Doubt
Random beginning note: Come to think of it, what's the point of the underline button if professionally we don't use it?

Chapter 3: Shockwave

"Oh, you're back from your journey. I was worried for a while that you wouldn't come back. You've been gone so long but at least you're here in time. Now we can be there for each other when the girls come. You look sad. Did I say something wrong?"

"No it's... I have a secret to tell you. I know you're really good with secrets."

"Okay. But what other secrets can you have? We already talked about all the embarrassing birthmarks and your opinion of almost everyone here. And some of the things you've seen them do when you looked at them the wrong time..." Her voice stopped sounding bubbly. "You really look sad. H-how bad was it?"

"I didn't journey around here. I left this place all together. And... I was with a man."

"What? No. You can't be serious. Oh no..." Her curiosity was suddenly piqued. "So what did it feel like? Being with a man? Is it as painful and scary as they tell us it is?"

"I can't really describe it. It is like they say but it isn't. It's one of those thing that you... Oh, never mind that. But that's why, Rui." There was a long tense silence.

"Hey, let's go on a journey together. We both know the child's a boy. We could get rid of him before anyone would he's there. I've heard they do such things below us. You could just say it was a miscarriage. It's not unheard of. I know someone that had three. She's a sickly person, and I know that she worries a bit too much. We could just tell everyone that you were so nervous about having your first baby that you lost it. I know it's horrible but... I can't stand the thought of the alternative."

"I can't. How can you be sure that it's his?"

"But you said yourself that you were with a man. And we both know that means you'll be having a boy."

"Yes, but I could have already been pregnant when it happened. They say when you're with a man before we begin we'll have a male. But they never say what happens when you're already pregnant. Besides, you can never tell when you start. There's no way to tell the exact day- only when they start showing. If it is his, though, and you're right about it, I'll take the blame. I'm sure they'll let me leave. I just couldn't stay here knowing I just let a baby die like that. It's cruel to just throw someone away without giving them a chance."

"But you know she won't, Hina! You know she can't make an exception. She said she's seen this happen so many times and she can't tolerate it happening again. But I can't stand the sight of you having to give up your first child like that! And I can't stand the thought of you having to live on being known only as the whore of the village. Just being used as an example of why no one should leave. I can't. Can't we just stop this before it begins. I have a needle right now. I was going to mend the sleeve of my dress so I brought it. I'll just stab his heart and we won't have to see that happen."

There was another silence. "Fine." She bit her lower lip to muffle the sound of her squeak of pain. The needle pierced deeper and just before it went to the heart... "No! Don't!"

-:-:-

Hiei's eyes opened and he sat up in bed. He glanced at the clock but noticed that the alarm clock wasn't his, nor was the desk or the dresser, or hell, even the bed. He was in a room he didn't recognize, slight paranoia crept up his spine as he sat up. His sword was resting on the desk. He reached for it, unsheathed it when he heard some footsteps going towards the bedroom.

"Oh, so you're up now," Kurama said as he walked into the room. He stared at the blade in Hiei's hand apathetically. "That's awfully trusting of you. I had to check on you several times to make sure you weren't really awake like I thought you were. You were talking in your sleep, well, yelling to be frank... About someone named Yukina. If you don't mind me asking, who is she?"

"It doesn't matter. Where am I?" He lowered the blade but didn't put it back in its sheath.

"At my apartment. I had to take Maya back home, and then after that, I had to bring you here. I don't know where you live."

"What, you don't think we've been introduced if I don't tell you that either?" Kurama rolled his eyes. There was a moment of silence. "Which apartment are we in?" Kurama told him. "What floor? ...We live a floor above you."

"We?"

"Mukuro and I. We live together, and it's been that way for years. Don't get any ideas. She taught me English so I have to be indebted to her and she sees no reason for anything to change."

"I see." Long silence. "So who is Yukina?"

"She had a nice smile." He tucked the sword into his belt and started walking out. "Ten o' clock!"

Kurama glanced at the clock. It's only an hour away. But he couldn't say he was particularly surprised. Or disappointed.

