
Kurama slowly started to rise, testing the strength in his limbs.
"While I admire your willingness to throw ourselves into battle, what I meant was that we don't have any idea when or where this is going to happen." He did smile. "And neither do we have a way of seeking out such information with any sort of speed."
~!**!~
Even as the demons around them began to murmur their approval, there was a distinct sense of disappointment from those who were now finally having the double loops of energy about them removed.
Shikiyoku's eyes reflected her delight as she gracefully accepted his arm with a wide grin.
Where she touched him, their energy sparked between them before merging and making one mass of power around them that no one else appeared able to see.
"I don't think that is how it's supposed to work, lady." Uryo admonished with a teasing frown. "It felt to me as if I was the one who was supposed to ask you for your company. Not the other way around."
There were other murmurs around them now, ones of agreement sprinkled with wistfulness that each had not been allowed a chance to approach her.
Shikiyoku appeared briefly startled, as if only just now realizing that the older apparition was among those she felt her energy drawing her to. It meant many things as she searched his blood-red eyes with her own, but her arm remained steady where it had woven into Hiei's. 3
Hiei raised a brow at Uryo, momentarily unamused. But then a smirk came to play on his features, making light dance in his eyes as Shikiyoku remained silent. "Well, next time put that speed to use." he said almost loftily, though he was only taunting.
Shikiyoku was not a prize to be won, but… for some reason, he felt as if this moment would probably be the rarest thing to have happen in his life. And he wasn't going to pass up her request. She asked, and as her Champion, he agreed.
And..
As her companion, he'd stick to it.
~!**!~
Akari took in a deep breath, then released it in a very loud sigh, eyes looking up to the ceiling. "Remind me not to be your bedside nurse again," she taunted, tone exasperated. "I didn't say we were going to jump into battle. I'm saying it would be good to update your friends of what we discussed and then prepare for anything that follows, because Spirit World is not of use right now."
She took another deep breath and turned her eyes to meet his. "I'd rather be prepared before stuff starts happening, because for all we know, they're already moving and we're behind again. I don't know about you but I don't like being the prey here."
Kamiya sat to the side, watching quietly, amused. Nabu approached, sitting at his knee where his legs crossed beneath him. A lot's changed, hasn't it? *
"Then we will just have to agree to disagree on our order of methods." Kurama teased, "But for this I will concede that informing others is definitely high on the priority list. At the very least, we do have a few on our side who would make for good eyes and ears."
Genkai for one. Yusuke and Kuwabara do go without saying. I think we have many allies, but the others who come to mind as being the most useful are likely in Demon World and of no use. Touya and Jin. Chu and Rinku. ...assuming they aren't a part of the ones who will be crossing over.
"If the point is for this operation to go by unnoticed, as I believe, then I doubt the assembling point will be near the city, but I do think it will be near our city." Kurama's eyes grew far away as he considered what Youko might do.
~!**!~
Uryo let out a good-natured laugh at the fiery demon's rejoin.
"Ha! Well put." His eyes sparkled. "But I would like to see you make use of your speed while under the enchantment of your lovely partner's dancing."
"Maybe next time, Uryo." Shikiyoku let the tip of her tongue stick out at him impishly.
Uryo's eyes flickered swiftly between the image of the pair. "Pardon my saying so, but I think I'm old enough to know when I've lost a fight before it's begun, lady."
Shikiyoku did not reply, but some time in their banter her other hand had risen to rest lightly across her body on the upper part of Hiei's arm, and she felt a great deal of contentment wash over her.
And in the same moment, a great deal of exhaustion. 3
Hiei's sneer stayed in place, amusement bright in his eyes at Uryo's counter. True, had he been where Uryo had been, he likely wouldn't have moved very quickly either. It was certainly very easy to see how he'd be delayed in reaction, should it be him under her power. She was rather… enchanting, to say the least.
He said nothing though, to counter Uryo's reply. He was still amused though by the other's points.
He glanced at Shikiyoku, this time taking in her face and the glow in her eyes. He was keenly aware of the air about her.
"Where do you wish to be?"
~!**!~
Akari crossed her arms over her chest and resisted the urge to stick her tongue out at the redhead, though it went unable to be resisted and she ended up sticking it out at him anyway. And then Kamiya was moving, grabbing her attention because she'd forgotten he was there. He brushed himself off and met her gaze.
"Well, don't hesitate should you need me again. You know where I'll be."
"I appreciate it."
