A/N: Hello once again, Fellow Ningen!
Once more do Akari and Kurama enter the story! Also there is Nabu. Also there is Youko. I luv me some Kurama and Youko interaction. Totes some of my favorite dialogue to write. I feel as if I've said this before, but...you can deal with it. I make myself laugh with their conversations and that's all that matters, tee hee.
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 Youko/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.
[Anything written in italics inside square brackets is Youko speaking to Shuichi/Kurama inside their mind and is private conversation, unable to be picked up by telepathy.]{Anything written in italics inside curly brackets is inner dialogue by Shuichi/Kurama to Youko, and is also private conversation, unable to be picked up by telepathy.}
"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!
Hiei continues to try and help Shikiyoku remember her past in anyway he can,
and by the time he has led the way to the All-Fire, she has given in to her hunger,
resulting in the All-Fire blasting her with flames to pull her to the ground
so that she cannot feed on Hiei's energy.
She ends up running from him, still set ablaze, to the nearest source of water
in the hopes that she might be able to extinguish it.
The water opens her scars and she begins bleeding out,
Hiei coming and pulling her out just far enough so that it will stop.
A conversation occurs between Shikiyoku, Hiei, and the bit of flame encasing her body,
and the end-result is Shikiyoku consuming the flame, which does its best to help heal her body.
Instead of resting as the flame had suggested, Shikiyoku tries to rid her mind of the desire to feed
via physical exertion, which ends up with her trying to run up the trunk of the giant tree of her home
and periodically falling asleep while doing so, memories of the past flitting across her mind.
Hiei catches her in the midst of her sliding back down the tree trunk again,
and when her dreams become overtaken by nightmares of Otento,
Hiei reaches out with the Jagan and offers her a peaceful scene of where he had once called home.
She had closed her eyes against the vision of those purple eyes that seemed to pierce through her, but almost in the same moment the pressure of him lifted, and even when she opened her eyes in that dream, she found she could not see.
It had her sitting up and bringing her knees up to her chest within the darkness, curling her arms around them and trying to rid herself of the images her mind conjured.
She shivered once, and suddenly there was warmth and her eyes started to clear, her legs relaxing in her grasp as she blinked and looked around, finding that the increase in temperature was not only 'external' as it were, with a nearby fire, but also within her mind, where a warmth seemed to have invaded that she found familiar. Comforting.
"Strange." She thought. "I can even smell the forest, but I...I have no memory of this place." She rested her chin on one of her knees, her eyes still darting around to the grass and in the direction of the noises of animals hidden somewhere out of view. "Where am I?" 3
Hiei felt the tenseness of the person against him melt away, and he knew she'd taken to the calmness of this memory. A memory where he'd been, for once… calm about where he was. Not in need of a fight, not in any form of desire to kill or to hunt down his family. That night, he'd merely gotten home, and that was all he'd wanted.
To relax. Sit in front of the fire he'd conjured and stare at it for hours, as he had done that very evening.
He could hear her thoughts as if they floated on the breeze of the memory, projected likely without her immediate notice. "This," he thought back, voice calm, just as the wind that blew by was, "was once my home." He let the view of his place expand, a makeshift hammock tied to a couple of trees, where an ally had once slept before his demise. It had remained, merely out of laziness and fondness of the memories, but that was not something he thought about right that moment.
On the ground near the hammock was a small pile of spears, a bow and a quiver of arrows made by his own hands, and a cloak. The very cloak he wore outside of the memory.
He also knew that beyond that spot, beyond the line of trees the hammock was tied to, was a cliff. A cliff he had later nearly fallen from, but a spot he'd enjoy for many years before that incident. "This… was my life, once." *
She almost started upwards, almost scrambled to her feet when she realized she was not exactly alone. But...but the voice itself that spoke actually kept her where she sat, and her initial tension only stayed for the moment in which she first heard him speak.
...what was his name?
"Hiei." She was relieved when it came to her, having been struck suddenly by the fear that she might have forgotten.
She had forgotten so much of late.
Closing her eyes, she let the breeze lift through her hair, feeling the serenity on the wind.
"A good home." 3
"Indeed." This place, when he looked around, had probably been the best place he'd ever been in his life. The most peaceful even when… it wasn't. He knew the reason it was so peaceful was because of an enchantment, but really, he didn't care. It'd been wonderful, blissful to stay in this place.
He stared at the hammock for a moment before turning his eyes to a line in the trees, a path he'd taken year after year back to this very spot, where he'd do this very same thing for weeks on end.
Even when the person who'd shown him this place had left, he'd stayed. To this day he wasn't sure what had been the reason he'd trusted the demon, followed her to this place of serenity, but even to this day he was rather glad he had. He'd calmed down quite a bit for a while, until the next demon intruded and broke whatever enchantment had been placed upon it. It had set him back years, had created the same anger he'd rid himself of all over again.
"Perhaps one day you'll see it in person, though it isn't near the sight it used to be." *
"It is different? ...then maybe I ought not see it. I like the way you remember it." She opened her eyes again, blinking, and took a deep breath.
"This...this feels...so strange. I know I have not been here, but there is something so similar about the air to my senses." It could have been the fact that she was surrounded by him in this memory, for if they had been close companions as she was starting to suspect, surely this kind of thing had happened between them before.
But still. ...so familiar. 3
Hiei felt a twitch in his expression that threatened a slight smirk, but it remained neutral anyway. He slowly turned, allowing her to see the journey to another place he thought she'd enjoy seeing, as it had been his favorite part of the whole ordeal.
In the memory, he meandered away from the fire, a hand stroking the hammock as he passed it before he grabbed at the bow and a single arrow, his muscles twitching with remembrance of how to utilize the weapon once more.
His feet carried him through the trees, into darkness that was away from the calm fire that died without his energy feeding it anyway. The woodlands silenced as he moved, only his own breathing heard even when his footsteps should have made sound.
And he didn't pause until he was looking over the cliff he'd lost his tear gem over. He glanced down briefly, looking down at the trees below that were nothing but mere specks from this height, and the city that lit up the horizon many miles away. He stared for a few moments, drinking in the darkness, the moonless night that was only seen through by demons.
