A/N: Hello once again, Fellow FanFiction Fanatics!
Not much to say other than 'enjoy!'
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).
The above rule also applies to Akari's old friend Isamu when he is in his dog-form.
Previously on Yu Yu Hakusho!
Nabu shows up to the ramen stand where Yusuke, Kurama, and Akari
are enjoying one another's company.
Unfortunately, Isamu also shows up moments later.
He has finished the map for Akari so that she may return to the pack with him.
He pushes Akari just a little too far
and ends up with a chopstick sticking out of the top of his hand,
after which she storms off.
Kurama and Nabu take their leave of Yusuke as well,
heading to a nearby sweets shop in the direction Akari disappeared,
Kurama buying a few things and sitting down,
waiting for Akari to make her way inside.
After she admits to having to leave very soon,
Kurama asks her to shift the seed he gifted her with
at least once a day as a sign that she intends to return.
~!**!~
Shikiyoku and Hiei have arrived at the Northern Tribe down in the Ninth Layer,
and it is revealed that Douji, the keeper of the lur'mog, is eligible for the position of Consort.
He eventually asks her if she will be dancing for the tribe that night,
and while she at first refuses because of her 'tainted' energy,
Douji counters by asking what she desires, which is of course to do the dance.
After a brief discussion of the logistics of why she can't do the dance any longer,
Douji drags her off into the forest and insists she dances for a tree
in a test of the ritual as to if it would still work...
Hiei waited for a moment before looking off in the direction Douji had taken Shikiyoku, sneer forming for a moment. Odd how, had anyone else done that, he would've attacked within milliseconds. Apparently, he didn't dislike most demons near as much as he used to tell himself he did.
Or maybe it was just that this one was younger and… held no past with the fire demon.
Very likely that. No reason to dislike him yet.
Yet.
He took off, following at a good distance behind the pair, even sliding between the layers to keep from disturbing what he would watch from a few yards away.
Let's see what the demon comes up with.
~!**!~
Akari raised a brow. "A day on that layer is different from a day here. The consistency may be off, but…" She tilted her head in thought, considering the time difference in the layers. It was… very easily forgotten about when one stayed on a single layer within a certain amount of time. "I guess I'd do best not to lose track of time, hm?"
Her eyes focused on the redhead again, blinking slowly at him once as her lips formed the barest of smiles. There is no way, I don't think, that I could forget about you. As the thought passed, she ran a hand through her hair.
"You have to come back anyway. I'll be here."
She glanced down at the dog, who had been quiet up until this point. "Of course." When she turned back to Kurama, her hands were grabbing for the bag, taking the last treat from inside. She considered it for a moment before pulling it into halves, offering one half to the redhead. "But, when I get back… We're having milkshakes or sundaes or something." Her grin was wide. "How's that?" *
"Should you decide to return, we can do or eat anything you like." Kurama told her.
His eyes flickered to Nabu, "As for you, I can't imagine why you wouldn't want to go with her. Foxes may not be welcome, but you are not a fox."
~!**!~
Shikiyoku reached up and rubbed at the bridge of her nose with her free hand.
"This will quite possibly...no this will be the most ridiculous thing anyone has ever had me do."
She only dropped the head when she suddenly felt movement next to her, and found that Douji had dropped to one knee, holding her hand in both of his now and wearing the sincerest expression on his face that she had ever seen as he gazed up at her.
"Shikiyoku..."
She tried not to groan at how absolutely sappy he sounded, actually smiling in spite of herself.
"I desire for you to dance for this tree."
"You're impossible."
"I know."
"Don't do that."
"Do what?" His tone had never changed.
She finally laughed, which she had been holding in since he'd knelt beside her, and slipped her hand out from his.
He let her go, shifting until he actually sat down on the ground.
"Fine, youngling. Your desire is my command." She started to take a step away from him, pausing, "Just don't enjoy it too much."
"I'm going to try my hardest to do so." He told her seriously.
She had no response other than to shake her head and took another step forward.
"This will be...interesting." She mumbled to herself, peering up at the tree.
"I doubt you ever imagined in your wildest dreams that I would be using your ritual to dance for trees, eh Champion?" She grumbled again and couldn't decide if he would roll over in his grave or cackle with perverse glee.
Without music, her moves were set to the rhythm inside her head, her eyes closed. It did not matter much. She stepped as steadfastly as ever around the base of the tree, quickening the timing so that they would not be out here all evening as the darkness was already fast approaching.
As she got perhaps halfway around the trunk, her energy-appearing no less brilliantly yellow than ever-began to spiral outwards, though perhaps upwards would be the more accurate term.
Her face held a certain amount of peacefulness as she still remembered the steps, even with a decade in her most recent past where she hadn't known she could make such steps.
Douji watched her enraptured, looking up to see her energy looping about the countless leaves above them when she disappeared onto the other side of the trunk and he could no longer see her.
When she came close to finishing, the tree was lit brightly with her power.
As she moved flawlessly back to where she had started, there was a moment of pause where everything froze in place and there was a slight pulse of incandescent energy from her that radiated upwards to encompass the leaves, and as she moved again, stopping almost in front of Douji, the see-through bubble of yellow and the loops around the leaves both disappeared into thin air, leaving Shikiyoku to open her eyes and watch with apprehensiveness the leaves above them, which...after a moment...stopped rustling altogether.
There was another hitch in time similar to the freeze she had made, and then the many lur'mogs around them scampered up into the tree's branches, swarming them with their numbers, and Shikiyoku collapsed into a seated position next to Douji as they all started chattering and gurgling with one another delightedly. 3
Hiei stood high in a tree that was still, not a breeze whispering through its leaves even for a moment as he looked down upon the scene from the inbetween layer. He noticed each strand of energy that moved away from Shikiyoku, each tendril of power that slithered into the air and up into the leaves.
Leaves that slowed just a little if he watched carefully enough.