-:-:-

"So you are Youko Kurama. Why didn't you just say so instead of dancing around like no one's supposed to know? I wouldn't have really done anything to you if you had. Well, not me anyway. But I've seen a lot more crimes go on so I just overlook body thieves really. I don't think anyone would really be disturbed- that's just the nature of this place," Mukuro said. "So what is it that you do again? Control plants or something? I hear everything but the important details. Kind of like that game they have the grade-schoolers play the telephone game."

"Well, basically that's one thing I can do. I also specialize in breaking spells and incantations and making illusions, as all youko are. Things of that nature," Kurama replied. "But I am much better with my plants than those."

"By the way, did you finish the job yesterday?"

"Yes."

"Well, that's fast for Hiei. He normally doesn't finish anything like that in one day unless someone's pushing him to hurry up or if there's something in it for him. Or if it interests him in any other way. Well, even with those three he still takes at least three days, and I give him the easy ones. Then again, he usually has to play third wheel these days. We lucked out when you showed up, though, since I can't stress that enough, apparently. In case you didn't realize it, he doesn't work well with other people, let alone two others. Not since he was working with me, anyway. Though, if you want to be in on a secret, he still took his sweet time in getting things done when he was with me. Not as bad, but bad nonetheless."

"By the way, I had him at my apartment after the mission. He passed out, blood loss. In his sleep, he said something about a girl named Yukina. Do you know happen who she is?"

"I know as much as you do. Could be his mother, a sister, cousin, maybe even a dead lover. He talks in his sleep a lot- when he actually lets himself sleep, that is- and sometimes I ask him about that, but he always cusses me out for it, so I don't really bother digging deeper since he's always aware of that."

Meaning what? "So about that letter of recommendation... I meant to ask about that but I never got the chance to."

"Well, first of all there's something you should know about this place. I'm sure it's of no surprise to you especially you can see what we really are but... Everyone here is a demon. I'm actually not supposed to tell anyone, that but no one's complained yet. Kind of a Spirit World law no one pays attention to. (And everyone also gets on me for any other small offenses I commit, so as long as we haven't met for the first time.) No one's supposed to reveal they're a demon here unless... Well, I won't go in the specifics, but I'm sure you have some idea of what that means. Some of us are here on our own free will- Hiei is actually one of those, believe it or not. Some of us here-well, most of us really-are here because we were caught by some of the Spirit World lackeys for doing something like eating humans or doing any sort of harm to them. There's a guideline regarding what it takes to bring someone here, but it's in a book as thick as a Stephen King novel, and I don't happen to enjoy sitting down and reading the same thing for five hours straight. Basically, just think of it as you were caught doing something you'd be sent to one of these departments as some sort of community service."

"So you're saying the letter of recommendation is..."

"Sent by Spirit World. Or something like that. They think they're funny. When they send something they use nonsense addresses like '1337 Elm Street' or '555 Mulholland Drive' and names like Freddy Crougar or Jason Bourne. It's rather annoying really. They either already knew you were here as a human or someone in touch with them reported them." She paused. "And I know most people here would point out the fact that being a body thief is a heavy crime. And I know you know that. Even though it's not torture on the human serving as a host, it's still a surprise that they haven't forced you out of this body. I don't know if it's that strenuous or if they're starting to be apathetic towards this."

"It was my only option at the time. If they do force me out of this body, then all that would be left is an empty shell. Or does it count if my soul merged with the still-forming soul of the child still in the womb?"

"Hard to call. Of course, that brings up the ever controversial topic of a child's rights while being in the womb. I have my opinions and you have yours, so let's not dispute that."

"By the way, what are you in for? You don't seem like the person who would be willing to take this job."

"Well, I came here from what you know as Canada in this world. There's a name for it but it got changed several times. I went from place to place until I ended up here a little before World War I. (I think the year was 1910.) I went from state to state until I joined the FBI in the '70's. I ended up here five years ago, and that was because of some little problem between some smart ass who can't keep it in his pants... Well, let's not go into that. It's not something you tell someone you just met or your coworker. I had met Hiei about four or five years before that in a bus station in New Jersey. I took him back with me to California since he said that he needed to get somewhere. We kind of stuck together because he wanted help with his English. And after the incident that landed me here, he decided to come here, too, and we were partners, at least until last year. And the rest... Is history. That's enough of my book."

