Author's note - big thanks to WorldsAngel, yuki san1, Silver Spirit Fox, and Dyani91 for Reviewing; Dreamer Forever Ni for Favoriting and Story-Alerting. and another big thanks to everyone reading, despite the no updates for almost a month. Sorry for the long wait. Summer got the best of me and i haven't really spent anytime at home XP again, sorry. But the adventure continues with the next installment of Pilot of the River Acheron! Yeah! Let me know what you think please! Thank you! :)
Chapter 6: My Life
Someone was pressing a cool towel to her forehead. It was soothing and felt good against her skin. She wanted that feeling to also wash over her body and she wanted to bath herself in it because god damn it she felt like crap and the water made her feel better.
Kikume blindly tried to grab the water container and dump it on her head but she missed and instead, her hand clumsily smacked against a nearby dresser. Kikume grunted in frustration and tried to sit up only to have her body suddenly assaulted with pain. Someone gently pushed her shoulder back, forcing her to lie down before once more dipping the towel into the water and pressing it against her forehead.
Kikume sighed softly in relief and felt the pain ebb away.
"It'll be all right, Kikume-chan… You'll be all right," whispered a familiar voice.
Even though her eyes felt like they weighed a ton, Kikume managed to pry them open. At first everything was blurry. She couldn't make out specific objects – only blobs of color. But slowly, after several blinks, the world began to take focus and Kikume realized it was Ayame who was pressing the cool towel to her forehead.
"You're awake! This is wonderful." She smiled, overjoyed to see Kikume conscious.
"Hey, Ayame," said Kikume in a weak voice and returned her smile while reaching up to take the towel from her. She eagerly bathed her face in the water and felt refreshed and more energized.
"Could you –?" began Kikume but Ayame was one step ahead of her.
Ayame quickly took the towel back and soaked it in the water before handing it back to Kikume. Kikume took it with a grateful nod and bathed her neck and face again in the water.
"Thanks Ayame," said Kikume with a relaxed sigh, handing the towel back to her friend.
Ayame took the towel but didn't let go of her hand as she placed the cloth in the wooden bucket. The reaper remained silent for several long seconds with her head down. Kikume couldn't see her face since her black bangs hid it from view and she wondered if something was troubling her.
"Hey, Ayame… are you okay?"
Ayame nodded as she held Kikume's hand on both of hers. She brought it to her cheek and Kikume felt the girl's warm skin brush against the back of Kikume's hand. But why was she doing this, wondered Kikume. Why was Ayame acting like this? The way she was holding her hand, it was like the reaper was making sure Kikume was real.
Suddenly, she felt warm droplets of water trail down the back of her hand and down her wrist. It took her an extra second to realize it was tears – Ayame was crying?
Kikume struggled to sit up and placed her other hand on Ayame's shaking form. "Ayame? What's wrong – ?"
"I was so worried! I thought you were going to disappear!" The distraught reaper sobbed, and suddenly threw her arms around Kikume, hugging her close in a tight embrace. "I thought I'd never see you again. I'd thought I'd lost you too!"
"Lost me too? Wait, who else was hurt? Did someone die?" asked Kikume as the blood drained from her face. "Where's Botan? Where's Hikari?"
But Ayame didn't answer. She just continued to cry and buried her head deeper into Kikume's robes.
Kikume grabbed Ayame's sleeves and pulled the girl off her. "Ayame, you have to get a hold of yourself. I'm fine now, okay? So don't cry. Please, tell me what happened to the others."
Ayame nodded as she slowly regained some control over her emotion and wiped the tears away with the sleeve of her black kimono. "Botan and Hikari are fine," she said softly.
Kikume sighed with relief. "That's good… But then who were you talking about before?"
Ayame sniffed as tears once more threatened to fall from her dark blue eyes. "Before you became a ferry girl, Suiren and Tsubaki piloted the Acheron. They were the reapers before you. But one day… one day Tsubaki disappeared. Koenma-sama sent Suiren to look for her and neither of them ever came back… No one knows what happened to them."
