FRIDAY
Hiei roused himself from sleep, and to his surprise, he did not find another note from Kurama, but Kurama himself, lying on the other pillow staring back at him. He was as chipper as ever, regardless of the early hour, and smiled at Hiei with enthusiasm the moment the demon opened his eyes.
"Aren't you supposed to be at work?" Hiei croaked, still barely conscious.
"Surprise," Kurama said cheerfully. "Kazuya said he needed a day to pack before the trip, but I suspect he simply wanted an extra day off. The same courtesy was extended to me."
"Why do I have the terrible suspicion that you're not going to let me go back to sleep?" Hiei said.
"Lesson Eight," Kurama said, as he sat up and stretched. "Sometimes it's all right to take a break and have fun."
"I had enough fun yesterday to last me through the year, thanks," Hiei groaned, and rolled over.
He buried himself under the blankets to block out the early morning light, but was rudely blinded when Kurama yanked the covers away and flung open the blinds. Hiei draped Kurama's pillow over his face and lied there obtrusively to prevent the futon from being confiscated as well.
In the end, his efforts were for naught. Within the hour, both apparitions were dressed and out the door. Hiei protested by dragging his feet all the way to the train station. He leaned against a pillar while Kurama shoved his credit card into the ticket machine and pressed a series of buttons. Hiei glared from person to person, and when he spotted a woman who had the audacity to glare back, he flipped up his middle finger, a technique he'd picked up from Yusuke. The woman stormed off in a huff, and Hiei smirked to himself.
"She should be here soon," Kurama announced when he appeared at Hiei's side.
Hiei glanced up, but stayed propped against the square pillar.
"Who are you talking about?"
"Hiei! Kurama! Good morning!"
At this, Hiei pushed away from the wall, though he thought better of it when he felt his knees buckle slightly. His mouth fell open into an expression reminiscent of a dead fish and he stared with wide eyes at Yukina skipping towards them across the train platform. She beamed with a deliriously happy grin that threatened to take over her face, and seemed so eager that he thought she might laugh out loud.
When she came near, she opened up the shopping bag she was holding and offered for them to reach inside.
"I brought some melon bread from the Seven-Eleven," she said proudly. "Did you know you can even get coffee and omelettes there?"
"I did," Kurama said. He took two wrapped buns from inside the bag and handed one to Hiei.
"Kazuma wanted to come, but he has classes all day," Yukina explained, before she turned to Hiei and asked, "Are you excited?"
"He doesn't know where we're going," Kurama said, and muffled his cheeky laugh with a bite of bread.
"Oh, a surprise!" Yukina gasped. "That's even more exciting."
"If Kurama doesn't tell me what kind of devious plan he has in store, the only place I'm going is home," Hiei grumbled.
"Hiei, perhaps you've forgotten your little mishap yesterday," Kurama said. "Don't you think you owe Yukina a day out after carelessly spilling soda all over her?"
If any of the local stop lights malfunctioned at that moment, Hiei's face could have served as a replacement. He turned away and shoved half the melon bread into his mouth, ignoring the soft laughter from Kurama and Yukina behind him.
When they were finished with their snacks, they filed onto the train and were lucky enough to nab three seats right by the door before the car filled up. The knowing smiles Kurama and Yukina silently exchanged the entire way there were enough to make Hiei squirm in his seat. He sank down and glared out the windows, watching the scenery race past. The train lurched to a stop soon enough, and Hiei emerged into an immaculately clean railway station.
A curved, gazebo style roof covered the open air platform outside, which was positively crawling with humans. Hiei noticed many foreigners among them, much taller and more rowdy than the polite, introverted Japanese citizens he was used to. Kurama lead the way through the crowd, over a foot bridge, towards a dense collection of human energy, light, and noise.
That was when Hiei saw it, rising up above the elaborate emerald green gate at the end of the walkway. Tower upon tower climbed into the sky, until the pinnacle thrust into the clouds. Right there in the heart of the city, among the flat, angular skyscrapers, it was both ridiculous and magnificent: an actual, honest to goodness castle.
"Welcome," Kurama announced, "to the happiest place on Earth."
"What... is this?" Hiei asked, cringing.
Something warm and giddy that Yukina had clearly been holding inside burst out of her, and she practically squealed, "It's Tokyo Disneyland!"
"I've never heard of such a land," Hiei said. "I thought humankind did away with this sort of feudal kingdom ages ago."
"It's not quite what you're thinking," Kurama laughed.
Hiei observed a long queue of people at a booth near the entrance, waiting to pay their way inside. Kurama must have purchased their passes in advance, because their group was able to waltz right through the front gates into a complete pandemonium of sound and color. Cartoon animals of every shape and size hung in the windows of a marketplace just past the entrance, tempting children and gullible parents. From stuffed toys to coffee mugs to apparel, every type of good imaginable filled the shelves. Thankfully, Kurama and Yukina passed by it all, and the swarm of humans forking over their money.
On the other side of the bazaar, the castle came into full view. It was an image from a human storybook, shining like a diamond against the flat blue sky. They walked along the wide, paved sidewalks past manicured topiary and trees. Distant music could be heard above the din of hundreds of voices. The faint smell of popcorn wafted past Hiei's nose. His head was swimming with confusion, but he admitted inwardly that he was impressed by the size of the palace before him.