A satisfied smirk came to his features by the time Shikiyoku was seated on the ground, the lur'mogs in the branches and chattering with mirth. He dropped to the ground, appearing at Shikiyoku's other side on the Ninth Layer, eyes still up on the leaves. The general air about him was light, as if saying 'told you so'.
~!**!~
Nabu turned to Kurama. "This is her business. I don't mind staying behind for a few days." He glanced at Akari. "No offense, but if everyone is like Isamu, I hope you don't come back covered in blood."
Akari's laugh was barely contained. "I- I'm pretty confident not everyone is that way. Just the idiot."
He turned to Kurama again. "She can handle herself. As fun as I think it would be, I think I'd rather let her handle it and come back. More.. incentive."
Akari rolled her eyes. *
"As you say." Kurama allowed, giving the dog a nod and about to offer that he could stay with him if he needed to when Youko piped up.
[You mean stay with you at your place? You won't even be there yourself, remember?]
"Nabu, have you ever been to...Toriko's home?"
~!**!~
Beads of sweat rolled down the back of her neck from her efforts, each breath coming in fast and heavy, and she stared up at the capricious tree, once rustling menacingly and now filled up with the calls of the lur'mogs in its branches.
When Hiei dropped beside her, she gave him a glance, looking over to see that Douji wore the exact same expression as the fire demon.
They're impossible.
"I just want you both to know," She started, getting her breathing under control, "That this proves nothing, and if things go wrong and everyone dies, I'm coming after you two first." 3
Hiei looked down at Shikiyoku, brow raised and sneer evident on his features. "Ah yes, assuming you can catch one of us." He glanced at Douji. "You're on your own." He turned back to Shikiyoku. "And should anything go wrong in the first place," he backtracked with a nonchalant air, "then I'll interfere. You'd be coming after me anyway."
~!**!~
Nabu lowered his chin to his paws again, shifting his weight so that his back was no longer to the table. "You mean Sparkles?" He thought for a moment. "Not that I remember. But, don't worry about me. I'll be fine. If I need something, I can always hunt you down." He paused. "Assuming you're on this layer."
Akari rested her head back, making her hair fall down the back of the chair entirely and her bangs slide from her face as she closed her eyes. "Now that we've reached an agreement of sorts… Anything you want to do today? I only had dinner in mind. So ideas are appreciated." *
"Remind me to at least point the direction out to you." Kurama told Nabu, "If I am not there, it is likely a cat demon will be lurking about the premises and he's a...cousin of mine. Of Youko's. He would help you out should you find yourself in need, I have no doubt of it."
Kurama considered Akari's question.
"Well, what is it about this layer that you'll miss doing the most?" He was just going to out and suggest they go to the park for a nap, but he thought he might feel out Akari's reaction first.
~!**!~
"Well, yes, that would solve the whole problem rather succinctly." Shikiyoku allowed, musing Hiei's proposal of interference. "If you interfered, you'd likely kill me instead of the entire tribe." She nodded a little. "It could work."
"Ah, I'd probably just let you catch me." Douji piped up, "Doing the chasing is more fun anyway." 3
Hiei didn't reply. He simply stood there, listening to the lur'mogs in the tree and watching the calm moving of the branches above. He considered them for the moment before looking down again, eyeing the pair who sat on the ground. Lazy. Of course, he was only amused at their lounging.
Hiei continued to stare at Shikiyoku unblinkingly, watching her for curiosity's sake. If she knew he was marked- and he had no doubt that she did- why hadn't she said anything? Sure, it would give him the upper hand later, but it would've been better if he'd known sooner, instead of leaving her all night with the cat curled up at her head and-
Oh well.
His mind slowly became blank as he continued to stare at her.
I'll have the upper hand.
~!**!~
Akari blinked a few times. Something I'll miss doing… on this layer?
Honestly… she hadn't spent much time doing much of anything on this layer. She'd kept herself busy elsewhere, except when she'd been bored and settled for television. She could live without that, no problem. She'd already had ramen- or enough of it to last her. She'd had a sweet treat… She'd visited Kita and Genkai and Shizuru just the other day…
Her eyes turned down to Nabu, who was watching her curiously. She could grab his play stuff if he felt up to it.
Except he didn't exactly look in the mood to play. He almost looked as if he'd eaten too much and needed a nap.
She turned to Kurama, blinking once at him. "I haven't spent much time on this layer as of late. Nothing comes to mind that I haven't already taken care of." *
"Well, I mean I could just carry you off to the park for a nap, but I was at least going to give you a chance to think of something else." Kurama quipped, not moving from his chair yet.
~!**!~
"And let me tell you that I much prefer being chased." Shikiyoku informed Douji.
"Well, good. That works out well for us, then." Douji started to get up, extending a hand for Shikiyoku to take, which she did, and pulling her to her feet. "So, I'll ask again since I never really did get an answer: are you doing to dance for us tonight?"
He still had a hold of her hand and she tipped her head upwards so she could look into his eyes, finding his face looking rather solemn.
She turned her nose primly to the side and slipped her hand out from his, replying with a prissy, "No," before turning away, nose still in the air, and walking back towards the camp, leaving Douji staring after her for a moment with his mouth hanging open a little in disbelief.
He made a noise of protest and took off after her, "Shikiiiiii!"
At the sound of him starting to run towards her, she gave a quick glance over her shoulder and a laugh before dashing off herself. 3
Hiei made a small sound to himself at the display between the two, suddenly feeling as if he were babysitting a couple of children who enjoyed the game of tag. His hands found his cloak pockets as he turned to follow, only pausing to give a brief glance at the tree again before leaving the area entirely.
He meandered into the encampment, deciding he'd leave Shikiyoku and Douji to their game and take a look around, this time nodding calm hellos to the demons who passed by, even pausing to exchange a word with the hunters he'd associated with the last time he was here.
Around every turn, he was asked about 'Iro' and Shikiyoku, the names being flip flopped every so often when one got tired of continuously repeating the same sounds in curiosity. Many asked if he and Shikiyoku- how many times had he said her long name?- if they were here to give them another dance, to stay around for a while and enjoy themselves as well.