"How come Koenma didn't send the SDF to look for them?" asked Kikume.
"Koenma-sama said it was because Demon World was too vast to search. If he sent the SDF after Suiren and Tsubaki, then Spirit World will lose what small foothold it had in Demon World."
Kikume frowned, not liking how this was sounding. "But still, couldn't he have spared someone to go after them? Like a small search party?"
Ayame shook her head. "Botan, Hikari and I all volunteered but Koenma wouldn't allow it. And frankly I'm terrified of Demon World – especially now that it almost took you away too, Kikume-chan."
Ayame looked like she was about to cry again so Kikume hugged her and smiled gently. "Thank you, Ayame, for worrying about me. I'm fine now… really, I am."
When Ayame finally calmed down, Kikume pulled back the blankets and got up. She was in her room inside the Ferry Wing. The wing was located in the back half of the Gates of Judgment where all the reapers slept and ate their meals. Kikume's room was at the top floor, along with Botan's, Ayame's, and Hikari's. The rooms and floors were organized in order of rank – and since Kikume was the Chief Pilot of the Acheron, she and Botan shared the biggest room in the whole wing.
Kikume moved shakily to the door. Her legs might as well have been made of jelly the way they wobbled under her. Her arms were weak too and she could barely hold onto the wall to keep herself up right. Man she felt like she'd been in bed for a week.
"Ayame, how long have I been unconscious?"
"Um, about a whole month, I think," said Ayame as also got to her feet.
"A whole month? Ah hell…" No wonder she felt like crap.
"You shouldn't be out of bed, Kikume-chan. You haven't fully recovered," said Ayame, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Let me help you into bed."
Kikume shrugged out of Ayame's grip. "I'm fine and I've rested long enough."
Kikume shuffled forward a few steps with Ayame hovering anxiously behind her. "Where are you going?" she asked.
"Out… I want to know if we won or not," said Kikume as she opened the door.
Ayame blinked in confusion. "Won? Won what?"
"The fight, of course! You know, save the Human World and stop that crazy-powerful human from bringing about the apocalypse?"
"Oh, you mean the Sensui case? Yes, the Spirit Detective was able to close it and the Special Defense Squad sealed up the hole to Demon World. Everything is fine now," explained Ayame.
"That's good…" muttered Kikume as she and Ayame slowly made their way down the spiral staircase. Ayame continued to pester her to return to her room but Kikume ignored her. Eventually Ayame gave up and they ended up walking in silence for a few minutes before Kikume spoke again.
"I met him, you know… the Spirit Fox. I met him in Demon World."
Ayame's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, Kikume-chan. Tell me you didn't –"
"Under any other circumstance I would have ripped his soul out of that body but I didn't…"
"Why?"
Kikume sighed and scratched her head. "I don't know… I wasn't thinking. I was mad, I guess –"
"Hah, you must be to jump into a fight like that," said Hikari, suddenly appearing out of the wall with her hands on her hips. "What were you thinking? You could have been killed, girl! You had us all worried sick! Man, I don't think I slept at all this whole month. I know Ayame didn't leave your side, not even to eat!"
"Hikari –" protested Ayame but Hikari cut her off.
"No, Ayame. I want to know why she endangered herself like that. It was dangerous, not to mention stupid. You could have been killed!" Hikari's eyes were narrowed as they glared angrily at Kikume. She suspected the reaper must be really furious since she was using actual words instead of her normal acronym speech. And Kikume supposed she did deserve a good scolding – she must have given everyone a huge scare after that stunt she'd pulled with her life energy. More than anybody, Kikume knew how close she'd come to dying.
"Look, I'm sorry, Hikari. I'm sorry for making you, Ayame and everyone else worry. Honestly, I didn't plan on joining the fight. I was watching from afar but when I saw the fox go down and the human's attack coming at him I just acted on instinct and dived in and saved him. And then I saw how badly injured he was and I was… I was furious! Everything was a blur from there. I just remember being so… so… so angry – and hate – I hated that human so much that I just wanted to kill him!" blurted Kikume, which on some level shocked her as the words rolled out like a random stream of consciousness.