And then he was looking down again, his hands moving to poise the bow, the arrow aimed straight down as he'd once been shown. He took a deep breath, drank in the cool night air, and then released the arrow, sending it whooshing through the air.
At first, nothing seemed to happen.
And then, a few flickers of light suddenly became known many miles below, dying down after only a mere moment.
In the next instant, the area around him suddenly lit up with millions of insects flying about, their orange glow blinking as the bugs took flight, joining the insects that suddenly rushed up from below and creating a million more of the twinkling lights that danced around in the air, floating on the breeze.
"Contrary to popular belief, fire demons do rather enjoy the small things." *
It felt...awkward to be so free of pain. To be able to follow as the memory led her with no hesitation or struggle.
But then again, this was not her memory.
She watched quietly from behind him as he drew the bow, noting how smooth the motion was for his arms, as if it were an action that had been repeated many times.
In the aftereffect of the reaction to the shot he fired, she found herself staring more at the fire demon, at the way the lights danced over his features, without realizing why. Until she actually caught herself doing it and quickly flickered her gaze away from him, her confliction about staring at him well-hidden behind her sharp, scarred visage.
She slowly lifted a single hand as if to coax one to land on her palm as she heard him speak.
Her head tilted at his words. "Fire demons are...not supposed to?" 3
"Not…" Hiei paused, his eyes staying trained on the many miles between the cliff's edge and the forestry below, his irises staring down at the specks of color now illuminated by countless insects between that space. Insects that floated calmly now, instead of rising up and stirring about from the intrusion of the arrow in their territory. Because of the enchantment, these insects were not likely to attack as other bugs would, their cruel nature suppressed to allow a moment such as this to pass.
Perhaps it had been the same with him as well.
"Not fire demons of my kind. We are born to destroy, born angry and normally rush to death after destroying countless civilizations. Fire demons of my kind… usually do not care for more than the color of blood." There had been a few. A few to survive the days of bloodlust and go on as normal demons, so long as they ignored the talk of the cursed children. He'd even spoken to a few, who had told him he was very likely to be killed.
Of course, he'd only been driven by those words to be the killer instead of the killed.
"But there comes a time when even my kind cannot be as we are supposed to. Even the more malicious of us can succumb to things such as this." *
She hadn't honestly thought he was the type to listen to such ridiculous nonsense, though it appeared in how he spoke of it that he had given into whatever rubbish he had been fed.
"You are..." She blinked, her thoughts stirring sluggishly as she tried to gather them into coherent words, "Better...than whoever told you such things." Better? "...stronger." She shook her head, though she wasn't sure if it was at him or herself, "They fear your..." She took a deep breath as if to sigh, "They fear what it is you could be, child-of-fire." 3
"As they should." came Hiei's response, calm and collected, as if his response meant nothing. But in his mind's eye, he saw Otento, saw the demon glancing over his shoulder at him in an alleyway, and it took everything in his power to keep the scene around him from folding into that one. He took a deep breath and finally looked up from the ridge, calm again as if he hadn't meant anything behind his words.
"Firefly Ridge, as the humans call it. In human world, they have one similar. Here, were it not for the enchantment, we'd be attacked for my intrusion." He tilted his head at her slightly, noting the glow around her. He hadn't realized she'd actually been projected into the memory as well.
Perhaps it was his own manipulation of it that allowed this occurrence.
"I'm sure you've been here yourself, as you've done traveling of your own."
For all he knew, she could have arrived shortly after he took his leave of this place, or vice versa. For all they were aware, they could have missed one another at this very spot. But, what did that matter anyhow? *
"Firefly..." Her eyes no longer stared outwards at the surrounding imagery, and she said the word as if to herself, perhaps unaware that such thoughts were spoken now as if aloud. "Fire...mm, no. Not child-of-fire. What was it, again?" Her eyes shot to the left as she reached for a word she could not quite recall.
Feels better! Is good. Wanted to help.
She frowned.
Sleep now, she-of-desire. Will be good. Has self-protection.
Where had she heard that before?
"Littles?" She murmured, eyes narrowing slightly in thought and she reached up to rub the back of her fingers absently against the long scar that ran down from her eye to her lips. "What are-" Not to mention, "Child...of self. Where do I know that from?" 3
Hiei's brow raised, his mind picking up on the monologue Shikiyoku had taken to and deciding not to interrupt. He simply watched her, noting the way she ran her fingers over her face absently- had she always done that?- and the way her eyes narrowed in thought to create an even more severe expression.
Even amidst the glow of the calm insects, she appeared deadly as before, which amused him to no end for some reason or another.
While she thought, he turned away again, waving a hand through the insects that moved with his motions, as if drawn to him, and gave a small sound of amusement as they began to follow his hand one after another, forming a small line of light that blinked like decorations. Decorations that rested on his fingers when he paused, blinking slower than before as if contemplating his existence as a whole.
And just as suddenly they took off again, hovering about his frame almost curiously. Even when he made an attempt to wave them away, they lingered, undeterred by his motions and his dismissal, as always. *
The grove twists and bends in on itself to protect him and the chances of it and him both letting anyone actually in are slim. He may be easily excitable, but he is also easily angered. And his fury is more dangerous than any living beings' could ever be.
It was...her voice. Or, very near it.
She squeezed her eyes shut briefly, the effort sending a pang of what could have been a headache just behind her temples, and she let what she could only assume was the remembrances go, her vision focusing back on the memory she still stood within, and on the fire demon who appeared to be twinkling before her.
Her eyebrows twitched as he tried to get the creatures away, her mouth making a similar action as she regarded him with no small amount of amusement trying to spark behind her black eyes. 3
Hiei waved one more time at the insects, who only moved out of the way briefly before returning to their hovering state around him, their little wings creating the slightest sound in his ears as he gave a deep breath. How could he have forgotten this part?
They twinkled at him merrily, as if they accepted his presence, his warm energy radiating to them and being the reason for their stay. He brought his eyes from the insects up to Shikiyoku again, giving a raised brow of slight exasperation.
