A/N: Hello once again, Lovers of Yu Yu Hakusho!
It's surreal for me at times to go back and edit things like this. At this point in the story I just feel like it goes and goes and goes and I catch myself reading way too far ahead for what the current chapter is to be and then I have to go back and be all, okay, where was I again?
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!
Kurama and Akari arrive at the Kuwabara apartment,
and they were apparently expected as Kuwabara, Kazuma tells them
Shizuru knew they were on their way and she says she also invited Genkai to join them.
Akari is musing on Kurama's offer to remove all of her scars,
realizing that she doesn't really have a straight answer for him yet.
When Genkai arrives, the group decides to start at the beginning
to bring everyone up to speed on the current situation.
Akari starts by speaking of the demon running around under Youko's name,
Kurama picking it up by mentioning Otento and the fact that Toriko had,
at one time, appeared to be their main focus.
~!**!~
A week passed for Hiei and Shikiyoku among the Northern Tribe before they knew it,
though Hiei had decided he would rather they stay in Demon World.
However, Shikiyoku sees the beginning signs that the aftereffects of the ritual,
which wove her and Hiei's energies together and helped mute her powers,
are wearing off and the two of them will need to get moving again soon.
Shikiyoku accesses the bond between them, intending to show Hiei of revelries past,
but instead he experiences a moment where Shikiyoku was with Rae and Derrin at their palace.
For Shikiyoku, the memory is unsettling as the demon who pulls her away from that encounter
to dance with her is without face or features, only a voice echoing in her mind's ear.
After pulling away from the bond, and blaming her only having access to half of the pact,
Shikiyoku sifts through her memories to find that the demon is missing from all of them,
only that same fuzzy shape where she knows he should be.
Hiei states rather simplistically that if the demon was important to her, then she will recall him.
"You make it sound so easy." Shikiyoku mumbled, still standing near the entrance to the tent with her face pursed in concentration as she continued to sift through old memories. 3
Hiei scoffed quietly to himself. "You should know, nothing comes easy with me." he retorted, amused with her words. Nothing was easy where the fire demon was concerned, and he would have figured she would have found that out by now.
~!**!~
Akari interjected almost as soon as Kurama was done talking, "Otento had tried recruiting me, saying they had use for me if I had decided to help, which is how we followed Otento to help Toriko. While there, Hiei killed one of their numbers, but there were four others, Otento and Youko included, and one I believe was the teleporting and the other…" she paused, realizing she'd only seen those other two that one time. "I'm not sure, really. I think he was projecting their images to the warehouse, because they weren't really there."
She gave another pause to think, giving a sigh as the next thing that came to mind happened to be that same night. Or maybe it was the night after? She felt a bit hazy on that part. "Pretty soon after, they managed to kidnap Kurama, to presumably lock away the real Youko, and myself, simply because I'd been there." She blinked once. "That's when they'd brought in a new demon, I think. He wasn't one of the ones I saw in the warehouse." *
"I remember that guy." Kuwabara interjected. "He did something to make us real sad."
"I believe he was meant as a sort of replacement for Toriko." Kurama noted.
When he got looks from Kuwabara and the others, he went on.
"Toriko is actually just a front for a demon named Shikiyoku who is on some level able to manipulate the desires of others. This other demon is essentially able to do the same thing, but deals specifically with 'sadness.'" He summed up, moving along, "The most recent bit of activity is Otento completely sealing away Youko within me and the news that Spirit World has shut down, closing its doors because there has been a threat of an attack. And I imagine the threat is very real otherwise King Enma would not have resorted to such measures."
~!**!~
Shikiyoku gave him a withering look, eyes narrowed, a breath slowly releasing from her nose that had it actually been given sound would have most definitely been a growl.
As if she didn't know he wasn't easy. That had been established rather early on.
"That's putting it a bit mildly, don't you think?" She asked archly. "I might suggest you're the most difficult demon in the nine levels. In the three worlds." 3
Hiei slid one eye open to regard Shikiyoku silently for a moment, his lips twitching into a sneer at her words. He considered his various responses before letting his eyelids slide shut again and nestling further into the rather comfortable furs.
"I wasn't aware. I figured my presence was about as bothersome as a lur'mog's." he commented, smirk disappearing after another moment, but his amusement everlasting.
~!**!~
"I tried to get in touch with Koenma this morning," she picked up easily, "and he did answer, but he was rushed, quiet. No calls in or out, no visitors, nothing. Total lockdown because of the threat." She paused this time, turning inward for a moment as she considered her words. "But the threat… it doesn't seem like much more than a distraction, when I think about it."
She paused again, thinking about what had made her consider that as an option, and wondering if telling the others that she'd been in the company of the false Youko for a while would be a good idea. It made her hesitant, because she knew…
Wait, why hadn't Kurama been angry about it? Her eyes turned to him almost curiously, but she didn't voice her sudden thought. *
"A distraction for Spirit World would seem to indicate an actual threat to Human World." Kurama went on.
Genkai made an affirming noise, "The only problem is, unlike with Sensui, we don't know when or where."
"And without access to Spirit World and Koenma, we're left to our own devices." Kurama pointed out. "I am also left wondering why."
"I think finding the answer to that will also answer more questions we have." Genkai agreed.
Shizuru shook her head, "I don't know why, but I can tell you the feelings I get aren't...bad. I can't explain it. Except that with Sensui, it really did feel like the end of the world to me, and this is…" She shrugged, at a loss for words.
Genkai raised an eyebrow, "If you'd let me help you refine that talent, we might have a better chance." Her expression appeared to suggest now.
"How much do you really think you can do?" Kuwabara wanted to know, "We don't know how much time we have."
"Time isn't important otherwise your sister would know it. If there really is something happening to Human World, but it's not life-ending, then how can we objectively pronounce it to be bad?" Genkai pointed out.
~!**!~
"What, you mean like all teeth and no bite?" Shikiyoku retorted quickly, turning away from him to stare at the tent walls with her arms crossed. "At least I can stick the lur'mog down my shirt and he shuts up. I can't say the same for you." She stuck her tongue out at him again over her shoulder, tossing him an impetuous look. 3
There was a moment where Hiei wasn't sure how to respond, though several different retorts did fly by the forefront of his mind. His eyelids slid open and he turned his head to look at Shikiyoku with a serious look, gaze even and calm as he opened his mouth, intending to say one thing but saying something entirely different.