Before he knew what was happening, he and Kurama were being swept right inside the castle by Yukina, whose pace was nearing a jog.
"Let's see if Cinderella is here!" she exclaimed, "Then we can visit Fantasyland."
"You act as though you've been here before," Kurama chuckled. "I didn't realize we were in the presence of such a Disney expert."
"Kazuma told me all about the park," she responded meekly. "And, I have a lot of time at home while he's at school, so I've seen many of the movies."
"Do you have a favorite?" Kurama asked her as they passed the castle's ornate front doors and followed the crowd inside.
"Beauty and the Beast," she gushed.
"Isn't there a human saying that life imitates art...?" Hiei muttered to himself.
"I'm partial to Robin Hood, myself," Kurama said.
"I wonder if one day, they'll make a movie about an ice princess," Yukina laughed.
"That would certainly be interesting," Kurama said.
Dreamy violin music followed them up the stairs, into a hall filled with paintings. That was when the first inkling roused within Hiei, that the castle might not be a seat of governance, as one might expect. He looked over the portraits, most of which depicted the same woman, first slaving away on her hands and knees, then dressed in a ballgown, dancing with a prince. Hiei stared curiously at a diorama of mice sewing a dress, and attempted to piece the story together, but failed. He became even more perplexed when they entered a gallery in which a glass shoe was displayed, propped up on a pink cushion. A dense flock of young girls were gathered around the slipper. They chatted among themselves, caught up in a glittery cloud of anticipation over something. Soon, their murmurs rose into a chorus of squeals when a woman wearing the outrageous white dress from the paintings entered the room.
"There she is!" Yukina gasped. "What good timing."
"Why don't you join the line to meet her?" Kurama suggested. "We'll wait here."
"Oh... but I feel silly," Yukina bought her hands to her chest and smiled bashfully. Her eyes fell towards the floor.
"Don't, Yukina," Kurama said. "Today is a day of enjoyment, and we're in a place where it's permissible to lose oneself to flights to fancy."
Yukina didn't need much more convincing, and hurried over to greet the woman who was posing for photographs with the other guests. The steady click of the camera joined the excited titters of the young girls and teens waiting for their turn.
"Is that the monarch of this realm?" Hiei inquired. He watched Yukina from the safety of the farthest corner of the room.
Kurama leaned against the wall beside him and let out a breathy laugh.
"She's an actress," he explained. "Though the décor is admittedly impressive, nothing in this place is real. Disneyland is a theme park dedicated to a cast of animated characters from children's movies. It's an attraction designed for families to enjoy, though you'll find many adults here as well, reliving the best moments of their childhoods. For humans, this kind of amusement park is universally adored."
Realization hit Hiei gradually. He came to understand, as he watched the faux royal posing and flashing her dazzling smile, that she was no different from the personalities he watched on television while Kurama was at work. She was a fake, nothing but a cheap imitation, like the castle that surrounded them and the sparkling glass shoe. Pretty, but useless.
"What is so appealing about some common woman who pretends to be a queen?" he said. "She has no true power or influence."
"Cinderella is a story about a young girl who was terribly mistreated, who had no real family, and wished with all her heart for impossible dreams to come true," Kurama said. "Can you think of no reason for Yukina to be attracted to a character like that?"
Hiei watched silently when Yukina's turn came and she greeted the woman posing as a princess. The attendant, who was also wearing fake royal attire, motioned for them to look towards the camera. Hiei recalled that Yukina had been nervous to have her photo taken previously, but perhaps her extended stay in the human world or her excitement allowed her to overcome her fear. Her face lit up and the flash of the camera filled the gallery for a split second.
Their tour through the castle ended on one of the upper balconies. Off to the side, near the stairs that lead back to the walkway, was a booth where the photos of guests with Cinderella were available to view. Yukina scanned through them and spotted her own, but seemed satisfied with a brief smile and nod at her own likeness.
"Are you unhappy with the photograph?" Kurama asked.
"Oh no, it's not that," she replied. "The pictures cost extra, and I don't have much money to spare. I wanted to get something for Kazuma later."
Yukina was ready to head out of the castle and proceed on her way, but held back to watch Kurama approach the counter. He pulled out his wallet and purchased the photo, which the attendant folded up in a themed folder before she handed it to him.
"Kurama, you didn't have to do that," Yukina said when he returned. She bowed so deeply with gratitude when he gave her the photo that the tips of her hair might have touched the floor. "Thank you so much!"
"It's not every day that you get to meet a princess," Kurama said.
Hiei didn't think it was possible, but receiving her gift heightened Yukina's spirits halfway to the moon. She slipped the little portfolio into her purse and hopped down the balcony stairs back to the winding path outside the castle.
Yukina's bouncy steps brought them to a new area of the park that was positively crawling with small girls who were at least half as excited as Yukina. Before them was a circular ride that pumped out cheerful music, covered by a canopy. Within the decorative gates was the tea seat of a giant: a massive purple tea pot that Hiei could have swam in had it been real, and an array of colorful cups.