"They are attracted to heat energy." Needless to say, he'd forgotten that fact. *
"Is that so?" Her expression relaxed, her tone dry, but she closed one of the hands at her side slowly, feeling that her skin was just as cold as ever, even wracked with the fever as she knew she had to be.
She appeared to hesitate about something, going ahead and stepping forward after a moment, coming closer to him and waiting to see if her presence would discourage their attentions from him. 3
Hiei raised a brow at Shikiyoku, one even twitching slightly in curiosity and amusement as he noted the twitch her hand gave and the thoughts that were more than likely churning behind her mind's eye. When she stepped forward, drawing closer, a couple of the insects scattered, before returning to where they had been hovering, slowly.
He reached a hand up into the air again and waved a few of the insects into his grasp, suddenly stretching his hand out to her and opening his fingers to let the blinking insects be revealed on the palm of his hand. For a moment, they remained there. "These insects are unique in this way." He tipped his hand, making the insects tumble due to their lack of grip on his skin, their wings easily picking them up and keeping them afloat in the air before her face.
Slowly, one by one, the insects began to move around them, their lights dying out as they drew closer to Shikiyoku. "Heat fuels their lights. They often slumber in the cold, hence their lack of light during the night. And it is difficult to see them during the day." *
Her head tilted just a little, eyes catching the tiny movements in the air between her and Hiei where she had stopped.
"Fascinating creature...s" She added the 's' on almost as an afterthought, her eyes closing to clear her vision of Hiei as she shook her head a little almost to clear her thoughts. 3
Hiei watched each light die out until the insects were merely hovering about in the air, some disbanding and some lingering in the area. a couple landed on his shoulder, on his arms, one on his nose that he waved away easily. And after a few more moments, even those insects seemed to disappear, the night seeming to cave in on their tiny beings again despite his lingering warmth in the area.
"You're lucky they didn't decide to rest on you for the next few hours." His lips twitched into a sneer of amusement. "It isn't fun having thousands of them on your skin at once. They don't have any sort of grip, but they always come back." HE tilted his head at her again in thought, suddenly wondering if she was actually resting or if this prevented her from doing such a thing.
But if he retracted, would she recede into nightmares again? *
"That's what you get for being so hot." She replied evenly to him, opening her eyes and blinking at him once before sending her gaze after the one that escaped from the tip of his nose. 3
"Is that so?" The fire demon's lips twitched upwards again, his irises flashing with bright amusement at her words. Words that seemed much more like her. Teasing, joking, and yet without the air to indicate as such. Or maybe she was talking about his energy. He really couldn't be sure, but either way he was still amused by it. She was still teasing him, still poking fun.
….maybe.
He couldn't tell. *
A single black eyebrow rose at his response and she had the distinct feeling that her lips wanted to go about twitching again, but she couldn't quite understand why exactly.
"But of course. I wouldn't lie about such things. Though I can't possibly imagine that you didn't already know." 3
Hiei's amusement skyrocketed at Shikiyoku's retort, his eyelids sliding shut as he fought the sound that threatened to leave his lips. His shoulders gave a single, small jolt with the inaudible sound, but soon after he collected himself and opened his eyes again to stare at her evenly, a brow raised.
"I'm a fire demon. Hot doesn't cover it." *
"Well, I'm certainly not going to call you 'flaming.'" She replied. "That doesn't suit you at all." She appeared to consider him for a moment. "Would rather I referred to you as blazing? Scorching, perhaps?" 3
"Smoldering works just as well." Hiei replied nonchalantly, even giving a shrug of his shoulders. "Or any synonym of the sort." *
Her expression did not change, even when he gave her such permission as he did-maybe even lingered a moment as if to give him a chance to think about what he'd just done-though her eyes had not left his face since she started speaking to him.
Just enough to indicate that she appeared to be taking him at his word and coming up with a 'synonym,' her eyes narrowed slightly before releasing again.
"Smoking hot, then." She decided, without so much as a second thought. 3
"As I said, works just as well." This time, the smirk flew onto Hiei's features at light speed, flashing in his eyes faster than any flame he could conjure within his grasp. He shifted his weight, let one hand find the pocket in his black pants as he shifted to one foot, as if to turn away but not completing the motion. "I have no disagreements." *
"Perhaps you'll keep me around, then." She told him, "In case you ever need reminding of your nature." She turned her face slightly upwards as if in thought. "How troublesome to walk around and not know." 3
"Indeed you'll be around, though it shouldn't be only my desire." He turned to look at her again, same amusement on his features. "Though, I don't quite see you putting up a fight about it." *
Something did flicker in her mind at that...that word.
"Only your desire, oh fiercest of demons," She said strangely, "Or your only desire?"
She frowned and looked away, almost able to feel that flicker from before. 3
Hiei blinked once calmly, but didn't answer because, really, he wasn't sure. If he told her it was his only desire, would it matter? Would it change things? Likely not. Or it could. There was no guessing that sort of thing. There was only to jump, and deal with the outcome later.
So he did.
"Both, I suppose. The second wouldn't matter if I was the only one wishing to have your company. What good would it do if you didn't desire my company, hm?" *
"As if there was any doubt." A portion of her mind flashed the thought into her awareness, even as she continued to look away, her eyes slowly coming closed as if she was giving in to the voice that now spoke to her.
He is so very...fierce. And terribly...deadly.
When she opened them and lifted her gaze to him, there was more green in them than black, though the severity of her expression had not changed.
"What do you desire...fire-prince?" There was no power behind her words, no remnant of energy that cascaded over her eyes...only the smallest of flickers behind what seemed to be the permanent darkness that colored her gaze.
And she took a single step towards him.3
Hiei managed to blink once at Shikiyoku's greener gaze, meeting her eye to eye calmly as he watched the battle between the colors of her irises. Even in this realm, she was affected by it. Even in sleep he could see her changing before his very eyes. It was good to know she could regain her self-control, regain the ability to keep her wits about her.
He blinked again and his mind was clear, his ears twitching very slightly when her voice floated on the hazy dream-wind that blew past. He turned to face her full again, hands still in his pockets and gaze still calmly watching the step she took forward.