"Wouldn't me being down your shirt be counterproductive?"
~!**!~
Akari blinked once. "If it really is something happening to Human World…"
Why did that stand out to her? Her eyes turned down and her mind suddenly began churning, thinking about what she knew of Foko. He doesn't want to kill unless necessary. He's said that we, specifically, are not his enemy, but that Otento was out of hand. She ground her teeth together. He wasn't attacking Kurama, he was helping Kurama. I just… didn't see that. I saw what I had expected to happen, and that resulted in the declaration of enemies.
But…
Is he really after Human World at all? I know earlier I said uniting the worlds,... Is that actually closer than anything else?
"Kurama and I were talking earlier," she suddenly spoke up, thoughts churning, "and we agree that the threat would most likely be a front, to bring more demons here." She looked over at Kurama. "When the dust clears, it's probably going to be the most opportune time for them to actually attack Spirit World, right? Well, if their intentions aren't bad, then why would they want to unite the worlds?" she asked, lips twitching downwards. "Because I'm certain it isn't a prize in Spirit World they want. It isn't worth this much planning. Like you asked earlier, what would King Enma have done to warrant an attack?" *
"Unite the worlds?" Genkai repeated, her face looking far away for a moment before she came back to the present, "King Enma is not without fault, and I think viewing him in a similar manner to how Sensui used to view humans and demons, one the ultimate good and the other the ultimate bad, will back us into a very similar corner that the former Spirit Detective found himself. Demons are not inherently bad, and neither, would I venture to say, is Spirit World inherently good."
Though whether it was, or was supposed to be, at one time or another is something...is something that we cannot say for sure.
~!**!~
Shikiyoku's mouth opened, but no sound came out as if the words were strangled in her throat before getting very far, and for what was probably the first time in her life she could feel what it would be like to blush.
Not that she did so.
She refused to turn around to look at Hiei, but managed to state rather matter-of-factly: "The counterproductivity of you being down my shirt would be directly related as to why you were down there in the first place." 3
The sound Hiei released was uncannily similar to a chuckle, but not quite falling under that category as Shikiyoku turned away from him. He stared at her with a toothy smirk of amusement aimed in her direction. "I suppose that 'stuffing' me down your shirt to… as you said, silence me, would prove to be quite counterproductive. Closed spaces do not sit well with fire demons."
Still, he was showing the utmost level of amusement at her.
~!**!~
Akari turned a curious gaze to Genkai, a brow raised. It was true that Spirit World had been lacking here and there, often gaining ire from Demon World, but what would be considered bad from Spirit World? "Sensui's point of view was driven that way because he'd been told demons were bad, and then saw for himself that demons attacked humans. And we assume Spirit world is good because they mobilize against the ones doing wrong, right?" she tilted her head slightly in curiosity. Where was she going with this, exactly? *
"Ah, but who was it that told Sensui demons were bad?" Genkai eyed Akari out of the corner of her eye before turning her head slightly to look at the girl. "The very same who wished him to think that they were the ultimate good, no?"
~!**!~
Shikiyoku's arm flinched with the desire to pull it out from where she had crossed it to raise a finger which would emphasize what she was about to say, and while she resisted the first, her mouth did still come open as if to immediately send him a retort, one that she quickly bit back even as the muscles in her throat and torso tightened to deny her whatever it was she had been about to say.
Managing not to make any sort of strangled noise leak out from her throat, Shikiyoku also thankfully did not groan as she unwove one arm from the other still firmly against her chest to let the ends of her fingers rest against her mouth.
There was no way he had done that on purpose.
The amount of confliction on her face went unnoticed since she faced away from Hiei, most of her facial muscles twitching as she shut her eyes.
She kept opening her mouth to say something, but every time another reply popped into her head she would let her lips close behind her fingers, refusing to take the unintentional bait that Hiei had laid out for himself.
I blame this on Youko for being the worst demon at turning everything I said into an innuendo when we were together. Who cares if I actually meant it that way or not. He wasn't supposed to know. Cheeky fox."
"I'll...be sure to keep that in mind." Shikiyoku finally got out between clenched teeth, managing not to snort or otherwise comment on his wording. 3
Hiei raised a brow calmly at Shikiyoku, but otherwise gave no reply as his lips twitched one more time at her before he turned away. His eyelids slid closed again as his muscles seemed to finally relax completely into the furs.
"Are you going to stand all night?"
~!**!~
A frown pulled the corners of Akari's lips down and her brows over her eyes. Sure, it made sense that if one wanted the other to believe they were good, then they'd tell another, even find ways to convince others that it was the truth. But, Spirit World?
She didn't see it as Koenma, since he'd allowed her to live, but…
"You're suggesting King Enma, the most powerful being in the three worlds, is… bored and causing enough trouble to raise a rebellion?" *
"Not exactly." Genkai tilted her head, "But I am suggesting that it is an option which should not be overlooked." She turned back forward and took another bite of the cake in her hand, not bothering to swallow when she continued speaking around it. "I am also suggesting that perhaps Enma is not as powerful as everyone seems to think, and these demons coming to attack are just the first of those who have been made aware."
~!**!~
"Possibly." Shikiyoku's teeth were still almost clenched together, "I might see if I am capable of sleeping on my feet."
Shikiyoku knew Hiei wasn't intentionally stirring her up, as he likely had no frame of reference for what that actually meant anyway. Or if he did, she could just see him being appalled in some manner or another should he find out.
Were I you in my position, I'd go out and kill a few things to blow off some steam. That is not, however, an option for me.
Even just the slightest indulgence of her mind in seducing the fire demon behind her had the pact pulse warningly at her.
But he's making it so difficult, She whined silently at it, knowing her words would mean nothing to it. 3
"Suit yourself." Hiei replied nonchalantly, moving his hands out from underneath his head and rolling over onto his side, effectively turning his back to Shikiyoku and settling for sleep. Though, he was certain sleep wouldn't become an ally for a while, as he was simply too amused. Too aware at the moment.
He crossed his arms in front of his chest and let his eyes close again, feeling more comfortable than he had in a while, and he took a moment to release a contented sigh.
