AKN: First of all, you guys may not have understood the first opening scene for the last chapter. Well, I used Mihi-chan and Mihiro as two seperate characters. You will understand why I did that in this chapter. It was meant as a clue, so I hope you guys understand it. If you don't just leave a review. Thanks to everyone who used to review (because I don't get much anymore...) and the people who have me on their faves list! (Even though you guys don't review...-hint,hint-...by the way, I'm in the middle of some of your stories, I'll leave a review when I get to the latest chapter!)
DDL: As you may have noticed, this chapter's title is 'Another Curse? Yusuke Figured Something Out?'
Yusuke: Why is it a surprise that I figured something out? I am a detective, you know.
Alicia: Glad to see that you're out of your coma. To make it clear, she's referring to the fact that you are an idiot.
Yusuke: I am not!
DDL: You're a liar now too!
Yusuke: -growl-
Kurama: So, Mihiro, Mihi-chan, how have your jobs been going?
Mihi-chan: It's going so well! I get lots of generous tips, but all of my customers are really clingy...
Mihiro: I swear to God, if one more old pervert tries to touch me, I'm going to fucking snap their fingers in half and shove them up their---
- A very long beep while Mihiro discusses just how he will kill old perverts with their own organs and body parts-
Kurama: Mihi-chan... clingy how?
Mihi-chan: Well, they keep...
Mihiro: They are grabbing his ass! I almost got fired for jumping one of the pervs in the back alley during my break!
Youko and Kurama: Do you have their addresses?
Mihiro: -pulls out slip of paper- Let's go kick some old pervs asses...
Mihi-chan: Why? They're just being nice...
Mihiro: They were molesting you!
AKN and DDL: Why don't you guys read this chapter while we explain the facts of life to our poor innocent Mihi-chan and go beat the crap out of pervy old people?
With Seki and Mihiro
"Thank you for helping me with my bandages Seki-san," Mihiro said as he cautiously flexed one of his wings.
"That's alright; I know you don't have enough spirit energy left to heal your wounds and that you would never be able to reach some of those yourself," Seki chuckled as he packed up the first aid kit.
"Are you suggesting that I can't take care of myself?" Mihiro chuckled a bit.
"No, no, of course you're not. I'm just suggesting that because you're short you're arms are too."
"Hey! I'm not that short!"
"Compared to Hiei and then to me...you're a midget."
"That's cruelty, you know I'm taller then Hiei." Mihiro said as he pouted at Seki.
"Ma, ma, I was only teasing, and it's only by about three inches anyway." Seki said as he clapped Mihiro's back.
"Itou, that hurts! Be careful please!" Mihiro said as he flinched from the assault on his poor back.
"Eh heh heh, gomen nasai..." Seki said as he scratched the back of his neck.
"Seki-san... could you please tell me how I can release Naomi from her curse, I must help her!" Mihiro said; suddenly serious as he watched Seki clean up the room. The older man paused; then turned to Mihiro. He reached up slowly and removed his sun glasses. His piercing white eyes had lightning bolts of purple. His pupils were slits like a cat's. Mihiro listened intently, as he knew that Seki had become incredibly, uncharacteristically serious. Seki sighed, and sat across from Mihiro on the floor.
"Mihiro... I don't know how to tell you this lightly. This could make your condition worse. Why don't you wait until you're completely healed before I tell you?" Seki suggested.
"Seki, I can't wait any longer to help her. She was taken from me for so long. I have to do all that I can to give her back her free will," Mihiro said as he leaned forward to stare intently into Seki's eyes. They stared at each other in silence until Seki finally looked away; then back again.
"If you want to free your sister of the curse you described to me forever... you will have to kill your sister with your bare hands in every dimension for each level of Makai, Reikai, and Ningenkai." Seki finally said.
