A/N: Hello once again, Denizens of this FanFiction Realm!
The chapter is a little bit shorter than usual today, and I also apologize for the really long recap of the last chapter, but as I was going through it I realized there was a TON that happens and there wasn't much I could really take out and still feel as if I did that chapter justice.
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!
Two of the four potential Consorts gathered at the house on the First Layer begin courting Shikiyoku in their own way, though Kitoushi finds himself chagrined at the fact that he continues to attempt to find a cure for her disease and lacks the time to do anything special with her. Kit is forced to watch Youko and Taka dote on her, Taka gifting Shikiyoku with a pendant he made by hand.
As for Hiei, besides occasionally subverting Taka's plans, each night is spent next to Shikiyoku in her bedroom, and he finds that he can more easily test the limits of his uncomfortableness with physical contact given that she seems so unnerved by it and none of the others phase her in the slightest.
On one such day where Taka took Shikiyoku out, Hiei and Kitoushi talk on Shikiyoku's changes, the cat demon hoping for any information that might help him in the analysis of the virus. As they talk, Taka flies Shikiyoku into her room so she can go to sleep, leaving the window open as per her request. Thinking it is Hiei climbing into bed with her, Shikiyoku stirs from her sleep as another presence enters the room.
It is Otento.
His spirit is broken, he looks more like a hunted animal than the flamboyant demon he had once been, and he also carries the Mark of an eligible Consort.
As Hiei enters the room, only Shikiyoku's closeness to the demon stays his hand and he freezes in place just inside the door. Shikiyoku immediately gets up and pleads with Hiei to spare the broken demon, and it is only her words that keeps him from striking Otento down.
In a sudden act of ferocity, Otento stabs Shikiyoku through the heart with one of his slender blades, and she in turn destroys him as she shifts into her pain form, taking the both of them inbetween the layers and ripping his limbs from his body with her energy, saving Hiei the trouble, though before he dies Otento manages to lock her energy away.
Taka and Kitoushi rush to the room as Hiei realizes he is unable to bring Shikiyoku out from inbetween, and Hiei kisses her to change her form. As her body shifts back, she takes on the appearance of a small child, albeit one with a gaping wound in her chest. This time when he is able to successfully bring her to the First Layer just as Kit and Taka make it there.
As Hiei holds the tiny body of Shikiyoku in his arms, Kitoushi immediately sets to healing the wound, Hiei forcing himself into her mind when it feels as if she is slipping from the living world.
Hiei begins to blame himself for not striking the instant he saw Otento, but at Shikiyoku's behest, for she can sense Hiei's downward spiral, Taka explains how earlier that day two Marked demons began fighting over her, and while one did kill the other, the challenger died seconds later, his own mark disappearing moments before he dropped.
Nightime has fallen as Kitoushi bends over Shikiyoku's body, and the cat demon is struggling not to shift forms, employing the assistance of Hiei in finishing the healing her body requires.
The process has taken a lot out of him, and after giving Hiei a few instructions, Taka carries the exhausted cat demon out of the room and Hiei places Shikiyoku on her bed.
~!**!~
Akari, Hiyori, and Isamu head down to the Seventh Layer for more deal-making, Manami joining them as they arrive at the location at which the client asked them to meet.
After an hour and a half, Isamu having left to find the client who had thusfar not shown up, their client finally shows themselves: Hiyori. She has made a deal with another demon to kidnap Akari and take her away and Akari blacks out from an attack she is unable to prevent.
When she wakes up, Akari finds herself in front of Yomi, one of the three would-be Kings of Demon World, and inside his compound. Yomi informs Akari that she will be working to regain her ability to traverse through the layers to further his cause in the coming war.
After she is presented with food and drink, Akari is told she will be outfitted in armor and is whisked away.
Akari wiped at her jawline for the third time, her breath coming faster and her eyes narrowed at the demon in front of her. "I can't."
"Can't, or won't?"
If she'd had the strength, she would have growled at the demon.
"Answer me this: how long have you been here, dog?"
Akari wiped again at the wetness that continued to trail over her jawline and down her neck, eyes never leaving the only other person in the expanse of the room. She gulped a breath down her dry throat before shrugging. "How am I supposed to know? I've been here, in this room, and in one other room the entire time. Not a single window to look out of."
"Humor me with a guess."
She straightened her knees, not allowing them to buckle underneath her. "A month."
He made the loudest, most obnoxious buzzing sound. "Wrong." His lips turned into a sour scowl. "Longer. And yet, you've made no improvement whatsoever. I'm beginning to think King Yomi will have better luck killing you."
She didn't respond, not even with wiping at her face nervously again.
"You lack incentive. Clearly, your life isn't worth the ability to traverse layers." To make his point, his hand lifted, showing her a blade just before it disappeared, whizzing by her face at a speed she couldn't even see. She didn't move, hearing it miss her ear by mere centimeters. "No value for your own self."
When she didn't reply, he recalled the weapon. "Try again. And this time, if there's no improvement, I'll make incentive."
The sound of her armor was slight as she shifted, leather sliding against leather, the piece at her arm just lightly rubbing against the bodice as she prepared for whatever he was about to throw at her. She drew in a deep breath, concentrating hard on his muscles, his movements, and most of all, herself. Move, dammit.
And yet, no matter how much she willed herself to move from this layer to another, there was no change, even as a ball of energy slammed into her chest, knocking her backwards and causing the metal of her armor burn.
She didn't have the strength to remove it.
"Fine. You leave me no choice." He turned and beckoned to a camera in the corner, waving a finger in a 'come here' motion. "Just remember, you did this."
I hope it's not a kid. *
~!**!~
Lock the door, huh? Taka watched with amusement as Hiei stood up.
"Leave it be." The very tip of Kitoushi's tail curled upwards before hanging limp again. He caught Hiei's thanks and gathered his thoughts to give an answer.