Hiei had some colorful thoughts of his own, none of which he saw fit to express while in his sister's presence. He trudged along through the line of people waiting to crawl right into the huge cups. His group of three climbed aboard the nearest cup when their turn arrived, a vessel painted pink and white, adorned with curving ornamentation and hearts. Kurama and Yukina held onto the central wheel, grinning at each other while they prepared for the jolt of motion that followed soon after. Warm breeze flew through Hiei's hair as they began to spin, and soon he found that he, too, was grabbing onto the wheel in the middle of the cup. They swirled around the enormous tea pot, past other cups filled with jubilant children, faster and faster until the sea of cups and saucers was a pastel blur. Based on their expressions, Kurama and Yukina were perfectly happy to experience what it felt like to be tea, but Hiei considered it an escapade he could have lived without.
After being flung around in a teacup, Hiei reluctantly sat on an artificial white horse on another ride called a carousel. Like the teacups, the horses on the carousel traveled around in an endless circle, though the pace was far more relaxing. Sandwiched between Kurama and Yukina, he glanced covertly at each of them while they rode around. Kurama seemed content to gaze out at the scenery as it passed by, but Yukina's eyes were filled with stars, clearly lost in some daydream that involved her riding off into the sunset.
As they strayed away from the carousel, Hiei became aware of a nagging, repetitive tune floating on the breeze. Soprano tones, like the song of birds, became louder and more pronounced, until he realized he was hearing the voices of children. Rising up ahead was a ponderous wall of shapes, all in the light shades of spring. The entire construction might have been made of cookies or cakes, and was comprised of moving parts that served no apparent function.
To his dismay, Yukina joined the line of people strolling inside, and they were swallowed up by the candy colored edifice. A short wait brought them to the head of the line. Three or four at a time, guests lowered themselves into miniature boats floating in an artificial waterway. Hiei flushed and had to hide his face discretely when Yukina grabbed his shoulder to steady herself as she stepped into the boat.
The boat pushed off, into the mouth of a living toy box. In no time at all, that redundant song was rolling into Hiei's ears, in languages he didn't understand. Mechanical children that looked like dolls danced along through the changing landscape. They beat on drums or burst out of flowers, hopping and singing endlessly. Each group of dolls was clothed in different garb, had different skin colors, or hair styles, as varied as all the demons of the Makai. Hiei observed that while the melody remained constant, the instrumentation and mood seemed to morph along with the shifting setting. He stared with a mixture of dumbfounded confusion and disgust, boggled by the meaning of the incomprehensible lyrics, until they finally reached a setting that was familiar to him.
They passed through a torii gate that marked a clear transition into a dollhouse representation of Japan. He noticed Yukina was waving her hands and bouncing, and the instant the meaning of the words was understandable, she started quietly singing along. Hiei leaned close to Kurama to be heard above the music.
"What is the meaning of this chaotic environment?"
"Think of it as a lesson on the diversity of human culture," Kurama said. "The displays are meant to represent all the different regions of the world and traditional aspects of the societies that live there."
"Then for what reason do these children keep chanting, 'It's a small world'?," Hiei said. "The changing scenery seems to depict the opposite."
"I have a feeling you're missing the point," Kurama sighed.
Yukina was still humming to herself when the ride was over. Every so often, Hiei could hear her whisper, "It's a small world after all," as she walked up the path. This time, she allowed Kurama to take charge, and he lead them around the bend, until another large building came into sight over the trees.
"Perhaps this next attraction will be more relatable," Kurama suggested.
Hiei looked up at what appeared to be a large, European style mansion, though the day's experiences had already taught him that the structures in the park were not always what they seemed. Gargoyles guarded the gateway that opened up to the building. On the path, visitors were already waiting in line to go inside. Hiei took the time to glance up at the sign as they passed under the gate.
"A haunted mansion?" he questioned.
"It's said nine hundred ninety-nine ghosts live inside," Kurama said, nodding up towards the over sized house.
"Must be a boring ride," Hiei huffed in response, "considering humans can't see spirits. Unless every one of these people is a freak of nature like Kuwabara."
"Oh Hiei," Yukina sighed. She glanced over her shoulder at him and shook her head. "I really wish you and Kazuma would set aside your differences. You could be such good friends if only each of you would look past the faults of the other."
Hiei's eyes widened and a shocked utterance halfway between a gasp and a grunt caught in his throat.
"He's... proven himself in battle," he choked out.
"See, was that so hard?" Yukina said kindly.
Hiei stared down at the floor for the remainder of their time in line.
When they finally reached the front of the queue, Hiei observed, too late, that Kurama had been paired up with a random single rider, and he was being corralled into a two person car with Yukina. He thought he spotted a mischievous smirk on the fox's face as he disappeared into the car behind them, but he couldn't be certain. The ride was already moving into the mansion when his attention was diverted by the gentle tremble of Yukina's body.
"Sorry if I jump," she said. "This kind of haunted house always takes me by surprise."
"You're an apparition," Hiei said. "What reason do you have to be afraid of fake ghosts and demons?"
Yukina brought both hands up to her chin and laughed.
"I think I let myself get caught up in the illusion," she admitted.