Several faces were familiar to him, in that he remembered hunting with them. Their names, however, escaped him for the most part. Even the leader, who he remembered being very watchful over them, he couldn't recall the name of. The demon who smiled and greeted him by handing him a knife, saying there was meat to be carved if he wanted to join. And another hunt later, if they were still around and he was interested.
"You've changed quite a bit, Hiei." He'd said before gesturing over his shoulder, only for another demon to come running up.
"Kiteki, one of our traps sprang loose."
Kiteki! It had almost driven the fire demon mad trying to remember. When asked to come along, Hiei handed the knife back in declination. "I have other priorities."
"As you wish." the male said before turning and taking off, yelling something or another about returning before the dance that was still being passed around as rumors between the tribesfolk.
Not that it was a rumor, by any means.
~!**!~
"Carrying me is a little over the top, yes?" Akari's lips pulled into a wolfish grin at her own ridiculous pun, imagining him tossing her over his shoulder. She slid from her chair, Nabu quickly moving to stand and out of the way. "Well, I've got no better ideas. I say let's go." *
"But Akari," He stood up, giving her the most pitifully pleading look he could manage, "What if it's what I desire?"
~!**!~
"Are you sure you don't need anything?" Douji asked for the umpteenth time.
"I'm positive." Shikiyoku reassured him, starting to usher him out of the Elder's Tent, which she'd once again been given permission to make use of.
"Really? I can get you anything you need." He wasn't resisting her a whole lot, but he was impeding her progress to get him out of the tent.
"If I need anything, you will be the first to know, I promise."
"...can I stay and watch you change?"
"Get out." Shikiyoku shoved him the last foot as he laughed at her and let her do so, pushing the tent flap out of his face and muting his merriment as it came back down to cover the entrance.
"You're going to be as bad as Youko some day, I can already see that." She murmured to herself, pleased, as she turned and started to slip out of her clothing, eyeing the outfit of the Northern Tribe that the Elder had placed there sometime much earlier in the day, Shikiyoku had no doubt. 3
Hiei wandered around the encampment until he was stopped by a few more demons here and there, preventing him from finding his way to the Elder's Tent, where he was more than certain Shikiyoku was. It had been where she prepared last time…
After he'd admitted that he'd wanted to be around her, that is. After they'd had their disagreement- or whatever that had been. Oddly, he couldn't rightly recall at the moment what had lead to him telling her he wanted her. He couldn't recall what had alarmed him after his tirade of tearing down tree after tree.
He couldn't even remember what had caused that tantrum either. Only that he'd been beside himself with too many emotions to care about sparing the wood for the bonfire at the time.
Hiei accepted some form of meat or another handed to him before brushing by, saying he had somewhere to be at the moment, and they had let him go.
Hiei approached the tent, about to toss the flap aside when warning bells went off in his head, bringing him to notice Douji standing a little ways away, as if waiting for her. Meaning she didn't want anyone inside. He paused with his fingers poised over the tent flap, and turned instead to call through it. "Food, before you go." He slid his hand through the space afforded to him, not entering as he offered the cooked meat kebab. "And don't tell me no."
~!**!~
Akari gave a shrug of her shoulders, her hands coming up to emphasize the gesture with her palms facing the ceiling as she moved by him. "Sadly, I'm not a demon of desire now, am I?" She released a sound of amusement. "I mean, unless you want to carry me on your back. I wouldn't hesitate if I thought I could convince you to do that."
She gave another sound of amusement. As if he'd do it. *
"Done." Kurama swept her up in his arms and easily maneuvered her until she was behind him, his arms underneath her knees at either side.
And as if to emphasize the point that he didn't particularly care one way or the other if anyone saw him like this, he calmly nodded goodbye to the shopkeepers who smiled and waved and made his way out the door, walking down the sidewalk at an easy pace.
~!**!~
A small hand grabbed Hiei's by the wrist and gave a tug, pulling him inside the tent towards her, where upon getting him beyond the threshold and out of sight, she stood much too close for it to have been accidental.
"When have I ever told you no?" She purred, inches from him, and looked him up and down once before releasing his wrist and plucking the food out of his grasp, turning away to walk a few feet before pulling off a piece of meat and chewing on it.
"Or should I do it more often?" She murmured to herself as if he wasn't there anymore, "Maybe that's my problem." She reached up absently to lightly touch at the large flower Youko had given her and found that it still sat firmly above her ear where he placed it. 3
Hiei stumbled, having not anticipated being pulled inside. He caught his footing after a second and stood upright, eyes meeting her shining green irises that were much closer than he'd anticipated. He blinked once, realizing she'd taken him by surprise twice in less than a full minute. He raised his brows at her as he considered what she'd just said, and then his lips turned up very slightly in a small sneer that disappeared just as quickly.
He didn't answer her question, deciding to take it as rhetorical even if she hadn't meant it as such.
He stared at the back of her head as she moved away, his own irises flashing briefly in the dark even if she didn't see it before turning away.
"You've caused quite the commotion."
~!**!~
Akari reacted with the smallest of jolts when Kurama suddenly grabbed for her, her hands finding his shoulders within a few seconds when she found herself actually being carried on the redhead's back. She blinked once before giving a laugh. She'd been kidding, but she wasn't going to complain.
As he moved, she draped her arms lazily over his shoulders, one hand grabbing the wrist of the other, and rested her chin on his shoulder. Her eyes turned to watch his face.
Again, a single thought floated across her mind, questioning why he cared and why he was so… good to her, but she didn't voice it.
"Is this you repaying me for me carrying you on my back?" she suddenly asked, lips stretching into a wide, teasing grin. *
"Not in the slightest." Kurama replied, paying little attention to anyone they walked past, though in truth they themselves had few actually pay attention to them either. "I plan on remaining indebted to you just so you keep coming back."