Hikari sighed and shook her head. "Kikume-chan, you have to let go of that demon, girl. That body is his now. It should have been yours but it's not. You need get over it and get on with your life," she said.
But just the thought of giving up on her body suddenly made Kikume see red again. Her blood boiled and her temper shot up with a furious roar.
"Get on with my life? That body is my life! It's the only thing I live for! It's my purpose for living!" snapped Kikume, feeling the old fire reigniting inside her. "How can you tell me to give up on that? That body is only reason I exist – literally! If that body hadn't been stolen, I wouldn't have become a reaper and you wouldn't know me as Kikume. I would have been a human girl growing up and having a normal life!"
"Would you stop dwelling on the past and move on? Stop living in the what-ifs! You are never getting your body back! It's impossible! Accept it, Kikume-chan – before you get yourself killed next time," retorted Hikari.
"I'd rather die than give up!" shouted Kikume. "You two can go on and be happy-carefree reapers but not me! This is not the life I wanted. This is not the life that was meant for me. I was destined to be born a human and grow up as a human – not some Spirit World beck-and-call girl! That's your fates, not mine! So go back to your stupid cryptic acronym talk, Hikari! It suits you since you're just another one of Spirit World's brainless followers – but not me! I am a human who had my destiny taken away from me and I want it back! I want my human life! I want my body back and so help me Kami I will get it back!"
Kikume shoved past Hikari, not caring if she pushed the reaper off the stairs. Ayame tried to stop her but Kikume shoved her away too and took off running. They shouted for her to come back but Kikume ignored them.
She was so angry! Why was she so angry? Argh! It was like a raging beast was locked inside her chest, demanding to break free. It wanted to tear, to rip, to burn anything in its path. Her teeth were clenched so tightly in anger that they hurt and biting seemed like the only solution! What the hell? This anger was so confusing and was making her frustrated – which made her even angrier! The fucking circle never ended!
Kikume leaped off the last flight of stairs and landed stiffly on her feet, causing pain to jar her legs. She cursed but she kept going. Running helped ease the fire inside her. Running distracted her and helped her focus. She needed a goal – a place to run to and a reason to run. Slowly, as her head cleared, a plan formed in her mind. She continued to run – past the Dining Hall, past the Reaper Lounge – all the way to the giant, double red doors. She gazed up at the twin slabs of wood, her thoughts churning and her blood pumping with adrenaline and anticipation.
I know what he looks like now. I've seen him. I can find him… I can go to the Human World and find him.
Screw the Acheron. Screw Demon World. And fuck it all, screw Spirit World. They were always pulling her down anyways. They never once helped her – never once tried to restore her to the life she should have had, and they were supposed to be the keepers of peace and order! Hah! As if! Kikume suspected the reason they didn't remove the Spirit Fox from her body was because they were afraid of him and his powers.
But not Kikume.
She'll hunt him down. She'll rip his spirit out and she'll reclaim her body. End of story. There is no other ending because she would not accept anything other than her getting her body and her life back.
Kikume held her hand out and summoned her oar. However, try as she might, all she got was a small twinkle of light and then nothing. Kikume gaped at her empty hand.
"What? Why –?"
"You're in no condition to go running off, Kikume."
Kikume whirled around to see Koenma standing in his teenage form with his hands in his pockets. There was something different about the demigod today. Though she rarely saw him in his adult form, the fact is she had see it before so that couldn't be it. The way his lips were turned down in a slight scowl did seem kind of odd though…
It took Kikume a few seconds more to realize that, for the first time in sixteen years, Kikume was seeing Koenma without his pacifier. She had no idea what that could mean but the absence of that oral accessory did give Kikume a clear view of Koenma's serious face.
Koenma approached her calmly and slowly, trying to show that he was not a threat but Kikume took a hesitant step back anyways, not trusting him.
"What do you want, Koenma?" she asked suspiciously.