"Don't fill me in until I'm needed. For now, I'll keep my nose clean." He paused during his turn to leave. "If you see Hagiri, tell him to stop by some time." He turned to Kurama. "Always a pleasure," he said in farewell before turning to leave. *
Kurama only caught the last of Akari's tongue snaking back into her mouth before Kamiya was getting up to leave. He nodded his thanks to the other male, then met Akari's eyes again.
"So, shall we raise an army?" His eyes sparkled at her.
~!**!~
The demons around them, including the ones drawn towards her by her energy, had taken to beginning conversations and Shikiyoku did not let her ears rest into any of them, instead feeling Hiei's eyes on her and then hearing his inquiry, feeling the warmth of his mind brush against her own and remain there, awaiting her answer..
With you.
By your side.
Wherever you wish me to be.
"Right here." She finally settled on as a reply, pressing her fingers lightly into his arm to indicate what, or rather who, exactly 'here' meant. 3
Hiei waited patiently for her reply, and when she finally graced him with one, he wasn't surprised. He continued to stare unblinkingly at her for a moment before deciding she at least decided to eat and drink something after her dance for these demons. His eyes lifted from her and took to glancing around at the demons around him, at first finding no food or drink within immediate sight.
And then he spotted a few demons passing it around again, even caught the eye of a few of them, who quickly nodded at him once and began gathering meat on a plate, a drink in each hand, and was making their way through the crowds and towards him.
He tugged lightly at his arm and took to leading Shikiyoku in that direction, not surprised that the demons in the path parted for them.
"Then eat, at least."
~!**!~
Akari waved at Kamiya as the door shut behind him before turning back to Kurama, catching his glance and the question he aimed at her. She felt her lips twitch and form into a smirk that mirrored his glinting eyes, turning her body to motion for him to take the lead.
"It's a Saturday, so there's going to be people getting up and about now. Except, I'm sure, Yusuke." She grinned still at him. "But, lead the way, sir." *
"Well, I'm sure we can quickly remedy that little problem. Such a travesty to be missing out on such a beautiful day. The dawn of the end of civilization as we know it and all." Kurama moved for the door. "I think we would be wise to gather not only Kuwabara, but also his sister. If there is something to go wrong in the near future, she would be the first to know about it."
~!**!~
"As you wish. Though, I will be more famished in the morning." The thought of her scarfing down meat in Shubou's camp passed over her mind's eye. And that had only been with a small ritual. "And I will need to at least sit very soon. If not rest." 3
Hiei had already thought of that, even searched for a spot to at least sit. However, he felt that actually resting would prove best for her, as he was entirely sure she'd be growing even more tired as the time went on. She'd used a lot of energy and-
Hiei was suddenly very aware of the eyes on him and Shikiyoku. He blinked once, expression neutral suddenly as he took in the stares, stares that were pointed at him now. For a moment, he remembered the ballroom, the way those demons had glared, had tried to separate him from her.
And in the same instant, he realized that these stares were different in almost every imaginable way. Demons weren't glaring at him, but smiling, nodding at him, even giving various forms of approval ranging from a nod of their head to a thumb's up.
He realized these demons were watching him, not to plot ways to separate him from Shikiyoku, but because he was with her, and no one else could be.
Was it… respect he saw here and there?
The difference was so vast that, for a moment, he didn't really register it. So when his eyes again moved to the parting crowd and the two demons coming at him through said pathway, he became very aware of the friendly atmosphere. The warm atmosphere. The welcoming party that grinned at him.
His free hand reached out to take the plate now offered to him, turning and offering it to Shikiyoku while he gestured for the other demon to place his drink in the hand that was close to his torso, that being the arm Shikiyoku claimed.
"Definitely…. better than a ballroom." he repeated, this time in awe almost.
~!**!~
Akari gave a small laugh. "Wouldn't want to miss that, would we?" she mused, following after him out the door and onto the streets that were now lit with the rising sun's rays. There was already a cool breeze slipping by, and when she looked to a nearby tree, she became aware of their dulled color.
Autumn was just around the corner now. Her favorite time of year was getting closer.
Maybe by the time snow touched the ground, this would all be over and she'd be free to enjoy it.
She looked to Kurama again, watching him quietly for a moment. The sight of him up and moving was much better than seeing him stuck on the floor.. pain riddling him. *
Kurama could feel the stiffness in his limbs as he moved down the street. But it was what he couldn't feel that affected him more.
The breeze was not as noticeable, his sense of smell was dull, and he could not feel Akari walking next to him. Not even when he glanced over to make sure, as he felt he should know, that she was still there.
"Yusuke. Kuwabara. Shizuru." He started rattling off names, "Genkai. Kido. Yanagisawa. Kaito. And Yukina and Keiko should at least be made aware. Did I miss anyone?"
