Wow, its been a REALLY long time since I've updated. Most of you are probably gone now, but whatever, i'm posting so that The Dark Wyvern stops poking me about it.
For the legality of the matter: I do not own the YYH characters. I DO own the plot, and any OC's that happen to show up. (except for Tara Totidiem Verbis. She owns herself, I'm just borrowing her.)
Silence hung between Pyro and Kurama as they made their way to work the next morning.
Kurama heaved a sigh. "I've been an ass lately, haven't I?"
"Damn skippy." Pyro chuckled, "If you miss her, just call her already."
The red head stopped dead in his tracks.
Pyro turned and began to walk backwards. "Empath, remember?" the shocked look on the fox's face made her giggle. "You are missing someone really important, and my guess is lover or mother."
Kurama started after her. "You are right. I left in a bit of a rush and there was no chance to say goodbye."
"Get a burner phone and call. It will help." Pyro laughed. "Trust me, I know" she finished in a more serious tone.
Koenma was suddenly on the sidewalk in front of them. "No need to make a phone call, some of the girls are coming to help." The young god looked hard at Pyro. "Seems I haven't brought them soon enough."
"'Tis but a scratch." Pyro giggled. "Drew blood on Hiei though."
Koenma nearly dropped his pacifier. "Y-you did?"
|"Yea. He had a dagger to my throat, I had a carving knife to his femoral artery. He swears I tried to castrate him." Pyro winked at the god.
"I botched their sparring match." Kurama added.
"I heard. Shizuru is ticked you've been the bonehead this mission." Koenma gave the fox a near glare. "Get it together."
"We have to get to work, Koenma." Pyro started around the godlet.
"No, you don't. I made a call." Koenma said.
"Dammit Koenma," Pyro glared. "I need the hours so that I can pay the rent."
"Don't worry about rent. It's been covered. You both need to come with me. Now." Koenma grabbed both the fox and the witch by the hand and zapped them to his office.
"What the hell man?" Pyro yelped.
"Shouldn't that be 'what the hell, God?'" Koenma quipped"
"Actually it should be 'What the hell, you annoying little toddler.'" Pyro glared at the godlet.
"Oh so the first line was intended as a compliment?" Koenma asked smugly.
Pyro hissed at him loudly enough he stepped back. Kurama chuckled at their ridiculousness.
"But anyway, You were being followed." Koenma said returning to the original subject.
"By what?" Pyro demanded.
"Something that could neutralize Earth elementals," Koenma replied.
"I'm not pure earth, ya know," the girl huffed.
"You also would burn yourself out in the fight." Kurama spoke this time. "And then your fiance would most likely torture me to death."
The angry woman moved to sit in the corner with her arms crossed.
"You don't have to stay here for too long," Koenma sighed.
"It's already been too long you pacifier-sucking fool," she grumbled.
"So explain to me why the hell we are lying to her?" Hillock demanded.
"To test the limits of her power. I am also lying to the fox if that makes you feel better," Hiei said, smirking darkly.
"You just don't bloody get it, do you shortshit?" Hillock sighed and tilted his head back.
"Get what?" Hiei gave the human a befuddled look.
"The value of a completely honest relationship. The fact that, if I'm not there, she is extremely likely to kill someone, and vice versa." Hillock glared at the demon sitting near his lover's beloved herb garden.
"Threat noted." Hiei turned to examine the plants. "Honesty of the kind you speak doesn't exist. Ever."
"It does with us. I had complete faith in her and her loyalty for the two and a half years before things worked out enough for us to finally move in together."
"She just didn't tell you of her indiscretions, fool."
Hiei suddenly found himself pinned to the wall and bereft of air via Hillock's forearm. "Never say nor imply anything of the sort to me or her if you value your existence. You, who value honor so highly, should know better than to question the honor of someone, especially when it comes to that which is most important." Hillock's tone was deadly cold, his real eye almost burning with icy rage while the fake was almost shimmering with a black aura.
