Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho
Yokatta - 'Thank god' or 'I'm so glad'
Chapter 5
Picture Perfect
"A flower blossoms for its own joy." ― Oscar Wilde
Kurama
Even after all these years, human culture still perplexes me.
Hanako, in all her effervescent qualities, managed to stir feelings from a heart that had been locked away for centuries. The afternoon spent together served to be more magical than anything I had ever encountered. Listening to her small jokes, hearing stories of her life and watching her take down an opponent almost two heads taller than her livened up my day more than this past week with Hiei and Yusuke had. It was incredible how complex human emotions could be, and while I, myself, am a master at manipulation and deceit getting to know her proved that it was something I had never truly explored.
Less than two days of knowing her and she's already shown me how large her capacity for love was towards her family and how much lost she's currently juggling to balance. So many changes in her life and yet she's still managing to laugh and experience and share joy with others.
It was interesting how – after thousands of years – a simple human girl became one of the biggest mysteries in my life. I couldn't help but continue to watch her from a distance after dropping her off. I heard the beginnings of her conversation with Kaito – some argument about a videogame they both play – before I mentally reminded myself to stop eavesdropping on them.
What exactly was I feeling with this? Longing? Heartache? Desire? Grief? It was as if everything I thought I knew suddenly congealed into one pot of mixed emotions. Why is this happening? I've had my fair share of tryst before as Yoko. Love and lust were nothing new to me. I've had more lovers than I could count back in Makai – I even cared for a few of them at one time or another, but this was…she was different somehow.
Even from a distance I could sense her unique energy signals. Like a pulsating vibration gently calling out to me. She was human – in every way possible – but still so much more unique than everyone else I've come across with.
But she wasn't the only presence I could sense that night.
"I didn't realize they were letting you roam around so soon, Hiei," I smirked.
"You're pining after them now? Pathetic," Hiei spat as he appeared out of the shadows. "Spirit world wants you."
"Since when did you work as their messenger boy?" I teased.
He glared. "Ever since you chose to side with that detective."
I could've continued goading but I knew it would get me nowhere. Hiei's temper – while still evident – had subsided greatly in the last few days. I had suspicions that there were deeper layers behind that story, but it would be difficult to uncover the truth so soon.
Instead, I followed after Hiei towards my house. He made his way into my bedroom window with ease as I entered through the front door as usual. The house was still empty – mother wouldn't be returning until tomorrow morning – dusts lingering on the floors of our unused house. Aside from my bedroom and sometimes the kitchen the house wasn't touched by much. Hiei sat off to the side of my room, back propped up against the wall, arms crossed and with his usual grimace on his face.
"Hurry up," he growled. "The sooner we find out where Spirit World is going to place us the sooner I can figure out how to break out."
"I'm surprised you're even going along with this meeting," I commented. "You could've just ran."
"Bzzz—wrong!" Botan – as bright and bubbly as her pink kimono – said once she entered. "Koenma placed tracking seals on Hiei so he can't go anywhere outside of this city."
"Good to see you, Botan," I greeted. "I'm assuming you'll be escorting us to Koenma?"
"Bingo!" she cheered. "I was going to get you sooner, but you were on such a lovely walk I didn't want to disturb."
"Cut the niceties," Hiei snarled – already projecting his spirit outwards from his body.
I sat on my bed and followed suit – Botan speeding us towards Spirit World.
The amount of security has increased around the office – particularly towards their library and vault. Seeing it from a workday setting was a little jarring – how could spirit world be so chaotic? But then again it was relatively easy to break in here so I suppose I couldn't expect much from it. Botan led us down along a stretch of corridor – the very same one I had ran through a week ago with the Ankokukyo in hand – until we made it to Koenma's doors.
"Thank you for coming in through the front doors this time, boys," a voice called from behind the stacks of paperwork.
From what I'd heard Koenma was a relatively young spirit who was beginning to take over from his father. I was well aware of his father – the one who had originally attempted to capture me in my previous form – but wasn't sure what his son was like. I had heard a varying amount of rumors circulating about him. Rumors that varied between an all-powerful ruler like his father to a childish entity who had a penchant for misplacing paperwork. The rumors, however, did not prepare me for the sight before.