"I want you to get your head out of your ass and think with that crummy brain of yours," said the demigod. "You nearly evaporated your soul and now you want to take on an A-class demon with nothing but your bare hands?"
Kikume clenched her teeth in frustration. She wanted to yell back at him – call him all sorts of names too – but she couldn't because she realized that Koenma was right. She'd been so consumed with her anger that she had foolishly intended to run out, guns-a-blazing. She wasn't even prepared when it came to ripping his soul out. All the things she needed were still in her room…
"Kikume, come to my office. We need to talk." Koenma then spun on his heels and walked swiftly out of the entrance hall and into his office. Kikume grudgingly followed, knowing she didn't have much of a choice.
As soon as Koenma took his seat behind his desk, the demigod returned to his child form and plopped comfortably onto his big, red chair.
"Ah!" he sighed in relief and then cleared his throat, suddenly returning to his serious tone. "Okay, to business… Kikume, because of your rash actions during the Sensui fight, you not only endangered yourself but all three worlds. The possibility of Sensui killing you was 99.99%. It's a miracle you survived; and had you been killed, there would be no one left to pilot the River Acheron and you know what would happen then."
"Yeah I do because everyone loves reminding me every day of my life," grumbled Kikume with her arms crossed. "So what? I'm alive and the worlds are safe. Hurray, Armageddon has been avoided. Whoopee."
"Yes, the worlds are saved, thanks in part to you. By stalling Sensui, you allowed Yusuke time to reincarnate into a Mazoku and defeat Sensui. So, as a reward, I'm granting you one year's leave in Human World."
Kikume froze, stunned, and stared at him in disbelief. "C-come again? Did I just hear what I thought I heard?"
Koenma nodded. "You will be spending the next twelve months in Human World on vacation."
Kikume felt her jaws drop and hit the floor. She could not believe this! Was Koenma serious? It couldn't be true. It just couldn't.
"You're pulling my leg, aren't you?" asked Kikume through narrow eyes.
"No, I am very serious," said Koenma in a sincere voice. "Starting tomorrow you will be living in Human World for one whole year. Botan will be there to show you the ins and outs of what it means to be human. It is, after all, what you've always wanted, right?"
"Y-yeah but…"
"But?" asked Koenma patiently with his arms folded on his desk.
"But… but why? Why are you finally letting me go to Human World – and for a whole year?" asked Kikume.
Koenma took a deep breath and sighed. "Kikume, I know that since the first day you became a reaper your mind had been set on returning to Human World and reclaiming your body. It was my fault you lost your chance at a normal life and unfortunately, there was no reversing what the Spirit Fox had done. Please understand, by making you a reaper, I was protecting your soul. Souls are very fragile. Without a spirit or body to protect it, a soul will simply vanish into nothingness within a day. It was the only way I could protect you. I'm sorry I could not give you the justice you sought by returning you to your body, but after almost losing you, I realized I can't just stand by and do nothing anymore. I have a debt to repay and by neglecting it, you continued to get hurt. I'm sorry, Kikume. I want to make it up to you and I hope that a year in Human World would make you happy."
"So… you really mean it? I get to go to Human World for a whole year?" asked Kikume hesitantly even as she felt the corner of her lips twitch from the excitement that had started bubbling up inside her.
Koenma nodded. "Yes I do, so get packing. Botan will be here in a few hours to get you."
"I… I can't believe this! I'm really going!" Kikume felt her heart burst with joy at the prospect of actually going to Human World. "Oh Kami, I'm finally going to Human World! WAHOO!" She couldn't help but leap into the air and punch her fists up high. "YES! YES! YES! YES! YESSSSSS!"
Koenma chuckled. "That's the spirit."
Kikume was about to rush out the door but suddenly skidded to a halt and rushed back to hug Koenma as hard as she could. "Oh thank you, thank you, THANK YOU Koenma! I promise I'll never call you pacifier breath or diaper-boy again!"