"She's...lost a lot of blood for how tiny she is." Kitoushi gently pressed a paw into Taka's arm as the bird demon started to move off and Taka stopped, looking down at Kit and waiting patiently, assuming the cat was passing instructions to Hiei.
Shikiyoku's skin was clammy and pallor, her breath coming quickly.
"And she's going to be weak. Possibly confused. You can thank me by keeping her warm and making sure her legs are lifted with a pillow or something." Kitoushi blinked slowly and reached into Shikiyoku's mind.
"You need to stay awake, my lady."
"But I'm tired. I wanna sleep." Shikiyoku's voice sounded particularly whiny given her child-like form and she frowned.
"I know. But you need some time to recover before you do that."
She gave out a feeble growl that had Kitoushi's eyes smiling.
Kit glanced up at Taka and the bird moved again for the door, locking it and stepping into the hallway, closing it behind him. 3
Hiei did as instructed, pulling a pillow underneath Shikiyoku before resting her upon it even as he heard the door close with a final click. His next movement was to the window, where he very deliberately slid it closed and locked it firmly, glancing at the other to ensure it too was locked before he turned and made his way to the bed again, calmly and carefully shifting himself about until he was laying next to her, his energy blanketing the room.
He made a point to be as close to her as allowed without touching her, half afraid that he'd jostle her and cause more pain. He did, however, compensate by centering the warmth of his energy to her small, childlike frame.
Which he stared at for a moment in confusion.
How exactly had that happened?
~!**!~
Akari had just managed to pull herself to stand when the large door across the room from her slid open, Sachi stepping in and pushing a demon alongside him.
A demon she recognized and took to staring at with a blank gaze.
"Come on, this isn't necessary!"
Akari raised her brows at the plea, her emotions on the matter hidden very easily.
"Now, Hanase," the demon who'd been striking at her for days on end turned to her again, lips wide in a self-satisfied grin. "Tell me, how much do you value another's life?"
Akari peeled her stare from the demon who scrambled to his feet and up to the one who'd spoken, blinking once, but giving no answer.
"I compensated!"
Akari's chin lifted higher as her eyes turned to the other demon, the first sign of life flickering behind her gaze as a spark. The demon who had been brought into the room finally looked over at her, his eyes widening in recognition and his mouth opening to speak, but seeing her expression, he didn't say a word.
"Oh, was that a touch of anger within those eyes, dog?"
Akari turned her chin up just a little more.
"Well, I hadn't realized. Perhaps you would like the honor?"
"No," came her hoarse reply, tone low.
"Then, you still care for this one?"
Of course not. "Yes."
"Ah, love, I knew you'd see it for how I meant it! I knew you'd understand. No hard feelings, right?"
Akari's facade remained in place as a calm, cool mask.
"Well then, let's see how valuable this one is to you, shall we?" There was a pause, the only sound being that of Sachi's weight shifting. "Try again."
Akari's eyelids slid closed, and she willed herself to shift from one layer to the other.
And after a few minutes of no results, the sound of Isamu's agonized howl filled the room, the smell of his blood hitting her nose. She didn't have to open her eyes to see he no longer breathed.
And despite the fact that she'd loathed the demon, she found herself giving a moment of silence for the demon's death, head bowed.
And when she lifted her head again, her eyes were devoid of any emotion, of any sort of light, and she blinked slowly at the two men standing over the corpse.
"I'll go let him know."
"Sachi," the other stopped the king's right-hand man. "Tell him that I'm done for the day."
Sachi took his leave while the other remained. "You, dog, are quite the project."
Akari only wiped at her jawline again and stared as the other grinned and took his leave, leaving her alone with the demon she'd once actually considered killing.
Good riddance. *
~!**!~
Even without demonic senses, it wasn't difficult for Shikiyoku to feel as if someone's eyes were staring at her.
"Something amuse you?" Her ears twitched slightly, barely recognizing the sound of her own voice. It was higher...and smaller. 3
"That depends on your definition of 'amuse'." Hiei said slowly, continuing to watch her. He thought for a moment before making a small sound. He opened his mouth to say something, but slowly closed it again. *
It was strange having everything seem so dull.
Shikiyoku frowned, her entire face scrunching together and her lips pursing and after a second she opened her eyes and looked over at Hiei, closing her eyes and then opening them again and frowning, the expression less comically and tinged more in melancholy.
Her eyes shifted to the side.
"It-" Her face faltered, "I can't feel you at all." No energy, no presence. "It's...like you're not even there."
I don't like it. 3
Hiei raised a brow just a little when she repeatedly opened and closed her eyes. It wasn't hard to guess what she was doing, as he himself was fighting not to do the same.
"I could say the same to you." *
She turned her gaze back up to the ceiling, eyes closing.
After a second, she huffed an impatient breath out of her nose, and the hand that was laying on the bed between them lifted to hit the mattress once.
"You're too far away, flame-boy." 3
Amusement sparked in Hiei's eyes, mirroring the lifting of a single corner of his lips as he noted the hand that lifted and then hit the mattress. Almost demandingly, just… without the actual energy behind it. And without much of a response, he slid closer, moving the arm that she'd used to gesture for him and resting it upon her stomach. He lay on his side, carefully resting his arm over hers to keep it in place.
"Hn." *
"Hm." She gave a smile, leaning her head towards him, "See, now it doesn't matter that I can't sense you." She yawned and ended it with a tiny noise of protest.
"...Kit's a meanie-head." 3
Hiei let his eyelids slide close for a moment as he relaxed again, settling into the mattress. It was… odd to be so close to someone so…. so small. So frail. And the diction she just used…
Well, let's just say he was nothing shy of utmost amusement.
"And you're a child." His lips twitched. *
Shikiyoku's eyebrows lowered into a frown and she pouted a little.
"So're you, mister hybrid." 3
Hiei's lips turned up into a smirk as his eyelids opened again so he could peer at her. "I never claimed to be otherwise." Perhaps humoring her will make it easier for her. *
"Hmph." She still frowned, muttering, "Stupid fire demon." 3
"Hn." He let his eyes close again, carefully moving his head to rest near hers on the pillow, deciding he was much more comfortable in this way, where he was absolutely certain no other demon could suddenly swoop in and grab at her, as Otento had done earlier.