A toddler.
I managed to keep my facial features neutral – years of training kept me from laughing. Besides – like Hanako proved earlier at her club – don't underestimate your opponent. Regardless of his form this was still one of the great rulers of Spirit World. Hiei on the other hand…
"Is this a joke?" Hiei scoffed beside me.
Had I not been awaiting punishment from this toddler I probably would've ventured a chuckle at his reaction.
"This is no joke, Hiei," Koenma stated as he continued to stamp the last few papers in front of him. The ogre from earlier removed the stacks from his desk at the same time that Botan went to hand him three files in front of him. "I've already decided what to do with your third accomplice. Gouki had far too many strikes against him, you two on the other hand had clean slates – by demon standards that is."
He opened up the two files revealing nothing within them. He must not be aware of my previous form as Yoko Kurama then.
"You two ever took care of a C-class demon terrorizing the city last year," he nodded as he continued to look through the files. "Our new detective, Yusuke, has vouched for Kurama and based off of the events with the mirror I've decided to let you off on parole."
I heard Hiei scoff beside me. "And what of me?"
"In your case, Hiei," Koenma started. "You abducted humans and attempted to convert them into demons and turn them into your army. That is something that Spirit World cannot overlook. Therefore—"
"Excuse me," I interrupted. "If you'll allow me to, I can vouch for Hiei."
"I don't need your help, Fox." Hiei derided.
"Go on, Kurama. Why would you be willing to vouch for him?" Koenma asked.
"I have reason to believe that Hiei had been misguided in some for by another party," I offered. "Judging from the past I'm aware that Hiei's original purpose for coming here is to search for someone – not to take over. It'd be easy for me to dig around and discover the truth, unless you'd rather just rethink your punishment for him."
"I'm interested in your theory," Koenma agreed. "Alright. The two of you shall be placed on parole. During which time you must adhere to rules set forth by Spirit World guidelines as well as aide in missions assigned to you by me. Think of it as community service."
"Tch." Hiei rolled his eyes. "And why should I agree to be a lacky for Spirit World?"
Quietly I whispered. "You can't find Yukina locked up." And in a louder voice. "This will also give you the opportunity to test your strengths against Yusuke again."
He stopped glaring for a moment and smirked. "So be it, if it means I get to battle the detective again then I'll play along."
"I wouldn't count your chickens just yet," Koenma warned. "Right now, I have him on a mission and if it works out the way I planned for it to then Yusuke is going to come back even more powerful than before."
"That'll just make it more satisfying for me in the end," Hiei goaded.
"Now, I should warn you. Killing humans goes directly against your parole. Should you kill one then it's a one-way ticket to our cells," Koenma informed. "And Kurama, as the person vouching for Hiei, should he go against any of our rules then it will also affect your parole status."
"I'm sure he'll learn to cooperate," I assured. "Won't you Hiei?"
He stayed silent which – for Hiei at least – was as best as we were going to get.
"He better because at the moment Yusuke is working on a case and hopefully coming back with a master and stronger abilities, and in the meantime Spirit World needs you two to fill in on his duties," Koenma stated.
"And what are these duties exactly?"
"Easy!" Botan chimed in – happy to be able to introduce her role in our parole. "We usually have Yusuke helping wayward spirits or controlling small issues that pop up in the human world. A few tanuki spirits and some low level demons trying to stir up trouble here and there."
"Basically, they want us to play clean-up while the detective is gone," Hiei rolled his eyes.
"Oh, c'mon now, Hiei!" Botan pleaded hoping to bring in some cheer into the young fire demon's disposition. "It'll be much more fun than that! Especially since you get to have me as your oh so helpful assistant! I'll be supplying you both with your missions from Spirit World and if you're nice to me, I'll even assist you on them!"
"Speaking of assisting…shouldn't you be checking in on Yusuke soon?" Koenma said pulling Botan away from her thoughts. Botan gasped in dread before grabbing her oar and speeding off towards the Human World. Koenma sighed. "That girl is always so scattered brain…I guess you two can just see yourselves out then. Try not to steal anything this time."