"You know full well what I desire." *
She did not take her eyes from him, but for a moment she appeared to be looking through him and not at him.
When she pulled back to the present, she slowly closed her eyes, a brief knot between her eyebrows forming before she lifted her lids to look at him again, giving the tiniest, almost imperceptible shake of her head as her gaze dropped slightly.
This time her voice sounded more reserved, withdrawn, "Maybe I did. Once." Another slight shake as if it would clear her memories of their contrite little cobwebs as she closed her eyes and the frown reappeared between her brows. "But I-" She let out a frustrated breath, "I- I'm not really sure why I asked." 3
Hiei's brows moved downward just a bit, only enough to show he'd been listening and had a few gears turning in his mind, but not enough to create shadows over his eyes. The tension disappeared just as quickly, his head tilting to the side.
"Foolish woman." He wasn't being harsh, nor was be reprimanding. He was merely…
Hm.
How would he consider his own tone? Odd.
"I desire your presence. You." *
Something...something heavy, like an iron band that had been fastened tightly around her chest suddenly disappeared and she sucked in a silent breath through her nose which flared as her eyes came open again and she just as quickly released the air back out, struck with the strange sensation that she had not until that moment realized clamped over her ribs.
Her expression was almost frightened as she found herself looking back at Hiei, and she did in fact take a step back, dark green eyes colored with confusion.
She opened her mouth. And she meant to say something, though she had no idea what. But nothing came out and her lips closed again. 3
Hiei's lips twitched just slightly before his expression returned to neutral. Frankly, he hadn't expected an answer from her, because he knew that there were many differences from the Shikiyoku he'd first said those words to and the Shikiyoku he stood before now. And that was fine with him. He didn't need an answer, because it wouldn't matter either way.
And he had nothing more to say to her either. He merely stood, waiting to see if she'd say anything, but not expecting much more than the confused expression he received. Perhaps soon….
Perhaps soon he'd let her fall into a simple world of darkness for slumber. *
The wind made her eyes sting and they flinched as she continued looking at him for a moment longer before her shoulders slumped and she whispered hoarsely, "I...I don't understand-"
Her knees buckled slowly as she let herself sink to the forest floor, appearing defeated where she sat, staring at the ground.
"-you...how do you make me feel so strange?" She wrapped her arms around herself and shivered once, though it was not from the cold.
You only wish for my presence? For my...companionship? There is nothing else you would ask me to do for you? 3
Was there any way for him to give her an answer? Was there really and truly anything the fire demon could respond with that would suffice? He wasn't even sure what she meant, much less form an actual response to her inquiry. Where would he begin anyway? Where would he start to analyze what she meant?
He blinked.
"Am I supposed to have a sufficient answer?"
Perhaps it had been rhetorical. If so, than his own question would pose much the same way. Because, really, there was no telling with her. *
She supposed not, though if he had been doing it on purpose, she had no way of knowing if he would actually tell her as much.
"You...you said those words to me once." Did she actually remember? Was she not simply being influenced, succumbing to the power of suggestion? Her eyes stayed on the forest floor as if it would hold answers for her. "...and...and I offered you the world." Nameless wonders. Desires fulfilled. She grew crestfallen at the thought because...well...
She shook her head, "I can provide no such thing now." She said very softly. "I have nothing to offer you in return." 3
Hiei raised a brow. He'd never asked for anything else. He'd never even considered anything else, because really, he hadn't… felt the need to find something else to ask of her. He hadn't felt the desire to ask her of something else, of anything else but her lively company. Company he'd gone without for what felt like very long while, but in truth was only a short amount of time.
"You don't have to provide me the world. I did not ask of it, nor do I find that it would be necessary. And I would not ask something of you that you were not capable, anyhow." He paused and turned his eyes to the cliff once more, down to the many miles between this ledge and the ground below. He could see the very last of the insects from before disappearing from his view, hiding in the shadows for sleep again.
"As for giving me anything in return… I want nothing." Nothing but your safety. Your presence. *
As he spoke, his words filling some comfort that she couldn't explain, her eyes began to close as she let his voice wash over her ears uninterrupted.
Her hands clutched to her arms began to loosen as she relaxed closer to slumber and the darkest portions of the cloud that covered her countenance seemed to lift as she smiled.
"You would make me feel useless, Hiei?" 3
Hiei blinked, frowned, and then gave a small sigh to himself that came out inaudible. He had forgotten that part, where she needed something to do, needed to.. needed to be needed he supposed. He'd forgotten that asking for her presence alone hadn't helped for long. The moods she'd slipped in and out of during their journeys. Moods he hadn't understood and had absolutely loathed.
"If you consider my desiring of your entire being useless…." He gave another inaudible sigh, refusing to turn and look at her for a moment.
"Then I suppose not. However, you'd have to be rather patient with me, as I don't often desire much of this world anymore." *
She gave a small hum, an amused sort of sound followed by a lone breath that could not be confused as anything else but the mildest of chuckles.
"You desiring me? Now there's a novel idea." She shifted around a little as if trying to get more comfortable before continuing in a kinder tone, "I appreciate your candidness, but I was only teasing, fire-prince." She spoke the last word fondly, lips still curled up at the edges. 3
Hiei's lips twitched again as he inspected the ground far below, the specs that were trees suddenly very intriguing to him for… reasons. He flexed his fingers slightly within the confines of his pockets, making the fabric of his pants move just a bit. He considered a reply, but decided not to say it, merely keeping his back turned to her, deciding now would likely be a good time to allow her the bliss of peaceful sleep.
So he let the memory slowly begin to dissolve, the darkness getting even deeper, the shadows seeming to take over until he and Shikiyoku were merely standing in what one could only describe as a void of pitch-black darkness.
"Sleep well, Shikiyoku."
With that, he let all images fade, but willed the peaceful darkness to stay the main subject of her dreams, creating a barrier between the nightmares and her consciousness. *
Leaned against him outside of the darkness he pulled over her mind in the tree that overlooked her former home, Shikiyoku shifted in her near-sleep, making quiet sleepy noises before settling again, the same smile that had colored her features reflected here on her face.
