AN: I hadn't anticipated this update taking so long, hopefully the next one will come more quickly. Unfortunately I can't make any promises as I've started student teaching, but I've finally managed to finish moving so I do have a little more time to write. As always, enjoy the chapter and feel free to drop me a review or a message.
The Prince of Spirit world and a fearsome fire demon share a pot of tea…Kurama muses to himself, doing his best to hide a smile. It sounds like the set up for a bad joke. The fox straightens his charcoal colored sweater as he glances between the two. They sit opposite each other; Hiei glares vehemently at the princeling, tight lipped and silent as ever despite his earlier claim that he would inform them of what he could. Regardless of the poisonous looks being directed at him, Koenma waits patiently for the koorime to begin while nursing his latest cup of tea.
"Hiei," Kurama says softly, leaning his elbows on the table. "Tell us what you saw last night."
"Leave, fox," Hiei replies, not taking his eyes from Koenma. "Don't you need to prepare more of that broth for the girl anyways?"
"I see, very well." The redhead rises, taking his own steaming mug with him. Once Hiei has made up his mind about something there's no changing it, the fox muses silently, though I must admit it's strange to see him so troubled over the matter; and I can't deny my own curiosity. When Kurama pauses at the sliding door Hiei turns his attention to the fox. "They are memories fox, you can't change them."
The koorime then turns away dismissively, unwilling to say more until he and Koenma are alone. Knowing further argument is futile; Kurama leaves them to check Mae's bandages. I should also probably keep Yuske and Kuwubara from tearing the temple apart, they aren't pleased at being banned from this conversation. Not that I can say I feel differently…
In the tearoom Hiei shifts in his seat, searching for a more comfortable position. He sighs, leaning back and turning his attention to the ceiling. Koenma quickly grows impatient as he waits for the koorime to speak again. Then, so suddenly it takes the spirit prince by surprise, Hiei says, "You should have found her sooner."
Koenma opens his mouth, an indignant reply forming on his lips. Before he can say anything Hiei locks his fiery gaze on the prince's and adds, "If you had I wouldn't have had to watch as she was mutilated, raped, and abused last night."
"How did you manage to enter her mind?" Koenma inquires, having no defense against the koorime's statement. "I thought you said there was a barrier around her mind that you couldn't break."
"Mental barriers are weaker when a person's asleep." The ruby eyed demon responds, "That paired with the broth allowed me to enter her mind."
"I see." Is Koenma's only reply as he continues to alternate between sucking on his pacifier and sipping his lukewarm tea. The spirit prince's apparent nonchalance at the situation sparks annoyance within the koorime.
"I told Kurama I would tell you what I was able to see while I was in her mind, only because you don't realize how much damage your bureaucracy has caused." Hiei growls. "All your stupid paperwork and you still can't keep your affairs in order. You create tragedies and expect others to clean them up for you, and the ones you can prevent, you allow to happen anyways."
"That's a hefty accusation Hiei." Koenma states tiredly, he pinches the bridge of his nose in an attempt to keep his cool under the fire demon's anger.
"It's fucking true, Koenma!" Hiei growls, "This girl was beaten and neglected by her caretaker, then abandoned by that same man. Not only that, but I'm sure she was kidnapped by demons and held in the Makai. Please, tell me how this isn't spirit world's fault."
"Wait, how do you know she was kidnapped by demons?" The spirit prince asks, abandoning his tea and snatching the worn file from its place by his elbow.
"I was in her head." Hiei replies lowly, glaring daggers at the toddler.
"And you're sure she was held in the Makai?" Koenma mutters, flipping through the meager contents of the folder. This confirms my worst fears, if demons got their hands on her, there's no telling what happened…
"Fairly sure." The koorime replies, "My senses were limited to what the girl was able to experience."
"What?" Koenma states, shocked. "I thought the Jagan would prevent something like that."
"In most cases it would." Hiei states and levels the toddler prince with a cool glare. When Koenma stares blankly at the demon in response the koorime sighs and shifts to a more comfortable position. "The majority fall into two types-"
"Types? Types of what?" Koenma questions', knowing he may never again gain this type of insight into the Jagan eye and making notes on a spare sheet of paper for later; the koorime glares at the interruption, but continues his explanation.