Hiei attempted to push back the ningen cutting off his air supply without success. Hillock then gave one last shove, making Hiei fear for a crushed windpipe, before releasing the short demon. Hiei gasped as he leaned on the wall, his hand on his throat massaging the damage.
"It's her thing, and mine, when we love, it is with every fiber of our being. It can neither be shared nor broken and should NEVER be questioned. Ask her if you don't believe me. But be prepared for far more than a nick to your thigh for your idiocy." Hillock stated in the same cold tone, before turning and leaving the gasping demon.
"It shouldn't be long now. Hiei is likely feeding whatever Koenma spoke of to his dragon now." Kurama attempted to reassure Pyro.
"I'd feel a lot better if you quit fucking hovering over me like a damned nursemaid." Pyro growled. "Ever since the healer said I was lucky to be alive, you've been in my personal space, and it is seriously pissing me the hell off."
Kurama sank to the floor beside her. "I just feel responsible. In addition, I have been quite remiss in my behavior towards you."
"Damn skippy you've been an ass. Now for the hundred and fifty fucking seventh time, SHUT THE HELL UP!" Pyro leaned back and closed her eyes. Her hand were resting on the ceremonial knife she'd tucked into her bag that morning.
"I could..." the red head's words were cut off by the point of her knife appearing between his eyes.
"I assure you, my athame is fully functional and quite sharp." Pyro glared at the overly talkative demon. "I would rather avoid having to rededicate this blade once more."
"Um..." The kitsune was still dumbstruck by the utter calm she radiated while still sounding so totally pissed.
"Get it through that thick fox skull, I do not need food, drink, comforting or apologies. I would like to sit in SILENCE and meditate for a while." She calmly sheathed the knife and leaned back against the wall again.
"As you wish." Kurama moved away from the girl, remaining close enough to diffuse any situation that should arise.
Koenma walked in. "Kurama! What did you do?"
Kurama looked around, stunned by the voice. Pyro was mostly where he'd left her. Part of her had begun sinking into the floor. She was slowly being consumed, it seemed.
"She said she wanted to meditate in silence." Kurama informed the godlet.
"She's attempting to find her own way home, and doing a fairly good job of it." Koenma corrected.
"What?!" Kurama replied in shock.
"Hiei just reported in saying a ghost image of Pyro was beginning to appear."
Pyro opened her eyes, phasing back fully into the room. "Dammit! Suichi, I thought I told you to stuff it."
Kurama just bowed in acknowledgment.
"You know, you really shouldn't try to jump planes without a portal." Koenma said.
"Well Hill was just choking Spiky, so you should probably portal my ass home before Hiei gets himself into more trouble." Pyro smirked.
Koenma snapped hurriedly and a portal opened. "Send your lover through, I wish to speak to him, privately."
Pyro strolled through the portal and moments later Hillock appeared through it the cold but controlled fury still obvious on his face.
Kurama made a hasty retreat, lest Hillock's rage splash onto him.
"Hillock, sit please. I'd like to run a scan on you." Koenma gestured to a bench by the wall, seemingly oblivious to Hillock's rage.
Pyro glared at the fire demon standing in her living room. "Just test me, goddammit, and stop all this deviant game bullshit."
Hiei scoffed. "It is working. Most people's true power only manifests when it is a matter of life and death."
"Um, hel-looo, not most people, or have you not figured that out yet?" Pyro growled before continuing. "I never do things by halves, EVER. If I'm gonna use a power, then, by the gods, I will bring that full power to bear, and may the gods have mercy on the idiot, because I sure as hell won't."
"That is what your file claims." Hiei rolled his eyes at the woman. "I have been through this before."
"Your two idiots?" Pyro threw her hands in the air. "Never mind. Gods!" she walked off a bit, "I am surrounded by morons!"
She stopped short, as the fire demon had suddenly appeared in her path. "I will be directly responsible for at least two areas of your training. I do this so that I know what exactly I will be dealing with."