~!**!~
Shikiyoku turned to face him, teeth tearing off another bit of the meat he had offered her and she spoke while chewing, mildly interested.
"You don't say? And why would that be?" 3
Hiei took a moment to give the barest of sounds to himself in amusement. "Perhaps its that charming personality of yours." Whether he was being sarcastic or not, there was no way in knowing.
~!**!~
Akari huffed at him, though her smile remained unwavering. "I would say it's clever, but really…" She paused, giving the barest of shrugs as her eyes turned forward, "I don't think it would matter one way or the other." She poked his chest with her thumb. "I wouldn't need you to be indebted to decide to come back. I daresay you have me charmed, fox." *
"No," Kurama said with mock-surprise, "Me charm you? Highly unlikely. I'll stick with what I know to be working, thank you very much."
~!**!~
"Ha." Shikiyoku gave the single dry bark of a laugh before sitting down cross-legged on top of the fur rugs in the middle of the tent. "You're very funny." She unceremoniously stuffed her face further. 3
Hiei watched her with amusement clear in his eyes, though the expression didn't touch his lips this time. He kept it contained, withholding it in the stare he continued to deliver. "Or perhaps its your radiance." He blinked slowly at her once, making for certain his neutral mask remained in place. "Perhaps both."
~!**!~
"So this isn't you charming me? Simply.. amusing me?" She turned her head so that her cheek rested on his shoulder, her eyes on his face again. "I feel as if that's a lie." Her lips twitched again, refusing a small laugh. *
"If I told you everytime I was meant to be charming, wouldn't that be missing the point? Aren't I supposed to keep you guessing? Or does the whole 'mysterious' thing not work well for you?" Kurama smiled, "You could have fooled me."
~!**!~
Shikiyoku let out a breath of air something between a scoff and a laugh, peering up at him after a moment, "Are you feeling quite alright?" 3
Hiei raised a brow at Shikiyoku, remaining quiet for a moment. A thought or two passed at the forefront of his mind, and without directly noticing he did as such, he began scratching at his neck idly, as if it helped him think. Because, really, he'd just remembered that Shikiyoku knew about each mark, and hadn't told him about his own. One that, he realized, he wasn't sure where it began. How large it was.
A brow quirked slightly but he brushed those thoughts aside. She didn't need a distraction before the ritual she was going to give.
"If I weren't, someone would be dead."
~!**!~
"I don't think 'mysterious' is the right word," Akari mumbled, shrugging again. "Just… complex and absolutely vexing and oh so irritatingly prudent." She paused to take a small breath in, more words coming to mind. "Keen, sly, audacious-" she paused again, blinking. Her brows furrowed. "I actually have a list. Should I go on?"
"I… wouldn't bait her. She could go on forever, if you let her." *
"Please do." Kurama ignored Nabu's advice entirely, rather enjoying himself at the moment.
~!**!~
"Is that so? You're either 'doing well' or committing murder? I hadn't realized you had so many moods, Hiei." 3
"Occasionally I decide there's an inbetween and give sarcastic insight to irritating situations." The fire demon crossed his arms over his chest and turned his head to the side. "Napping within trees is another as well. Quite satisfying, might I add."
~!**!~
Akari drew in a deep breath, collecting her thoughts and ordering them by categories that she wouldn't be willing to share. "Frank, brazen," she paused, filtering out the synonyms to those words and going another route. "Ostentatious, often lofty- though usually within the right moments- keen." The faraway look in her eyes quickly diminished as she refocused on his expression again. "An absolute pain." Her lips twitched, "and while 'mysterious' isn't a word I'd use, you can be closed off on some subjects if you feel it unimportant, though this is usually when you feel you've messed up a certain situation. And yet you're forthcoming. Trustworthy. Responsible. Perhaps dutiful in the right situation." She tilted her head a little at him, another word falling from her lips without her direct notice. "Pulchritudinous." Her eyelids slid closed, mouth still moving without her notice, without her consent, the words nothing more than a murmur. "Inviting." *
"Nabu, you should get her to list off your qualities sometime. I can only imagine they must be twice as good mine."
~!**!~
"Oh. Well. You're a demon of many talents, certainly. I haven't the faintest idea how you manage to stand lowering yourself into interactions with the likes of me." 3
The stare Hiei turned onto Shikiyoku held every thought that passed behind his eyes, showed every gear that turned at the words she'd spoken, joke or not. He kept the stare pointed at her, his mouth remaining closed because there were too many retorts he could give, and none of them would suffice. None of them would be enough.
So he kept staring at her unblinkingly, not a single muscle twitching to indicate that he had any intention of verbally responding.
~!**!~
"I think you have me beat," Nabu replied, giving a small huff through his nose in amusement. "My fur may be soft, but I don't smell like flowers."
Akari's eyes came open, a brow raised slightly. She'd missed the conversation for her own thoughts, but didn't ask. "You know, you're no fun. I can't pick on you, mister perfect." She huffed at Kurama again. "Other than the fact that you call yourself selfish, I have nothing filed under 'bad qualities'. Even your hair is perfect." She snorted. "One day, I'm going to catch you on a bad hair day." *
"You're right. I'm such a bore. No fun whatsoever." Kurama told her, "That's why you stick around. To make my life interesting."
[The pup's fur isn't half as soft as mine.]
{She wouldn't know about that, now would she?}
[And I have no intentions of letting her find out.]
~!**!~
It took a few seconds, in which time she was nibbling again at the skewer, but at a strange prickling feeling at the base of her neck, Shikiyoku lifted her eyes from the food she brought up to her face and raised an eyebrow at him, lowering her arm back to her knee and chewing for another moment.
"Something wrong?" 3
There was a delay between Shikiyoku's question and Hiei's reaction, where the fire demon internally fought with the different responses he could give. But after a moment, his lips formed into a sneer, his irises darkening just a little despite the gleam of amusement. And at the forefront of his mind was the sole desire that she knew she was beneath no one. Because he held her in the highest regard.