---------------------------------------------------------------Back in The Kitchen---------------------------------------------------------------
Kurama, Hiei, Alicia, Yusuke, and Yukina all stood abruptly around the table and looked in the direction of the hallway leading to the bedrooms. Kuwabara looked around confused as to why that burst of power had occurred and why the conversation had stopped so abruptly.
"What the hell was that huge burst of power?" Yusuke exclaimed as he rubbed his arms to try and stop the goose bumps. The group looked at each other and ran towards the source of the explosive power.
-----------------------------------------------------------Back With Mihiro and Seki-----------------------------------------------------------
Seki stepped back and shielded his eyes as Mihiro was enveloped by a blinding light that seemed hauntingly familiar to him. Mihiro screamed in agony from somewhere within the cocoon of light.
"Mihiro! How did you get cursed?" Seki yelled as the wind picked up in the room and Mihiro's screams became louder, but soon began to die down. Seki stepped forward to try and grab him, but was pulled back into the hallway through the open door.
"Alicia!" Seki mumbled as she jumped into the room. The entire group was surrounding the doorway and watching as Alicia made her way along the wall of the room.
"Seki! Can you here me?" Alicia yelled through the wind. Seki nodded, but Alicia opened the mental link anyway.
#I need you to get a bowl of hot water ready with lots of towels. I also need you to get out the metaphysical first aid kit and see if Hiei and Yukina can help with healing #
-Yes ma'am - Seki replied.
/Why do you need me to help with healing onna? / Hiei's voice rang through the two's mind.
# Mihiro is both fire and ice, and right now we don't have another forbidden child to help him. You need to heal the wounds part way and then have Yukina heal the part of the wound that you didn't. I also need Kurama to help with the herbs. We're all out and I know he can grow plants. I'm going in now. # Alicia finished and shut the link before Seki could ask what she was planning to do.
Alicia crouched and set her feet against the wall opposite the doorway, and with a grunt pushed herself into the air. Seki's eyes widened as he pushed everyone out of the doorway. Alicia sailed through the air and straight into where Mihiro was in the light, his screams having died out completely several minutes ago.
Seki and the rest held their breath as they stayed clear of the doorway, waiting to see if the two would emerge. Seki finally stood and went to carry out Alicia's orders, followed by Yukina and Hiei. Kurama waited for Alicia to come forward from the swirling mass of light.
Alicia pushed herself through the first layer of light, which was freezing with despair. How can an emotion become so tangible? She pushed forward, determined to get Mihiro out of this Hell. The second layer moved faster, and actually slit her open with invisible weapons, this had to be rage. She didn't even understand how she knew this, but she pushed ahead, using her wind to block most of the attacks. As she reached the third layer, she heard a whisper.
# No! This can't beThat voice whispering is princess Manatchi! #, Alicia thought as she pushed faster and with more strength. She reached layer seven in a matter of minutes, but those were precious minutes that could mean endangering Mihiro's life. This layer was the most difficult to get through. It was so calming and peaceful; she almost never wanted to leave. How could she want to leave this perfect place? If she died here, no one would be hurt. As she thought that, a steely voice cut through her mind.
/ Baka onna, hurry up and get the kami, Kurama won't stop fidgeting and I'm tempted to kill him with some unsharpened scissors I got my hands on/
# Be quiet, I'm almost done. Stop sending me those stupid images of those scissors as well. Also, thank you for your help. # Alicia replied to the fire apparition. She saw one last image of Hiei scowling in confusion as she shut the link down. She then shook her head to clear her thoughts and continued on through to the center of the light's swirling mass.
Alicia's feet touched down onto a solid surface, and she looked around her. She then heard another whisper.
"Mihiro, I fear that I can't protect you from these new memories," said a soft female voice.