She did not fight the darkness, though she murmured once aloud before it engulfed her, "Only...when you're here." 3
Hiei's eyes slowly slid open and blinked into the darkness of the night, making him realize how long he'd allowed himself to remain within Shikiyoku's mind, showing her things he hadn't even considered telling others about. He glanced down briefly to watch Shikiyoku shift a bit, making sure she didn't move too far one way or the other before he gave his own small sound of amusement at her.
And instead of sleeping as he normally would have, his mind was wide awake and his eyes remained open to view the lands he could see all around him, taking in the view that was, despite the darkness that melted one object into another, breathtaking. He'd forgotten how this place looked after a while. He'd forgotten the serenity.
And he decided he'd remain here until she awoke, until Shikiyoku decided to leave.
~!**!~
You know, when one spent so much time moving between the levels and overseeing a certain amount of projects happening all at once, one tended to lose track of the days. Lose track of time and merely go on about their way as if no amount of time had passed at all. Sometimes, one even forgot to sleep, eat, to even stop for a small break before going out again.
This sometimes lead to a person's head hitting a comfortable surface- it didn't even have to be a pillow most times- and staying there until either something disturbed one's sleep, or they'd gotten the sufficient amount of rest to start all over again.
This was Akari's story for the time being, running the same errands over and over, overseeing the same operations that had been thrown at her, organizing the same projects that she'd taken on herself simply because she could.
Most nights she remained out late, returning home just before dawn before starting again. Today had been very similar in this way: She'd gone to bed about six in the morning, and a mere three hours later, Lou had disturbed her dreams with news of passing the last demon through.
Which, by the way, was the sole reason she wasn't aiming death threats at a rather excitable demon, whose arm was repeatedly brushed from her shoulders, whose remarks were always ignored until she couldn't take it anymore.
"Akari, how do we seal this up anyhow?" Lou suddenly piped, earning the silence of the other three in the space between the dimensions.
"Koenma sends someone to do that for us. Though, you should be celebrating. None of you died."
Each demon blinked once, and after a beat realized she'd been joking and erupted into snorts of laughter again. "Juun is especially lucky, eh?"
"Indeed."
"Don't be so harsh, darlin-"
"You're about to lose that precious tongue of yours."
"OKAY! I call for drinks! But, since we can't all go to the Ninth Layer like someone, I guess the local pub will do! First round is on me!" Keia, the only other female in this group, quickly skipped by, grabbing Juun and dragging him along with her through the opening that lead to the fourth layer.
"You're welcome to join us, Akari." Lou said calmly, a small smile on his face. "I mean, we owe you since we all made it hell here."
AKari shook her head dismissively, her energy beginning to move around her. "No need. You can make up for it by drinking enough for the both of us. Also…. don't call me unless you're dying. Or Koenma orders of it."
"That I can do."
Within mere seconds, Akari's feet hit pavement of the first layer, the scent of humans returning to her nostrils even stronger than before, and a very patient Nabu waiting where she'd left him before.
"You know, that means we're done for Koenma now, right?"
"Mhmm." She paused, rubbing a hand over her cheek as she turned and began walking in the direction of a small shop she'd taken to eating at. "Well, for portals, anyway. I still have Genkai's temple to figure out, and-"
"Yeah, yeah. But today is a break day. You should celebrate too, you know. Plus, no more Juun."
"That is definitely cause for celebration."
"Are you going for another sundae?"
"You know it's a daily routine thing now."
"Actually….. it's more of a once-a-week thing. You're bad at keeping track of time." *
~!**!~
"Are you...are you certain?" Kurama wasn't quite sure whether or not he should believe his ears. And he also wasn't positive he wanted to.
"Yeah, yeah, sure." His step-father waved off his concern, leaning forward on the desk to look Kurama squarely in the eye. "Listen, I appreciate all the work you do here, don't get me wrong on that count. But-" Here he leaned back into his chair again, giving the red-head a smile and shaking his head, "Look, you need a break as much as the next person."
Kurama mirrored the smile he was given, "So, you're expressing your gratefulness by forcing me to go on paid leave."
[Would you just shut up and run out the door before he changes his mind?]
"I would be lying to you if I said that your co-workers didn't think you were making them look bad by being so good at what you do."
Kurama leveled his gaze onto the man, quipping without hesitation, "I have no co-workers."
His step-father only grinned, so Kurama went on.
"I'm the president of the company, therefore...the only person that could possibly be considered a close co-worker would be the CEO or owner."
"They're the only ones remotely equal to your position, yes." The man allowed with a nod.
Kurama stared at him a moment longer before going on, lips twitching from the neutral position he had withdrawn them into, "You're the owner and CEO."
"Oh, hm. You know. I think you're right." He appeared thoughtful.
"Am I really making you look that bad?" Kurama arched an eyebrow at him.
Another grin, but he said nothing.
"I'm...not going to be able to change your mind, am I?"
[No, Red. AND STOP TRYING.]
Kurama gave a little sigh of protest, but gave in as he knew he was going to before he sat down.
"Anything to maintain the image of the man in charge." He sighed again.
"Well, we both know who that really is, but I appreciate the gesture regardless." He glared menacingly at him, "Now, get OUT of my office and don't so much as set a single TOE inside the property line or I'll make it half a year!"
"Yes, of course." Kurama droned, starting to rise and giving the man a slight bow from the waist.
"And leave your laptop on the premises!" He yelled after him, earning another long-suffering sigh from the retreating form.
"Yes…of course." He resigned reluctantly, shaking his head and closing the door behind him.
~!**!~
"You'll be the first to know should anything else arise." He scratched idly at his face. "For now, your presence is enough."
The words echoed inside her mind as she shifted, slowly coming into the awareness that she was waking from a sleep she did not remember actively seeking.
As her eyes blinked, she recognized first the smell even before her eyes cleared.
Something of...cloves and...a fiery sort of cinnamon. And it surrounded her almost completely.
Strange how...overly familiar she felt with such a scent, when she could hardly remember who it belonged to.