Hiei and I made it back to my house fairly quickly. Clouds had formed and petals of rain were beginning to fall. Hiei took no time at all to head towards the window.
"You can stay if you want shelter from the rain," I offered – still unsure of where he stays in the human world. If I tried it'd be easy to trace him to his hideout, but he wasn't the type to desire unwanted company.
"I'm not looking for any handouts," he said in a cool even tone before exiting.
It was well past midnight by now and I was left with a dilemma. Mother would be returning home next week, and I'd be left with added duties to attend to with Spirit World. Not only that but there was the matter of Hanako to attend to.
I reached for the origami flower. The paper was a soft pink, delicate to the touch and carefully folded to fit the contour of a cherry blossom. Her energies were intertwined into each crease of the material. It fascinated me how human – while weak in power – were able to so easily weave their individual energy signals into the actions they did.
It tugged at the heart forcing a surprising smile to form. There was a sense of peace that I had not felt in years. Sleep took me not too long after; an act that I rarely partook in. And even rarer I found my mind – which normally housed calculated plans and unending thoughts – dreaming.
Layers of white snow surrounded me on all sides. The world was quiet and peaceful, the only sound coming from the sound of the snow that crunched from my feet below. A small pond – iced over due to the cold – was off to my side. My reflection surprised me the most. The face that stared back at me had been the image of a man I no longer knew. My eyes were golden and the dark, unruly, red hair I had grown accustomed to the past fifteen years had reverted back to bright silver. I was young here, no more than perhaps 500 years old by my estimations.
I looked up and took in my surroundings more. A small, traditional-styled house made of dark wood and paper doors sat a few meters in front of me. This was the human world. How did I get here? Was my mind playing tricks on me or was this a hidden memory?
"What are you doing here?" a gentle voice spoke.
I didn't want to look at the source of the sound. Wistful nostalgia overtook me, a feeling I hadn't realized demons were capable of feeling.
"Kurama?" the voice spoke again. "You're still injured. You should be resting." She was right. My left leg felt heavier than it should've, and my side was sore. She spoke again. "Come inside, I'll make you some miso soup. You liked that right?"
I steeled myself and looked at the voice. A young woman smiled at me. Her hair was dark and tied into a low ponytail and faint freckles scattered her cheeks. She was beautiful, but what caught my eye was her aura.
It was Hanako's. Or perhaps Hanako's aura was similar to her. It wasn't exactly the same, but similar enough to the point where it was clear the two were somehow related.
The woman walked towards me and reached for the branches of the tree behind me. "I know you said you were in a hurry to return home, but you should stay until spring. This is a cherry blossom tree, and Japan has the most beautiful blossoms!"
The memory continued to play out.
She released a small amount of energy onto the empty branches of the tree. Her powers weren't incredibly strong, but she was able to produce a single blossom on the tree. A small pink flower bloomed and judging from the memory this would be my first human flower I encountered.
"See! I've been practicing my Reiki abilities like you showed me!" she laughed – pride clear in her voice. She grabbed my hand, and surprisingly I allowed her to guide me back towards the house.
The house was larger than it appeared on the outside. My body went through the motions of the memory. Yoko Kurama removed his slippers, a feat I never pictured my past self performing for a human and laid out in the tatami room. He – no I – looked at peace. The woman brought in a tray of miso soup, white rice and fish along with a cup of green tea.
It looked like a scene from a movie, almost too picturesque to truly be real.
But it was real. I told myself in my head.
And I knew it was true. This really did happen at some point in my life, I just can't remember.
'Or maybe you don't want to remember,' a voice deep inside my subconscious told me.
The morning light woke me from my slumber before the memory could finish.
It was the most restful night's sleep I'd had in years. The memory of everything was fuzzier than I was used to. I'd trained myself to be able to memorize and recall anything at a moment notice. The fact that I wasn't able to do this with this memory was concerning. One thing was certain, however, and that was that Hanako and that woman in my dream were connected.
As much as I wanted to dwell on the dream, I couldn't.