Hill sat on the bench his anger cooling but not gone yet. "So just what are you testing me for?"
"Your shields, to see exactly what we are dealing with." Koenma shrugged.
"Well I don't jump planes on purpose anymore, and rarely while I'm sleeping either. Other then that the only real penetration of them I've had is when someone targets me through Pyro and they sneak through her holes." Hillock replied.
"Wait, you knew?" Koenma looked shocked.
"We knew you'd be testing us since we met." Hillock crossed his arms. "And the only reason I let the red-eyed bastard go before was because I saw Pyro's astral self by the wall."
"Very well then," Koenma sighed as he summoned a new portal.
Hiei grabbed Pyro and pulled her close, kissing her presumptively.
Pyro shoved him with all her physical strength and some additional ki for emphasis.
Hillock walked in just in time to watch the small fire demon go into the wall between the kitchen and the hallway.
"Ecto Gamut. Try anything like that again and you will become acquainted with the sharp side of my blade." Pyro growled as her athame began to glow a light blue.
Hillock shook his head, feeling a mix of rage and pity. He grabbed the sheath his beloved had dropped as he stepped between them. "He's not worth the effort Ro."
"He is so. He TOUCHED ME!" Pyro growled with rage, her eyes flashing with a dangerous shade of crazy.
"Calm down, love." Hillock slowly slid the sheath onto the still glowing blade as he moved closer to Pyro.
Pyro leaned to make eye contact with the demon. "Never cross a Black Berry Witch, for she means what she says, and does what she means."
Hiei wisely kept his mouth shut and disappeared, the door opening and shutting in a blink.
"Hill, he...he grabbed me and kissed me." Pyro said, leaning into his broad chest.
"Did you kiss him back?" Hillock asked, the immediate rage gone and something else remaining.
"Of course not! I'm offended that you'd even ask that." Pyro attempted to slap Hillock.
Hillock caught her arm with a slight grin. "Exactly, Ro. As I told shortshit earlier, I have total faith in you. That's why I'm not freaking out over this. I know that I am yours and you are mine."
"Oh." Pyro just buried herself further into his embrace.
Hiei stumbled through the front door of his apartment then slumped against it. "Fox, I blew it. Thoroughly."
Kurama walked out of the kitchen area, wiping his hands on a towel. "What did you do this time?"
Hiei slowly met Kurama's eyes then blinked a few times. "Kissed the witch."
Kuwabara poked his head from around the corner in the kitchen. "And Hillock didn't kill you?" He asked incredulously as Kurama responded in shock, "You did WHAT?!"
"We were arguing, and I got right in her face. Then, for who knows what reason, I just kissed her." Hiei rubbed his head right next to his covered eye.
"What kind of man are you? I thought had honor." Kuwabara exclaimed indignantly.
"So did I," Hiei mumbled, his eyes downcast once more.
Both Kuwabara and Kurama looked at Hiei in shock. "Perhaps," Kurama said in his usual soothing way, "She fascinates you, because she controls vast spiritual power despite her physical form not being up to par."
Kuwabara chipped in, "Damn shortie, you need to get out more. Even I'm not that stupid."
Hiei sighed, "Things are bad, if even Kuwabara is calling me an idiot."
"True, things are bad. But the fact you are uninjured shows some slight hope." Kurama said wisely.
"You just need to get your spiky head out of your ass," Kuwabara chipped in.
"Fox, they are not home." Hiei called out as he came back into the apartment.
"I know they aren't. They've gone to blow off steam to keep you alive." Kurama said, his calm wearing thin.
"Wait how would blowing off steam keep Hiei alive?" Kuwabara asked while he finished his work.
"Because if they are releasing their anger at something else they are less likely to unleash it at me." Hiei grunted.
"Did it hurt you to admit that Hiei?" Kurama asked while rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"Painful or not, its the truth. And I need to apologize to them. This incident will make training them quite difficult." Hiei sighed.