Hiei.
Well, yes, she remembered his name. But as far as his motives-
I desire your presence. You.
Yes, yes. But what does that mean, really? It was a hard enough concept to wrap her mind around in the first place. She couldn't remember anyone who had actively pursued her and-
He did.
Honestly, it was like a demon wasn't allowed to have any doubts around here. Or any concerns or-
Do you not realize how safe you feel right now? Right here?
She paused to take into consideration the presence of the fire demon, fighting past the sickness, the fever, in order to have any awareness of anything at all besides that smell.
Well?
She sighed. 3
Hiei didn't move a single inch in the time Shikiyoku slept. He stayed perfectly still, keeping his mind occupied by taking to memorizing each aspect of the lands he could see. He didn't sleep, because he felt no need to. He occasionally glanced down at her, at the sleeping female in his arms to ensure she wasn't dreaming, and each time found himself relieved to see her mind still relied on the darkness he'd gifted her with. The dreamless sleep she'd needed.
He hadn't been aware of her stirrings until the moment she sighed, at which point the fire demon turned his eyes down very briefly before turning them to the trees on the horizon again, deciding he'd wait to gauge her reaction first before he spoke.
~!**!~
"Do you think they'll let me in this time?"
Akari gave a shrug, her lips pursing briefly in thought before she repeated the gesture. "Probably not. You're not a service dog."
"Right. So would you particularly care if-"
"Go play at the park, or nap, or whatever it is you do when I'm not around. I don't mind. You aren't on a leash, Nabu. Asking is kind of… pointless."
"Just making sure." The dog turned, his claws clicking on the concrete as he began to walk back the way he'd come. He paused again, making Akari pause just briefly. "I go to our old napping spot, by the way. It's good for you."
"I'll remember that." She continued on, the dog also picking his pace up again to leave her presence as she rounded another corner and pushed open the door to the small bakery. The smell of fresh bread hit her nose, making her mouth water and her stomach growl.
When had she eaten last?
"Hey! Long time no see, stranger!" The girl behind the counter called, her hand raised in a friendly wave and a smile painting her lips. "The usual? I made extra because I just knew you'd come in!"
"Yeah. Though, this time, add one of those-"
"One of those donuts you like, with the cream filling. Coming right up!"
Akari gave a small sigh of resignation, crossing her arms over her chest as she took to staring at the many varieties of bread behind the display glass, her stomach growling even louder the longer she looked, the longer she lingered within the shop. "Hey!" She suddenly called to the back, where the girl had disappeared. "A soda too, if you don't mind!"
"Is that her?" she heard mumbled in the back, responded to with a laugh.
"Yup! Our most loyal customer decided to come back."
"Good, I'd thought she'd skipped town." *
[Oh, come ON! You haven't let me do anything fun for DAYS! I'm so BORED in here!]
Kurama meandered down the sidewalk with no hurry in his steps, one hand in the pocket of his suit, the other up at his shoulder hanging onto the handle of the briefcase that thumped occasionally against his back when he took a step.
[You're terrible company, you know.]
The air moved by his forward motion made the edges of his suit-jacket flap quietly, his hair doing much the same.
[Reeeeeed, please talk to me?]
{You seem to have so much to say whether or not I contribute to the conversation.}
[Ah HA! So, you CAN still hear me!]
{Whatever made you think I couldn't?}
[Oh, I don't know. Perhaps the fact that you haven't said a word to me in three days?]
{I've been-}
[Busy. Lame.]
{You should be resting anyway, shouldn't you?}
[It's like you're punishing me for what happened.]
{Well, it was your fault.}
[I-]
{There's no point in trying to deny it. I was there. ...stop sulking. It doesn't suit you.}
[I'll sulk if I want, thank you very much.]
{You still don't think you did anything wrong.}
[Of course not-!]
{So, you'll stay where you are until you admit that you actually made a mistake.}
[Good luck.]
{It's your decision.}
[At least you're not ignoring me anymore.]
The chime of a bell down the street had Kurama's eyes focusing more sharply on the world through which he moved, giving a little smile as he caught the last of the figure that stepped into the shop, and another to the dog that appeared to be leaving her behind.
[Red?]
"Nabu?" Kurama called pleasantly, wondering when the last time he had seen the animal was.
[Reeeeed!]
~!**!~
She hurt all over.
Ached, was more like it.
Nowhere near as badly as she had the day previous, but it was this dull sort of pain that almost had her pulling the layers around herself in an attempt to seek refuge from it.
Almost.
Because all the parts that were in contact with the fire demon were completely free of any of it, as if his warmth soothed all of the uncomfortableness away.
It was possible.
She sighed again. 3
"Sigh any harder and you'll fall." Hiei suddenly intoned, still not looking down at Shikiyoku as he spoke. One hand moved to swat an insect away, the other scratching idly at an itch on his leg that dangled off the branch. He stilled again, his hand resting on his knee while the other was pulled up to prop behind his head, keeping his hair from getting stuck to the tree's bark.
~!**!~
Akri waited, and waited, and waited, until finally the dark-haired teen popped into the room from the back kitchen, a paper bag in one hand and a glass in the other. Her brown eyes twinkled merrily, her smile wide and just as happy as the rest of her being. She seemed to radiate a cheer that was… she couldn't decide if it was relaxing or annoying.
Perhaps it wasn't annoying because she wasn't babbling. Yet.
"Here ya go, hun!"
"Thank you," Akari extended one hand with the appropriate amount of money before she accepted both the bag and the drink, turning without a second's hesitation to look about the empty shop, finding that she would actually rather enjoy sitting inside for once. Each table was small and round, able to fit three adults around it at best, four school kids on some occasions. So she took one of the rounded tables in the corner, close enough to a window to feel the warmth of the sun, but not close enough to become distracted with watching the patrons pass by.
AFter all, she was done with work for the day. She wouldn't let herself slip back into it unless necessary.
Or unless she had a sudden idea about the problem with Genkai's temple existing only on one layer still. What a pain.