The clock on my wall read 7 AM. It was later than my usual wake up time on the weekends but still reasonable. Yesterday had been a whirlwind from Hanako to Koenma. Transitioning from Shuichi to Kurama was cumbersome to say the least. Even Botan had managed to catch myself getting so immersed in my conversation with Hanako. I needed to be more careful otherwise I'll become an easy target for future threats.
However, today was Shuichi's day. Or more specifically, today was mother's day. She'll be returning home this afternoon and unfortunately; I was behind on my chores. The house was disgustingly dusty, and the kitchen was lacking nourishments fit for a human. I never required much in order to survive, which made it too easy for me to ignore the needs for extravagant amounts of groceries or frivolous items.
Mother always supplied me with money – as most parents would – and Hatanaka-san has made a habit of dropping of food for me every now and then. But that wouldn't be enough, and the last thing mother needed was feelings of guilt for an illness she had no control over.
That was how I found myself standing in the middle of an outdoor market on a Saturday morning. Fruits and vegetables were easy for me to produce, but strangely they never had quite the same tastes as the ones bought at the market. Perhaps there was something to the saying love makes little things grow. Not only that but I tried to minimize the amount of yoki that I released around humans. I collected the traditional vegetables that most households would contain, potatoes, onions and garlic, along with a few fruits that mother seems to enjoy. I picked up a small sack of rice and a few pieces of chicken and fish. All of which, should be able to produce a healthy meal for tonight.
When I returned home, I placed all the purchases into their rightful space and went about cleaning the house. Hiei would laugh at the sight of me hunched over scrubbing and dusting the house. Thankfully he never stopped by unannounced unless he needed something. I'd almost finished replacing the bedsheets in mother's room when a doorbell sounded calling for my attention.
"Hatanaka-san, come inside," I invited the kind man into the house. "I wasn't expecting you today."
"Sorry for the intrusion," he apologized and then pointed at the duster in my hand. "I just wanted to check in and see if you needed help with the house before we brought Shiori home."
I gave a soft chuckle. "I supposed it wasn't hard to tell that I fell behind on chores."
"Don't worry," he laughed. "I was never a fan of cleaning back when I was your age. Overall, I'd say your better than most though."
Oh, the irony.
"I'm just finishing up mother's room and then everything will be all set," I explained.
He pointed to the bags of trash I had tied up in the corner. "Would you like me to help with those?"
Instinctively I wanted to do it myself, but I could tell that Hatanaka was trying to be helpful. He also smelled of nerves – more so than usual – and seemed as if he was beating around the bush towards something. I let his human actions slide and chose to allow him to aide in the cleaning.
"You're pretty remarkable, Shuichi-san," Hatanaka complimented. "Despite claiming to be behind on chores you've already organized most of the kitchen and I don't see a single trace of junk food!"
I laughed along with his jokes and poor attempts at relieving himself of awkwardness. "I've never had much of a sweet tooth."
"That's good," he nodded his approval. "I'm afraid my Shuichi the exact opposite. I'd consider myself lucky if I managed to get him to put away the bags of chips and pieces of candy for one minute let alone trust him with groceries like you."
I gave him a polite laugh. "He's still young. He'll be entering Junior high soon, right?"
"Yes, it's hard to believe how quickly they grow up," The look on his face was interesting. He looked genuinely proud of the son he had raised despite all the shortcomings he was pointing out. "He's already getting to that rebellious phase in life."
"We've all been there," I reassured. "If could get past it then I'm sure Shuichi-kun will turn out just fine."
"Hopefully he turns out as smart as you did too!" he continued to praise. "Shiori-san is such a great mother for her son to turn out to be as reliable as you did."
"Mother is quite incredible," I agreed. "Although, I'm probably biased."
"You aren't biased," Hatanaka said as he shook his head. "In fact, can I speak to you about something Shuichi-san? Before we go to the hospital?"
I nodded my head and motioned for him to sit down in the dining area with me. I already had a feeling where this conversation would lead us.
"I've been meaning to discuss this with you for some time now," Hatanaka-san began. "I just wanted to make sure that Shiori-san got better before I brought it up."