….
He pushed the thought away.
"Is that all?" *
She didn't answer for a second, feeling for just a moment rather vulnerable and...scared.
"D-don't...don't leave me, okay? Please?" 3
Hiei blinked, having expected something completely different than such a question. A question that had his expression going softer, the edges of his eyes crinkling with the barest of smiles. "Whatever you say, Shiki." *
Her frown hadn't gone away, "And..." Her voice lowered, "Don't... make me go away either." Her eyes barely came open. "Mother...made me go away." 3
Hiei's frown suddenly mirrored hers, and he slowly, carefully, pulled her a little closer. "Shh." His eyes closed as he pressed his forehead to the side of her head. "I'm not going anywhere, and the only reason you'd leave is if you actually wanted to. I can't promise an easy release, however." *
"I don't want to." The severity of her frown lessened a little, "Why would you sorta say that I would?" She nudged her head into him a little. 3
Hiei made a small sound, though its meaning wasn't exactly clear. "Then we have no problem." *
"Mm. I guess not." She reached over with her other hand and poked at his shoulder. "Not that it's gonna happen, but you better not ever just let me leave, flame-boy." 3
Hiei gave the quietest of scoffs at her. "As if it would be so easy." Because, really, he couldn't imagine not fighting for her. *
"Good. 'Cuz...'cuz I like you! You're..." She gave a little shrug. "I dunno. Hiei, I guess." 3
Hiei's eyes came open again to stare at Shikiyoku in amusement. At a loss for words, are we?
"I'm not sure if that's a compliment or not." *
Shikiyoku turned her head a little to consider him.
"Why not? It wouldn't be a compliment to call you anything but what you are." She blinked, and while she didn't realize her eyes had lost their demonic gleam, they were still large and almost innocent. 3
Hiei thought for a moment.
"It will do, for now." *
Her lips formed a thin line, her brow furrowing a little as she thought really hard.
"Warm!" She exclaimed, eyes lighting up a little. "And... comfortable." She nudged her forehead against him a little, "Like what home should feel like." 3
Something within Hiei stirred, and as he stared at her, he became aware that his lips had parted just slightly in surprise and…
What exactly was this?
Home.
His lips pressed together for a moment and his eyelids slid closed.
And instead of responding, he shifted his head around just a little, pulling himself as close as he dared to hide the little nudge he gave with his forehead. *
Mm. Yup.
She was smiling widely.
Home is here. Right here. No matter where else we are, as long as you're here, I'm home.
"Oh! And you're fierce. Terribly fierce." Her frowning expression was terribly cute in an attempting-to-look-fierce sort of way. 3
Hiei's eyes came open to stare at Shikiyoku for a moment, noting her smile as she took a moment to mull over something or another. It wasn't terribly hard to guess, though.
So, when she spoke up again, he made a sound in amusement and continued to stare at the expression she made, lips twitching up at the edges. "Is that what I look like?" *
"Uhm..." She looked thoughtful, eyes looking upwards, trying to remember. Her eyes flickered towards his lips and then back into his eyes.
The hand that had poked at his shoulder reached over and booped his nose.
"If I say 'yes' will you it get you to finish that smile for me?" 3
Hiei's brows raised at her and he considered the female next to him for a moment, considered his different retorts. Different reactions.
His lips suddenly turned downwards, though his eyes didn't reflect the frown. "I don't smile." *
"Is that challenge?" Her eyes narrowed at him, "Because I am the bestest smile-maker-happener." 3
Hiei continued to scowl at Shikiyoku, not replying with anything more than a single twitch of his brow. *
It was completely unintentional this time, but her expression defaulted into her fierce one from earlier as she looked at him and his scowl.
"I don't like your frowny face." She informed him bluntly. "It makes me wanna...I dunno."
Kill things.
To make it go away.
She didn't actually think that would work.
"It's no fun." She decided. 3
"Is that so?" Hiei intoned, expression unchanging as he blinked at her once. "Whoever said I was fun?" *
"I did! 'Cuz you are! Warm and...fun! To be with! ...I like being with you." Her own frown faded away, lightening the area around her eyes. 3
"Is that so?" he repeated, still staring at her evenly. "And what has you convinced of such things? Is it my frown?" *
"Yes, it's so. 'Cuz I know so. And your frowny face is no-fun!" A giggle actually sneaked out of her lips and the arm underneath his twitched as if to move up to cover her mouth. "Except for right now. It's a little fun. Maybe." 3
Hiei had to actually fight this time not to let his expression falter, as amused as he was. "Is that so?" he repeated again, wondering how many times he'd get away with the one phrase. *
"Uh-huh." She gave the barest of nods, "I mean no! Not at all! Maybe a little. Make it go away!" She huffed through her nose and turned to stick her tongue out at him. 3
Hiei's eyes turned to look at her tongue, his first instinct being to reach out and grab it, but refraining. "Is this you trying to make me smile?" *
She blinked at him, face unsure.
"What?" 3
"I thought your goal was to make me smile?" He paraphrased, gaze steady on her. "Or did you forget?" *
Her eyes shifted to the side, still frowning, "What?" 3
"I suppose if you've already forgotten, then it's not important." *
This time she looked directly at him, face blank though her eyes looked mischievous, "What?" 3
Hiei suddenly realized what she was doing, and his eyes narrowed at her a little. "Is that so?" *
Shikiyoku only held her expression for another second, then laughed with delight and turned, throwing her arm around his neck and squeezing him.
"You're my very favorite." 3
Hiei blinked with the sound that echoed in the silence, breaking it effectively as she suddenly turned, closing the very last vestiges of distance between them in one quick motion. With his arm that was still wrapped about her, her tightened his hold on her, giving the barest of smiles when she wasn't looking.
"I could say the same to you." *
She made an amused noise.