Hiei walked in and went straight for the book shelf. "Why the hell do you keep rearranging the damn books?"

"I don't do anything. You move it one way one day and then move it another the next."

He rolled his eyes and started picking books off the shelf. The door was kicked open and two men walked in one after the other. The shorter of the two was about at the other's shoulders took the earphone from his pointed right ear (Spock ears, most people called them) and dropped a clipboard onto the desk. Kurama stared at him and then at the other man. He was older, old enough to be the shorter one's father, with six pointed ears and his eyes were apparently sewn shut. In the hairline above his foreheard were two curled horns, part of a row which circled the whole of the crown of his head. Kurama knew that face, having stared at it for a while. It's been years.

The younger one asked, "Hey, Mulder. We're gonna need to borrow Scully for a while."

"It's the other way around. Mulder was the man," Mukuro replied. She busied herself with her paperwork.

"Exactly." Hiei threw a book at him but missed. "He's due for his test. Remember?"

"I don't need the test. I thought we established that," Hiei said. "I don't need any rehabilitation."

"Yeah, hearing voices is perfectly normal." Hiei's face turned slightly red. "Hey, don't hate us. We're just trying to fix you. Without these tests, then you'll continue to be unfit to live in this world with all the freedom you have. And you're already here, so you know what they'll do if we don't continue this therapy? You'll get sent back and if they catch you here again, then it's all over." He looked at Kurama and Kurama looked into his pink eyes. They were the same as his. Damn, this really is his son. "Nerve of this woman. We try to help her stay here and she basically tells us, 'Fuck you.'" The taller one kicked him in the heel but he didn't react. "Who are you? I don't think I've seen you before."

Kurama glanced at the taller one who was turned toward him. This still doesn't add up at all. "My name is Minamino Shuichi."

"Oh. Well... My name is... Eh, just call me Shura. I have another name but I used the name somewhere as a joke and it stuck on me. And this guy's my dad. Just call him Yomi. I hate our last name. Everyone thinks of something called Heroes when I mention it." He picked up the clipboard and started thumbing through the papers. "I need you to fill out this questionnaire for me... Dammit, I don't have it. We'll have to..."

"He's a good one," Mukuro interrupted him.

"Can you say that for sure?" Yomi asked.

"Forget it. I'll go. If I have no other choice..." Hiei shoved a book into a random shelf. "Or you're gonna put me under hypnosis anyway and make me say what you want to hear. I don't know what makes you so sure I'm unstable."

"We know that you are, Hiei. We know the wars you've been in..." Mukuro sighed loud enough to draw attention to herself. She shook her head at Yomi, but he still went on, "You can't deny treatment any longer. We have some papers that will tell you we're certified."

"Then fix her," Hiei said and pointed a finger at Mukuro. "She needs it, too. Shit. Treatment. My ass."

"Well, okay, if you say so. " Shura took his hand out of his pocket and punched Hiei's rear. Everyone turned and looked at his hand. Shura, who was making a face like he wanted to gag, muttered, "Why can't girls ever have to do this?" Hiei started to slump against the bookshelf, cussing the two out in slurring Russian. When Yomi turned to his son, Shura said, "Well, last time I tried giving him the oral booty juice he wouldn't take it so I have to give him the normal kind. You know we wouldn't get him with us if I didn't do it this way."

"Don't call it that," Yomi hissed.

"Brilliant work, I suppose. I'd appreciate it more if you didn't get that one from your so-called father. Call him what you want but he really isn't," Mukuro sighed and she walked out of the room.

"You bitch." Shura snatched the clipboard away and dodged his father's punishing kick. "Tch. She's only disappointed because she has to take a break from the only guy that would stick it in her." He yelled, "Whore!" This time Yomi landed a good punch in his son's gut. After scolding Shura about his language, Yomi took Hiei by the arm and dragged him out the door. He paused a moment and nodded in Kurama's direction before proceeding.

She didn't turn around. She just stopped, clenching her firsts. She struggled with the can of instant coffee before giving up. She raised a hand to her forehead and groaned. Yomi and Shura walked out with Hiei as a teenage boy with slicked back black hair and dirty looking clothes walked in with a Starbucks coffee in hand. He stared as they left and said under his breath, "Yeah, that's not..." He walked up to Mukuro.