The car cruised past portraits of stereotypical, spooky characters, draped with spider webs. A voice that came over the loudspeaker wove the story of the attraction, but Hiei was only half listening. He was straining not to stare at Yukina, while also struggling to appear congenial. It was a rare occasion that left him trapped alone with her, and either bad luck or Kurama's obnoxious scheming had assured that he'd be stuck at her side, without a lifeline, for at least the next few minutes.
Books flew off the shelves in the dimly lit library, chairs rocked on their own, and doors creaked. The motions were all mechanized of course, pitifully transparent special effects, but Yukina still gasped and whispered, "Look!" when a shadow on the floor seemed to play the piano. Soon they were sliding across a balcony, looking down on a raucous, otherworldly party. Spirits dressed in unfamiliar human costumes sat around a gigantic feast, flew from the rafters, and waltzed around the room.
"Do you think ghosts would actually dance?" Yukina asked Hiei. Her hands were on the protective bar of the ride car, clasping tightly as she leaned forward and peered down at the party.
"I have... no idea," Hiei responded.
As the ride came to a close, Hiei was accosted by more singing, though the tune was less redundant than the infectious melody from the Small World ride. Glowing ghouls popped up from behind their gravestones, or out of tombs, and Yukina jumped with shock each time. In one of the final chambers, a particularly haunting figure sprang out of a collapsing crate and Yukina nearly flew into his lap.
The ride came to an end, and the siblings climbed out onto the exit platform to wait for Kurama, who was in the very next car.
"I think my heart beat while I was in there," Yukina giggled.
Hiei raised his eyebrow.
"You might want to get that checked out."
"Well, at least one of you looks excited," Kurama commented when he hopped up to meet them. "How was the ride?"
"Ridiculous," Hiei said, at the same time that Yukina exclaimed, "Scary!"
"The way humans both fear and glorify death is confusing, and featuring apparitions in a ride meant for children is even more foolish," Hiei continued. "But I prefer this to sitting in a spinning cup."
"So, you did have fun, then," Kurama said.
Hiei rolled his eyes, and shuffled after the rest of the crowd departing the Haunted Mansion.
On the way back through Fantasyland, Hiei spotted an establishment that snagged his attention and drew him near. He did not consider himself hedonistic by any means, but Pleasure Island Candies appealed to the dire weakness in his sweet tooth. Giant lollipops and chocolates wrapped up in colorful foil beckoned to him, singing a sugary lullaby that ensnared the senses and promised to calm the sudden ache forming in Hiei's stomach.
"Be careful," Kurama said. "Pleasure Island is a place where disobedient boys turn into donkeys. You wouldn't want to make an ass of yourself."
"Is that supposed to be funny?" Hiei snapped, though he restrained himself when he spotted Yukina turning away abruptly to hide her laughter.
"Save your appetite for lunch," Kurama said, then motioned to the left.
A heart shaped hedge that was guarded by what appeared to be living playing cards welcomed them into the next attraction. Yet another castle, this building was less imposing than Cinderella's palace, and what might be called whimsical, if Hiei dabbled in matters of whimsy. Inside was not a ride, however, but a cafeteria bustling with people. Aromas of hot food wafted into the dining hall and filled Hiei's head.
The heart theme extended from the decorations to the food. On display were heart shaped hamburgers, heart shaped croquettes, even heart shaped mounds of rice. In the end, Hiei was able to satisfy his sugar craving after all. Yukina treated herself to a pink, heart shaped strawberry mousse to accompany her meal, while Hiei nabbed three different kinds of cake before Kurama could protest. After paying, they were escorted to a table near an enormous pillar adorned with royal banners. Hiei sat with his back to the column, and dug into his lunch right away.
With his mouth full of cake, Hiei watched Kurama and Yukina converse. Her mannerisms, her smile, the soft glow in her cheeks all sang of utter joy. Yukina was completely satisfied playing the role of a human. She sank into their routines and absorbed their customs so quickly. If not for her distinct, pure youki, she'd be indistinguishable from a human woman by now. He pondered what it was she saw in them that he did not.
"Where would you like to go next?" Kurama asked Yukina, once they had cleared their plates. "You're our tour guide today."
"We should visit Toon Town!" she suggested. "I heard Minnie lives there."
"Lead the way," Kurama said, and gestured for her to exit the cafeteria before him.
Before they left Fantasyland behind, they stopped in a store filled with pointless knickknacks and bizarre hats. Pleasure Island Candies was right next door, but even Hiei had been pushed to his limits by three slices of cakes, so he refrained from paying the candy shop too much attention. He was leering at a baseball cap that resembled some sort of ludicrous white duck, when Yukina popped into his field of vision.
"What do you think?"
On her head was an over sized, red bow with white polka-dots, and two round, black discs that were somewhat reminiscent of animal ears.
"You'll have to explain," he said.
"They're Minnie Mouse's ears," she said. She posed and tipped her head to show off the accessory.
"Wearing a creature's disembodied ears seems a peculiar fashion choice," he said.
Yukina's shoulders drooped.
"Hiei, they're just foam and fabric," she said. "It's supposed to be cute."
A voice shot through Hiei's thoughts, pointing out that Yukina would look cute wearing just about anything, and he scrambled to push it away.
"It's a good thing you don't look much like a real mouse," he said. "Kurama might eat you."