Staying in Demon World… seemed so much better than returning to Human World, something he hadn't thought about in a while. And now that he did, he was sure that he wouldn't return if he had a say in the matter.
And, they just so happened to be on the level furthest from Spirit World's reach.
~!**!~
Akari leaned back into the cushion of the couch and remained quiet, taking in Genkai's words. It could be a very real possibility, now that she thought of it. She herself had even thought of that point- Spirit World convincing others of demons being bad- but hadn't really taken herself seriously, it seemed. Or, at least, she hadn't thought it could lead to being the reason.
If that's the case, then what's Spirit World doing, if not simply degrading demons as a whole? That obviously wasn't enough to explain Foko's doing, but… it was closer.
How would they prove demons to be the bad guys?
She frowned. The only way to do that was to manipulate demons into acting out, which… wasn't actually a difficult thing to do…
And she was a prime example, in several ways. *
Kurama had let the conversation between demon and human go on uninterrupted though Shizuru and Kuwabara expressed the same desire to only listen, wheels turning in their heads as they watched the pair.
It still led Kurama back to his same-old question of why, though Genkai's commentary did alleviate a portion of his frustration.
If they meant to dethrone Enma-which...would not be cause for the end of the world?-then what would happen next? Does Koenma take over the throne? It seemed unlikely, especially if this 'first wave' of demons as Genkai appeared to suggest had other plans in mind. Would they raise their own up to power? ...wouldn't that be world-ending?
Kurama found that his eyes had fallen onto Shizuru, though he was unable to read anything behind her browns eyes with their neutral expression as she attentively took in what Akari and Genkai exchanged words about.
"So, then," Genkai spoke up, "I think the real question becomes: who do we side with?"
~!**!~
Shikiyoku threw a glance over her shoulder to see Hiei had turned away, and she quickly averted her eyes back forward.
She grumbled, "I'm...gonna go...kill something." She made as if to leave the tent. 3
Hiei's eyes slid open at Shikiyoku's words, finding himself surprised by them. As far as he knew, she'd never killed anything in her lifetime. So, her sudden words had him turning his head to peer at her over his shoulder curiously, though not rolling over to face her.
"You're going to go… kill something?" he repeated, tone curious and amused. "If so, try doing so without the use of your energy. Take a blade… or something." he suggested, suddenly finding himself not liking the idea of her using her energy to reel something in. Sure, if something happened, he could be there in a moment's notice, but he really didn't want to take that chance.
~!**!~
A frown twitched at Akari's lips as she considered the thought of manipulation being how King Enma was… uh… making himself the good guy, to put it simply. It wouldn't be very hard, with or without the amount of power he had. All one had to do was push a demon over the edge, and..
Like herself, they'd do whatever asked if it included their own interest, the same way she had with Sensui. In the beginning, she'd been on board with his idea, loving the idea of actually punishing the race and/or species that had done her wrong, but at the same time, she'd been reluctant. He'd twisted his words and fashioned his ideals in a way to void her concerns and create a blind follower.
However, in the same way, Akari herself could likely manipulate another, if she learned. Shadows could seep into one's blood, she knew, but the damage would be extensive to the brain and nerves. However, the ability to create illusions… was a powerful one. If she so desired, she could likely make a person believe another had done them wrong, even likely twist the way they thought of the world until…
Until they lived on nothing but anger. Until they killed innocent people for the joy of it, or because they believed it to be a way of life.
Akari suddenly sat back, blinking once as she thought about the Aswang she and Yusuke had killed last month. The lore of such creatures had always pitted them as cruel, bloodthirsty, heart/liver-eating beings, but she'd only met one before that day. She'd seen another attacked by such a creature, and die within seconds because of the poisons, the toxins in their weapons, their blood, their claws. But the person who'd been attacked hadn't been gutted.
In fact, she didn't recall ever hearing of a creature being gutted, except for in Human World. Human children.
And suddenly, Genkai's question seemed to have an obvious answer to her, despite the blame she placed on the demon she would prefer to side with. *
"I think a more realistic question would be to examine exactly what sides exist." Kurama pointed out.
"I am not working with that blonde-dude." Kuwabara said emphatically. "I don't care what anyone else thinks Enma's done wrong. He-" Kuwabara screwed up his face, and then spoke more quietly, "You all saw what he did to Toriko. I won't side with someone who does that."
Kurama knew the determined look in his friend's eyes, and truth be told, he felt the same way. He'd been called a traitor by demons already, it wouldn't be anything new. However…
"Do we really think Koenma is in on all of this?" Kurama wanted to know. "Are our only choices to side with Otento or Enma."
"I'll just side with humanity, thanks." Kuwabara grumbled. "No offence."
~!**!~
Shikiyoku paused, half in and half out of the tent when Hiei talked.
"Yeah, yeah. Right." She mumbled, dismissing him with a wave of her hand as she stepped into the darkness of the night, "Or something."
She stalked away from the Elders' Tent and towards the treeline, about a hundred paces to the South near the edge of the clearing Hiei had burned away a week ago. She met no others along her way and had no trouble seeing, her skin almost seemed to hold its own luminosity despite there being no moon in Demon World.
Nonsensical mumbles were said under her breath as she moved, determined to get out of sight of the encampment.
When she'd gotten a league or so away, and could hear nothing from the camp any longer, she stopped among the dark trees, lacking color without light, and found a space that left her ten feet or so to work with.
Of course she wasn't actually going to kill anything. And she didn't know how to use a blade properly in the first place. Aside from 'don't hold the pointy end.'
There was one thing she could do that was just as good.
She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, drinking in the smells of the woods around her before taking the first position of the fan dance she had done after that one demon propositioned her and beginning to meticulously flow her way through. One would have almost been able to see the swords in her hands as she slowly blocked and parried invisible enemies, though her mind held nothing but absolute peace. 3
Hiei watched Shikiyoku disappear behind the tent flap and turned his head again until his cheek found the soft, smooth furs all over again. His eyelids slid closed and he took in a slow, deep breath before releasing it just as slowly through his nose.
And that was enough to put him in a small lull, where the only thing he remained aware of was the being moving away from the encampment, the being who stopped a good distance away from the tent, and stayed in one spot.