"You coooould. But you haven't. That's not the same thing. It doesn't count." She didn't move from where she held him, still smiling. 3
Hiei didn't reply right away, too busy reining in his amusement just in case she pulled away to look at him. And after a moment, the sound he'd been wanting to make had been successfully stifled, his eyes were closed, and his smile turned into a smirk.
"Fine. You're my absolute favorite." *
She pulled away from him to look at him with a bit of a frown.
"I guess that's close enough." She stuck her tongue out at him, "But you're toein' the line, flame-boy!" 3
"I rather enjoy the dangerous lifestyle." *
She frowned at him.
"You're not funny." 3
Hiei's eyes opened to view the frown she issued, and his brows raised. "Is that so?" *
She growled at him, part of her lip raising as her eyes narrowed.
"Do you want to cross that line? You probably won't like what's on the other side." 3
Hiei's brows raised higher in curiosity and amusement. He considered her for a moment, his lips turning further into the smirk he'd been giving. "Well, Toeing the line gets boring. I'm trying to decide if crossing is worth it, or if I like where I'm at." *
"Take too long and I'll make the decision for you." One of her eyebrows raised as she lowered herself back down on the pillow beside him, still facing him. 3
Hiei continued to stare unblinkingly at her before he gave the smallest of sighs and closed his eyes. "I believe I'll stay where I am." He blinked once at her. "I rather enjoy where I am." *
Her frown started to fade away and one side of her lips turned up in a crooked half-smile.
"Is that so?" 3
Hiei's lips twitched. "It appears the tables have turned. However will I recover?" *
"You should definitely fold before you lose anymore." She nodded sagely. 3
"I do believe it a wise choice." Hiei bobbed his head a little to mirror her motion, eyes closing briefly before reopening again. "And just so you know, I never lose twice." *
"That's funny." Shikiyoku said primly, eyes closing and her chin lifting a little, "Because I don't think I've ever lost." 3
"I wouldn't say never. You might regret it later." *
Shikiyoku opened her eyes again, pausing before she spoke up.
"You said never. Not me." She blinked, "But I don't think I would mind terribly. Losing to you." 3
"I'll remember that." He blinked at her once in thought before his eyelids slid closed, this time remaining that way for a good while. "It's not bad losing to you either." *
Her green eyes gleamed triumphantly.
"So, what did I win?" 3
Hiei didn't reply right away, instead taking a moment to think it over. He hadn't considered anything, really. He'd felt no reason to, honestly.
Now that he was posed with the question…
"I'll get back to you on that." *
"Hmph." She wasn't sure if she much cared for that answer and she poked him in the side. 3
Hiei's eyes came open at the prod, staring at her with a raised brow. "Impatient are we?" *
"No, I just like it when you look at me." Her eyes closed as she smiled at him. 3
Hiei released a breath of amusement and let his eyelids close again. "Strange demon." *
"I never claimed otherwise." She imitated his voice as best she could manage, looking demure. 3
The air released from Hiei's lips this time sounded remarkably similar to 'tch.' And it took a great deal of effort to not actually let his lips twitch upwards at her, which surprised him a little. "Child." *
She made a noise of impertinence at him and, finding she had nothing to retort, resorted to tickling him. 3
Hiei's eyes immediately shot open, his entire body going rigid for an instant before he took to scooting away from her, eyes narrowed but lips twitching and an odd desire to make some sort of sound taking over his airways.
"What are you doing?" *
Shikiyoku's eyes narrowed as he backed away, completely off-setting the rather wicked grin at his reaction, and instead of giving a verbal answer, she dove towards him again to tickle him with little hesitation. 3
His muscles seized up and twitched violently at the odd feeling of Shiki's fingers skittering around, poking and prodding and… whatever they were doing. His lips pressed into a thin line and he scooted away some more, this time in a much more jerky fashion, and his hands shot out to grab her wrists, stilling them just an inch from his person.
And, despite all efforts, she'd managed to get the smallest sound from him that even he didn't know what to call.
Though, the amount of restraint he'd had to use to not make the sound had his breathing just a little off-kilter. *
When he halted her hands, she tugged at his grip a little as if threatening to get away, trying to poke at him some more, and she looked up at him, still grinning if breathing hard herself. 3
"I see you're feeling better." Hiei remarked as he continued to hold her hands away from himself, eyes narrowed at her. "Quite the energy you have." *
"Quite the grip you have." She managed to say, as if even thoughts were becoming a little difficult. Her smile faltered a little as she realized she couldn't catch her breath and where Hiei held onto her hands started feeling clammy again.
She blinked at him at little, her vision doing weird things.
Maybe, uh, that wasn't such a great idea. 3
Hiei quickly noted the change and pulled Shikiyoku to the bed again, laying her next to him while he lay on his back, pulling one of her arms over his stomach so that she would be close to the source of heat. "Perhaps you should think before acting. Might help." *
Shikiyoku's eyes were heavy as she let Hiei move her about without protest, snuggling her face up against him.
"One doesn't...think...about having fun." Her eyes closed in spite of herself, though she could feel how quickly her heart was beating and how her hand and feet were cold, feeling dizzy. "You have fun without thinking. Most times. Sometimes." She frowned, her head pounding. 3
Hiei made a small sound in amusement at her, simultaneously wondering what exactly about the experience was fun. He didn't ask, however, and instead made sure that his energy blanketed the room again- some point, it had returned to him without his notice- and he made extra sure that the warmth blanketed the girl laying on him now. He felt his energy circulating around her, and carefully he grabbed the blankets from the far side of the bed and pulled them over her, holding them in place with his other hand.
"Better?" *
Shikiyoku nodded her head where she'd buried it against him, breathing through her nose at a rapid pace that she couldn't seem to settle, though she felt overly tired at the same time and started to relax. 3
Hiei reached up and with a single finger, poked at her cheek to keep her aware. "No sleep yet." Quite frankly, he wasn't sure when it would be okay for her, since she was so small and had lost so much blood. He couldn't quite judge the timing on her recovery, since he never had to do so on such a small being.