~!**!~
"But you handled yourself so well!" Shikiyoku countered with a teasing air, as she relinquished the plate from his grasp, "You would make an excellent courtier with a little training." Shikiyoku recalled his suave manner once he had lifted the dance steps from her mind and the thought pleased her.
"Out here, though...out here I am not a curse for you to bear upon your arm." Her Northern skirts whispered around her legs as she walked with him, "And you are not a pawn to be sold to the highest bidder. Even so...there are many things I miss about court life." Her words sounded wistful.
Even as she recalled such things, Shikiyoku took note of the way those around her regarded her and the fire demon she walked next to. She felt surprised on some level as to their reactions to her specifically, as they seemed more genuine than any interactions her and Hiei had with outsiders up to this point.
At that moment, a swathe of nearly orange energy from her arm caught her attention and as she stared at it, hardly able to distinguish her energy from Hiei's, realization dawned: up to this point her and Hiei had no way of communicating to the layperson that they belonged together, that Hiei was her protector.
All her other Champions had gotten to mark her at the moment of pact creation as a part of the ritual, which resulted in a portion of their energy taking a shape similar to a mate's marking-and done in a similar fashion as to how such a mark was acquired-in a visible place somewhere on her body.
With her first Champion, that mark had been what he told her was an 'eighth note' in the middle of her forehead a few inches above her nose. Such a marking allowed his energy to mingle with hers-she recalled vividly the strange burning ache of a sensation that swept through her veins as his fangs injected a small portion of his energy via his bite-and would glow with his energy when another demon was about to be entranced accidentally by her without her knowing. It would warn the other away, or at the very least break them out of it. It let her function with some semblance of normalcy in everyday life. The bit of energy from him that flowed constantly throughout her body muted her own energy and thus made her capable of interacting with other demons without fear of immediate attraction.
Not having the mark often placed both her and Hiei in situations like what happened when they arrived in the first city they came to at the beginning of their journey and the snake demon wished to claim her as his own after the first sniff.
Now, however, with Hiei's energy mixed in and muting her own as it was now, it was the first time in over fifteen years that anyone was able to see her for who she was, and not for what power she held.
It's too bad the effect will wear off and that the spell is so exhausting. 3
Hiei cautiously accepted both food and drink with a nod of thanks to the demon who smiled widely, gave a bow of respect and then scurried away, returning to his chattering friends. The noise in the area seemed amplified now, strengthened by the excitement that had stemmed from Shikiyoku's dance.
"I never cared for royalty," he admitted, though his tone was an amused one. "Too much politics, all of which I could care less about."
He continued to move through the path of demons. They seemed to know exactly where he was going, because without any trouble, he was easily able to make it to the logs that had been positioned for sitting about, some for large groups and others for small families, perhaps. He didn't hesitate to make himself comfortable, making sure Shikiyoku got the message that she should do the same.
"Bandits and tribesmen always know how to host a party."
~!**!~
Akari turned her own eyes away when Kurama turned to look at her, though she nodded when he began rattling off names. Each one would be of help to some degree, and given the circumstances, the more the merrier in her opinion.
Because who knew how many were being brought over.
The thought of Spirit World currently being in chaos had her expanding her senses, her eyes wandering about the area both in front of and behind her. "Hagiri will be of great use, since he can fire long-range. He wouldn't even be in the way, should a large-scale fight happen." Her lips twitched. "It's always good to have a sniper nearby."
She went quiet again, thinking of the others.
Really, only Sniper and Doctor could be of use here. Mitari needed pristine conditions, and Game Master… well, he wouldn't be of much help. Gourmet was… gone, so no thoughts there.
Itsuki would have been a great help, if he had stayed. But he hadn't, and that was that.
Suddenly, a thought occurred to her, a memory playing briefly in her mind's eye, and she had to tell herself to keep moving. But, for now… the thought was not a probable one…. I need to get into Spirit World…. *
There was something else, Kurama felt. Something that he was missing.
It was the motive.
Why?
What had happened to this fake Youko to cause him to establish such an elaborate ruse? And what was it about Spirit World that was so important?
Kurama wished for an easy way to Spirit World, not for the first time, and certainly not for the last. Surely he could have a talk with Koenma after this was all over about such things.
Assuming they lived through this.
Kurama absently led the way to Yusuke's apartment as he rolled over in his head reasons a demon would want to get into Spirit World besides to overthrow the King.
Other than the artifacts of the Vault of which Kurama knew everything about and could name nothing useful to Youko. Of course, the fact that this was not truly Youko could make all the difference.
Kurama sighed.