"Manatchi-tono! Please give me back my memories! I don't wish to burden you," Mihiro's voice came floating after Manatchi's, filled with sorrow and concern. Alicia walked further into what she guessed was a room, and the black mist that had surrounded her earlier evaporated. In the center of the room, Mihiro was held a few feet above the floor in a vortex of wind. As it moved around him, cuts were forming. A pool of his blood was still spreading outward. Alicia glanced down and realized that she was standing in some of his blood. She then looked to her left, and saw a girl about two inches shorter then Mihiro standing in front of him. It was Manatchi, the princess of what was left of Mihiro's people.
"I will be fine Mihiro. You should not worry about me, but yourself. How do you plan to get out of this place if I can not help you?" questioned the blue-blonde headed girl. Mihiro furrowed his brow as he considered her question.
"Manatchi-tono, I don't believe I can get away if I can't remember what I would have done in this kind of situation back then," Mihiro said after he had considered his options. Manatchi smiled and gently shook her head.
"I can't believe you're still so stubborn even without your true personality... fine, I will give back to you your true self, but you must either get yourself out of this mess or find some form of outside help. As a result, you will be cursed with the blindness of your ancestors. No, you will not truly be blind, but you won't be able to except when to give up. You will keep running headstrong into dangerous situations, believing that you will win somehow. Can you accept this?" Manatchi asked with a gentle smile and concerned eyes. Mihiro smiled as well.
"I would be doing this anyway, so what harm could there be?" Mihiro questioned.
"Your life." Manatchi replied, suddenly serious. Mihiro straightened up as well. Mihiro looked down at her from where he was in the air above her.
"Then I accept these conditions, and I know I will find a way to break the curse." Mihiro replied with a very un-characteristic smirk. Manatchi smiled up at him.
"I see that old habits die hard, love," Manatchi said as she laughed a bit. She lifted a necklace from around her neck, and allowed it to float in the air between them, "All you need to do is break my necklace and your memories are yours once again."
Mihiro concentrated on the small object for a bit; then smiled.
"Reapers scythe, help me to reap what I have sown!" Mihiro called out. A giant scythe formed in the air before the necklace, and glowing a dark amethyst, sliced it in half. The sound of breaking crystals resounded around the room like a dropped pin, and Mihiro began to scream as a malicious energy flowed into him. Manatchi let tears slowly fall down her pale face before turning away.
"I'm so sorry my love..." Manatchi whispered as she faded away in a gathering of light.
"Damn it Mihiro! Don't give your life for no reason!" Alicia cried as she watched Mihiro's form. He was wrapped in darkness, and all was still once again. Of course, just the calm before the storm, "No..." breathed Alicia.
The cocoon of darkness shifted; then ripped apart in shreds, revealing a very different Mihiro to the world. He landed in a crouch on the ground; then drew himself up to his full height. He smirked; his eyes still covered by his bangs; then looked up at Alicia.
"What's wrong Lishers; scared that something's going to go wrong? I still can't believe I acted like such a wimp for so long; and voluntarily too!" Mihiro snarled in disgust. Alicia slapped her forehead.
# How am I going to explain this one? # Alicia thought to herself before she looked up again. Mihiro was inspecting the side of the wall he was on; thinking to himself with a finger on his chin.
"I can get us out now. Let's get out of here." Alicia said as she walked up behind Mihiro.
"Hn. Thanks." Mihiro replied as he followed her into the wind barrier.
---------------------------------------------------------------In that one room-------------------------------------------------------------------
"They haven't come out yet." Yusuke said as he grew more worried by the minute. Then the wind began to stop and slowly as it disappeared Alicia and a guy stood before them. He was the exact height of Mihiro but his hair was long and pulled back into a high ponytail. He wore a black sleeveless shirt with arm socks and black pants, which were tucked into black boots. He also had tons of bells and buckles everywhere.
"Yo." The Mihiro look alike said holding up a hand.
"W-who the hell is this guy, where's Mihiro?" asked Kuwabara. The room became silent as they waited for Alicia to answer. Seki spoke up.
"That's the real Mihiro." Yusuke and Kuwabara gasped. Then the questioning began.
They didn't answer any.