"Tell me a random fact. About anything." *
"Ummm..." It was kind of hard to think at the moment. Her eyes actually came open and she stared forward. Her fingers rustled with the fabric of his cloak, which somehow got her thinking about his Mark, which nebulously worked its way around to, "Your eyes are...the same as Yukina's. And-" She grimaced, feeling her heart fluttering in her chest. 3
Hiei's muscles suddenly stiffened at the direction she'd taken. Well… He hadn't expected that by any means.
He forced himself to relax, but didn't respond. His eyes turned to stare at the ceiling briefly before he closed them, still finding no way to reply. *
Shikiyoku's hand that Hiei had put over his stomach shifted up towards his neck-though it only got as far as his sternum-where she knew somewhere lay a Koorime's tear on a simple necklace. The tear Yukina had gotten from their mother and given to him to give to 'her brother.' Her twin.
The Ice Maiden had already known.
Shikiyoku fingers scratched briefly at his cloak where they ended up.
"-and that's how I knew. When I first saw her. As soon as I saw her. And, she already knows who you are even without you saying it. But I've said nothing to anyone until here! Until you. Until now! And I won't... And...you and I are...a lot alike. Because..." Images of her banishment seemed fresher for some reason, the emotions more raw, and coupled with the duality of her nature now…
Pain and Pleasure. Fire and Ice.
Cast out. Alone.
She shivered, warm but also cold, her heart still pounding and her head still spinning.
"...and...I like you." 3
Hiei's lips turned downward in a scowl as Shikiyoku continued on, images of his interactions with Yukina passing before his mind's eye. Sure, he'd considered she might have already known, but had quickly decided that she shouldn't have known, because how could she have guessed? He hadn't thought she'd even been told of the story until she'd asked him to help her.
His scowl lessened.
At least if she still didn't mind his presence, he knew she didn't see him as… he thought she would.
He banished the thoughts quickly and his frown lessened.
It took a moment for Shiki's last few lines to register with him. And when they did, he released a small breath.
They.. were a lot alike, weren't they? Very similar in some aspects now.
He wasn't sure how he felt about such a thought.
"...I don't mind you either." *
She had been trying not to think about it ever since the other had left, but-
...
He was Marked.
Shikiyoku cringed, the remembrance of how strong Hiei's desire to kill Otento had been washing over again.
...and if she had said that her heart wasn't aching terribly at that moment, it would have been a lie.
And for two reasons, it seemed, neither related to her loss of blood: killing someone who had been marked and the fact that Hiei had nearly died. 3
Hiei remained silent after that, staring up at the ceiling with blank eyes and whirring thoughts. Thoughts that were never the same one after the other, but each had a similar topic. A similar theme.
And she was laying next to him. *
She didn't actually have any idea if the fact that she killed someone marked would have any lasting ramifications, but the truth was she could honestly say she wouldn't have done anything differently.
It wasn't as if she could have stabbed Otento in the face as soon as he showed up. And really, shouldn't she be thanking him for stabbing her? For his selfish response which was the only reason she was laying here with Hiei and not by herself?
...then why does it hurt so bad?
Her eyes closed and she shifted as if uncomfortable, as if burying her face farther into Hiei would make a difference. 3
Hiei's eyes turned to Shikiyoku, his thoughts pausing for the moment as she buried her face into his chest, hiding her expression from him entirely. And while he was unable to read her expression, he found that he learned all he needed to know from the general air around her.
His brows furrowed just a little.
Next, he was giving her the mental image of the first time they'd shared sweet snow together, on the floor of the kitchen so long ago.
Perhaps that would… lessen the cloud around her.
~!**!~
It was there, just beyond her metaphorical fingertips, but Akari still couldn't access it. Not even as she reached up and threw away the arm that had come at her in attack, or blocked the kick that sent pain skittering up her arm.
It was there. So why couldn't she use it? Her energy was humming dully in her core, but it felt as if it took too much effort to pull at it, as if reaching for an attack would ultimately worsen her situation.
She sidestepped, swallowed hard, and reached again.
The strike that hit her this time sent her to the floor, back against the wall and legs sprawled out in front of her. Her head pounded like a hammer was continuously being thrown against it, and the taste of the coppery liquid falling over her lips was almost missed, as it had become quite normal these days.
She didn't even have the heart to growl when Takeo crouched in front of her, his large, oversized hand grabbing for her chin and turning it this way and that. "How is it you've managed to learn to block my attacks so quickly, but not to fall through a layer?"
She fought the cough, swallowing it back.
"Don't think me an idiot. I know you're trying for your energy, and I know you're aware of what it could do once you pull it free. Are you truly so desperate for escape? What lies beyond this castle, if not simple running from the guards who will hunt you for sport?"
Akari's lips twitched for the first time in weeks. "Wouldn't you… like to know."
His sneer disappeared all at once, and his hand released her chin, only if to allow him the ability to trace the mark along her jawline. His eyes followed it, head tilting a little as if it were the most magnificent thing in the world. "Such a shame. I really didn't want to put a scar there, you know." His eyes turned up to hers, expression peculiar to her. "You leave me no choice about a lot of things. Why not just give in?"
Akari batted his hand away with a shaking arm. She didn't reply.
His finger returned, starting the trace all over again, trailing from just under her ear to under her chin, stopping where the scar ended. "Such a shame." he repeated. His head tilted the other direction, eyes following his finger back up the way it came.
And then his hand moved, large, strong fingers closing around her throat, his eyes moving to stare at her widening ones, his stare unreadable as she gasped for air and made an attempt to pull his fingers from her neck.
They only tightened., and she squeezed her eyes shut, willing like hell to move, to grab at her energy, to do something. Because there was still someone she needed to see.
If he didn't already think she'd tossed him aside.
Her body suddenly went slack, her hand at the other's wrist stilling.
Move.
And then the grip was gone, and she felt like she was floating on air.