~!**!~
"Mm, but subverting said royalty. That's where the fun comes in." Shikiyoku replied with a mischievous tone. "Manipulation and subtlety in the courtroom are key. And make for exciting momemnts."
Shikiyoku sat next to Hiei gratefully, staring at the food in her plate and unable to remember the last time she ate, and at the same time feeling no need.
She picked up a few pieces anyway.
At Hiei's words, she raised her eyes to look around at the revelers.
"Even though these are greater numbers, the merriment of old far surpasses it. You should have seen them then." Her eyes flashed with the thought. 3
Hiei could certainly imagine how such a thing could be fun, but really, he wasn't one for it. While telling others what to do, how to do it, and when to do it could prove useful here and there…
It was simply too much for him. Royalty, in general. He could care less about the people.
Hiei raised a brow at Shikiyoku's counter of older parties, older gatherings and how they far surpassed this one. Truthfully, he couldn't quite imagine such a thing. Sure, if he wanted to, he could lift those memories from her mind but…
What was the fun in that anyway?
"Perhaps you'll show me one day."
He knew there was a way to share memories, just as they shared power now, but it was something he didn't know how to do yet. And, quite frankly, it seemed easier than sifting through another's brain for such memories he wished to acquire.
Though, from what he understood, it normally happened with demons who'd been in one another's companies for several decades, at the least.
Perhaps it was something that came with time.
~!**!~
Akari stayed silent as she walked, eyes now fully taking in her surroundings, each detail down to the last blade of grass. She didn't like the idea that Kurama wouldn't be able to sense someone coming before she, because it meant that she would never be able to sense someone coming. Until it was too late.
The thought had her wishing she were in Spirit World at that very moment, in the gym. Working on her energy and the many ways it could develop.
Because, really, she didn't feel much like a fighter. More of a distraction, because that's all her energy was capable of providing at the moment.
Mice and distractions.
She gritted her teeth for a moment before relaxing her jaw and mirroring Kurama's small sound with her own sigh of discontent.
She turned to the redhead to say something, but her lips merely parted, releasing no sound. Her eyes, however, took very keen notice, suddenly, of the dirt on his skin from her home.
And then the fact that his outfit was… tattered, to say the least.
"Uh," she began, taking a moment to find her voice, but not really able to make the words form on her tongue. *
"Hm?" Kurama heard Akari start to speak, glancing over at her when she didn't continue at his intoned murmur.
Seeing her eyes looking him up and down, Kurama followed her gaze in an attempt to catch what exactly was making her look at him that way, and for once he let out a pleasant laugh.
"It seems I am in no condition to make any house calls." He felt strange that he hadn't been aware of his appearance when usually he was rather proud of it. Was that actually something the fox had a hand in as well? "Tell you what. I'll go and make myself look presentable while you rally Yusuke to our cause. Sound good?"
~!**!~
Shikiyoku gave Hiei a sidelong look out of the corner of her eyes.
Out of all the things so far she'd met in the fire demon, she found somehow that his expressing to share in a mind-meld with her to be the most surprising gesture yet.
Especially when she knew he had a Jagan.
"You could simply see for yourself." She nudged him with her shoulder impishly, her eyes flickering up to the bandana around his forehead. 3
Hiei didn't respond immediately, didn't even need to look at her to know Shikiyoku was gesturing to the Jagan. He considered giving a shrug, but with her hold on his arm and the drink in his hand, he decided against it altogether.
He considered the demons around them for a moment before turning to meet Shikiyoku's gaze again, watching unblinkingly. "That requires a lot of energy." It was an excuse, and a very weak one, but really he didn't want to sift through memories, because even if she thought of one specifically, it wouldn't be as sharp as it would be if he plucked it from her mind without her notice.
Plus, minds converging… that could be something rather amusing to try at some point. And likely very useful, if done right.
Likely entertaining too.
He suddenly scoffed at that thought and the possibilities that such a thing could prove, completely amused.
~!**!~
A single strawberry brow raised at the sound Kurama released, wondering why it was so funny to him. He looked like absolute hell, now that she looked at him, and he was laughing about it? She sighed and turned her eyes to the path ahead. I don't understand you.
When Kurama spoke up, she listened, but his offer was one she didn't agree with. "No," she responded easily, tone flat. She didn't look at him, only looking ahead as if something interested her there. *
"Suit yourself." Kurama shrugged and turned away from the direction they had been heading-Yusuke's apartment-towards his own home. "But I plan on taking my time. And it would be faster if we split up. I'm sure Nabu could watch after me just fine."