~!**!~
Akari gave a hum. "Then again, that's exactly what makes you so vexing." She mulled the thought over before cutting her eyes to him, her expression turning mischievous. "I retract my earlier statement. You're not, in any way, 'no fun'. You're a challenge. An enjoyable one that, quite honestly, I have no intention of conquering. Because then, you will come back, flaunting it in my face to make sure I come back."
"...Is that how it goes?" *
"Ah, well. And here I was thinking that after all this time you might finally realize you're far beyond having already conquered me." He gave a little shrug, "I suppose you still have much to learn."
~!**!~
It was almost imperceptible, but Shikiyoku flinched as she quickly looked down at the half-eaten kebab in her hand, chewing slowing down a pace, color rising unbidden to her cheeks and flushing at her neck.
And to think out of everyone else, here I had gone and thought he might be the one to understand.
What was she supposed to say to what she felt from him? Half of her wanted to argue with him, the other half just as soon would give it up as a lost cause.
Hiei's "watered-down" blood was likely the closest anyone was going to get to how she felt in regards to her own: no longer one thing or the other but this strange, perverse defilement of them both, twisted together in such a manner that had of late made her feel...unclean.
"I-" She let out a breath and fell silent, unable to put it to words. 3
Hiei didn't have to read Shikiyoku's mind to know her thoughts. It was in the say her muscles slumped, the way the gleam in her eyes dulled slightly. He'd caught the flinch despite how low-key she kept it, and it made his irises flash briefly. He understood perfectly, and had known for a while her feelings on her own energy, even before she'd voiced it.
Because he'd lived it.
Still lived it.
But for her, killing those who pointed it out wouldn't work. Throwing a tantrum and an attack at demons wouldn't lighten her darkening thoughts. In fact, he was sure she'd go down a path she'd never be able to return from.
She'd missed his reasoning altogether. But he wasn't about to hand over his thoughts about it so easily.
He shifted his weight. "And here I thought you would be the one to understand by now."
~!**!~
Akari gave a grin. "Do tell, fox." *
"And ruin all your fun? The very idea."
[You mean ruin all of your fun.]
{Shush, you.}
~!**!~
She hadn't taken another bite, hardly noticing that she absently held part of the meat in one side of her cheek.
"I don't think I can rightly say I understand much of anything anymore." She answered quietly, twisting the skewer back and forth between her fingers. 3
"Then I suppose you have something to look forward to." Hiei turned his eyes away finally, lips twitching as his mind focused on something else: the last time they'd been here. What he'd said. It still rang true. Every bit of it.
He still wanted to remain in her company, whether as Champion, a mere distraction, or even the possibility of Consort. It didn't matter.
Because she was still, to this day, the first demon he knew of who had defended him to another without knowing of his presence.
And he would likely never forget it.
~!**!~
"Is that so?" Akari shifted a little, pulling her arms up to cross over the male's collarbone. "And here I thought it was you having all the fun, and I was just supplying the entertainment." *
"I'm a bore, remember? I'm incapable of having fun. You're supposed to be teaching me how to do so." Kurama provided, "I suppose it could be that you aren't doing a very good job of it. I think it more likely that I'm just such a terrible student. You really shouldn't leave in that case. Not until I am doing much better."
~!**!~
Shikiyoku took in a large breath through her nose, letting it out silently from her mouth.
She could feel what he wished, what his desires were, in that moment and she was torn-There's always two sides to everything with me anymore. Is that to become a permanent fixture in my existence? This...duality?-between feeling wonderful that he wanted to be with her and wanting desperately for him to desire for something better for himself than her. It was truly a toss-up as to which one she actually hoped for.
"You deserve something better." Shikiyoku mumbled under her breath, mostly to herself, "You all do." 3
Hiei turned to look at Shikiyoku, his thoughts tapering away as he focused again on the woman sitting on the ground. His expression remained calm, his eyes searching her face for anything she wasn't saying. He made a sound at her after a moment, but didn't say what he'd immediately thought about the matter. He also didn't go on about the second thought- that being of her not telling him about him being 'Marked'.
He stared a bit longer.
"And what, do you suppose, is considered 'better'?"
~!**!~
Akari let out a breathy laugh into the other's shoulder. "Me teach you?" She leaned back, hands on his shoulders to keep her from leaning too far away, and her legs extending in front of them. "You really should rethink that statement. The only thing I teach anyone is what not to do in order to avoid being hung upside down over some sort of threat or another." She gave another laugh and stretched her arms over her head. "And, apparently, how to properly ensure chopsticks go through a hand without puncturing the surface beneath."
"That was fun to witness." *
"Anything that gets you stay around longer," Kurama replied with a slightly confiding air, "Have you not yet realized that's the point?" He let his head turn slightly as if he was trying to look at her. "And here I was thinking I made it rather obvious."
[Well, she isn't a fox, now is she?]
~!**!~
Shikiyoku stood up and smoothed her hands down the front of the regalia the Elder laid out for her, taking a step towards the exit and making as if to leave.
"Why, anything at all, really." 3
Hiei raised a brow. "I disagree," he stated calmly, eyes following her motions with a steady gaze. His hands found his cloak pockets calmly as he turned, allowing her to pass by him if she wished. He didn't say anything more on that particular subject.
"I'll be watching," he commented, deciding to at least let her know that he fully intended on being a helping hand if she needed it.
~!**!~
Akari gave a grin. "And then that would be two deals in one instance I would be breaking. And, quite frankly, I don't want to begin such a streak." When her arms came back over his shoulders, she held the rose in her right hand, twirling around in her grasp, eyes following the motions of the petals. *
Kurama caught the slightest glimpse of the twirling rose, though he had felt it long before that moment. He turned his head back to the front.
"Thinking of me already? And here you haven't even left yet."
~!**!~
He really was the worst person to try and have an argument with, being utterly convinced he was absolutely right and all.