Her eyes came open as she gasped, staring at a blurred demon with wild eyes.
If she'd been listening, she would have heard Takeo's victorious chuckle. *
~!**!~
-because I really don't know what I would do without him, and I can't believe I-
...
...flung a spoon at him?
Shikiyoku blinked, mind enveloped in the memory that she had nearly forgotten. She'd been upset-at Hiei?-and by the look of it, Hiei wasn't exactly pleased with her either, though she could tell now that her choosing to toss a spoon in his direction took him off-guard. But he had joined her.
She let out a weak chuckle, shaking her head a little.
Stupid girl. 3
Was it safe for her to sleep yet?
He really, really wanted it to be. Even glanced at the window as if it would tell him how much time had passed. How long until she could rest? How long until she could escape this world for a few hours and go without worry? He stared at the window, mind still transferring the memory to the girl next to him even as he himself turned to other thoughts.
If he would have died for killing Otento, what would it do to her? Anything? Nothing?
How would she end up reconnecting with her sealed energy again? Was that the cause for her change in appearance?
Would that change too, later?
How long would it be before she could very possibly end up stuck in such a state? Was that even something to consider?
Everything is worth considering.
He noted the first indication of change in the time of day, the sky lightening just a little if he looked long enough. He turned his head to Shikiyoku, staring for a moment.
Surely it had been long enough.
And if it hasn't?
He scowled and turned his head away again.
"How do you feel?" *
Shikiyoku had just yawned when she felt Hiei's voice speaking across her mind.
"Really...tired. Like-" She smiled a little, "Like I've been dancing for three days straight." 3
Hiei nearly, nearly, made a sound of amusement at her. "Are you in pain?" *
Her eyes shifted until she was staring down at the fabric of his cloak.
"That depends on what we're talking about, I guess." She tried to smile as if she meant it light-heartedly, but the edges of her lips only twitched a little. 3
Hiei rolled over and pulled her towards his chest, making sure the blanket over her came with before he settled, eyes closing. "Go to sleep. I'll be here."
I'll watch over you. *
Shikiyoku closed her eyes as Hiei's arms enveloped her and she took a deep breath, his scent washing over her mind and taking with it all the thoughts she found vying for her attention.
Sleep won't make everything go away.
Her eyes fluttered open a little, but there was only darkness there too now.
She shifted.
It will for a little while.
. . .
Dreamless.
A blessing, really, considering all that had happened. It would not have come as a surprise to her had she relived the last few hours in some sort of nightmare, but as she heaved a waking sigh, her eyes twitching, she almost thought the darkness she sensed around was wrong.
It's gotta be afternoon.
And she felt warm too.
Oh right.
As her awareness trickled in, she noted Hiei near her still, felt the bagginess of her clothing-which almost earned itself a laugh-and the blankets still wrapping her up against him.
When she finally blinked, she felt the smoothness of his cloak against her face and squeezed her eyes shut again as if to somehow return to the blissful ignorance of the sleep.
My heart hurts. 3
Hiei's eyes shifted from the window- where he'd been checking how long it had been since she'd fallen asleep- to the girl who released a small sound against him and stirred just the slightest amount. He kept it hidden, but relief washed over him.
She was awake.
His eyes finally slid close and he drew in the smallest of breaths.
He'd wait for her to make it obvious she wanted him to know she was awake. Because, really…
She deserved a moment to gather herself. *
Ached? Was ache a good word for it?
She was fairly certain she recognized this feeling. It was the same sort of pain she had wandered the Ninth Level with when she thought Kit had died, when their bond had broken. Not the listless, dead wandering when Hiei had been torn from her...
...but the kind that kept you aware of every little thing, like Hiei's smell and his arms around her and how the air felt light as if it were mid-afternoon, and how silent the rest of the room was save for the two of them.
She finally shifted her face up, wondering if Hiei had fallen asleep himself. It didn't seem like he had hardly moved, but she couldn't tell.
...Man, she was tiny...3
Hiei remained still, eyes closed and chest moving with his breathing as he took in her scent. He could feel the air around her was not as it should be, but he didn't exactly know what to make of it, other than it was… wrong. That he didn't want it there, didn't want her to feel its heaviness.
He felt her shift and was immediately aware of her eyes on his face, and for a moment he didn't move an inch.
After a few silent moments, his eyes came open to look down at her. And as he looked at her, he realized just how small she really was- something he hadn't let himself think about before now. Before his other, higher-prioritized thoughts.
Odd.
He noted that color had returned to her cheeks, bringing life back to her skin and to her face, whereas several hours before she'd been rather pale from blood loss.
He couldn't think of anything to say, his mind slowing in his normal thought processes. So he didn't say anything. *
Shikiyoku started to wriggle around a little, moving up a briefly and planting a chaste kiss on Hiei's lips before pulling back down and staring at him again.
"I'm hungry." 3
Hiei's gaze softened just a little at her, too tired to give a reaction to the gesture she'd given. His eyelids slid close for a moment as he mentally shook himself, and then slid open again to stare at her a little longer.
His brow quirked upward just a little. "Then I suppose it's time to eat."
Honestly.. food didn't sound so bad either. *
She blinked at him as if waiting for something.
"Do you have any food?" Her head tilted a little to the side, and it was clear she meant to question truthfully. 3
Hiei blinked once slowly at Shikiyoku as he considered her question. He made a small sound before replying, in a bit of a curious tone, "No?"
He paused again, as if he thought he might have something. He considered the contents of the fridge downstairs, of the cabinets. He knew nothing about any of it.
"Though… you might have some stuff… downstairs." *
"Oh."
Right.
Her stomach growled and she started to sit up.
Shush you. 3
Hiei let Shikiyoku shift around, even releasing her and using a hand to help her sit upright, just in case. He himself, however, remained where he was for the smallest of moments before he too shifted and was sitting up, eyes still on the girl as if afraid she'd keelhaul at any moment. *
Shikiyoku put a finger on Hiei's shoulder and gave a little push.