~!**!~
A bit of a frown fell over Shikiyoku's face and she wondered if the younger fire demon next to her actually knew what he was suggesting they do.
She had a little experience with the process as it had been something one of her champions-which one was it?-and her had tried briefly.
They had found their bond would allow them such intertwined contact, at least enough that Shikiyoku had been able to show him-as Hiei had just asked-of earlier, more primal times in the Ninth Level.
But at the time they were each still very private with their thoughts, and to be completely exposed, wrapped up in, another like that had been both disconcerting and unnerving.
A total mind-meld would have allowed them to see what the other saw-useful for their line of work-but it also meant the other was there all the time, that their memories were passed between them effortlessly and would overwhelm the one with less memories to share until they became lost in the older one's past.
And such double vision gave one a numbing headache after too much use. It would have proven useful in a fight, though. Not that they ever really got into one of those.
Curiously, Shikiyoku's gaze turned introspective as she reached within herself to the half-pact she could access.
It hummed happily at her, wavelengths in tune with the apparition sitting next to her, though the hums were always cut short halfway up or down depending on the direction.
"We could try. If you like." She gave the pact a nudge to see how it would react to her, feeding it with a specific memory of the Northern Tribe the last time she'd been here to see if it would accept and transfer it. "But only if you're willing." 3
Hiei felt the flex of the bond, and his eyes focused on Shikiyoku, mind pulled from his thoughts that he hadn't realized he'd been wrapped up in. Thoughts that were, truthfully, inconsequential. That meant nothing, unlike his normal thoughts that consisted of things dire, things to come, or even things already happening.
And Shikiyoku's words had him raising a brow, then clamping down on the bond, not allowing such access as he even blocked his mind for the moment. When the bond returned to the normal pulsing hum, he let his mind brush hers again.
"Now's not the time." he stated calmly, blinking once at her as he took in the way she sat, the way her shoulders were beginning to slump from tiredness. She'd used a lot of energy, and it could tip the balance.
He'd heard of things like that going wrong as well. Never good.
Then again, when was a mistake in Demon World easily able to be recovered from?
"It was just a thought." He paused. "Though, remind me when your energy returns."
~!**!~
Akari turned a calm gaze onto Kurama, watching him for a moment before her lips twitched. "What, not happy with baby pictures being hung on the walls?" she teased. "While getting the others is necessary, I don't feel like splitting up is an option anymore." she admitted, turning her eyes forward again as she rubbed her palms against her jeans, as if to rub away the feeling of his blood on her hands. *
"There aren't as many as you would think." Kurama let one of his brows raise, "I was a...difficult child."
He let the subject of her coming with him drop, though he figured were he at home, he could just as easily call and talk to Shizuru-the person he wished to get in contact with first anyway. Once he had her in on the situation, he would feel better knowing she could sense if something was going wrong.
~!**!~
Shikiyoku let her hold on the pact drop, feeling indifferent at the moment to Hiei's reaction, but sending a sense of affirmation that she would mention it to him later into his head.
She hadn't ever felt this tired after performing the ritual before. Hiei had probably been wise not to let her try. Heh. Usually, she was charged by the dance and spent the night among the others in their time of revelry.
As Shikiyoku thought back, her eyelids beginning to struggle to stay open, other companions came to mind like the ones who had tried to approach her tonight. Other encampments, other ballrooms, even other interrogations courtesy of her third Champion, all muddled and tired, playing back into her head just for a moment, and yet-
...a-and yet-
She found no person, no place that she would rather be-
"Nowhere else, but right...here...with you..."
As the final word passed over her mind, said with a sense of warmth and contentment, Shikiyoku finished the slumping that had started as the memories played back, her cheek closing the last few inches between her and the shoulder of the arm she held that was Hiei's as she came to rest gently against him.
"...fire-prince." 3
Hiei watched the heavy eyelids of the demon next to him slide closed, and for a few minutes, he stayed that way, only moving to catch the plate she nearly dropped. He considered leaving, considered letting the party around him continue on without a chance to disturb Shikiyoku, but really, he didn't see it much of a possibility at the moment.
Instead, his eyes moved up, searching for the faces in the crowd he knew he'd have to address sooner or later. They were likely the center of attention, being as high on the totem pole as they were. It shouldn't be-
His mind picked up on words just barely whispered between them and the warmth that seemed to radiate from them. Calmness. Content.
Happiness.
That same warmth became a physical aspect as her cheek rested on his shoulder, her hand pulling only slightly at his arm as if to keep him right where he was.
And for the first time, when he thought about how separated he felt from the rest of the world around him, he didn't view it as much of a bad thing.