He wouldn't sleep yet. And even if he did, his mind was locked on Shikiyoku and her energy, just in case.
~!**!~
Akari focused on the conversation in front of her suddenly, just in time to hear Kurama talking about Koenma. Honestly, she didn't think the prince was a part of it, but at the moment, there was no telling. She didn't know the King's son well enough to make such a judgement call, but she felt she did know Foko enough to say that attacking Enma for a reason such as what she'd just considered was very much in character.
Which means he had to have known someone who had been manipulated, and then killed. By Yusuke and/or his friends. Or, even her, maybe.
But she wasn't sure. At least, not 100%. I could track him down and-
The mental image of Kurama hanging from a tree hit her like a ton of bricks, and inwardly, she shied away. She flinched, blinking rapidly two or three times before recovering and turning inward again, not privy to the conversation in reality anymore.
It doesn't matter. Foko didn't do it. Otento did. Foko was helping, and I know that now. While he didn't stop the attack, he… he kept Kurama from dying. And I need to know, because if I say it aloud, and I'm wrong…
We could all die.
Akari sighed quietly to herself, eyes finally focusing on the room for good this time after making a mental note to find Foko later. As if she'd forget.
"I think Otento is his own side, in a way. While he is under the false Youko's rule, he also does whatever he wants, no matter what Youko has to say. It's been displayed several times. So, for all we know, the group could likely fall apart- except the fake Youko would kill anyone who betrays him just as quickly as… well, Youko would. Just a thought." *
It was no news to Kurama that someone impersonating Youko would be quick to remove any obstacles in his way. If memory served, Youko had done just that when his lieutenant had stepped out of line.
...why then had the fake Youko not gotten rid of Otento?
Another question he didn't feel would be answered any time soon.
"That fake Youko person was a part of Toriko being hurt." Kuwabara remained stubborn.
"So, if the activity you feel is going to occur," Genkai shifted a glance at Kurama, "Does not in fact adversely affect Human World in any way, you would simply do nothing?" She turned back to Kuwabara.
"Well. Yes." Kuwabara replied.
"Even if by doing nothing you cause Koenma to lose his life? The very person who brought Yusuke back from the dead?"
Kuwabara appeared torn.
"I don't see any harm in us closely following whatever the other demons are up to." Kurama chimed in. "If we see or hear of something we don't like, then we act."
"And in what way would you act?" Genkai asked again, "If you were the dimwit, I'd know you would just jump in guns blazing without a second thought. You, however, must have some plan stirring in that mind."
~!**!~
Shikiyoku ran through the steps at least twice before feeling any sort of actual calm, though by that time the sky had darkened entirely into the deepest part of the night and her skin glistened with sweat, drops of which fell down the back of her neck.
She stopped, breath coming heavy as she collapsed with crossed legs onto the forest floor with a clear mind, her eyes still closed.
"Thatsh a pretty dansh, lady."
Shikiyokuk's eyes flew open to see Uryo leaning over her, his red eyes gleaming. She'd been so absorbed she hadn't even noticed him approaching, though he wasn't broadcasting his presence like she was used to, either. And he only smelled vaguely of alcohol, as if he'd only just started drink.
As if to emphasize her silent point, Uryo took a step back to get a long draught from the flask he always carried, Shikiyoku noticing that it had been in his hand the whole time.
"I have newsh."
Shikiyoku only nodded.
A frown darkened Uryo's face, "I had hoped...hic...that you all would have left by now."
When Shikiyoku didn't answer, Uryo continued.
"Rae knowsh you're here."
Shikiyoku's eyes widened and she scrambled to her feet before Uryo reached out a put a hand on her shoulder.
"Not here," He waved his other hand around to indicate the air about them, "But here." He pointed down. "Back on the Ninth Level." Another drink, a thoughtful look as he swallowed, "She doesh know you're in the North, though. Thing ish," He kept going before Shikiyoku could interject, "Apparently Shpirit World hash shut down." Uryo wobbled a little on his feet and appeared to attempt to remedy it with another drink. "Nobody goesh in, nobody goesh out. And demonsh are thinking they're gonna try to shut down all exits and entranches...hic...everywhere!"
Shikiyoku opened her mouth to speak before she caught a whiff of how much more potent the alcohol had become and almost gagged.
"And before you shay otherwish," He held his finger up in front of her nose, "Demonsh are thinking Shpirit World can do that if there'sh a crishish. Like, no way from Shpirit World to Demon World, or Shpirit World to Human World," He held up two fingers for that one, "And no way from Human World to Demon World. ...hic." Three fingers came up and Uryo squinted at them as if he wasn't sure they were there. "Or any other way around that you can think of!" Uryo's hand finally lifted from Shikiyoku's shoulder and he waved it around again. "Vish-a-versha. And shtuff."
Shikiyoku hadn't really even been given a chance to get a word in edgewise, and she continued to not get a chance as Uryo went on.
"Sho, if you and that hybrid are shtill gonna leave Demon World...hic...you gotta do it yeshterday." He finished by taking a finger and tapping Shikiyoku on the nose with it with his last word, standing up 'straight' to gauge her reaction.
Before she got a minute to collect any words, Uryo had blinked twice at her, seeing the density of the power around her and thinking it had this pink color before he took an experimental sniff.
"You're really pretty. Everybody shays sho."
Shikiyoku finally laughed at him, "You know, I'm not even sure if we were planning on going back to Human World."
Uryo blinked again before he heard her words and came up with a reply.
"I thought thatsh why you were here in the firsht plashe. Sho you could go back." 3
~!**!~
For a moment, Akari said nothing, but as soon as there was a lull, she found herself speaking up, eyes set on Kuwabara. "Actually, I feel like you should know this, but he- the fake Youko- actually saved two of our lives this month." she paused, holding a finger up. "Two lives in one week, actually." She glanced at Kurama. She hadn't told him about her own experience yet, but..
"Actually, one of us had been saved twice," she was ashamed to admit it, really, but it was the truth. She'd been saved more often than she'd done the saving. More often than she'd done any good around here.
She needed to remedy that soon.
"Oh, yeah, and I forgot to mention," she suddenly piped again, giving no room for another to speak up just yet. "He isn't just impersonating Youko. He's actually becoming Youko, memories and all." *
Kuwabara's eyes narrowed, "Wasn't he trying to get you to join him in the first place?"