"Consciousness. Two types of consciousness; there are some, like Kurama, who keep everything in neat little files and group these files together. Then there are others, like the detective, who have everything swirling around and connected by emotion, like a ball of string." Hiei says, his garnet eyes studying the spirit prince as the brunette furiously jots down the information. "Mae's mind was neither. I've only seen a mind like hers once before-"
"Who?" Koenma questions, which interrupts the fire demon once more.
"The demon who gave me my Jagan," the koorime replies after a moment of hesitation, and glares lightly at the toddler again. "But even his mental prowess seems unimpressive when compared to the girl's."
"How so?" Koenma reaches for the still steaming pot and pours himself another cup of tea in preparation for Hiei's explanation.
"Imagine a maze." The demon begins, "Now try to navigate that maze in near darkness, while the path constantly changes so you can never go back the way you came. It's easy to become lost in a mind like this; an inferior psychic would be lost to this world."
"I see," The prince murmurs, making further notes on the subject. "What of her memories? Were you able to gather any information that could be helpful?"
"Not particularly." Hiei states, he rises from his seat at the table and moving to his familiar sill. "The memories were in no particular order, and the majority of them were of her time as a captive. Those demons inflicted the worst torture they could imagine. They took her to the brink of death and brought her back, just to do it again."
At the toddler prince's questioning look the fire demon elaborates, his garnet eyes hardening at the explanation. "They covered her in tar once. Do you know how hot tar has to be to become liquid enough to cover a person? It has to boil, Koenma. She was covered in boiling tar; her skin was burned past recognition. Then, when the tar cools, it shrinks. Her skin literally peeled from her muscles, but she was still sweating from the heat of her burns. Without her skin to protect her she nearly froze to death while sweating profusely and suffocating from the tar constricting her chest."
"Kami" Koenma swore softly, silently wondering at the demon's motives behind the girl's torture. His eyes had widened to the size of saucers and his face was white as death as Hiei relayed one of Mae's gruesome memories. The spirit prince closes the file, unable to record the event. He feels Hiei's garnet glare boring into him and nods to show he's prepared for the next set of events.
"They kicked you out too, huh?" Yuske questions as the fox enters the living area once more, carrying fresh bandages and another cup of steaming broth.
The red head nods as he sets the tray on a rather large coffee table. Brushing his hair from his face, Kurama hands Mae the latest dose of painkillers before turning to Yuske. "Yes, Yuske, Hiei preferred to keep the conversation private, though I'm sure we will be informed of what we need to know."
"Yeah, well we all know how that works well enough." The former detective grumbles as he readies the gaming system, insinuating that they will be told nothing until the last possible moment. His he watches from the corner of his eye as Mae accepts the steaming mug, her sleeve slipping down to reveal the makeshift cast on her wrist. Trust echoes through Mae's mind as she raises the mug, sipping the steaming liquid as she watches the fox kneel to examine her feet. She barely manages to fight off a wince as the red head unravels the bandages, exposing her damaged appendages to the cool mountain air in the temple.
Kurama inspects the damage meticulously, noting how her feet are healing at a surprisingly accelerated rate. Even at this rate it will still be several days before she's able to walk without delaying the healing, he observes while readying the new wrappings. Curious, the detective cocks his head to get a better look at the girl's feet. A grimace plants itself on his face when he sees the telltale green of infection on the soiled bandages, and he can't help but comment, "Damn, that looks bad."
Kuwubara grunts in agreement at the dark haired man's statement, while the fox purses his lips slightly in order to fight the inevitable sigh that threatens to escape him. The red head watches the small girl from the corner of his eye to make sure she finishes the broth before returning her cup to the coffee table. As he finishes rewrapping Mae's feet he notices her picking at the bandage on her neck.
"Leave it," He chides, pulling her hands away gently. "If you bother it, it won't heal."
It itches. She signs, her movements sloppy from the broth and cast. Kurama's brow furrows slightly at her claim, the broth should keep any of her injuries from bothering her. He motions for her to lean her head back so he can better access the bandage. When she complies the fox expertly removes the wrapping, his emerald eyes widening in barely contained shock at what he sees. Unable to help himself, Kurama runs a hand over the unmarred surface. When Mae flinches at the touch he withdraws, still amazed at the girl's uncanny healing ability.