~!**!~
Akari raised a brow at Kurama - sensing a sort of.. shame? Was that it? - and considered his expression for a moment. She gave a small hum of thought before turning her eyes away, linking her fingers in front of her as she walked.
She didn't have anything to say about that. She felt that she should say something, but really, she didn't know what to say. Everything that came to mind was… Ridiculous. And were she to say them, she felt that she'd be discussing a topic she knew nothing about.
Because, really, she didn't know how a human's mind worked. Their sentimentality was… different. What they felt empathy towards, she herself felt nothing about. What they got angry over, she simply brushed away.
Or, at least, that's how she used to view it. Now, she didn't know. On some level, she felt that maybe she'd formed into a being rather similar to a human when some aspects came up. She'd changed on some degree, but how, she wasn't really sure.
She wasn't as blindly aggressive, that was for sure. She'd dealt with difficult situations and…
"I don't think it matters how difficult you were." she suddenly commented, shrugging. "But, that's just my opinion." *
Kurama chuckled, "Well, it does matter when the child won't allow the parent to take any pictures. Hence why there aren't really any of myself up around the house."
The discussion revolving around his childhood brought his mind back to-as most things did-his mother. He hoped her vacation was going well. The wedding was coming up soon, but it was going to be rather small and he had insisted she get away from things for a while and her fiancé had readily agreed.
~!**!~
The white-haired Elder who had greeted them when they first came into the encampment paused in her steps when she saw Shikiyoku fall to sleep on her Champion's arm. So, when she continued to approach the pair, it was for a different reason now.
"I was going to offer her my gratitude," The Elder murmured, standing just on the other side of Hiei, "And inquire as to how she danced inside the flames like that, but I see like everything else it will have to wait for morning." She wore an amused expression as her eyes alighted on Shikiyoku's form, breathing even and slow.
"She will be busy enough as it is tomorrow I would imagine." The Elder looked out over the innumerous heads of the demons gathered in the clearing. "You all may make use of the tent of the Elders tonight. Whenever you wish." She added as an afterthought, clearly in no hurry for the pair to move as she herself stepped away on silent feet. 3
Hiei was pulled from his thoughts as a calm, even voice spoke near him, obviously directed for the fire demon specifically despite no formal address. His eyes moved calmly from the peaceful face of Shikiyoku and up at the demoness standing nearby, a light in the white-haired woman's eyes dancing with mirth.
It was almost as if she'd heard Hiei's thoughts on seeking her out for refuge, as she answered his question without him having asked of it. He nodded once at her in quiet thanks and appreciation for not disturbing Shikiyoku.
While he did consider staying just a bit longer, he decided, in the end, that Shikiyoku's need for peaceful rest came first. So with calm, smooth motions, the fire demon shifted until he was able to slide his free arm underneath Shikiyoku's legs and calmly detach her hands from his other arm to provide support for her shoulders. Without pause, he was moving away from the loud area and towards the tents, not for the first time appreciating the path that was parted for him as he moved.
~!**!~
Akari rolled her eyes, but otherwise gave no reaction to Kurama's amusing words. "But, seems you haven't changed much," she commented, turning glittering eyes onto him from the corners. Still difficult.
Though, really, she didn't mind one way or the other. She was stubborn enough to argue as long as necessary, should the subject call for it. Though, knowing the redhead, he'd simply resort to using his entire vocabulary against her, using words she didn't know to have her unknowingly agreeing to.. whatever cause he fought for.
That would be funny, no matter who he used his mental dictionary against.
"You know, not being in school makes me realize how boring it actually is when I do go. How do you stand it?" she suddenly asked, the question coming to mind when she'd seen a classmate rather far ahead. "Sitting in a crowded room and listening to a teacher drone on and on… sometimes I imagine myself jumping from the window just to go find some real amusement." *
"You didn't grow up doing so." Kurama replied. "And my body is actually growing at the normal rate for humans, so I've been in school since I was young. Unlike most demons."
Kurama walked with his head high as if he wasn't wearing clothing that hung about him in tatters. And ignored anyone who gave him a strange look as he went by.
Hopefully he, uh, wouldn't see anybody he knew.
~!**!~
"What is that expression for, youngling?"
Douji scratched absently at the cheek of the lur'mog in his lap, his expression reserved even when faced with the utter joy the creature had in his attentions.
Uryo belched and reclined back on the log as he waited for the boy to speak up, setting his empty plate next to him.
"You felt it too, didn't you?" Douji asked quietly, not looking up.
Uryo ran his tongue over his teeth, crimson eyes catching sight of the Champion lifting Shikiyoku away, presumably to bed. He watched the crowd make way for Hiei almost without the fire demon's direct notice and huffed a breath out of his noise.