Shizuru and Genkai both turned to look at Akari.
"I'd like to know where you've been getting so much information about this fake Youko." Kuwabara's gaze did not soften.
Becoming Youko. That wasn't a power Kurama had come across yet. But it didn't seem like a spell that would be too far out of the realm of possibility. But he would expect it would mean completely severing oneself from their former personality.
And having an actual Youko, should he be as the original Youko sans the human boy's soul, walking around free in Human World could very quickly become world-ending indeed.
~!**!~
Shikiyoku shrugged and Uryo gave her another half-drunken stare.
"You got the informashion you needed...hic...right?"
She nodded, "I guess."
"And the people who need that informashion aren't in Demon World...right?"
Another nod.
Uryo considered Shikiyoku through glazed eyes that appeared to be quickly sobering, "Then why...are you still here?"
Shikiyoku didn't have an exact answer for him.
"You were hired for a job, and you're not going to finish the job?" He scoffed as if slightly disgusted. "What happened to 'honor among demons?'"
"We weren't hired by demons, if you'll recall." Shikiyoku finally rejoined, "And what if I happen to like my head right where it is?" She blurted out.
Uryo's eyebrows raised and Shikiyoku sighed.
"There's a warrant out for my arrest. From Spirit World. Someone hired me promising me the warrant would be voided, but it's out of the realm of his power." Shikiyoku pulled one hand over to rub absently at her elbow as she refused to meet Uryo's piercing stare.
"But you haven't taken the information back, so you don't actually know if that's the case or not."
"And you'd rather I risked my life trying to find out?"
Uryo gave a half-hearted shrug, "There are worse things than death."
Shikiyoku let out a short, dry laugh, thinking briefly of what she had let drive her out into the forest in the first place.
"It's not just up to me, you know." Shikiyoku spoke after a moment of silence.
"Then, I suppose if he says no, then there's no point in worrying about it, hm?" Uryo's eyes flickered off into the distance, "That's going to be up to you to take care of, lady. My advice is to get out of Demon World. I don't know if Rae is really going to let this just blow over, and she's had someone following me ever since I left the city, so I won't dare tarry any longer." He looked back down at her. "I'll lead them on a bit of a wild chase, as I'm sure Rae thinks I'll lead her back to you."
"She was right." Shikiyoku said archly.
Uryo just laughed, bouncing on his toes.
"Be careful." Shikiyoku warned, "If Rae has decided to turn her wrath upon you, you're in for a rough century."
"No one's caught me yet." Uryo winked, then appeared to take it back. "Well...there was that one woman. But-" He shrugged, "I let her think she caught me."
"Wise."
"I thought so." He replied with his nose in the air a little. His expression grew more withdrawn. "You be careful."
"No one's caught me yet." Shikiyoku replied with just as much loftiness as Uryo had.
"Now, how come I don't believe you?"
"Because you're drunk."
Uryo laughed, "I can think of one demon who has you quite firmly in his grasp."
Shikiyoku growled, making as if to take a swipe at him, which just made Uryo laugh harder as he disappeared, leaving Shikiyoku standing with a smirk in the woods by herself. 3
There was no disturbance in the air, but he woke anyway. He shifted, stretching. He could tell he hadn't slept long, but he felt just as rested as if he had. Odd, how time worked here, and how the smell of his home world changed how he felt about things at times.
Hiei shifted some more until he was laying on his stomach, head turned so that when he opened his eyes, he could see the tent flap. His cheek dug into the furs, though it wasn't uncomfortable, and he realized Shikiyoku hadn't yet returned. Curious, he continued to stare at the tent flap, mind blank aside from the impression of curiosity, eyelids half closed as he took in another deep breath.
When she did suddenly come into view, stepping from the darkness outside to the darkness inside the tent, he watched her with half-lidded eyes and a small sense of curiosity.
And when he spoke, his words were slightly muffled by the pressure of his cheek on the furs. "Did ya' kill somefin?"
~!**!~
Akari met Kuwabara's narrowed gaze with a calm one, not surprised by his sudden accusation. "Before you get huffy, I'm not… in league with them. Once you've been targeted a certain amount of times, you tend to figure out ways to learn about your enemy. It's something Sensui taught me." She paused, sighing. "I also have loads of free time on my hands, and sitting around isn't really my thing."
She raised a brow. "Though, if I were to join them, you would have known by now, because I am terrible at keeping myself out of trouble. I thought you knew that by now."
Here, she decided to shut up, though her gaze never parted from Kuwabara's. *
"Stop being stupid." Shizuru whacked Kuwabara in the back of the head again. "You know as well as I do that she doesn't give off any bad vibes."
Kuwabara had let out an exclamation of pain, reaching up to rub at the place she'd hit him, but neither did he protest at her words.
"Shizuru...how...good would you say you are at reading people?" Kurama wanted to know.
"You mean people besides you?" Shizuru replied, cigarette in her mouth once more. She shrugged. "Depends."
~!**!~
Shikiyoku made her way towards the darker shape among the furs and dropped to her knees, crawling up next to Hiei as he voiced his question.
She plopped down on her side, facing him as she answered, "Yes. Lots of things. All the things." Just before she settled back, she leaned forward and pressed her lips briefly to his nose with a light kiss, "Just for you." She snuggled down into the furs and pulled her hands up to her chest to bury her face in them. 3
Hiei blinked sleepily at Shikiyoku as he saw her shadowy form move closer, her voice floating on the air in an almost dream-like way as he felt half sure he wasn't really even awake. His lips twitched slightly at her words, his eyes sliding shut as he contemplating going right back to sleep.
He took a deep breath in as he listened to her shuffling about, that being the only sound he was privy to at the moment. When he felt odd contact with his face, his eyes slid open again to regard the demoness now laying next to him curiously. There was a beat of silence before he spoke up, "What wa-sh tha' for?" He paused to fight back a yawn and shifted a bit more, "Yoo make no sensh to me." He shifted only enough to pull his chin a bit closer to his chest, his eyes sliding shut again as he fought off sleep for the second time.