"If the doctors are correct then it seems like mother has made a full recovery, so go on." I urged him to continue, hoping I was giving off a friendly enough vibe for him to feel comfortable.
"Well, I'm not sure if you know this but I lost my first wife a few years ago," he started to explain. "It was right after I started my own company so losing her was a huge blow. There I was, excited about my newborn son and starting my own company and then suddenly I lost my first love and my world flipped upside down."
I frowned and did my best to offer my sympathies to him.
"I raised Shuichi-san on my own for the most part aside from help from my parents," he spoke slowly trying to keep his emotions in check. "I wasn't the same after losing her. I tried to date here and there but no one was quite the same. That was until I met your mother," he smiled at me. "Shiori-san is incredible and has my absolute respect. She's kind, hardworking and she was able to lift me up from the slump that I was in. I absolutely adore your mother and I've grown quite fond of you as well."
I nodded my head at his compliments and offered a smile. "You've been a great addition in my mother's life, Hatanaka-san, and you've been a huge help to the both of us."
"Long story short," he lifted his eyes to look at me directly. "I never thought I would have the desire to commit to someone again, but Shiori-san has changed that outlook completely." He took a deep breath. "Shuichi-san, I'm asking for your blessing with proposing to your mother."
"You've always had my blessing," I reassured because it was true. I trusted him enough to know that my mother would be in good hands. "I think you're a great man and you clearly bring a lot of joy into my mother's life. I'd be honored to have you as a stepfather."
"Yokatta!" He released a sigh of relief before chuckling. "I was so nervous to ask! I'm so happy!"
I admired him for a moment. Human emotion was so powerful, and I knew that this wasn't a sight I would have ever seen in the Demon world. In Makai, people typically don't ask for permission to marry. In fact, marriage was a rare occurrence there and usually only part of small tribes. Some cultures there had mating rituals and specific rights they had to pass in order to be considered bonded, but the look of a relieved man after asking for a son's blessings would never exists in the dark expanse, I had grown up in.
"Okay!" Hatanaka-san lifted himself off the chair. "How about you change your clothes and then we can head over to pick up my future wife!"
I laughed at his jovial attitude. "Hatanaka-san, you still haven't gotten a yes from mother, yet."
He sighed. "Don't remind me. if I was this nervous asking you, I can't imagine what I'll be like asking Shiori-san…"
I patted his back to reassure him. "I'm sure she'll say yes."
It was easy to imagine Hatanaka-san and my mother married. I'd pictured the two of them growing old enough times to know that it would be a beautiful union. I could see mother baking cookies on a blissful Sunday afternoon to satisfy her sweet tooth while Hatanaka-san read the paper with his favorite oolong tea steeping in his cup. Shuichi-kun would've moved out by then but he'd be sure to visit them often, probably bringing along a dog that he's always asking his father to buy for him. Perhaps – considering how young they still are – they might attempt to have another child. It's a nice image, a typical Japanese family surrounded by love. They'd be happy together.
"I hope so," Hatanaka-san stated. "Oh, but Shuichi-san? Don't tell your mother. I want her to relax and be able to readjust at home before I pop the questions."
I nodded my head before I made my escape to head upstairs and change out of my house clothes. I replaced my shirt for a casual white button up and replaced my work pants with a pair of blue jeans.
I took one last look at my origami flower – willed myself not to get caught up in the nostalgia – before heading back downstairs.
Notes: Thank you so much to Damaged Forest Spirit and to Rosentic (btw she has a great story that I'm loving right now!) for their reviews! As always, it means so much to me!
I hope you guys enjoyed Kurama's chapter! I was really happy that I finally got to a point where I could naturally add in Hiei and Botan into the story because I love the two of them. I'm really excited to get to explore more of Kurama and Hiei's relationship because I find their friendship to be really fascinating. Kurama's POV kind of scares me because of how calculating he is, but I think I'm really starting to get the hang of writing him the way that I picture him to be. Let me know what you think!
Next chapter is Kaito (who will also have some special guests in his chapter!) which I'm hoping to release Monday or Tuesday depending on how work goes this weekend.
Thanks again for reading!