As she passed by him, she paused when he spoke up, and the expression she gave him held an immense amount of gratefulness at his statement, though she quickly gave a little huff of air out her nose haughtily and turned away to keep going out the tent flap and into the near-darkness.
"You'd better." 3
Hiei followed after Shikiyoku, lips briefly twitching into a smirk before it disappeared again into his neutral expression. "As if I'd miss it."
~!**!~
Akari hummed at him in light amusement, not looking away from the rose that she continued to toy with. She spun it three more cycles before lowering her wrist, letting it remain in this form as she turned to the redhead again. "You make quite the case." She gave a small sigh and lowered her chin to his shoulder again, eyes closing. "Very tempting." *
"And yet we both know in the end you'll do the right thing." Kurama let out a little sigh.
[Leaving it open-ended like that?]
{Shush.}
~!**!~
There was already a bright bonfire going a few hundred feet away, and its light danced across the campsite merrily, the sounds of music and laughter carrying over on the wind.
Douji was standing a couple of feet in front of the Elder's tent with his back to Shikiyoku as she approached. It was easy to set in the set of his shoulders and how he had one hand clasping at the elbow of his other arm that he was nervous, if not uncomfortable.
"You look quite nice." Shikiyoku murmured as she came up next to him and stood, looking out in the same direction as he.
"I don't like it." He glanced at her, "I just want you to know."
He stood bare-chested with a pair of pants similar to what she wore, which had strips of fabric attached at the waist and hanging over the legs.
She took a step forward and looked up at him.
"You don't have to like it." She put a hand over the heart-shaped marking on the right side of his chest and the entire thing began to glow even as she pulled the layers around them.
Douji did look down to see that the swirls went down his right side to his stomach, and extended behind where he could feel the warmth spreading partially over his back.
"That's not the point." Shikiyoku grabbed for his hand and pulled him forward, the glow disappearing from his body, moving through tents and people as if it were nothing-which, while inbetween, it was nothing-and breaking out into the open area around which everyone had gathered.
There were dancers in the middle of the large circle and she stood there with Douji, waiting. 3
Hiei let Shikiyoku go to Douji, he himself turning and meandering his way through the camp grounds and around the tents, in the direction he could feel the bonfire, hear the music, smell the food. He moved through the crowd once he'd breached it, easily maneuvering himself through the demons who still allowed him passage.
He found a suitable place at the edge of the crowd, close to the front of the crowd. He remained slightly distanced from the rest, hands in his pockets and eyes on the demons he could see waiting in the inbetween layer. Amusement flitted across his being at the idea that he was the only one in the place who could see the pair.
~!**!~
Akari didn't reply. RIght thing by them, or by me? A small twitch of her lips had her making a small sound to herself in consideration. Is there really such a thing as doing the right thing here? Is there really even an actual choice to be made? It isn't like they need me in any way. Only Isamu seems to believe I'm essential for…
She frowned. She hadn't forgotten that she was still, by blood, Alpha material. Mentally, she couldn't give a crud. They weren't her responsibility. They had an alpha.
A terrible one.
That thought had her groaning.
"You're awful by saying that, I hope you understand."
It's not my business. I'm not staying. *
"I never made any claims to being anything less than absolutely terrible. I hope you understand."
~!**!~
Shikiyoku waited until the drums picked up another beat before shifting herself and Douji back onto the Ninth Layer, letting go of his hand and beginning to dance.
As usual, no one noticed her at first, not even when her energy began snaking outwards.
Douji stood awkwardly before her for a solid minute, seeming both pleased to be so close to her-she danced as if he were the complete center of her attention-and embarrassed to be in the middle of everyone as he was.
During that minute though, her energy had looped about him twice and the markings on his body started to glow, a prominent feature in the midst of the dancers that soon had everyone's eyes turning to see what was going on, for the hue was different than the one the fire had flickering over their faces.
As if he could feel the eyes upon him, Douji shifted uncomfortably until he caught sight of Shikiyoku's countenance, realizing that she hadn't looked away from him the whole time. He ducked his head as she passed back behind him, coloring rising in his cheeks.
You are my world.
You are for whom I dance.
He cut his eyes to the other side, watching as she stepped into his view again and seeing that the only time her sparkling gaze, her eyes glowing almost golden with her energy, left him was when she would make a turn. Her expression was inviting, open, kind. Excited.
Dance with me.
Without his direct notice, his body had started to relax as the glow settled in on his marking, lighting up the tattoo. His head started to lift to watch her, though he still did not move.
I don't know how to dance.
He thought he heard laughter echoing in his mind, but it was not mocking or belittling his statement, instead being the most pleasant laughter he had ever heard in his entire life that seemed to lift whatever concerns he had from his heart.
Dance with me.
For a split second, Shikiyoku stopped in front of him, coming to rest and staring up deeply into his eyes, her energy spiraling outwards from her body to encompass all of those gathered, still moving even when she herself paused.
Before he could even form the protest, she started moving again and he found himself unable to resist, a sudden smile brightening his features when he found that the movements required no effort on his part, his body appearing to naturally know what to do. They wove in and out of one another in perfect sync, as if they had been doing this their entire lives.
The dancers around them were so engrossed in their own movements that for a few more minutes everyone kept going, circling around the epicenter that was Douji and Shikiyoku.
And where once long ago there had been only her, dancing alone, this time another joined in with her, keeping in perfect step with her, a partner that was in every way her equal as her energy swirled out into the crowd.
At the moment when it reached Hiei, looping twice about him, Shikiyoku's eyes found him in the midst of the other demons, cutting through the darkness and staring directly at him-
You are my world.
You are for whom I dance.
-before closing again.
One by one the dancers realized she moved in the middle of them, and they would each in turn and sit down where they stopped around her to watch until only she and Douji were left.
The Elder watched with the other esteemed members of the tribe from where they gathered in their usual seats, and she took great care in noticing that, since Douji had taken up the dance, his mark had grown up the right side of his neck and face, so slowly that if one had not been looking for it, it was quite possible one would not have noticed the difference.