"Um, why is Hiei sounding like he has a heart all of a sudden?" Kuwabara asked.
"Shut up, baka. I am the only fire user in our group, not to mention the only psychic. That makes me essential for training the witch, and more useful for training her human." Hiei sat in the window staring out into space.
"My, my, Hiei, I must say you have done a lot of maturing under Mukuro on patrol these last few years. I was beginning to think you hadn't, but now that you are dealing with a difficulty that can not be fixed through the application of your sword or dragon, it really shows." Kurama smiled at his friend.
"Wait you are saying that the shrimp is starting to grow up? Never thought I'd see the day." The tall human shook his head. "You might make a decent brother-in-law after all."
"Shut up, both of you. I was neither born nor reborn human. Nor was I raised by anything resembling a decent family." Hiei grumbled, shifting on the windowsill.
"Your maturation is a good thing, old friend. It means I will have fewer messes involving you to clean up." Kurama chuckled.
"How did your child self not kill me?" Hiei mused aloud.
"You had your redeeming qualities." Kurama shrugged.
"Like what?" Kazuma interjected.
"Not now Kuwabara. His embarrassment is more than enough at the moment." Kurama then went about setting out dinner.
After the others had all gone to work as usual the next day, despite all the troubles the previous day, Yusuke and Hillock met up and headed to Hillock's car. As they got close, Hillock tossed his keys at Yusuke's head.
Yusuke caught them deftly then looked at Hillock. "So it's finally time for me to try the trip, huh?"
"Yes, but if you screw up my transmission you will be replacing it." Hillock growled, the anger from yesterday still evident.
Yusuke gulped. "Got it."
They left the apartment complex. While Yusuke ground the gears a couple times, causing Hillock to give him death glares, he did alright for his first full drive in a manual car.
After a bit longer than usual they got to Hillock's parent's property. They parked in a side area and sprinted into the national forest to avoid too much notice, heading for one of their usual areas.
"So what are we working on today? Physical or energy?" Hillock asked once they arrived.
"Energy. Given all of what happened yesterday, I don't think I want to risk you hitting me with an overpowered hit today." Yusuke chuckled.
"Fair enough," Hillock grumbled.
"This time I want to observe your attacks, see if I can get a better idea of how you do what you do." Yusuke stated, trying to think how Genkai or Kurama would go about learning about the man's strange powers.
Hillock just shrugged. "Guess I'll start with some Void." Without any of the normal theatrics that most energy users seem to like to use, Hillock just held out a hand. His body seemed to vibrate slightly as his mind turned inward seeking out his own balance. He drew from both the light and dark in his soul, putting them together then pulling them apart repeatedly, purifying the essence of it and reversing it. While he normally did this instantly, he slowed down the process so that his purported trainer could observe. Once he had the energy in its pure, but reversed, form he let the energy of absence form in his hand before throwing his arm out, sending the blast flying. He hit a few trees, but didn't destroy any given how much he had held back. Even so, the blast traveled several hundred feet and spread out significantly. All told the process took about five minutes.
Yusuke's jaw dropped and his eyes were filled with a mix of wonder, awe, and some apprehension. "I've never seen or felt anything like that. Do you always have that on tap? It took a lot longer than usual for you to use it."
"Actually, I normally can do that nearly instantaneously, but I slowed down my process significantly so you could observe it. That is why you are here, isn't it?" Hillock asked snidely, then he made a similar blast in the space of a heartbeat to prove his point.
Yusuke's eyes widened again. "I... see. How much power did you use in those blasts?" he asked with trepidation.
"About five percent of my normal maximum physical channeling ability, without focuses." Hillock said matter of factly. "Granted I can increase that maximum significantly through use of accoutrements, similar to your concentration ring, though mine can also act as additional reservoirs of power for if things get dicey." Hillock's explanation, while somewhat dry, was terse and to the point. "Of course, if they ever run dry there are always the leylines."