"You had to feel it. I saw her energy around your ankle." Douji insisted, falling silent again. "What did it mean?" The question came almost muttered from Douji's lips.
"It was nothing to be so concerned about." Uryo grinned. "It was…" Uryo searched for the right word, his eyes roving around for a moment. "A compliment." Yes, that seemed close enough. "You're special." He added.
Douji frowned, not quite understanding exactly what it meant.
"It's difficult to explain." Uryo murmured, his gaze settling upon the bonfire and immediately pulling him back into the image of Shikiyoku and her flaming fan-dance, how he had manipulated the bonfire itself to allow her to be within it, using his energy to burn the outer kimono away and reveal her. An excellent dancer indeed. 3
~!**!~
Akari sighed to herself. While she liked the learning, getting to know the world she was currently stuck in, she didn't enjoy the cramped rooms, the snide students and the petty fights that seem to brew between the students over… words. It was all ridiculous and-
Akari's eyes caught sight of a shop as she passed, and while her steps never faltered, her gaze did linger for a bit. That one.
It was a clothing store, one she had yet to visit. One she had made a mental note of, and then forgotten where it was located. She took note of the opening time, even glanced at the wall clock inside to gauge how long until it was open for business before turning forward again.
She'd made up her mind now, despite her earlier reluctance to move on her own. Just for a bit wouldn't hurt…
She stayed silent the rest of the way to Kurama's house, eyes taking in each detail around her, taking extra note of the scent on the breeze that hinted a chillier day to come.
A cold front, as called here.
The thought had her smiling. It wouldn't be too cold, as she wished it would be, but it would be a rather cool day later. Maybe that meant the seasons were finally changing. And maybe she'd actually get to be in the snow this time, unlike the years with Sensui… *
Kurama didn't even have to reach into his pocket to know that the key to his house was lost somewhere between here and wherever Otento had taken him.
If having his energy locked away last time taught him anything, it was to have a spare key nearby.
He reached behind the back of some foliage in a ceramic pot on the porch for the toothy-looking plant in the back and pricked his finger on one of the spines. The hinges parted and he plucked the housekey from the mouth before it began to close again, unlocking the door and slipping off his shoes before moving beyond the threshold farther inside.
~!**!~
Shikiyoku's eyes opened to the muted darkness of the Elder's tent, and as quietly as she was able, she slipped outside into the reddish-grey of the very early morning.
The bonfire she had emerged from the night before blazed in a much-reduced form, and there were a few of the older demons that had come last night sitting nearby it, looking up to give her welcoming glances as she approached and providing for her a large plate of food which she graciously accepted and sat down among them with, beginning to ravenously tear her way through it.
The old demons chuckled and exchanged glances before starting to drill Shikiyoku with various questions she found only vaguely related to her abilities. She wondered what exactly the type of rumors that had been passed around the night before consisted of, since their questions ranged from birthing of demonic babies to debating the existence of a love spell outside of her manipulative powers.
None of them seemed to care that she talked with her mouth full or rarely answered questions at all when it meant eating more food was possible.
"Iro."
Shikiyoku dropped her head back to see the white-haired Elder-woman standing over her with a slight smile.
"Yesh?"
"There are a few things we have here that we could use your help with."
"Of coursh." Shikiyoku swallowed what was in fact the last of her food and stood.
The next few hours before true dawn consisted of such tasks as the Elder required, though in the middle of completing one a demon approached her and asked if he could speak with her, to which she agreed, allowing the male to lead her a distance away from any others.
Upon her brain catching up, she recognized immediately that this slender demon was not a member of the Northern Tribe, his clothing reminding her vaguely of a level of Demon World which had been obsessed with the period of time that occurred in Human World known as 'Victorian.' He stood out from the rustic appearance of the tribe to say the least.
When he stopped and turned to face her, Shikiyoku stood dutifully nearby, allowing his calculating gaze to meet her own guarded one.
"You are strong, 'Iro.'" The demon gave her a dazzling smile, revealing two rows of perfectly white teeth.
Shikiyoku only tilted her head slightly, waiting for more.
"Very strong. You would make any demon proud to call themselves your mate."
Shikiyoku blinked in an expression of 'really?'
As if there wasn't a demon among the entirety of the Nine Levels who did not prize strength and power-especially in a female as a prospective bearer of the next generation. Especially a demon like this.
"Need I say more?" He gestured with a flourish of a laced-sleeve of a hand.
"No. No, there is no need." Shikiyoku frowned, unsure as to whether to take this demon seriously or not.