Douji knew the difference.
On some level or another, he could feel the warmth of the mark, could tell that it was growing.
Shikiyoku's eyes had closed some time before and he now did the same, finding that even without his sight he had no trouble continuing to dance with her.
She fought to maintain the serenity of her expression, but within herself, Shikiyoku could feel that something was going wrong. There was too much of her energy being expended much too fast, and as she let her dance continue to weave the spell into the very air, she could feel her core giving a little jolt as more power was drawn out of her and it skipped a few beats to catch up.
Had she not used energy earlier at Douji's behest, she was uncertain if she would have paid much attention, but with a portion of her power already spent, and more being drawn out of her each second by some outside force she could not prevent or even comprehend, every ounce was precious.
More unnerving perhaps than her inability to control the speed with which her energy left her was the fact that she felt a particular direction-meaning to her that there was someone behind the whole thing-in which her energy kept disappearing-it would be there and then suddenly gone-forcing her to keep feeding the strands out of her body that looped around the denizens of the tribe in order to make up for what was no longer there.
At this rate, she would run out of energy before finishing the ritual. And in either case it would result in her death.
Shikiyoku felt no panic, felt no concern, her steps did not so much as falter.
And there was one single reason as to why. A reason that she now focused her mind upon, hoping he listened for her.
Because she knew that if he did not hear her, all of that panic and concern she did not feel would come crashing down on her and she would be at a loss at what to do.
"Hiei." 3
The fire demon stood in the midst of demons, eyes transfixed on Shikiyoku the moment she began moving on this layer. The moment she began to dance, his red irises were focused on her, a sense of awe blossoming, just as it had the first time she had danced. This time, he noticed the energy that moved about, but did not watch it. He was aware of it moving about him, looping twice around his ankle, but he didn't even spare it a glance.
Why would he, when the source of such radiance was moving so eloquently, so elegantly around and around in the space she seemed to demand on a lower level. A subconscious level that even the other dancers didn't seem to notice until they were already clear of her path, already adding their own accentuations to her fluid movements.
And while he was indeed very entranced with her, very enthralled with the way she moved and danced and seemed so utterly happy in the moment, he was also very keen of any changes. He allowed half of his mind to revel in the wonder of her, in the complete contentedness that she exuded. Enthusiasm. The other half of his brain remained keen on her, searching for anything out of the norm, anything that screamed for him to jump in.
And it wasn't exactly a scream. At first, he didn't really actually hear the calm calling of his name. He did, however, feel that his attentions were being tugged on. He blinked once, his mind clearing of the distractions, of the music and of the energy around him, and he focused again on her, his mind brushing hers calmly.
He didn't have to say the words for her to hear them.
I'm here.
And he was very happily allowing his own energy to slide unseen through the crowd, warming the ground as his energy moved to the forefront of the party, eventually wrapping about Shikiyoku in a warmth that said all she needed was to accept its embrace, and she'd be assisted in any way necessary.
Because he wouldn't mind doing this for her. He enjoyed it. And he'd do it every single time she asked.
It wasn't easy to miss it this time. The warmth of a mark on his skin. A hidden, unseen mark that even he himself hadn't seen yet. And at first, the warmth began over his heart, as if it were the epicenter of the entire thing. But the warmth spread, moving up and over his shoulder, up his neck a little, and even down to the crook in his left arm. The portion he felt slowly warming downwards seemed to feel as if it looped and curled and twisted in every which way, following veins, following muscles, creating shapes within shapes that he didn't dare look at yet.
And his skin tingled just a little in places, as if new warmth was spreading there, new marks taking over his skin.
Is this what it feels like?
He felt the warmth continuing to move behind his neck, down his shoulders, even down his abdomen to curl about his waist, as if unwilling to go any further, but needing room to grow.
Incredible.
~!**!~
Akari groaned at the redhead again. "You're right, you're a terrible student. No fun whatsoever and you aren't learning it. You're even making your teacher a bore." She took a long, dramatic breath in through her lips. "Whatever will I do with you?" *
"Endeavour to make me an acceptable student, I hope." Kurama gave her a sigh, "I might decide to delay improvement and make it a life-long project for you, though. It would be wise of you to take that into consideration."
~!**!~
Shikiyoku let out a silent breath of air, the slight tension at her neck disappearing in the wake of the warmth she felt actively and willingly being presented for her.
There was hardly need for the words, as her gratefulness was readily apparent, but she passed them to him anyway.
"Thank you."
Her dance changed. Not abruptly, nor stepping out of time with the music, but Douji opened his eyes long enough to indicate to her that he felt the difference before they slid back closed again, finding that his steps did not falter, only adjust as needed.
She wove into the air with her body the necessary requirements for shifting the ritual into accepting Hiei's energy, hardly even able to spare a thought about the last time she had done this, but thankful that it came easily and that he was here this time so that she had no need for worry.
His energy was slowly absorbed into her body, and then spun out like threads around the strands she already had going.
There would be more than enough here to finish what had been started.
But still there was that...that pull, or feeling somewhere at the other end in the crowd where her energy was being actively drawn from her and then disappearing, and now Hiei's too.
"Do you feel that?" 3
Hiei had just closed his eyes to mentally inspect the warmth growing on his skin, spreading even still, when a single, fleeting thought crossed his mind. Wrong. His eyes came open again, all mental inspections paused and turning to Shikiyoku, searching for anything he might see going wrong with her. But, from the looks of it, from the way his energy interwove with hers and how calmly she moved, he saw nothing that put her in immediate danger.
So he turned to feeling his own energy, tracking it, searching for whatever had stilled his own thoughts about things that he'd considered pretty damn important at the time. He could feel it moving, looping about demons and weaving through the crowd, swirling, mingling with Shikiyoku's. Perfectly fine.
Do you feel that?
Her question had him searching again.
There. His mental instincts called his attention to it, the abnormality. The sudden tug of, and then the disappearance of his energy, along with the tendril of her energy that it had been mingling with.