~!**!~
Akari raised a brow at the display between brother and sister, her outward reaction nothing more than slight amusement, despite her inward relief. Really, she didn't like being cornered into situations like that. She hadn't done much wrong, except… you know… lay around with the person deemed their enemy. Play games. Take naps in the sun and-
Okay, so really, I should be dead. Whatever. They'll get over it. ...Eventually.
When the conversation picked up via Kurama, she turned to him curiously, wondering what he had in mind and displaying that curiosity with a raised brow as she waited. *
Kurama fell silent, lost in his thoughts, and when it didn't seem like he would speak up again, Kuwabara and Shizuru exchanged glances as Genkai calmly continued to sip at her tea.
"I feel like we should do something to help Koenma." Kuwabara finally said. "He's our friend after all."
"And what exactly do you propose we do, little brother?"
"I dunno. Rescue him?"
~!**!~
"Because I'm rather fond of you, Hiei." Shikiyoku inched closer to him as she felt the warmth radiating off his body, "I do these things because I like you. Does that 'make sense' to you?" She lifted her head just enough to let the tip of her tongue stick out at him, sleepily impetuous. 3
There was a moment where Hiei seemed to be thinking over what Shikiyoku said, pondering her words as if they had another meaning behind them. And, after that moment, he merely blinked at her once before his eyes slid shut all the way.
"Do you want to lose tha' tongue?" he grumbled at her, his threat countered by the twitch of his lips.
~!**!~
"Rescue the prince of Spirit world… from Spirit World?" Akari's brows disappeared into her bangs now. "That would require getting into Spirit World, first off, because alarming him with any sort of technology made by Spirit World is… stupid, to say the least. And, honestly, do you think he'd readily believe that his own father was the cause of all of his troubles- aside from the usual way?"
Akari frowned slightly. It was true, though, that really, they had no proof that it was of Enma's doing. Only hunches and guesses and… puzzles.
Though, despite lack of proof, Akari still felt sure of what she'd thought about earlier, still felt sure that she needed to find Foko and make for certain she was right before doing anything else. Now, how she was going to find the false fox demon, that was another question.
A question she suddenly realized was going to be difficult to answer for a while. *
"Well, I wouldn't want anything to happen to him." Kuwabara made a face, "And I don't see him as being the type to just go along with whatever his dad says. Not on something like this." He looked at both Kurama and Akari pointedly. "He already has a different opinion of demons, don't you think?"
~!**!~
Shikiyoku bit back a rather inappropriate reply, settling for a milder, "Only to you."
A smiled danced over her lips as she closed her eyes again, immediately becoming bothered by Uryo's words.
"Sho, if you and that hybrid are shtill gonna leave Demon World...hic...you gotta do it yeshterday."
Shikiyoku could feel her brows drawing together with the thought. 3
Hiei made a hum of acknowledgement at Shikiyoku to show he'd heard her, but otherwise made no indication of even a possibility for a reply. He took in another deep breath that turned into a brief yawn, pulling his right arm up and under his head when he felt the furs beneath tickling his face and neck.
"Shi'," Hiei suddenly grumbled out, only half awake causing the shortening of her name, "you're not so bad."
~!**!~
Akari drew in a deep breath and met Kuwabara's gaze squarely when he interrupted her thoughts. "While I'm sure Koenma is very different from his father, there's still that family bond thing. And telling him his own father is causing mayhem without any proof could either go very well, or very bad, depending on the specific situation."
She paused to rub at her temples with her index finger and thumb, her mind split on several different thoughts and creating a mild headache. "But, he does need to be warned. It's just going about it that needs thinking over." Another pause to take in a sigh. She suddenly found herself wanting to be up and moving, instead of sitting here where her thoughts could be interrupted. *
"For what it's worth, I think I'll stay here awhile, if that's alright with you." Genkai looked between Kuwabara and Shizuru. "I think having me close at hand wouldn't hurt anything. And it'll give me a chance to pin you down, girl."
Shizuru seemed pleased that Genkai would offer and nodded.
"If you'll stay here, sis, I think I'm gonna go see about finding Urameshi. At least letting him know what we know, even if we aren't going to do anything about it right now." Kuwabara started to get up and clear away a few of the dirty dishes on the coffee table.
~!**!~
Hiei's words almost startled Shikiyoku from her deep thoughts, her eyes flying open at his words when the tent had been so quiet. It took another moment for her brain to play back what he'd even said, but upon hearing him she actually smiled, her expression soft and grateful though he surely couldn't see it in the darkness.
"You're not so terrible yourself, Hiei." 3
"That can be arranged," he countered suddenly, though his eyes never opened as he shifted some more until he lay on his side instead of his stomach. He was so close to sleep that he wasn't sure how much longer he'd be awake now.
His mind was blank, his body relaxed, and after a few more minutes, his breathing started to even out, his lips parted slightly due to the pressure of his cheek on his arm. He was just so darn comfortable…
~!**!~
Akari noticed that the others were beginning to disband, and jumped all over the idea. She turned to Kurama and sighed. "I think I'm gonna go home soon." she informed as she stood, stretching her arms over her head as if she'd been sitting too long.
And then she remembered earlier thoughts about his offer and a frown pulled her lips down again. She was going to get that out of the way as soon as they were out of earshot. *
Kurama felt torn about whether or not he should leave. On the one hand, he felt as if Akari speaking directly to him indicated she wished to speak with him away from the others.
On the other hand, Genkai would likely be able to shed some light onto his energy being locked away and getting a chance to speak with her while she was around would be invaluable. Plus, the more of them that were together, the less difficult it would be to contact one another should something happen.
It was in the middle of his musings that Shizuru and Genkai began exchanging small talk as Kuwabara grabbed a light jacket and said farewell as he went out the door.
~!**!~
Shikiyoku wasn't sure exactly what Hiei was going to arrange. Being more terrible or being less so.
She didn't press the issue, instead simply maintaining the same expression, her eyes open to where she could barely make out the darker portion of air in front of her where he lay.
Getting lost in her silent arguments about leaving Demon World or staying, she absently scooted closer again and buried her face into the upper part of Hiei's arm, squeezing her eyes shut, but quickly releasing the tension when she was suddenly overwhelmed in her next breath by that fiery cinnamon and cloves scent she had long ago associated with him.
She let out an audible sigh.
I guess it can just wait until morning.