"Hey, someone told me to get this for you. They told me you were a coffee addict," he said and held the coffee to her. "Not sure what for but they told me it's time we meet so... Yeah. You're 'The Chief,' right?"

"I guess..." she mumbled back.

"The name's Yusuke Urameshi. I think you know me. Or you should by now. Most people around here do."

"Mukuro." She took the coffee. "I probably do. Know you. I just can't remember right now."

"Hey, if you're sick, you should probably take it easy doing... Whatever you do." At that point Kurama was standing next to him, nodding.

"It's nothing. I get migraines. Really bad migraines."

"...What, is there a time when a migraine isn't bad?"

"Heh." Actually it sounded more like a soft choke. "So is this some kind of peace sign?"

"I guess." He made the live-well-and-prosper gesture, stopped and glanced at it to make sure it was the right sign. He dropped his hand "But hell, I dunno. They just told me to come here. You sure you'll be alright? Cause if you don't you can puke on the guy next to me, he looks like he'd make a good doctor." Yusuke got no answer. "I kinda gotta get going then. I'll see you later... I guess...?" He shrugged and walked out, though stopping once to look over his shoulder.

A tall demon, probably one of the biggest men Kurama had ever seen, walked to Mukuro, reached to his chest. He had a pile grey hair messily dangling to frame what little could be seen of his masked face. ("It looks like old vomit on a dead fern," Hiei once mumbled to himself.) He glanced at Kurama and the back at the woman. "What's going on here?"

"Migraine. Nothing to worry about, Kirin," Mukuro replied.

"You've been getting a lot of those since you came here. Are you sure there's nothing going on?"

"Positive and it's still nothing for you to concern yourself with. I always tell you that. Is there some ulterior motive behind all this?"

"What? No! Really, stop implying that." He held out a hand as though he was going to touch her but thought better of it. "Go sit down somewhere. I'll get this taken care of for you."

Mukuro shook her head and turned to Kurama. "You can go home. Or do the filing. Whichever. I don't care."

"I'll take the latter. I always have Tylenol with me in case..." Kurama paused.

"No, I just never finished drinking my coffee this morning. If I don't do that, then I get a migraine. Tylenol never does anything for me anyway." She turned back to Kirin. "You need to go back to what you were doing. I don't need you hovering over my shoulder every time I get the slightest headache." She went back to her office.

"I wish she would trust... I just have that feeling that..." He paused, knowing he was thinking aloud, and turned to Kurama. "Oh you're the new one? Minamino, is it?"

"Yeah."

"Kirin. Juarez in this world. I basically fill in when the Chief is out. I think you'll get to know me better around the week of December twenty-first."

"Twenty-first? Why? Does she vacation around Christmas?"

"Well, no. It's the week of her birthday. Or if she does show up, I suggest you take care of business with her before or you might... Regret it to say the least."

"Okay..."

Kirin nodded and walked away.

Her birthday? I wonder why...

/And there was none.

Notes:
It just made sense that Hina and Rui (Hiei's mom's friend) to be the first to know. Actually, it was never said that neither knew to begin with...
How did Kurama know where Maya lives? (Um, try ID?!) Come to think of it, why does it seem like everyone in here walks everywhere? (I wouldn't trust Hiei driving. In fact, I think I implied that he doesn't have a license... So who drives?) If you don't know 1337, I think you haven't spent enough time in places like gaia's GD. 555 means Hahahha in Thailand. And the streets are both from movies. (Nightmare on Elm Street and Mulholland Drive.) Mulder and Scully are from the X-Files. Mukuro IS NOT PSYCHIC. (True Blood reference for the win.) Kirin is Mukuro's little fanboy, lol. But in all seriousness, he's Mukuro's second in command before he was replaced by Hiei. It's implied in the manga he didn't hold that post that long since the one before Kirin was killed when he gave Mukuro "a little lip" on her birthday. (Mukuro: Serious business.) I don't think Mukuro's birthday is in December but I used the date in Ride like the Wind so it kind of stuck.
Much love, JC.