"You should sleep." She told him bluntly, child-like face serious and almost frowning. 3
Hiei let his shoulder moved in the direction her finger pushed, his brow raising curiously at her before settling into place again when she spoke. He moved, sliding away from the bed and meandering towards the door with the single sound, "Hn." *
Not that I expected you to listen to me.
Her eyes softened and she looked more like Shikiyoku than a five year old in that moment as she watched his back.
After a pause, she crawled backwards off the bed and carefully slid herself over the side to the floor, making a noise of disgust after landing and seeing the state her clothing was in.
Her shoes and socks had fallen off some time between Kit healing her and getting onto the bed and as she looked down at herself, it was easy to see the gaping hole in what had been a sleek, black tanktop, of which one strap fell off her shoulder. Not to mention the fact that a good deal of it was soaked in her own blood, and some of Otento's.
...and she wouldn't really be able to walk properly without having to hold onto a few belt loops.
...I mean, I've been small since taking on a human form, but this is ridiculous.
She just felt thankful that her hair had shrunk with her and only hung down to her knees.
Her eyes quickly cast about the room, bothered by how big everything looked when one stood barely two feet tall. Even getting back onto the bed would take a few awkward moments that she did not plan on letting anyone witness.
The strangest thing of all was feeling so very human. Actually human instead of a demon suppressing her powers. Frail, weak, and small.
What a wonderful combination.
She glanced down at the bloodied mess of her shirt and tried to pull up the renegade strap, stepping out of the black pants that were about to fall around her ankles anyway and moving to the dresser, opening the second drawer and shuffling around in it. 3
Hiei paused at the door with his hand around the knob, his eyes suddenly trailing down at his cloak. His bloodied, dry, crusty cloak. A cloak that he didn't wish to remove in front of the others, but did not wish to wear around all day either.
Damn.
His hand fell from the doorknob and pulled his cloak just a little away, to inspect the mess some more. What a pain. He lifted his head to look around the room, as if he'd find something there to replace.
Preferably something with long sleeves.
He moved lazily across the room, approaching the door he only assumed lead to a closet and pulled it open, careful not to let it slam into the nearby desk. His hand remained on the handle as his eyes roved inside, looking at each shirt, each colored material carefully before passing over it and to the next for inspection.
Preferably something she doesn't wear often.
His eyes alighted on a material that wasn't particularly worn, wasn't particularly favored it seemed. He pulled it from the hanger and took to inspecting it carefully, eyeing the long sleeves and the neckline in consideration.
HE'd have to wear the scarf still but..
It will do.
Hiei had no hesitation in pulling his cloak from his person, his eyes momentarily looking to the mark on his skin. He realized this was the first time he'd actually looked at it, rather than figured out how large it was by where it spread.
His eyes followed the curls, the swirls, from the heart over the left side of his chest to up and over his shoulder, and even down that arm, ending just after the crook in his arm. It decorated his neck too, he knew, but he hadn't known it had grown to cover a majority of the left side of his torso as well, the shapes and swirls beginning to seem to stretch towards his right side, seeming to avoid his back for the meantime.
Heh.
He pulled the red long-sleeved shirt over his head with ease, his scarf in one hand and his cloak hanging on the doorknob of the closet as he adjusted the shirt around until it was comfortable. And soon after, he made quick work of the scarf around his neck, easily positioning it to hide the bits of the mark that had begun to creep up underneath it the night before.
Once satisfied, he turned and grabbed for his cloak, pausing as he again inspected the material of his favorite article of clothing. *
It was funny how she couldn't remember much of what was in any of these drawers.
She had managed to open the top one a little, standing on tip-toe to look in, but it was all socks and such, the second drawer having been pants, jeans, even after she practically tore the thing apart with her rummaging.
She sat down to look through the bottom one, giving a huff of impatience. There were a couple of folded up sun-dresses that weren't going to work, most of the things in here bed-time clothing, pajamas, night gowns-
Ugh.
Sliding the drawer back into place, she didn't take particular notice of whatever Hiei was doing, but she did step up beside him, tilting her head back to look up at what was in the closet and pulling at the front of her tank-top, a strap off her shoulder again, where it felt like the blood had stuck to her skin
Icky. 3
Hiei saw movement out of the corner of his eyes and glanced down at Shikiyoku, watching her for a moment in amusement as she pulled at the shirt she wore. He turned his eyes to the clothing in the closet again, suddenly realizing how much of a challenge this would be to her for her to grab anything. His eyes roved again over the materials, deciding anything with long sleeves was a no-go, as was anything without sleeves.
His hand snaked out to pull a little at a hanger, then replaced it once he decided it wouldn't do.
He glanced at her again before his hand pulled yet another hanger from the bunch, this time actually removing it from the rack to stare at it unblinkingly before nodding to himself once, removing the t-shirt from the hanger- which he replaced- and lowering the shirt in front of her.
"Here." *
Shikiyoku blinked for a second at the offer before taking it from him.
It would...hang down to her ankles, but it wasn't likely to be better than anything else she could see.
And she couldn't reach anything on her own anyway.
As she was looking at it, she tugged at the back of the tank-top where the hole, or rather the bloody mess around the hole,had dried together to peel it from her skin.
Without much more than a shrug as if to say 'it'll work,' she pushed the other strap off her shoulder and as the remains of the tank-top dropped, began pulling the other shirt on over her head.
Her eyes glanced ruefully at her shoulder once she got it on, sticking out of the too-large collar and no matter how much she tried to center the thing, it always ended up back off-kilter.
Whatever. I'm hungry.
The shirt rustled around her ankles as she moved for the door, standing on tip-toe again and grabbing at the knob with both hands in order to turn it and letting go once it started to swing inward, peering out into the hallway. 3
Hiei had turned to walk away when Shikiyoku gave a small shrug, which seemed out of place on her tiny shoulders, and was hanging his cloak over the end of the bed when he heard her padding her way across the carpet. He smoothed out the material begrudgingly before he turned and sauntered across the room, standing over Shikiyoku as she managed to pull the door open and look out into the hallway.