She quickly withdrew the cream-filled donut and stuffed it in her mouth as much as she could, leaning back in her chair until it was only on two legs and the back just touched the wall of the corner behind her.
~!**!~
Nabu kept his head down as he began weaving through people, winding around pairs of feet that just as carefully stepped around him when he was noticed, or feet that nearly trampled him when he was not noticed in the slightest.
But he paused, an ear flicking back at his name, and he lifted his head again to look back into the crowd, searching for the person who'd called to him.
It hadn't been Akari. That was for sure. She hardly put in the effort to yell for him anymore. She did enough yelling at others to spare her voice in shouting at him, or even for him.
His eyes finally found a familiar person whose eyes were on him as well, and Nabu's tail immediately took to wagging furiously behind him as he turned and made an easy trot back towards the shop, past it and up to the person he hadn't seen in what felt like ages.
"Flowers! It's been a while!" *
As the dog approached him, Kurama squatted down and smiled, holding out a palm for Nabu's inspection. "Well, hello, handsome! It's been a long while, indeed. You've grown."
~!**!~
"I'd like to believe you wouldn't let me." She replied bluntly, making no move to leave and letting her eyes slide closed again. 3
Hiei raised a brow, turning his eyes down briefly at Shikiyoku before he released a small huff of amusement. She'd caught him red-handed. "Not unless you deserved it." Which, of course, he felt she wouldn't deserve even if she made an attempt to rip his core out at that very second.
The thought, the mental image, had him scoffing again.
~!**!~
Nabu's nose stuck out to sniff once at Kurama's hand, and shortly after he sat his happy rear on the concrete and let his tongue fall from his maw, his tail swishing against the pavement and ears twitching with the cacophony of sounds around him.
"Yup! I'm full grown now; as big as I'll get. You've changed too, since I last saw you. More… hair. And more ears and tail than before." The dog's head tilted slightly. "I like it. Suits you better."
He turned his head away after a moment, eyes turning to look in the direction of another dog he'd smelled passing, but he didn't look long and turned back again. "Sharper edges suit your sharper wits." *
Without hesitation, Kurama reached out, letting his briefcase rest lightly against his leg, and used both hands to scratch Nabu behind both ears, refraining from comment on what the dog had brought up.
[See. Even the inu knows what's good for you.]
"Where are you going?" Kurama wanted to know.
~!**!~
"And how would one earn such treatment?" She murmured half to herself, unsure if she was actually curious or not, but too comfortable to particularly care. 3
Hiei managed to give a small shrug. "Throw me from a cliff and then we'll see. Though, you won't have much luck there." The fire demon made another sound of amusement, deciding he was entirely joking, instead of only half kidding.
~!**!~
At the very loving affections Nabu was receiving, the wonderful scratches behind the ears, the dog's entire being moved with excitement, his leg even thumping a bit on the concrete with the magnitude of satisfaction he was given from Kurama's scratching.
He recovered just enough to reply, "Well, I was going to go to the park and take a nap, because Akari and I were out until this morning for some things, but it can wait. Especially now that all of her portals are closed and the only thing left is Genkai's temple and a few little things for Koenma."
~!**!~
"Sooo, how is it?"
Akari glanced up, the sweet donut still between her lips, over half gone now, and raised a brow at the girl who pulled a chair out to join her. Tana, she remembered the girl's name to be, plopped down into the seat and rested an elbow on the table, her chin immediately resting in her hands. "It's ashh goo' ash alwaysh." Akari spoke around the food, earning a bright, toothy smile.
"Good! It's a new, more refined recipe I came up with! I'm getting ready for a competition at my school for this year's summer festival!"
"Tha's comin' up? Already?"
"Mhm! And that's gonna be my main focus, the thing you're eating now."
Akari pulled the treat from her mouth and swallowed the bit she'd been chewing, holding it up for inspection. "You should add some decorations."
"I was just thinking about that."
There was silence for a few moments as Akari took another bite, gauging the girl next to her curiously. She was about to ask why Tana was so cheerful about seeing her, but the loud slamming of the door against the wall and the bell ringing as it was pushed open harshly paused all thoughts, Akari's eyes turning up to level the person with a glare.
The person who didn't even turn his head to look at her, didn't even seem to notice her presence in the room.
"Anyone home?" His loud voice called, his fur… cloak? No… it was… just decoration, it seemed… It fluttered about with a flourish as he sauntered to the counter, his hands pressing on the glass as he leaned over it.
"What can I do for ya?" Tana quickly asked, scurrying away to her post.
"Well, darling, first I'd like the sweetest thing you have in the shop! Second, I'll have whatever you reccomend, love." Akari couldn't see the person's face, but she was one-hundred percent sure this person-
No, this demon had a smirk on his face and a sparkle in his eye that was meant to be charming.
"Sure!"
"Thirdly, I'm… You know what? Never mind. Just those, love." *
~!**!~
Kurama's attentions paused for just a moment before he continued.
[So, they're...they're gone, huh?]
"Sounds like you've been rather busy."
[...]
{What?}
[I... it's nothing.]
{...}
[We... Ah, forget it, Red.]
{Don't tell me you're going to get all sentimental on me all of a sudden.}
[...we can't ever go back, Red.]
{...I know.}
~!**!~
"Won't have any luck throwing you off a cliff?" She wondered, "Or won't have any luck earning such treatment by doing so?" 3
"Both." Hiei replied easily, his lips turning up into a smirk again. "An attempt to toss me over a cliff would be futile, for one. I tend to avoid them now, on most cases." He looked down at her again. "As for allowing you to fall… well, then I'd be stuck without your presence. It really isn't worth the trouble of losing such valuable company."
~!**!~
Nabu inched closer to Kurama, redirecting the fingers that scratched at him to a spot a little higher on his head, a spot that normally only Akari would scratch when she took a moment to sit down and do nothing.
"Very. But isn't everyone these days? I hardly see Stripes or Loudmouth anymore, and this is the first time I've seen you in a long time. Sometimes I go a day or two without seeing Akari too, but she always comes back for me because she knows I worry."