He took her momentary silence as hesitation.
"Is it truly that difficult of a decision?" He wanted to know loftily.
There was a word for this type of demon, and it was on the tip of her tongue…
"Is there really any need for a delay? You can sense, I'm sure, that I am just as powerful as yourself. We would make a good match."
They called demons like this something. What was it again?
"I...have a Champion." Shikiyoku provided, frown still in place as she fished in her brain for the word.
"Is that all?" The demon replied with a laugh.
Something...the other demons called these Victorian impersonators. With their frilly waistcoats and perfect hair-dos.
"He is not your mate," The demon emphasized as he went on, "Otherwise I hardly would have approached you at all, now would I? It's obvious to anyone paying the least bit of attention."
"I would hardly make such a...decision without my Champion's express permission." Shikiyoku blinked, a blank look on her face. "Surely you understand."
Convoluted? No, that's not quite right. Complacent? No, that's not what I mean.
"No, I'm not exactly sure that I do." The demon pursed his lips at her beautifically. "Of course, I can't exactly say that I truly understand-"
"Conceited!" Shikiyoku exclaimed, her expression clearing up as her eyes brightened when she remembered the word.
"I beg your pardon?" The demon raised an artful eyebrow at her. 3
~!**!~
He'd been up and around for quite some time now, and rather busy since… well, he wasn't really sure. He did know, however, that this creature was rather elusive. Hiei, however, was bound and determined, because it had been the one that had, one, attacked him first and, two, been on the hit list he'd been given by the other demons he had parted from about an hour ago.
It moved just as swiftly, just as quietly as the fire demon himself did, and quite frankly, he found this more of a game than an actual hunt, which had kept Hiei rather occupied for the early morning hours. Happily so, even. Killing both creatures and time! It was better than nothing, which is what he'd done almost all night long while Shikiyoku slept and he himself found he was unable to do the same, for whatever reason.
He moved through the trees, stalking the very elusive creature that, somehow, could not be tracked via Jagan, but only by scent and sound. Perhaps it was a Ninth Level thing.
He suddenly paused, coming to a halt in the darkened limbs of the treetop he had been silently moving through. He kept his weapon at the ready, held in his left hand and tucked close to his stomach, other hand grasping at string and arrow as he listened.
It had stopped moving, but where, he wasn't sure.
He focused harder, listening for-
There.
He moved, calling on old memories to help him as he slid silently, back against the bark of the tree, around to the next branch. When he peered down, his keen eyes could make out the large, scaled creature that leaned forward, snout to the ground and forked tongue just touching the grass of the forest floor. It's six eyes were focused down at its feet, its four ears twitching frantically for any sign of danger.
Once Hiei knew he was not known to be in the area, he shifted, lifted the bow and pulled the arrow back.
The screech that filled the air moments later sent creatures scattering, making the area come alive and arrows fly.
And to think he'd almost forgotten how this felt.
~!**!~
"You're more skilled than you let on, Champion!"
Hiei turned his eyes to the corners, catching the wide grin aimed at him from the largest of the twelve that had found him. The bow Hiei had used was in this demon's hand, held as if it were his prized treasure. In his other hand was four small creatures, each the same, each able to feed, at most, two demons.
"A swordsman and an archer. Would have been helpful during the wars."
Hiei turned away from the conversation that turned to older times, times that had long since passed. History, to him. Nothing more than stories.
He shifted his hold on the rope he had slung over his shoulder, the five medium-sized creatures thumping against his back. His other hand shifted its grip on the largest creature, a creature as large as he was. He walked as head of the chattering group of demons, only doing so because they'd insisted he do as such. And he'd been too lazy to argue.
His eyes, once he reached the encampment, searched for the person whose energy he could feel moving about, doing things here and there. While he couldn't see her for the moment, he decided to leave her be, let her do… whatever it was she'd been asked to do.
Until her energy paused, then moved further away from the encampment. At this point, Hiei himself changed directions, deciding that he'd at least pass by, see what she was doing.
It didn't take long to find her, though he was approaching from behind the male that had very obviously pulled her aside. The little snippet of the conversation he heard told him all he needed to know: the male was interested, Shikiyoku was not.
So he approached, coming to stand just a little ways behind the male. "Obnoxious works just as well." he intoned, adding to Shikiyoku's word choice. "Or pestiferous." *
Kido - 1: wicket gate; wooden door; 2: entrance to an entertainment venue (i.e. sumo arena, etc.)
Yanagisawa - Place name, Family or surname
Thanks for reading! Bless your face. If you sneezed during this chapter, bless you. Peace off! -Star