"Argh! Okay, okay! Let go of me, Kikume!" Koenma struggled in her arms, trying to get free. He eventually managed to wiggle out and landed on his desk, brushing the wrinkles out of his blue robes. He then cleared his voice so that he could reclaim some sense of professionalism. "Er, well Botan will be here to collect you later. Be down here in my office and read to depart in exactly three hours, got it?"
"Yes sir!" Kikume bowed and, deciding to not waste anymore precious time, ran right through Koenma's office wall as it was the quickest way to the Ferry Wing.
Koenma stared after her and shook his head before collapsing back into his seat, exhausted.
oo00oo000oo00oo
"Koenma-sama."
"Yes, Shunjun?"
"The SDF are ready to depart, sir. We are awaiting your orders."
"Very well. Let's go." Koenma emerged from his office in his teenage form again and led the group of Spirit World's strongest fighters towards the enormous red double doors.
"Sir, are you sure you want to do this?" asked Shunjun, the newly appointed leader of the SDF.
"Yes I am certain. Now that Demon World is in such turmoil I must retrieve the spheres before all hell breaks loose."
"But sir, to go to Demon World… it's dangerous. You could be killed."
Koenma snorted and rolled his eyes. "Why do you think I brought you guys along? I'll be fine. It's only going to take five minutes at most to retrieves the spheres. Besides, I brought along the Koenmatron 5001. It's a newer and better version of the Koenmatron 5000. It can go twice the speed of the old one and can out fly demons up to the B-class."
"Uh…" Shunjun rubbed the back of his neck as the double doors opened and they all stepped out. "Sir… er, I still don't think that this is a good idea…"
"Enough with your constant worrying," snapped Koenma, irritated. "I can see why Kikume always complained that you nag too much…"
"Kikume…" Shunjun looked out in the direction of the River Styx. "Sir, will she be all right in the Human World?"
"Of course she will. It's what she's always wanted," said Koenma as he adjusted the straps of his jet pack. "Besides, she has Botan and they'll be staying in a prearranged home with a bodyguard and everything. They'll be fine. Or are you saying I wouldn't take precautions to protect my one and only Pilot of the River Acheron?"
"No, sir! Not at all, sir. You're right, I was just… worrying again," muttered Shunjun.
"Hmphf. Well you can stop worrying. Kikume is a big girl now. She can take care of herself. She held her own against Sensui so I'm sure she can survive in Human World for a whole year."
"But Koenma-sama, she nearly died! Shouldn't she be here in Spirit World, resting? Why did you send her away for so long? Who's going to pilot the Acheron? Now that Urameshi, Hiei, and Kurama are in Demon World I'm sure there'll be even more deaths than ever before! Demon World needs its reaper."
"Relax Shunjun. I've already taken care of the situation. Once Botan gets Kikume settled she will take over the Acheron –"
"What?"
" – but just for a little while. Calm down, Shunjun. We've got Yusuke over there. He'll make sure nothing happens to her."
"But – but sir!" sputtered Shunjun. "Botan isn't qualified to pilot the Acheron! She can't protect herself!"
"Well neither can Kikume," retorted Koenma, starting to get really annoyed with Shunjun. "She's in even worse state then Botan. I don't think she'll be able to fire a Spirit Arrow for the next six months. Her spirit and soul was stretched to its limit. It's a miracle she survived at all! She's in no condition to pilot any river, even the Styx. That is why I sent her away to Human World – so she can recuperate. Now are we done asking questions? We have a mission to carry out."
"Yes sir. We're ready and awaiting your orders, sir." Shunjun bowed.
"Good. Let's go."
Koenma fired up his jet pack and he and the SDF took off, following the Acheron as it snaked its way towards Demon World. Their flight was smooth and uneventful, allowing them to reach the portal to Demon World in a matter of minutes.
Just before they passed through, Koenma gave out one final order. "As soon as we're through, assume defensive positions. The spheres are heavily guarded by Spirit World's strongest wards. Make sure no demon comes near the site once I take down the wards, understood? We can't afford to let the spheres fall into the wrong hands."
"Yes, Koenma-sama, sir!" the SDF shouted in unison and the group disappeared into the crackling black portal.