"That must be some medicine, Kurama." Yuske comments, his own coffee colored eyes wide as saucers as he recalls the damage inflicted only two days prior. The fox glances at the two men, giving the former detective a grateful nod when the brunette elbows Kuwubara in order to keep him from drawing more attention to the situation. Confusion plays across Mae's face as she raises her uninjured hand to trace the healed skin with delicate fingers. Even I know medicine can't heal something that quickly, she notes silently, what are they keeping from me?
Rising from his position on the floor the red head delicately seats himself on one of the oversized arm chairs, half paying attention to the boys as the return to their video game and focusing the rest of his energy on trying to communicate with the silent girl, as to distract her from her superhuman recovery. She watches the fox from the corner of her eye, pretending to stare blankly at the wall beside the T.V., as though it's perfectly normal for a third degree burn to heal in only a day and a half. Mae pointedly ignores him when he lightly clears his throat, clasping her hands firmly in her lap and keeping her back ram rod straight despite the effects of the medication.
"So why don't you talk?" Yuske inquires, shattering the tense silence without looking away from his game. A hint of guilt is laced into his question, his previous aggravation with Mae's rebellion seemingly gone at the sight of her injuries. He must feel guilty, the red head muses from his seat, somewhat glad that he's not alone in his curiosity. Yuske is the type to blame himself for her injuries after all, and to have enough sense not to question how the worst of Mae's burns could be mended in such a short time. Much to Kurama's surprise, and mild amusement, the white haired girl unclasps her hands and signs. I can't.
"You said that," The former detective responds to Kurama's verbalization of the statement, still focused on beating his larger companion at their game "but why?"
I haven't been able to since I was twelve. She states, the red head continuing to act as translator. Sensing this explanation is still insufficient, and suspecting they can do little with the volunteered information she begins to elaborate; Talking… speaking in the way you imply, is not something I can do anymore.
"Wait," Kuwubara interrupts, becoming distracted from his and Yuske's game. "Koenma said you were twenty six, but there's no way! How old are you, really?"
"Damn, Kuwubara, even I know not to ask a girl's age!" The dark haired man exclaims, decimating his opponent in the digital game before turning to face the small albino, a grin playing across his strong features. Kurama watches as annoyance flashes through the deep cerulean of Mae's eyes. The half demon's next question only adds to the girl's aggravation. "So, what, you just woke up one morning and couldn't talk?"
When Mae's lips press into a thin line Kurama steps in, smoothing his charcoal slacks as he speaks. "Things like this are rarely so simple Yuske. You were living in the orphanage at that time, Mae, yes? With the nuns?"
The striking sapphire of Mae's eyes meet the fox's own deep green with such intensity the red head finds his breath caught in his throat momentarily. I must tread carefully after yesterday, he takes a deep breath to steady himself and prepare for the resistance he will surely face. She regards him skeptically for an extended moment, as if to decide how much to reveal before raising her hands to answer his question. I was, though technically it was part of the Catholic Church.
"What kind of parent just abandons their kid like that anyways?" The carrot top grumbles, ditching his controller on the coffee table. At this Mae visually stiffens, her hands jerkily moving to form the words: it wasn't his fault. Without translating, the fox gives a pointed look to the human. Kuwubara and Yuske were still sifting through texts when Mae told Koenma and me about her father, so they don't know about the abuse. We're finally starting to make some progress; I need to act quickly in order to keep her from closing up again.
"You don't resent your father for abandoning you?" Kurama questions, brushing a few stray hairs from his face. Mae shakes her head slowly, but doesn't elaborate further. How could I, she muses, when I'm the one responsible. A deep despair stirs in her chest as she remembers her father's final moment of clarity, the moment that led him to leave her at the orphanage.
"You stupid girl!" Her father shrieks, hurling a half empty bottle of liquor at her head. Unable to fight the reflex, Mae ducks, allowing the bottle to shatter on the wall behind her. The strong smelling liquid splatters them as the remaining shards of glass fall to the floor.