"Leylines?" Yusuke asked, his confusion evident.
"Dimwit." Hillock said it in such a way, Yusuke started looking around for Genkai, while covering the back of his head. "Leylines are conduits of power that flow through the Earth. Immensely powerful and wild, they are the key to many old magicks. I can use them to recharge, though it does take some time. Say ten minutes or so for a quick charge, an hour or two to completely charge. Though I've never had to actually do that in a rough situation. I only know because I drained myself several times to find out. I'd rather not be caught unaware."
Yusuke's eyes lit up. "So is that something you could teach?" The thought of a back up power source excited him.
"Possibly, but the few teachings I've come across say its an Earth based power, and given your Air nature that would make it quite difficult for you." Hillock went on, playing with creating and dissipating his grenades while he talked.
"Air nature? What are you talking about?" Once again Yusuke's confusion was evident.
Hillock groaned. "All this time training under Genkai and you never found out what your power was based on?" Hillock shook his head while massaging his temples. "Why do you think you and Jin are so damned similar? You have the same basic nature. It's why Hiei and Kuwabara are always fighting despite the similarities of their base selves. They have Fire natures, just like Pyro and myself."
Yusuke looked like a light bulb popped on in his thick head. "So everyone has a nature based on one of the five elements you, Pyro, Kurama, and Pacifier-breath have been going on about? And it determines their basic self and powers?"
"Sort of. Each person is born with a natural affinity for one of the main four elements, Earth, Fire, Air and Water. Being born with an affinity for Spirit is unheard of since it is the central element that connects the others, though its possible that Spirit is Koenma's nature given who and what he is." Hillock continued lecturing, his anger mostly dissipating as he followed intellectual trains of thought to get the concepts through to Yusuke.
"But then where does your Void come in?" Yusuke was really getting into the subject now.
Hillock sighed, knowing he opened the bottle and this could take a while. "Ok, Void is a part of the Spirit element in a way, though that is an oversimplification. Void is absence or nothingness harnessed. It requires balance in your soul because it requires light and dark to create. Between light and dark, good and evil, night and day, is a twilight point. A place where things don't exist, and yet, they do. In that is a hard to obtain power, Void."
Yusuke nodded. "Ah." Though it was obvious he didn't really get it, he accepted that because he knew his power wasn't in thinking. "And what about Yukina's Ice, Kurama's plants or whatever the hell Chu does?"
"Well Ice is a combination of two elements. In Yukina's case it's Water mixed with Air. Her primary nature is Water given how she acts, but Air is a part of it. That's the reason the Koorime so ruthlessly suppress themselves. The Air could give rise to conflict. Her's seems stronger than usual given how much spirit she has. Though Ice can also be created by a mix of Water and Fire, its much more difficult. Kurama's plants are also a mix of two natures. Earth as the primary with Water mixed in for enrichment. He does that consciously while Pyro still does it without conscious thought. As for Chu, having never met him I don't have a damned clue what the hell he does." Hillock was leaning against a tree while he talked, actually getting into the explanations he was giving, though somewhat surprised at the fact Yusuke was mostly keeping up.
"Wait, if I'm Air natured, does that mean I can learn to fly like Jin?" Yusuke was extremely pumped at that thought.
"That is far more possible than you learning to draw from the leylines. Though you will need to actually become attuned to your Air nature." Hillock said, realizing how much work that will be.
Yusuke just looked at Hillock, realizing that the positions of teacher and student would never be truly clear again.
Ok, now, lets get this clear. I really am a witch, and my honey really is some kind of magic user, BUT nothing we can do happens like we're writing it to happen. It has a very real presence, but no physical effect.
This chapter is also a first for two things: 1) its the first time The Dark Wyvern has written a scene, and b)its the first time he's actually sat and explained exactly how he does what he does. (which is rather impressive, even without physical effects)
translation: ecto gamut- never without my permission. (don't believe me? watch The Fifth Element.)