Alicia looked down at Mihiro "You're bleeding."
Mihiro looked at himself then looked up at Alicia and began to circle her. "So it's true. You have no emotions because of the curse." he stopped in front of her and then turned towards the group. "Ah,I remember it well! You were so small and so ni—" before Mihiro could finish Alicia picked him up by his dog collar and lifted him to her face. Mihiro stared into her eyes noticing that there was no color; not even a hint of any emotion.
"You are still as annoying as when I first met you. Keep your mouth shut if you want to live," Alicia dropped Mihiro and started to walk out of the room, "I like the wimpy Mihiro better."
"You jerk," Mihiro said getting up and dusting himself off, "You know I hate being weak!" Kurama snickered into his hand while the others were still baffled. Mihiro slowly turned an icy glare to Kurama, "What are you laughing at?"
"Nothing" Kurama answered. He cleared his throat and got very serious. "Mihiro we're going to have to treat your wounds."
"Oh yeah, I'm injured---" Mihiro collapsed onto the floor.
"I'm surprised he made it out and didn't faint 'til now... that's a huge puddle of blood on the floor." Hiei said, looking at his sister, "Come on we'll give him some of our power." Hiei took his sister's hand and they kneeled beside Mihiro.
------------------------------------------------------------The pond in the backyard------------------------------------------------------------
Alicia sat under a huge cherry blossom tree by a pond thinking about what Mihiro had said.
-Flashback-
Manatchi was standing next to Mihiro in a garden filled with beautiful flowers. Mihiro was arguing with a man that worked in the palace.
"I don't need bodyguards especially from the cat clan! I can take care of myself."
"The king worries for your safety and his worries of his daughter are his as well so if you want to argue with someone argue with him." The entrance to the garden opened slowly and there stood a younger version of Seki and a girl around the same age as Seki. She had long green hair and her eyes were a light green. She was smiling and giggling with Seki as they approached Mihiro and Manatchi.
Manatchi looked up at them. "Hello my name is Manatchi." She smiled at them warmly.
"Yo, I'm Seki and this is my girlfriend Alicia." Alicia stopped smiling and slapped Seki.
"I am not!"
"They're just kids!" Mihiro shouted angrily at the guy.
"So are you." The man replied walking into the palace.
Alicia turned on Mihiro. "So you're the kid we're suppose to baby-sit?"
"Baby-sit?" Mihiro shouted glaring at Alicia.
"Yeah" she said as the glaring match turned into a fist fight.
Seki popped up besides Manatchi. "Don't worry; this is bound to happen a lot."
-Flashback ends-
"Ah, the good old days." Alicia said as she nodded off.
Alicia awoke in her room. She yawned and walked over to her window. Her arms and her head were bandaged. # I wonder who did this for me. # Alicia looked at the full moon. Her eyes started to widen as she realized that she had taken on her other form. Then she heard Hiei's voice from outside her door.
"I'm going to check on Alicia and see if she's woken up yet." The door knob started to turn slowly.
"Wait!" shouted Seki "Ah... I'll go with you" he said slowly. Hiei opened the door and looked around.
"She's gone." said Hiei looking out the window.
"She...hmm... must have gone out for some air. She'll be back later." Seki said with relief, "Come on."
Alicia ran through the forest and stopped when she found the rock that she usually stayed at on these nights. She called fore her harp and played the song of healing.
Seki and Hiei seemed to hear the tune and slowly escaped the house to find the person making the music. Alicia stopped playing and took her bandages off. There was no sign she had ever been hurt. Alicia stared at the stars for sometime when someone clasped there hands over her eyes.
"Guess who." said a manly voice from behind her. Alicia grabbed the person by the shirt and flipped him over her head.
"Darn it Seki you about gave me a heart... attack…." there was silence for a while then; "Y--Yusuke?" the shock was stunning.
Yusuke jumped up and looked Alicia in the eyes. "So is this your true form?"