"You should have never been born. You were a mistake." He grunts, grabbing her upper arm with one hand and tangling his free hand in her filthy white hair in order to yank her head back, effectively forcing the young girl to face him. Tears gather in her sapphire eyes, but refuse to fall. Her father blinks, once, then twice. A moment of clarity comes to the crazed man through his drunken haze. As if realizing it's his daughter, the only remainder of his beloved wife, he's restraining he drops her.
"Daddy?" She asks, gathering her legs under her and shakily rising to her feet. She watches, bewildered as he stumbles back, his hands raised defensively. He regards her with terrified bewilderment, as if realizing for the first time in a year that his child is not the monster he's been seeing. A silence passes between the two before Mae's father drops his defensive position, a defeated slump to his shoulders taking its place.
"Mae…" He begins, his voice trailing off and his gaze boring through her as if she were nothing more than a distant memory. "Let's go."
Too confused to question him, the young girl follows as he leads her to a rusted out pickup and gets in the cab. Her small hand trails over the peeling paint as she moves around the vehicle, remembering when the truck was well maintained and delivered her to school and ice cream parlors instead of unknown and ominous destinations. Afraid of angering her father once more she clambers into the passenger seat, the door squeaking in protest as she struggles to swing it shut. Her father says nothing as the engine rattles to life, turning to watch as he backs slowly from the driveway. Mae remains forward facing, taking in the retreating view of her childhood home, not knowing this is the last time she'll ever see it.
Kurama watches as Mae's memories draw her in, her eyes glazing over slightly. He hmms lightly, breaking her trance and drawing her attention back to the present. Determined to have the answers he's seeking the red head pursues the issue further. "That's very big of you, to so readily forgive someone who wronged you."
She glares at him, her hands becoming tangled in the fabric of her yukata in an attempt to stay calm. The raw emotions of her eight year old self play on the edges of her consciousness, threatening to overwhelm her as she maintains eye contact with the fox. Sensing the tension building between the two, Yuske reinserts himself into the conversation, casually throwing an arm around Mae's narrow shoulders. His protective instincts rear themselves as he feels her small frame tense beside him. "Lay off fox boy, not everybody holds grudges for hundreds of years."
The sudden contact along with his jovial tone throws the white haired girl off balance. She glances up at him, her eyes wide with uncertainty at his intentions, but her hands release the skirt of her yukata. The effects of the broth become more noticeable as she visibly relaxes. The warmth from the contact causes Mae to unconsciously shift closer to the dark haired man; a part of her she'd thought she'd buried long ago taking comfort in the strength of the detective's arm around her. With a smirk aimed at Kurama that the small girl misses Yuske grabs Kuwubara's controller and plops it in Mae's lap. "Play a round with me, kid, nobody can ask you questions when you're hands are occupied, right?"
Kurama bites back a frustrated growl at the suggestion when he realizes the easy comradery the detective is building with the strange girl. Perhaps if Yuske is able to gain her confidence then she will open up to him and we can finally learn what we need to know. His emerald gaze slides over to the television set where he sees that Mae is easily beating the former detective at the digital fighting game. Glancing down at her hands the red head notes how her fingers dance across the controls, flicking the buttons and manipulating the joy stick faster than Yuske can respond. With a grunt the dark haired man leans forward, concentration screwing his eyebrows together and painting a half frown across his face. Kuwubara begins chuckling as he watches them play, his glee growing with each successive blow that the small girl's character lands on her opponent. The carrot top flops back against the back of his chair and snorts, "Give up Urameshi, she's got you beat bad!"
"Not a chance!" The detective grinds out, leaning so far forward at this point it's a wonder he's still seated on the couch at all. What Kuwubara had said is true, despite Yuske's best efforts he's yet to land a single blow on Mae's character while his own only sports a single red bar. As she delivers the finishing blow the larger man slumps back in defeat, tossing his controller onto the cushion beside him.
"Damn," He grumbles, running a hand through his hair as Mae returns her own device to the coffee table. "You're pretty good. I didn't expect that."
"Well she does talk with her hands." Kuwubara comments, his features laced with glee at his friend's loss. The former detective shrugs in response, clearly pouting. The carrot top leans forward suddenly, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Hey, maybe you could teach me sign language! Then I could finally beat Urameshi!"