A loud giggle burst past her lips, and Yukina covered both her mouth and nose, just as Kurama strode up.
"Clearly I missed something," he commented. "Though it's impossible to miss how charming you look, Yukina. Would you like to get the Minnie ears?"
"Oh Kurama... Again? You're much too generous," Yukina said.
"Consider this a gift from Hiei," Kurama said, and Hiei immediately bristled. "An apology for crashing into you yesterday."
Of course Hiei had no money of is own, but to argue at this point would serve no purpose besides making him look like a shameless brute. He crossed his arms and lurked near the exit while Kurama and Yukina purchased the mouse headband.
Toon Town was the most preposterous region of the park yet. The architecture was a topsy-turvy mess of bulbous columns and garish, clashing colors. Yukina began prancing into the town, past refreshment wagons selling soda and other snacks. Before she could make it halfway across the busy plaza, she stopped short, pointed towards the center of the square, and shouted,
"Look! There they are!"
She began bouncing on her heels, both with excitement and for the chance to get a better look at the incoming spectacle. A quintet of characters, two dogs, the duck Hiei had noticed earlier, and two mice, one of whom shared Yukina's new bow, came marching into the plaza. They were accompanied by a lively band that tooted on brass instruments and banged drums. The formally clad mouse, clearly the marshal of the whole parade, headed the rest and raised a baton up and down in time with the music.
Yukina was hopping up on one tiptoe, craning her neck to see past the much taller spectators in front of her. She rocked left to right a few times before sighing and falling back onto her heels.
"I wish we had a better view," she sighed. Her smile faded slightly.
Hiei's brows lowered and he glowered at the crowd of onlookers clustered in front of them.
"Get out of the way!" he growled. "Before I remove you!"
One woman turned around and gasped, just as another grabbed her small child and yanked him out of the way. A tall, boxy man, presumably the child's father, flashed Hiei a look that was almost threatening, until Hiei mustered a sinister aura around him and the human instinctively shrank away.
"Thank you, Hiei," Yukina said sweetly. She took a step closer to the parade now that her path was clear.
Drums pounded out a snappy rhythm, and Yukina's mouse ears and bow bobbed from side to side as she swayed and clapped along. Hiei glared at anything but the rowdy cartoon characters rollicking down the path, satisfied with staring at his own feet in an attempt to pretend he was somewhere else. At his side, he felt Kurama's arm pressing on him. He assumed Kurama was being jostled by the crowd, unintentionally forced to shift closer, until the fox's elbow jutted out suddenly and knocked Hiei towards his sister. Yukina looked up when Hiei bumped into her, but only laughed.
"You like the parade too, Hiei?" she asked, still rocking in time with the uplifting drum beat.
Hiei forced himself to blink to keep his eyes from falling out of his head.
"It's... acceptable."
The instant Yukina was distracted, Hiei glared up at Kurama.
"You did that intentionally."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Kurama said cheerfully. His attention was on the parade as it had been all along.
Right at the front of the crowd now, Yukina was a prime target when one of the costumed cartoon actors frolicked closer and began inviting guests to come dance. The large black dog, dressed in long, clownish shoes and a lopsided green hat, marched up and reached for Yukina. Hiei was a twitch away from doling out another threat, but Yukina took the dog's hand without hesitation. She joined the parade, along with several other visitors, mostly children and teen girls.
Hiei looked on, fists clenched with apprehension, while Yukina twirled across the plaza with the rest. He kept his eyes trained on her until he felt a soft tap on his shoulder and he spun around to face whoever was invading his space.
"Hiei," Kurama started.
"I'm sorry gentleman," said the nervous young woman behind them. Her bright blue vest, floppy yellow tie and name badge told Hiei she was an employee. She beckoned them a meter away from the rest of the onlookers. "I'm afraid there's been a mild complaint..."
Fire burning in Hiei's core flared up, and he prepared to defend himself against the accusation. Before he could fly into a rage, however, Kurama swept in with a soothing smile and addressed the park attendant first.
"There's no need to worry, miss," he said to her, dishing out a layer of charm that was so thick, Hiei could have gagged. "I can explain."
The fox spun a tall tale that described how the child in front of them had been kicking Hiei's darling sister- and he is frightfully protective- but please don't inform the poor child's parents, lest his day of fun be ruined- wrapped up in a bow with, 'I'm sure you can understand.'
Hiei was preparing himself to be sick over Kurama's nauseatingly sweet lies, when he turned around and realized, to his horror, Yukina was nowhere to be found.
Kurama turned back, once the park attendant was satisfied with his fib, and jumped when Hiei spat,
"She's gone."
"Yukina?"
"Who the hell do you think I mean?"
Kurama looked over the top of Hiei's head and scanned the plaza.
"The parade was heading in that direction," he said, motioning to the left. "She probably ended up somewhere near the Roger Rabbit ride."
Hiei bullied his way through the crowd, towards the other end of Toon Town. He could feel Yukina's energy nearby, but with so much human life force around, bombarding his senses, it was difficult to pinpoint her location.
"If we could find a private place where you could use your Jagan, it would be easier to find her," Kurama said, after looking up and down the street and coming up empty handed.
