Ok, so this took a lot longer to write than I thought it would... writer's block reared its ugly head! I finally got it done, though, and it's longer than the previous chapters have been. I hope that makes up (at least partially) for the long wait you all had to endure. Um, let's see... Work has been kinda nuts, so I won't promise a speedy update again (I abhor lying). Oh, another thing I feel like I need to address; something that was pointed out to me in a review by Irene Sharda. The Mirror of Darkness was actually originally a mistake. I asked a friend what the mirror was called in the beginning of the series (I have a terrible memory, and the most recent YYH episodes I saw were from the Three Kings saga). She told me she thought it was the Mirror of Darkness, so that's what I put. As for it being the same as a mirror Kurama and Kuronue stole in a movie, I wouldn't know anything about that. I have not seen any of the YYH movies and don't intend to (I heard they weren't worth the time and effort), which probably means I shouldn't be using Kuronue, but oh well. The mirrors must be a happy coincidence, and the fact that they are not the same mirrors in the series does not bother me. Remember earlier, when I said that this may be some sort of AU? Welcome to my new and improved world!
Warnings: Language, slight sexual innuendo
Disclaimer: I do not own YYH or anything relating to it.
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"… and, if all goes as planned, no one will ever be the wiser." Hiei and Kurama were strolling through a forest quite a ways outside the city, discussing Kurama's plan to steal the Mirror of Darkness. The forest had been Hiei's idea; he was more at ease in nature than he was in the city, and plants always seemed to calm Kurama anyway. After an outburst like the one at the table in the café today, Hiei felt Kurama needed all the soothing he could offer. He had never seen his partner so uptight before!
"Alright, so let me get this straight." Hiei paused for a moment, thinking, then shook his head. "No, nevermind, I don't get it. How did you manage to plan that all in the last 15 hours?" Kurama looked at him blankly.
"What do you mean? It's actually a fairly basic plan, I'm starting to wonder if it'll work…" He sighed, raking a hand through his ruby locks. "Yusuke's going to kill me… and Koenma will never trust me again." His slender form fell gently back to rest against the trunk of a large tree, his entire posture suggesting weariness. Hiei echoed his sigh, folding his arms across his chest and letting his gaze fall to the ground.
"That's probably true…"
"And you…" Hiei looked up to see Kurama looking at him almost cautiously.
"What about me?" Hiei's voice was flat.
"Well… you're part of the team too… " In a flash, Kurama found himself face to face with a very angry Hiei, who had the red-head's collar gripped firmly in his fist.
"Fox! Don't you EVER imply that I would sell out my partner!" The snarl in Hiei's voice was evident, his tone threatening.
"No, not sell out, just…" Kurama trailed off as Hiei gave him a rough shake.
"Stop it! You son of a bitch, how can you even THINK I would put my loyalty to fucking Yusuke above my loyalty to YOU? FUCK YOU!" He shoved Kurama away, spinning on his heel and disappearing into the trees. Kurama was ashamed. He let his head fall to his chest and his body fall back against the tree again. Why was he suddenly driving everyone away from him like that? First Yusuke, now Hiei…
You do not need them… a small voice whispered in his head. Kurama frowned, trying to ignore it, but the little voice would not be silenced. Kuronue is alive! Find him; resume our old life of fame, riches!
'Youko, enough! You know that's not possible. Even if I find him, who knows what mental state he'll be in? He may not have the mental capacity to pick up where we left off…' That thought came hard; Kuronue had always been the pillar of strength Kurama looked up to. Still, the voice of the demon thief Kurama had once been persisted.
What use do you have for the human world? Our powers are restored, return to Makai! Besides, how much longer do you want to put your precious human family in danger? Leave them in peace, return to Kuro!
'And what of Yusuke? What of Kuwabara? What of Hiei?'
What of them? You can avoid Yusuke and that lout Kuwabara if you give half an effort. As for Hiei… if you desire him, take him with you. I am sure Kuro would not mind an addition such as Hiei…
'I can't order him around, he's not mine to control! Hiei does as he pleases, not as he is ordered.'
If you request it of him, he will follow you. You know I am right…
'Perhaps…' The conversation ended, Youko retreating into silence in the back of Kurama's mind. The two halves had reached a temporary agreement, but Kurama knew it would not last. Youko had been speaking to him for years and he was used to it by now, but the man had become far more insistent lately. He demanded a return to Makai; he hated it in the human world.
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Later that night, Kurama was preparing to sleep. He had taken a room in Genkai's dojo despite her questions, and given the vague excuse that he needed to do some training this weekend. Although she was suspicious, Genkai left the subject, and Kurama, alone. So, now, he was sitting on the edge of the mattress Genkai had provided, brushing his hair. It was soothing to him, the steady feel of the brush through his hair. Calmly, he floated in a mental state close to meditation, thinking about the events of the day, his plan to steal the Mirror, Kuronue, Hiei…
Kurama heard a soft sound outside his window and felt a breeze as the window was opened soundlessly. Well, speak of the devil…
"Hello, Hiei…" He was answered by a barely audible grunt and the sound of footsteps as Hiei let himself in. Kurama put down the brush and turned to face his partner, reservations blooming in his chest.
Hiei stood calmly, his arms folded across his chest and a scowl on his face. For a long moment, neither Hiei nor Kurama moved. Then, Hiei shifted, breaking the awkward stillness.
"So… when do you want to steal the Mirror?" A smile broke over Kurama's face as he and his partner sat down to work out the details of their heist.