"Learn all the languages you want. You'll never have the skills to beat me." Yuske snarks, his own eyes widen as an idea comes to him. "We should though, learn how to understand sign language that is. That way Kurama doesn't have to be around for us to understand you!"
Mae looks at him skeptically, shifting her weight to better face him. Yuske, she signs to him before turning to the larger male and pointing before signing, Kuwubara. The fox grins when he sees her attempting to teach the boys the signs for their names. It seems as if Yuske's good nature is getting through to her, Kurama grins to himself. The two regard her with equally confused expressions, though Kuwubara is the one to voice his lack of understanding. "Um, Kurama, a little help."
"She's trying to teach you your names, since those are one of the few things that can't be pantomimed." The fox explains, his amused smirk widening when Mae nods in agreement. He adds, "Though, it would be easier to assign them a symbol or gesture that can be easily remembered rather than the kanji for their names."
"Yeah!" Yuske agrees, "Hey, Mae, what's the sign for idiot? That's what we should call Kuwubara!"
He roars with laughter at his own joke while the carrot top growls with anger, flipping his childhood friend the bird. "Oh yeah, Urameshi? Well this can be your sign!"
Mae rolls her eyes in exasperation at their antics before pointing at the two respectively and signing cowboy toward the former detective and big carrot toward the other. She whips around, glaring at Kurama as he unsuccessfully tires to stifle a laugh. With a chuckle he states "While appropriate, it's obvious you're foreign."
"Wait, what did she call us?" Kuwubara asks eagerly, leaning forward onto his elbows. His eyes glitter in anticipation at his new nickname. Emerald eyes still dance with mirth as he explains. "Apparently Yuske reminds Mae of a cowboy, and Kuwubara a big carrot."
It's because of his hair, and that he's really tall. Mae defends, frowning slightly at the fox. However, the damage is already done. Yuske falls off the couch, rolling across the floor with laughter. Kuwubara huffs, kicking the detective as he rolls past. When Kurama translates the white haired girl's explanation the carrot top simply crosses his arms with resigned indignation.
"If I'm stuck with that then you should have to go by rose boy, Kurama." Kuwbara grumbles, earning a confused look from Mae. Kurama shakes his head lightly at his friend, and counters "I believe you and I both know the sign for fox would be most fitting, Kuwubara."
Fox? Mae signs tentatively, pinching her middle and ring fingers together with her thumb so her pinky and pointer fingers remained standing and waving her hand side to side so it looked as if a small animal was tipping its head with curiosity. The action renews Yuske's laughter and causes Kuwubara to have a small fit of his own. The redhead grimaces at the mirth of his companions, primly tucking his hair behind his ear. Glaring lightly at the two males he says, "I hadn't realized the gesture was quite so…"
"Cute?" The former detective finishes, wiping tears from his eyes. "Damn Kurama, don't let Hiei see that or you'll never live it down!"
"Let me see what?" The group turns to see the jaganshi leaning against the door frame, spirit world's prince no far behind. Garnet eyes survey the group, noting the former detective's position on the floor as the dark haired demon moves to lounge in his favorite window. Bastard. Hiei cocks his head as the whisper filters through his consciousness, his gaze narrowing at the intrusion, but decides to dismiss it when nothing but silence follows.
"I assume you have everything you need." The fox states, turning to Spirit World's prince and completely evading the koorime's question. His only response is a curt nod from Koenma as the prince, still maintaining his teenage form moves across the room. With a small sigh he kneels before Mae. His once sparse file is now threatening to spill papers as he places it at their feet. Without warning and to the amazement of everybody present he engulfs the small girl in a hug. She stiffens at the gesture, fear holding her in place though she instinctively wants to retreat from the contact. When the princeling doesn't release her she begins to shift uncomfortably, delicately trying to untangle herself from his embrace.
"I'm so sorry." He whispers, shame laced in his words. Mae stills, tears prick her eyes and make her vision swim. It's not them. They haven't found me. She realizes, relief sweeping through her small form. She ignores the small part of her that screams that this may be a trap, the part that has helped her survive all these years. Because despite her every fiber resisting, she can't deny the glaring apology she's been confronted with. They've never apologized, never.