...if he wakes up again in the meantime, I'll tell him.3
He was sure he heard movement, but at the same time, Hiei wasn't sure he'd really heard anything at all as his mind delved further into sleep mode, his senses only portionally aware of his surroundings. At least, only aware enough that should danger approach, he'd know it and be prepared before the threat was close enough to strike.
And in an instant, the darkness of the world around him shifted to the light of dreams.
~!**!~
Akari took note of Kurama's hesitation and gave a small sigh. If he didn't want to leave, she had two choices: Go home and let the subject be on hold for a while, or stay until he was willing to leave and get it out of the way. If she waited, who knew how long he'd be here, depending on what held him here. If she left, it could be at least another few hours before she saw him again…
Then it's settled.
She took a deep breath and moved to sit again, indirectly saying she wasn't letting him leave without her, and vice versa, for more than one reason. *
"Well, how about right now? It's not as if we don't have the time." Genkai said.
Shizuru shrugged, though the brightness that came to her eyes at the suggestion belied her indecisiveness.
Genkai hopped off the couch and went to go sit in the middle of the room, Shizuru shifting and scooting over until she was opposite.
"Give me your hands." Genkai sat cross-legged, a movement which Shizuru mirrored, and put her hands out into the air between them, Shizuru taking them when offered. "Now close your eyes…"
"If we need to speak privately, I can always walk you home." Kurama murmured once the older teacher had moved. 3
Akari leaned into the cushion behind her, throwing an arm up to rest across the back of the couch as Nabu suddenly joined her, taking the spot Genkai had vacated and laying as close to her as he could be. His chin rested on her thigh after she crossed the leg closest to him over the other, resting her ankle on her opposite knee.
She pulled her eyes away from Genkai when Kurama spoke up, turning a calm gaze to him as she nodded. "I'm patient enough." *
Kurama's eyes flickered towards the training session that had started in the middle of the living room.
"It seems that my entire reason for staying has decided to become engaged in other activities, so if you wished, we could certainly leave now." 3
Akari gave a brief shrug at Kurama with the shoulder of the arm that was resting on the back of the couch. "It's up to you." Her eyes turned to the two on the floor for a moment, only slightly curious as to what was going on. Like she had said, she was patient enough to wait.
Especially since now she wasn't really sure how to bring up the topic. *
Kurama made a small shrug as if to indicate that he did not particularly care either way, but at Akari not immediately acting upon his offer, he leaned forward and retrieved the cup of tea he had been sipping from off the table.
"What side would you wish to be on, all things aside?" Kurama murmured to her in the same low tone. 3
For a moment, Akari wasn't sure if Kurama's question was rhetorical, or if she was meant to give a serious answer. She didn't look at him, but she didn't hesitate in her answer either. "Whichever doesn't get us killed." She did pause for a moment after though, staring unblinkingly at the pair on the floor, but not seeing them at this moment. "Kuwabra's right, though. Otento… needs to go. No matter how useful he is to the cause that Foko has going. But, if you take into account that Koenma isn't with his father on this, then… there's not really much of a choice there. Foko may have a reason for what he's doing, but Koenma seems like the better choice, in my opinion." *
The next question was of course, if it came down to a fight between Koenma and Enma, which Kurama could ses as an entirely possible situation...who would actually come out the victor?
There was no doubt in Kurama's mind that Koenma would prove to be a perfectly capable ruler, though going so far as to say that this entire situation had been originated from the toddler-prince seemed a little far-fetched to Kurama.
In the end, as with most of his choices, Kurama would choose whatever would lead to his mother's safety.
Excepting that it be the fake Youko's side. He'd never hear the end of it if he went with something like that, no matter what the cost. 3
There was a moment of silence in the entire room, leaving Akari to realize that she hadn't said whatever didn't get her killed, but whatever didn't get 'us' killed. With that thought again came the scene she'd run into, and every moment after. Her eyes looked down at the hand in her lap, almost expecting to still see the blood there, but unsurprised to find none.
When had she gone from thinking about herself to thinking about everyone else first?
Her eyes again turned to Kurama, this time from the corners. She had the vague sense of deja vu as her thoughts turned to the redhead being the first to create such changes, and she sighed quietly to herself before turning her eyes from him again.
"For so little seeming to be a threat these days, I feel as if there's even more of a threat than ever, now that Enma's a factor." *
"I wonder...if Enma is as strong as we've always believed. If he is not as...good as we've been led to believe, then what's to say there are not other things in the myths surrounding him which have been stretched far from the truth?
"What is his job, really? To maintain peace and order? Who gave him that mandate?" 3
Akari gave another one-shoulder shrug at Kurama. "When you rise to power, as he did, then you're free to do whatever you want, because there's no one to stop you from doing so. You're free to give yourself your own title, your own duties, and to control another as you please. It's something Sensui prided in himself for a while, the way he rose from what he saw as nothing more than a guinea pig to a human with the strength of an S class and complete control over the Sacred Energy."
Her eyes took on a faraway gleam as she thought about it, remembering the training he'd put himself through, the absolute hell he'd given himself. "Some people earn their power through hard work, others simply end up there. Which one, might I ask, is Enma? The 'privileged', or the 'hard worker'?" She gave another thoughtful pause, accompanied with a sound to match. "The only way to find out, I suppose, is to see for ourselves." *
As Akari worked her way through her perspective, Kurama came to the realization that he really had no idea particularly anything about Enma. About how he came to power. How long he had been there. And for the first time he thought about how much more useful it would be to have that insight rather than his insight into how the fake Youko might act.
...but the only one he could think of to ask about that, the only one he thought might have some insider information that no one else would be able to provide...
...was currently stuck in Spirit World undergoing whatever hell-heh-was being thrown his way.
"I do not know." Was Kurama's reply. "And that is a question that I feel as if we desperately need to have answered." 3
Akari turned her eyes onto Kurama again, several thoughts distracting her for a moment before they reordered themselves and she was able to speak. "The thing about that is, there's only one way to get such information, because anything we, as in demons and Spiritual beings alike I'm sure, know about him is what has been passed down by talk, by bedtime stories. Meaning, as I'm sure you've noticed, Koenma is likely the only one to shed any sort of light."
Except someone who has already searched into it. Except someone who already knows the answer from a first-hand experience, or even their own research. Someone like Foko.