Hiei nodded, grabbed the nearest inconspicuous doorknob, and discovered that the entire door was fake. He yanked on it pointlessly, mocked by the fraudulent passage way and the rows of windows that led nowhere. Just above, a yellow taxi cab with eyes for headlights was bursting through the brick facade, adding to the unnerving feeling that he was trapped in some insane nightmare.
"Perhaps the bathroom?" Kurama suggested.
Again, their river of fortune ran dry. Kurama emerged from the men's room a few moments later and shook his head.
"All the stalls are full," he said.
They were forced to hit the road, and search Toon Town one building at a time. They ducked into a shop called the Five and Dime, but found nothing but cheap gags like finger traps and whoopie cushions within. Twice around the bronze Roger Rabbit fountain and past a popcorn wagon brought them back into the middle of the plaza. Still at a loss, and growing tense, Hiei smacked a balloon out of his way and peered helplessly into the crowd.
"One would think, with Yukina's vivid hair and that red bow, she'd be easy to spot," Kurama lamented.
"Too bad almost every woman in the park is wearing that bow," Hiei growled. It was then that Hiei recalled Yukina's original motivation for visiting Toon Town.
"What was the name of that mouse character?" he asked Kurama.
"Do you mean Minnie Mouse?"
Hiei nodded. "Yukina said Minnie lives somewhere around here. She wanted to visit her."
"We could ask one of the employees where Minnie's house is," Kurama told him.
Hiei had other plans, though. He gritted his teeth and his eyes grew round, locked on the current object of his hatred. Right in the middle of the plaza, signing autographs for a cluster of children, was the lanky black dog who had lured Yukina away.
"No," he hissed. "We'll ask him."
Hiei stormed across the path, with Kurama jogging behind, and unleashed his wrath on the unfortunate mascot.
"You! Dog! What have you done with my sister?" he snarled.
The creature took a step back and waved his hands apologetically, though he did not speak. He shook his head back and forth with worry, and mopped his brow as though he was very troubled by Hiei's claim, and wanted nothing more than to help.
"I beg your pardon, Goofy," Kurama said. "My friend is a bit miffed at the moment."
Goofy gazed blankly at Hiei for few seconds, then nodded his agreement.
"Have you seen the young woman you were marching with during the parade?" Kurama said. "She's about this tall, wearing a cream colored sweatshirt, red skirt, and a Minnie Mouse bow."
Goofy scratched his head several times, but could only shrug apologetically in response.
"Then, could you at least point us in the direction of Minnie's house?"
This request, Goofy was able to grant, and he motioned for them to follow him across the plaza, until a lopsided pink and purple house came into view on the far side of the walkway. He pointed with enthusiasm, and waved them on their way after Kurama thanked him.
"Useless clod..." Hiei mumbled, as they walked off.
"There's no need to be so rude," Kurama chastised. "We'll find her."
"That dog is the one who caused this mess to begin with," Hiei snapped. "Why should I show him any courtesy?"
"Go easy on Goofy, Hiei. He's a single father."
Hiei did not take the time to even acknowledge Kurama's nonsensical statement, much less ask for an explanation. They neared the house, which appeared to be melting, near the point of collapse, and wandered inside as soon as the crowd dispersed somewhat. Inside, the walls were pink, like the exterior trim, patterned with striped wallpaper. A large rug took up most of the room. On top of the rug were two, overstuffed armchairs, dappled in floral print. In one of the chairs sat the mouse in question, wearing a bright red dress and yellow heels. In the other chair sat Yukina.
"Hello, Hiei. Hello, Kurama," Yukina sang. "I thought I would wait in one place so it would be easier for you to find me. Plus, Minnie invited me for tea."
Minnie nodded and clapped her gloved hands together with delight. The little girls who had joined the parade earlier, along with several others, were gathered around as well, either examining the memorabilia on the huge yellow bookshelf behind them, or staring at Minnie adoringly.
"Looks like there was no need for us to worry after all," Kurama said.
Yukina bowed graciously toward Minnie.
"Thank you so much for your hospitality," she said, "I had a wonderful time."
Minnie rose to offer Yukina a hug, and waved goodbye just as the swarm of little girls closed in. After they left, they explored the corners of Toon Town that had been overlooked, rode several more rides, and grabbed some flavored popcorn. Hiei remained quiet for the most part, hoping he could downplay any suspicions that he'd been unnecessarily concerned about Yukina's absence.
Evening approached, and they left the main park to board the Resort Line shuttle just outside the eastern gates. The blue rimmed windows of the train car were in the same mouse head shape Hiei had noticed all over the park. He hadn't quite worked out the identities of most of the characters they saw, but reasoned that the round mouse head and ears were some kind of trademark, as they were plastered everywhere.
At the entrance to an entirely different section of the expansive theme park, Kurama scanned a paper he called an 'After Six' pass, and they walked in. Fewer children crowded the walkways in this area. Making up for the lack of tiny human whelps were teenagers, scores of them, many wearing matching outfits. Hiei counted at least half a dozen gangs of adolescents posing for photographs on their way to the main thoroughfare.
"I think we have time to go on one more large ride before getting dinner," Kurama said, once they had wandered and taken in the sights for the better part of an hour.