Alicia didn't say anything for a while but she knew she had given herself away.
"No..." Alicia said playing with the black ribbon in her white-blonde hair, "How did you find out?"
Yusuke sat down besides Alicia "Well, I put all the pieces together. The big clue was when Mihiro said something about a curse, but there were other small things that I noticed. There is also the fact that there is no way that anyone could be so emotionless without a really good reason." Then nothing was said. After some time Yusuke got up and started to walk back to the house; then stopped and looked back at Alicia, "I promise not to tell."
"Thank you." Alicia said warmly as Yusuke disappeared. Not soon afterwards she heard another voice.
"Hey," Alicia turned around quickly and saw Seki out of breath. "Thank goodness I found you." Seki grabbed Alicia's shoulders. "Hiei is looking for you." Seki dropped his hands and looked down. Alicia leaned to one side and saw Hiei jumping from tree to tree.
"Hiei!" Alicia called waving with a warm smile. Hiei stopped and looked down. Seki slapped his forehead as Hiei jumped down and joined the group. Alicia took hold of Hiei's hand and shook it happily, "Hello Hiei! I'm Natsune, Alicia's twin sister."
- I thought she was going to tell the truth. YAY for Alicia's smartness! – Seki thought as he grabbed Alicia's hands and pulled her close "Oh Natsune, my love, have you seen your sister?" Alicia looked up into his eyes with false love but anyone except for Hiei and Kuwabara would know she was faking it.
"I believe she went back to her room. Sorry to scare you guys I just wanted to talk with her." Alicia looked at Hiei to see if he believed and sure enough he did. Seki grabbed Alicia around the waist and pulled her in close. Hiei turned around blushing and walked away. This was the first time Alicia had let Seki get close enough to her in her weak state and she knew now that Seki was going to take full advantage at this point.
# Why does this form have to be so weak? # Alicia thought; then quickly opened up a mind link to Hiei, #Wait Hiei! help me.# Seki leaned in for a kiss. Hiei turned around quickly and saw who he thought was Natsune trying to push herself away from Seki. Seki's nose almost touched Alicia's nose when Hiei smashed his foot onto Seki's. Seki cried out in pain and let go Alicia. Hiei stepped in front of Alicia as she took a few steps back. Seki turned to face Hiei and there was a bolt of static electricity between their eyes. Alicia looked at the moon. It was almost five o'clock in the morning, "Well it was nice meeting you guys but I must be off." # Thanks Hiei #the two watched as Alicia disappeared into a swirl of light.
/ My gut tells me Natsune is Alicia but it's just too hard to believe... / Hiei thought as he walked back to the house leaving Seki behind.
Mihi-chan: The world is such a dark and cold place...
Kurama: Mihi-chan...are you alright?
Mihi-chan: I think I've been damaged...
Mihiro: He's just depressed because we told him that sea salt ice cream doesn't exist.
Mihi-chan: -sob- Kudosai...-sob- don't remind me...that I will never know another one of the supposed joys of life...-sobs-
Mihiro: Who knew he was so addicted to Kingdom Hearts? (A/N: I don't own it, for God sakes, I'm poor!)
Youko: Well, at least he knows God doesn't look like a giant fly-like creature...
AKN: -gasp- What?
Youko: Ah, kuso!
AKN: -huddles in corner, rocking back and forth- Shadow Hearts (A/N: I don't own this either! Why do you forsaken me?), you lied to me! I trusted you! The world is such a dark and cold place...
Kurama: Oh great, this will be harder because we're dealing with someone who actually has mental problems...
AKN: -slobber-
CAST: -shudder-
Alicia: Since Mihi-chan is still in shock, here are the translations: Ma ma- Now now; Gomen nasai- I'm sorry; Onna- woman; Kudosai- please; Itou- ouch ( or is it Itai? SOmeone please tell me...); Kuso- the other four letter word for crap.
Review button: Just click on me, please! Why do you forsaken me? -wails-