~!**!~
The demon took to leaning against the glass display with his entire upper body weight, his arms resting on the glass and one foot crossed over the other, his fur decorations accentuating the ears and tail he wore- something Tana didn't seem to notice in the least bit.
Akari turned away, uninterested as there was no threat. Merely a flamboyant moron who liked having attention and-
Something within her core had her turning to look at the demon again, eyes narrowed slightly at the form. His pants were made of a cloth usually resigned for upper layers of this world nowadays, and he was barefoot. But that wasn't what had her watching, waiting for him to turn around.
Whatever it was that did, though, she wasn't sure. It made her energy react, fluctuating in small pulses of cheer and her muscles tense in impatience.
"...love."
"Sure thing!"
Akari's lips twitched. Who are you?
She blinked once, and when her eyes rested on the male again, he had his head turned in her direction, his dark brown eyes staring at her blankly. He didn't blink, didn't even move when Tana reached out to pass him a styrofoam cup.
And then he was standing over her, moving so fast that she could have sworn he'd..
Shadows.
"What is your name?" The demon asked, his tone low, but eyes curious. "Name, love. Hurry, time is of the essence."
"I don't answer when called."
"No, but you answer to an alpha. Now, what is your name?"
"You hold no power over me. I am not your beta, nor am I an omega."
A pause, tension rolling on the air. And then the demon's lips twitched, and his expression turned into one of bright cheer, his eyes lighting up and his lips forming a lopsided smile, his canines flashing in the light. "Oh, love, I knew it was you! You grew your hair out for me!"
"...I did no such thing." And truthfully, she had no idea who this demon was.
And he seemed to understand that, and again his expression changed, turning demanding, his irises darkening with power as he leaned closer, his lips finding her ear. "Tell me… your name, pup."
Without her permission, her lips moved. "Akari."
"Last name?"
"Hanase."
"Delightful!" *
~!**!~
Kurama obliged the dog's shifting about, following the motions with his scratches.
"Have you actually looked for Yusuke?" Kurama wanted to know. "He has a ramen stand just down-"
This time Kurama actually stopped, his eyes raising to look down the sidewalk. Had he the ears Youko sported, they would have twitched slightly.
[You felt it too?]
Kurama did not respond, knowing the fox had his answer before asking.
[I don't like it.]
{Of course you don't.}
[This is my territory.]
{You have little claim to any lands these days.}
[And whose fault is that?]
Kurama turned back down to look at Nabu again, "Though, Kuwabara is busy with school nowadays." He took up scratching once more.
~!**!~
Valuable company my ass.
She frowned.
"I don't understand you." 3
Hiei didn't react to Shikiyoku's words with even a raise of his brow. "It's not supposed to be easy. If it were, you'd be bored."
~!**!~
"Yusuke has ramen?" The dog asked, turning to look down the street when Kurama did so, but turning back to the other just as quickly, not finding anything of interest at first. "And Loudmouth is in school. You work, I can tell." His eyes flickered down to the briefcase on the ground. "Now I know what everyone is up to, not just Akari!"
~!**!~
Akari's eyes narrowed at the male who stood upright again, his hands leaving the table she hadn't realized he'd been leaning on. She opened her mouth to speak, to make any sound that would issue a warning, but stopped short when he suddenly had her by the face and was rubbing his nose against hers.
"I almost didn't recognize you, love! You're battle-hardened and very cold! Not anything like you used to be." He leaned away, pulling a chair up rather close to her, and running his fingers through her curls. "And like I said earlier, you grew it out for me. Lovely. It suits your rounded face."
Akari's glare hardened and she ground her teeth together, her entire being struggling against the desire to lash out, to drop this demon into a void that he'd just as easily escape from. "The length of my hair means nothing to-"
"In our pack it does. Or do you not remember that either, love?"
"Enough with the-"
"I could call you darling."
"You'll lose your ability to speak."
His irises flashed, this time in amusement, but her body flinched all the same, expecting a command. "The others thought you'd left, run away, as it were."
She blinked once, and this time the stare she issued was not a harsh one, but a calculating one. She took in his dirty-blonde hair that matched the darker blonde, almost brown color of his ears and tail. His furs that he wore were dark and speckled with age here and there, the head of the felt resting atop his own, just between the ears that flicked at her once.
And then her jaw slowly went slack, realization dawning on her.
"Isa?"
"Ah, it's about time, love. You're slower than normal." Her speechlessness made his smirk return full-force, his eyes flashing in amusement. "You didn't run away, I'm sure. What happened?"
"I… I thought my father was-"
"Nope. Handed the privilege to me a year after your departure. Decided a new Alpha being assigned couldn't await for the, as you always called it, arrangement. Which, by the way, when you return, can be-"
"He gave it off anyway? I wasn't even necessary?"
"Well, technically yes, but-"
"But you're still Alpha, which means-"
"By the trust of the others, yes. What you witnessed is actually kind of new. The power, per se, is rather tedious to come by. For instance, I bet I couldn't make you go get my drink from the human girl."
"If you do it, I swear, Isamu-"
His irises flashed again and his smirk grew. "Now love, you'll go grab my drink from the girl for me. Kindly, if you will. No grumbles."
Her body twitched. "No." she responded, her teeth gritted. "For this being new, you've gathered it quite well."
He released his hold on her and gave a loud, boisterous laugh, his hand shooting forward and grabbing hers to kiss the palm in his very specific greeting that he'd once reserved for her. "Told you." *
~!**!~
{Stop that infernal growling.}
[I don't like it.]
{So, I've heard.}
Kurama gave Nabu a smile, "I think you should visit Yusuke if you get the chance. He'd appreciate it."
{Stop that.}
[Let me out, Red.]
{No.}
[You can't hold me back forever.]
{I can't trust you not to-}
[How long do you think you can hold out?]
{...I've learned from the best.}
[I won't argue that point. ...but this one is trespassing.]
{When was the last time you actually claimed the area?}
[When was the last time you let me?]
{...I don't want to be in charge of a concrete jungle.}
[This sort of thing wouldn't happen if you'd just let me do it.] 3
Thanks for reading! Bless your face. If you sneezed during this chapter, bless you. Peace off! -Star