Looming before them was a massive, top heavy building, crowded with arched windows. It didn't appear to be as tall as Cinderella's castle, but it was a thousand times more menacing, especially with the setting sun casting shadows among its many hidden nooks and crevasses.
"I saved this ride for last," Kurama said. "Hopefully you and Yukina are tall enough to ride."
Hiei approached the tower with a sense of foreboding, not due to any worry over his height, or the intimidating nature of the ride itself. Whenever Kurama made a point to arrange something ahead of time, he usually had some nefarious plan up his sleeve.
As it turned out, the siblings were well above the height restriction necessary to ride, and it was a non issue, though Hiei suspected Kurama would have taken a few more jabs at him had Yukina not been there. The initial section of the ride was on foot. They meandered through the house, which appeared to be some kind of hotel, and listened to the tour guide explain the grisly history of the Tower of Terror. Like the Haunted Mansion, the attraction had a fictional story that complemented the setting, this time involving an eccentric millionaire and a cursed idol.
They trudged along for ages, and Hiei was subjected to cheap scares before the entire group filed into a monstrous elevator, filled with seats. Once again, he ended up beside Yukina, though at least this time, Kurama was at his other arm. The lights dimmed to black. Hiei knew that the humans on board were completely blind in the all encompassing darkness. Illumination only entered the elevator when the doors ahead of them opened up.
Staring back at Hiei was his own reflection, with Yukina and Kurama beside him. All of the passengers went still, and he braced himself for another trick. Sure enough, some mechanism behind the mirror created the image of tormented spirits in place of the guests on board the ride. Hiei scoffed at the glowing green ghoul leering at him from within the mirror. It was a pathetic attempt at garnering terror, a half rate thrill. Hiei was not one to be taken by surprise.
A voice beyond the walls bid them 'Goodbye...'
Then the floor fell away.
He was plummeting, without warning. Free falling into empty space. When his stomach was somewhere behind his eyes, he felt Yukina latch onto his arm with a grip like a python. There were screams echoing from all sides. Seconds from crashing, he prepared for the impact, but went rocketing back towards the ceiling instead.
The elevator hung in the air, weightless, before a real window. Hiei could see across the entire park for a fraction of an instant, and was reminded that he was still on a harmless ride. This was child's play, nothing more.
Hiei was barely able to catch his breath before the elevator careened downward again.
Up above, the sky was alive with fireworks when they emerged from the Tower of the Terror. The rainbow flashes lit up the evening, and off in the distance, Hiei could still see the tallest spire of Cinderella's castle being set aflame by the iridescent bursts. The fireworks exploding across the night sky offered a meager distraction. Ever since the first fall of the elevator inside the tower, Yukina had been clinging onto his arm.
"I had a feeling something scary would happen," she confessed, "but I wasn't expecting that!"
"Hopefully it wasn't too frightening," Kurama said.
"Oh no!" she said. "I loved it!"
They stopped by a stand called the New York Deli and snatched up some sandwiches and french fries. A stroke of luck helped them find an empty table by the waterfront, where they were able to chow down and enjoy the fireworks display simultaneously. Hiei licked the salt off his hands, one fingertip at a time, then helped Kurama and Yukina clear away their trash before heading off.
A long row of shops ran along the edge of the harbor, and they ducked into several, on the hunt for gifts. Kurama sifted carefully through the shelves of a small stationary shop, and picked up sets of note cards with matching envelopes and pens for both Shiori and Hatanaka's mother. Hiei had learned early on that it was considered proper etiquette to bring presents when visiting family, especially relatives who were seen infrequently.
Yukina's search took a bit longer. She found a gift for Shizuru right away, a sturdy set of tumblers, but agonized over what to give Kuwabara. Hiei resisted the concept of leaving her in the store alone after the fiasco with Goofy earlier that day, but he obliged when Yukina insisted they didn't have to hang around inside while she made up her mind.
While they waited for Yukina to finish up her shopping, Kurama and Hiei wandered back towards the waterfront where they had eaten dinner not long before. They meandered through the thinning crowd until they reached the fence that bordered the miniature harbor. Hiei could tell, as the pathways cleared and the fireworks died out, that their day was coming to an end. He leaned over the polished black railing and stared at the phantoms of lights in the water, and questioned how he felt about their excursion.
"So, this place is called the American Waterfront," he remarked. "Is this what America is actually like?"
"I'd imagine it's a bit more spread out," Kurama said. "The United States has an area twenty-four times larger than Japan, even though the total population there is only double."
"I won't bother to ask how you know that off the top of your head..." Hiei mumbled.
Kurama laughed softly.
"I was a star student in high school, remember?"
"How could I forget any of your glorious achievements?" Hiei snorted.
Kurama's long red locks fell over his shoulder as he leaned over the railing beside Hiei. In his eyes, the gold gleam of the rippling water was reflected. As always, the emerald orbs glistened, and danced with inquisitive brightness when Kurama turned them on his partner.
"Hiei, I know I had to resort to some misleading tactics... but did you enjoy your time here?" he asked.