She turned forward again with a small frown. "And as you said, we're left to our own devices. On our own for the time being, and quite frankly, after we can get hold of Koenma, it might be too late to warn him at all." She gave a half-hearted smile, "That's the beauty of being in power: you're viewed by others as you want them to view you." *
Kurama did not look at Akari, watching Genkai and Shizuru interact, though hearing nothing of what they were saying, but he said quietly, "The very same is to be said of the fake Youko himself."
He slowly lifted his eyes and turned his head to look at her, expression neutral. 3
"Mmm," Akari hummed out, choosing not to give an actual reply to the redhead who turned to her. Nor did she look at him, for a moment, anyway. Her eyes were focused forward, but not really seeing the room as she considered her response carefully, even weighed if responding was a good idea.
In the end, she gave no reply, simply turning to meet the unreadable gaze with her own unblinking one, as if she'd just been given a warning, and taken it into account. I know, I know. *
Kurama said nothing, gauging Akari silently in that moment before he broke his piercing stare to relieve her of it, shifting in his seat and switching which leg was crossed over the other, leaning his elbow on the arm of the couch and resting his chin across the top of his hand.
He didn't feel as if anything needed to be said. She would do as she wished. Only this time...he would not be there to save her. 3
When Kurama turned away, breaking the heavy moment entirely, she too turned away, her eyes turning down to Nabu sleeping quietly with his head on her thigh. Her arm dropped from the back of the couch, her hand gently running along Nabu's head and down his back.
I'll be careful. I have to be. There's too much going on to not be paying attention.
Nabu's eyes opened half-way to look up at her as she disturbed his sleep, causing her to pause as he shifted a bit, kicking his legs against her thigh until he was laying a bit further, head still on her thigh and eyes now watching her curiously.
"What now?"
She shook her head lightly at the pup and pet him once again, giving a soft smile.
When I find him- and I'm going to- I'll need to make sure Otento isn't around first. Then…
I'll just have to figure it out after that. But first… Before that… I can't forget to talk to Kurama. Foko can wait just a bit longer. *
"Do you...wish to go now?" Kurama murmured, sensing as if there would be such a thing as a 'good time' for her to see about getting a hold of the fake Youko, it would be better served to be sooner rather than later. 3
Hazel eyes turned from Nabu and up to Kurama, half surprised that he asked. Whatever it was he wished to speak with Genkai about, it seemed he felt it could wait, if just a bit longer. So, she nodded once, simultaneously giving Nabu a gentle pat that said 'lets go'. As soon as the dog was lifting his chin from her thigh, she was standing and brushing off her jeans, eyes down at the action as she realized she hadn't thought of a way to bring up the conversation.
Oh well. Easy does it, right?
...Or maybe not. Either way. *
Kurama stood smoothly as Akari did, glancing over at Genkai and Shizuru before deciding that leaving them uninterrupted would likely be of more use to them here than announcing their exit, which they would probably be aware of on some level anyway, and he turned to head for the door, slipping his shoes on calmly as he reached for the knob and stepped out into the open air. 3
Akari took a bit longer than Kurama did to slide into her shoes, and then she too was stepping into the cool, crisp air that had, during their time inside, blown through the town and made the temperature drop several degrees. She glanced down at Nabu, assuring herself he was outside before she shut the door quietly behind herself and turned away. Her hands slowly stuffed themselves into her jean pockets as she moved down the stairs, still quiet as she considered several ways to go about this conversation.
She waited a bit longer than she'd originally planned, not sure if Genkai would have better hearing due to her high amounts of spiritual energy or not. *
Kurama strolled easily down the sidewalk, realizing after a moment that he wasn't as impervious to the chill in the air as usual, with one hand nonchalantly in his pocket as he turned over in his mind all the things that had happened in the past few months.
It was hard to believe that he was in his last year at Meiou High, as his perception of time had slowed-or was it quickened?-with his human body, even with the Youko's spirit as intertwined as it had become with that of Minamino, Shuichi. His thoughts began turning towards the future, beyond just the year, into the next five, even ten, and musing at the possibilities. 3
For a few minutes, Akari allowed silence to stray on the air between Kurama and herself, her eyes calmly pointed forward and ears picking up the smallest of sounds- from Nabu's claws on the concrete behind her to the loud engines of the vehicles several blocks away.
And after those few minutes, she decided she'd stalled long enough, yet she still wasn't sure how to ease into the topic.
So, she dove right in instead.
"I need more time to… consider a few things." *
Kurama only glanced at Akari out of the corner of his eye instead of fully turning his head towards her.
"Oh?" 3
She didn't look over at him. "I haven't had a chance to sit and think since we talked about it last." she continued, making a small sound before speaking up again. "Or, rather, you talked about it last. Assuming the offer still stands." *
Kurama let out an amused breath through his nose, "Well, you certainly have time to think about it, as I'm afraid I am currently incapable of living up to my promise. So, it's good that you have not decided as of yet." 3
A small hum resounded from Akari's chest, as if his amusement meant nothing to her and hardly called for her acknowledgement. Her eyes remained forward as she thought about the first time he'd offered, and the fashion in which he'd given the offer. A single brow raised calmly at the recollection before she sighed.
"Glad you find it so amusing." *
"I apologize. I did not mean it condescendingly. Perhaps more...thankful that you have not decided for it right at this moment, as it means I have not failed to keep a promise I made to you as of yet." 3
Akari raised a brow in slight amusement. "I was talking about your energy. Not… the offer… being amusing." she clarified, turning to glance at him finally. "Though, I do appreciate the sincerity there. Quite touching, might I say." she teased, though her eyes didn't sparkle nor did her lips twitch with amusement. *
Kurama let out a low chuckle this time, "Well, I could take it all back if you'd prefer." 3
"Mmm, nah." she replied, her lips finally twitching. "I mean, unless you have something better." Her eyes turned away from him and up to the grey clouds that moved over their heads, carrying the colder breeze through the city and to the next.
"Tell you what: When I have an answer, I'll come to you." *
"It's rare for there to be anything better." Kurama said a bit loftily, just as Youko would have.
He glanced at her again, "As you wish." 3
Thanks for reading! Bless your face. If you sneezed during this chapter, bless you. Peace off! -Star