He sent a silent affirmation as his eyes turned to search the crowd, looking for suspicious movement, for eyes that didn't look at the female with the right gleam. For anything that was out of the current norm. Out of place in the energetic, and yet quaint ritual taking place.
~!**!~
"Don't be difficult. I just finished complimenting you, and now you're being like this." She gave another sigh, one that lasted too long to actually mean the way it came out. She shifted again, arms tightening around his neck as she leaned forward, burying her nose near his jawline, just below his ear. "Stupid fox." *
"Sorry. Next time I'll try not to let you know what I'm actually doing."
[You're doing it on purpose.]
{Your point?}
[...]
{That's what I thought.}
~!**!~
"Good. Just...remember that feeling for me."
Her mind was too overtaken by the continuous adjustments she was having to make to counter whatever was going on to actually do anything about it. Not to mention the fact she wasn't about to interrupt or try and stop what she was doing anyway.
"We'll talk about it later."
There was a sheen of sweat over her skin from the exertions, and it took a great deal of discipline to force her lungs to intake air at a steady rate, but the ritual was nearly complete, and with the help of Hiei, it would finish without a hitch.
The moment came where everything bound together with her energy paused, her and Douji facing one another, and a pulse of energy filled the air around them, encompassing the tribe for a beat until everything came back together, the pulse receding back into her and the music giving one final chord.
Her arms lowered and she stood normally, Douji mirroring her actions as he stared down at her, himself breathing heavily and a soft smile on his face as she in turn looked up at him, less than a foot between them.
"You're amazing."
Her face scrunched up briefly with amusement at his breathy statement.
"How did you do that?"
She wasn't exactly sure what he meant by 'that,' but her answer wouldn't have been different in either case.
A finger came up and she winked at him.
"That...is a secret."
They didn't even seem to notice that the demons had erupted into cheers around them and started flowing forward.
Douji's markings were still glowing and most of the tribe were surrounding the two of them, chattering excitedly and clapping the boy on the back.
By the time anyone noticed she was missing, Shikiyoku had slipped inbetween the layers, leaving Douji to his tribe, and worked her way through them, releasing her hold on Hiei's energy before she left.
She reappeared next to Hiei, watching the crowd pegging Douji with questions, her sweat gleaming in the firelight on her bare arms.
Without even telling him what I needed...he gave me what I asked.
She glanced up at Hiei from out of the corner of her eyes, finding that her lips turned up into a crooked smile before she slid them back to watch the crowd again. 3
Hiei had continued watching the crowd even when a streamline of energy moved through the demons and around, even up and over in a thin dome-like structure that just as quickly retreated, leaving him noting that he saw nothing out of place in that moment. And it left him mildly irritated.
But that irritation was wiped away before it had even actually registered, leaving him calm and watchful again as he turned to look at the crowd around the other boy, noting instantly that Shikiyoku was not beside him, as she had been before.
He glanced to his other side, raising a brow at her briefly before he turned forward again, not noticing that she turned to him as well.
"You enjoyed yourself." It wasn't a question. Merely an observation. One that had his hands finding his pockets and his eyes taking on a thoughtful gleam. "I'm glad."
~!**!~
Akari smiled, knowing he wouldn't be able to see it even if he turned to look at her. In this moment, she was glad she'd called upon him. Glad she'd told him she was leaving, because now… Now she was certain she wished to come back, no matter what she saw, no matter what happened while she was with the pack. And no matter how long she'd be gone, she was certain she wouldn't forget this moment even for a second.
This time, her sigh was one of content.
"I hope you have no plans. Because my only plans for the day consist of monopolizing your time for once. Instead of you taking mine." *
"I remain ever your intrepid pupil," Kurama began, "So, I must, I feel, in this situation, allow you to take the lead, dear teacher. My time is yours for the taking."
~!**!~
Shikiyoku's eyes had fluttered shut, and she only barely managed to peel her lids apart when she thought she heard him say something.
"Mm?"
It took a moment for her to realize he hadn't spoken aloud.
"I did no such thing." She shifted her weight on her feet. Or possibly swayed in place. It could have easily been either one. "However, if you hadn't been here, my non-enjoyment would have been rather short-lived. So, I'm glad...for you."
For your presence. For you being here.
A few shouts went up from the tribe, most of whom were still out in the middle of the circle with Douji, and trays of food were being passed to him.
A light amusement passed over Shikiyoku's features.
Of course the boy was hungry. 3
Hiei turned his eyes onto Shikiyoku for a moment, noting her expression that confirmed what he'd already guessed. He nearly raised a brow at her, but instead merely watched her, observing how her body slumped a little and her eyelids seemed to become heavier and heavier, her feet likely feeling the same to her.
He remembered the last time he'd stood in this exact spot after her dance. She'd come to him, knelt down and asked to spend the evening with him.
Shortly thereafter she'd fallen asleep. Not that he had minded; she'd already told him she would.
He turned forward again.
"You don't have to hold back." He didn't look at her again. "I'm still here for a reason."
~!**!~
Akari almost missed the last word in his second sentence, and her mouth had opened to say something against him calling her by the word 'dear'. But her lips came closed again when her brain registered the 'teacher' part, and she gave an amused hum. "Good. I'd hate to fight anyone over it." She gave a pause. "Actually, I consider that a lie. Today, your time is mine, and I won't be sharing."
…
"Except maybe with Nabu."
"So I'm not forgotten about back here?" *
Kurama let out a low chuckle and stopped in place for a moment, half-considering sliding Akari off his back.
They were in the park.
"Anywhere in particular I'm supposed to be headed?"
~!**!~
Shikiyoku stood a little taller, disguising it by pulling her shoulders back to stretch them, the muscles still warm with her previous efforts.
"Hold what back?" She squeezed her eyes together and forced them back open, watching Douji interacting with the crowd. "I don't know what you're talking about." 3
Thanks for reading! Bless your face. If you sneezed during this chapter, bless you. Peace off! -Star