Hiei had been immersed in a land of fiction and fairy tails that day. He'd witnessed human beings at their best, dizzy with happiness, all living out their dreams. He had eaten his fill of sweet delicacies. He'd sailed past the singing children of the world one minute and been dropped from the top of a darkened tower the next. The most pleasing aspect of the strange adventure was that he'd done it all with his two most cherished people. Somehow, with Kurama and Yukina on either side of him, all his gripes about the human realm felt distant. A gentle flame burned in his heart and warmed him from the inside.
"One of man's few redeeming traits is his creativity," Hiei replied, glancing out across the harbor once more. "The attractions here... amuse me."
"It is an amusement park." Without even looking, Hiei could sense the smile in Kurama's voice.
Soft fingers graced Hiei's bare wrist, and wound around him until Kurama's hand enveloped his own. Magic in the atmosphere must have addled his senses, because Hiei felt different. He wasn't tempted to slap the touch away, or utter a snide, disapproving comment. He only became numb with an odd notion of comfort, and returned Kurama's gesture with a gentle squeeze of his own.
"Your patience this week has been impressive," Kurama said. He shifted closer, tilting his head until Hiei looked up towards him. "I'm... proud of you."
"Don't get too sentimental, now," Hiei said.
His disapproval was a weak front, though. He was already lifting his chin and lowering his eyelids in preparation for Kurama's approaching kiss. They were off the beaten path, shrouded in a dim shadow. No human eyes would peer into Hiei's private world and judge him. Just as strands of Kurama's hair brushed against his cheek though, Hiei's focus was derailed by a familiar voice shooting into his ears.
"I'm all done!" Yukina called. She hurried across the path towards them. Two large shopping bags tugged at her arms.
Kurama pulled away before Hiei even reacted, and addressed Yukina.
"It looks like you had a lot of luck after all," he said.
Yukina's mouse ears flopped forward when she nodded.
"I wanted to get something for Kazuma's new apartment," she said. Yukina held out the bags so they could take a peek inside. "Matching house slippers," she giggled, "and a party platter. He said he wants to have lots of parties so I can meet all of his human friends."
Though Hiei disliked the idea of Yukina becoming entangled with Kuwabara's acquaintances, he kept the opinion to himself. He only took a quick glance at the platter, decorated with a cartoonish pattern and the phrase 'Where Dreams Comes True', then pulled away and glared into the water.
"Then, I guess our journey is over," Kurama said. "Unless there's something else you'd like to see before the park closes, Hiei."
"Hn... of course not."
Not far off, back past the stores they'd explored, was the main exit. Just before they entered the plaza and made for the train station, though, Yukina stopped short and pointed towards the establishments off to the right.
"Look, a print club booth," she said. "We should stop and take some pictures before we leave."
"I'm surprised you're so eager to have your photo taken today," Kurama said. "As I recall, the idea made you uneasy in the past."
"Kazuma and Shizuru proved to me that it was safe by showing me photographs of them from childhood," she explained, as they walked towards the booth. "Kazuma was such a tiny baby! It's hard to believe people can grow so much in such a short time."
"I'd ask to see, but I wouldn't want to embarrass him," Kurama said.
"Or blackmail him..." Hiei muttered.
The three of them crammed into the tiny booth, and Hiei was subjected to the automated camera flashing in his face, the stink of many humans who had used the booth before them, and the discomfort of both Kurama and Yukina squashed deep into his personal bubble. As he had been several times already that day, Hiei was trapped right between them, with no clear escape.
When they left the booth, though, Yukina wore an expression of absolute delight, which she maintained all the way home. Out of the corner of his eye, Hiei watched her stare down at the print club photos over and over, before she finally slipped the card into her purse, alongside her picture of Cinderella.
Though the hour was late, and Hiei and Kurama were destined to crawl out of bed at the break of dawn, they took the time to walk Yukina all the way back to Kuwabara's apartment. The lights were on in the tiny dwelling on the second floor. He was waiting for her.
"Would you like to come inside and say hello?" she asked.
"No," Hiei grumbled.
"We'd love to," Kurama said, "but I'm afraid Hiei and I have another long day ahead of us tomorrow. Perhaps some other time."
"I'll tell Kazuma hello for you," she said.
Yukina held back before she climbed the stairs. She clutched her shopping bags tightly.
"I had a lot of fun today," she said quietly. "It felt almost like a family outing."
This time, it was Hiei's demon heart that thumped unexpectedly. Even in the dim light of the street lamp, he was sure she would spot the red flush that flared in his cheeks, and the stark whites of his eyes as they sprang open.
"I don't mean anything by that, of course," Yukina laughed weakly, then smiled. "Well, good night. Thank you so much for a wonderful time."
"We're available whenever you need us, Yukina," Kurama said.
She nodded, mouse ears falling forward one last time, before she hurried upstairs and entered Kuwabara's apartment. Hiei only dared to breathe again when the door shut behind her.
He watched the squares of sidewalk pass beneath him as they walked back to the train station, towards home. More than once, he felt Kurama's gaze upon him, until he finally said,
"Hiei... why won't you tell her?"
"Tell her what? That her brother is a thief? A murderer?" Hiei said. "Telling her would only cause her misery... and she'd endured enough."
"Do you ever feel that maybe she already knows?" Kurama asked.
Hiei clamped his jaw tight.
"Impossible."
"Nothing is impossible, Hiei."