Had he not been as tired as he was, he likely would have remarked about her slow pace. But today..
Today, he found he rather preferred the slowness. The complete lack in fast movements and quick quips.
Because he was only half sure he-
Damn.
Taka was going to be hell today. *
Shikiyoku hesitated.
What are they gonna think?
They've already seen you like this, stupid.
It didn't make it any easier.
She had no idea if there even was anyone else in the house.
Still moving with a caution that did not seem to suit her small size, Shikiyoku stepped out into the hall and moved to the right for the stairs, putting a hand up against the wall as she made her way down the steps that seemed a whole bunch bigger than she ever remembered them.
The house was...quiet, and from her vantage point as she paused about half-way down she could see an arm thrown up over the nearest couch arm. Taka's.
Curiosity over-taking her, when she reached the first floor, she padded on quiet bare feet over around the side of the couch to see the bird demon stretched out, his body so long-or perhaps the couch so short-that the leg that wasn't bent at the knee and resting on the ground hung over the other end.
His face was turned away for the most part, his right hand resting on the body of a black cat that was stretched out along the length of his torso.
Shikiyoku stepped up to the side of the couch and poked Taka's cheek.
He stirred very little, and Shikiyoku poked him harder, earning a noise of discontent and him shifting around until his face was in her direction.
"Taka, I'm hungry." Shikiyoku demanded, crossing her arms over her chest.
Taka grunted and opened an eye, "Then why don't you-" Both eyes came open and he blinked.
Oh yeah...
"Can't reach the stove?" He started to sit up and the cat stirred, blinking at him with irritation.
Shikiyoku only frowned at him.
"Oh, come on, don't look at me like that, sweetheart." Wow, that's kind of weird calling her that when she looks like this.
Kitoushi slid off of Taka as the demon sat up, and moved to curl up on the cushion next to him.
As Taka stood, Shikiyoku moved and grabbed for the cat, earning a huff of unhappiness as she dragged him off the couch and held him just under his front legs, moving to follow after Taka.
Taka paused in mid-step and glanced down at her. She stopped just short of him and looked up at him, green eyes wide with a strange sort of innocence that seemed misplaced.
He sighed, "Sweetheart, put the cat down."
Shikiyoku, still frowning, shook her head.
"He's tired. He doesn't even have the strength to change back yet."
She shook her head again, and Taka noted the cat's half-lidded gaze, though otherwise he didn't seem to be fighting her attention.
Shikiyoku turned her eyes up to Taka again and blinked.
"Ugh. Those eyes." Taka turned away, and kept going, Shikiyoku falling in step right behind him again, "And here I thought they couldn't get any worse." 3
Hiei remained at the top of the stairs for a moment longer, pulling the door shut behind himself before he very slowly began taking the steps to the living room area. By the time he joined the proverbial party, Taka was up and moving to the kitchen, and Kitoushi was in Shikiyoku's grasp.
The fire demon's eyes followed the girl's trail, listening to Taka make an attempt at convincing her to put the cat down, and failing.
Rather miserably, he would add.
Hiei moved to stand behind Shikiyoku, not moving after her when she continued to follow Taka.
"Shikiyoku," Hiei called, tone flat and leaving no room for arguments, "Give me the cat." *
She had only taken a couple of steps when she stopped and turned, her face serious.
She shook her head at him.
Nu-uh. 3
Hiei's eyes stared at Shikiyoku, unblinking as he raised an expectant brow at her. "Shikiyoku," his tone was a little heavier, as if he found no capacity for arguing, "Kitoushi needs sleep. You are not helping him achieve it. Hand me. The cat." *
"No, he's mine." Shikiyoku informed him defiantly.
Kitoushi gave a little sigh, the tip of his tail curling and uncurling in the air. 3
Hiei took a single step to close the distance between them before he crouched in front of her, remaining on his toes as his gaze remained locked with hers, flashing a little. Part of him was very amused, but the other part of him was so not in the mood to argue.
He did know, however, that carrying around Kitoushi would only prolong the demon's ability to recover.
"Shiki." He held his arms out patiently.
Or, as patiently as he could.
"He can't play with you if you don't let him sleep first." *
Shikiyoku's frown deepened and she leaned back a little from Hiei at first when he squatted in front of her, staring at his hands suspiciously.
She turned her gaze back up to him, appearing to consider him and his offered arms.
Letting out a forceful breath, she held the cat out, turning her head to the side and refusing to look at him as she muttered, "Only 'cuz you called me Shiki. 'Cuz I wasn't gonna play with him anyway." 3
Hiei slowly reached out and slid the cat from Shikiyoku's grasp, moving Kitoushi to one arm so he could use his other hand to reach out and pat at Shikiyoku's head once.
"I'll remember that."
He turned and moved for the couch, where he lowered the cat to the cushion before taking a seat on the next one, resting his elbow on the armrest and turning his eyes to the kitchen briefly before looking to Kitoushi. After a moment, his eyes returned to the kitchen area again.
He refused to sleep. He still wanted to eat, anyway. *
As soon as Hiei took Kitoushi from her, Shikiyoku flipped her hair over her shoulder as she stalked back to the kitchen where Taka was yawning and pulling things out of cabinets.
She stared at him for a little bit, one hand moving over to her other arm and rubbing at it.
"What's wrong, sweetheart?" He kept searching for things, casting her a brief glance.
He noted her gaze had fallen.
I hurt.
She gave a tiny shrug and Taka put down whatever he had in his hand, moving over to pick her up-I don't think I'd ever get used to her being this small-and setting her on the counter near where he put things out to work on.
Once being placed on the couch, Kitoushi stood there awkwardly for a moment, unsure of what to do next before he decided Hiei was too far away to move towards and hunched over, eyes closing as he curled his tail up next to him, a certain amount of tension at his shoulders. 3
Thanks for reading! Bless your face. If you sneezed during this chapter, bless you. Peace off! -Star