Kurama's plan to steal the Mirror went off without a hitch four days later, and he returned to his mother's house to await the arrival of the snake demon to take him to Kuronue and this mysterious 'Master Sakyo". Certainly this wasn't the same man who had died in the Dark Tournament. Whoever he was, this man had had Kuornue for a long time… Sakyo had never managed to make it to the demon world, though it had been his dearest ambition. But… hadn't Kurama heard somewhere that Sakyo had siblings? He thought hard; Shizuru had confided something in him one night when she couldn't sleep…
"Kurama?" Kurama looked up from the magazine he'd been flipping through to see Shizuru standing a few feet from him, dressed in her pajamas, her arms wrapped tightly around her body. "I… didn't know anyone else was up…" Kurama folded the magazine and stood, sensing the girl's unease. Truthfully, he was uneasy as well; he had moved to the common lounge area between the Urameshi team's rooms to read without waking anyone else. The last person he had expected to see was Shizuru.
"Shizuru… is everything alright?" She nodded, making as if to turn and return to her room, but she paused thoughtfully.
"Can I… ask you something?" He gestured to the couch he had been sitting on and she took the invitation, settling onto it and curling into a little ball. Patiently, the red-head waited for Shizuru to tell him what was on her mind. "What do you think of Mr. Sakyo?" Kurama frowned, thinking about that question carefully before he answered.
"Well… he's certainly ambitious… and powerful…" That didn't seem to be what Shizuru was going for. "Why do you ask?" She seemed to be struggling with herself over something.
"I dunno, I just… He's so different from other men… I feel bad for him sometimes; he's nothing like his brothers…" Kurama said nothing; digesting this information, letting Shizuru vent her feelings. "He always felt so alone within his family, he was so different from them…"
"Did he tell you this?" asked Kurama, gently. Shizuru nodded, sighing. "And you feel bad for him, but you feel guilty about feeling bad for him because he's the owner of our rival team."
"It's not just that!" burst out Shizuru, "I think I really love him!" At this, Kurama frowned.
"Shizuru, you barely even know him. I seriously doubt you're in love with him." The girl nodded, hugging herself a bit tighter, then rising from the couch and turning back for her room
"You're right… thanks for listening…" And then she was gone. Thoughtfully, Kurama turned towards his own room. He wasn't about to sleep, but the darkness of his room was strangely appealing. Perhaps it would help him think…
Different from his brothers… Apparently he had more than one sibling. Was it possible that this Sakyo was related to the one who had died? Well… nothing was impossible… But then, how had this one managed to make it to the Makai? Lacing his fingers behind his head, Kurama leaned back in his chair, pondering, but a bored sigh brought him back to reality.
"Fox, is this seriously all you ever do? Sit and think? Damn, you must have a boring life…" Hiei was sitting on Kurama's bed, apparently finished fiddling with the Mirror, which lay beside him. He was frowning at the back of Kurama's head, and when that got him no attention, he hopped off the bed and began to wander about the room. He'd been staying with Kurama ever since they stole the Mirror, and he was getting antsy being cooped up inside all the time.
"If you're so bored, I'm sure my mother would be more than happy to talk to you," said Kurama innocently, but there was a hint of a chuckle in his voice.
Shiori had been more than happy to welcome Hiei into their home, thinking him a friend from Kurama's school, but she was very curious about him and loved to ask him questions. It wasn't that Hiei couldn't think up convincing lies, but more that he hated having to bother. Every time he went downstairs, even for a glass of water, Shiori was on him in an instant, badgering him with questions, offering tea and cakes, inviting him to sit and talk with her. Kurama laughed it off, telling Hiei that it was rare for him to bring people home. That was why Shiori was so thrilled to finally meet one of his friends. Hiei thought it was possibly the most obnoxious thing he'd ever had to deal with, and that included all the time he'd had to spend with Kuwabara. No matter… the messenger was due back tomorrow; they would be departing for the Makai soon.
The altercation earlier in the week had not been mentioned since Hiei's return, and Kurama truly had no desire to bring it up. After all, Hiei was his partner, and one of his closest friends. He was content to let the issue stay in the past, and apparently Hiei was as well. Still, a somewhat uneasy air hung between the two and made for a level of discomfort Kurama had not experienced with Hiei since they first met. So, as they were settling down to sleep, Kurama was unsurprised to find himself restless. He knew he needed sleep, but he kept tossing and turning, worry gnawing at his stomach. When he finally forced his eyes closed, he was overwhelmed by another memory.
"Ready to tell me where the kitsune is yet?" The black-haired man was standing with his back to Kuronue, frustration plain in his voice. Kuronue was suspended by his arms from the ceiling, his entire body sagging from exhaustion.
"I already did," said Kuronue, his voice somewhat strained. No wonder; he was black and blue all over from very apparent beatings and angry whip-weals criss-crossed their way up his stretched-out body. Even breathing seemed to cause pain, but the black-haired man was far from finished. Spinning abruptly, he struck the bound demon with something resembling a riding crop. Only when a thin line of blood appeared across Kuronue's abdomen did Kurama realize that the crop was actually a thin blade.
"Your mouth is going to get you into trouble!" snapped the black-haired man. That wicked little blade whipped through the air again, this time striking the chained bat's back. Kuronue stifled a groan and Kurama knew that he was suffering. His heart swelled with emotion as he watched the beating; all because Kuronue refused to give up the location of Kurama. Quite suddenly, the human threw the blade aside and released a lever on the wall. Kuronue crumpled to the ground in a heap, then slowly forced himself upwards despite an obviously protesting body. With a cruel smirk, the human walked to him and delivered a sharp kick to the side that sent the bat sprawling again.
"Just stay down where you belong." The black-haired man was walking away again, towards a door on the far side of the room. "Rest and recover, your first buyer arrives the day after tomorrow." He paused, turning back to face the collapsed demon. "And after that I will return to see if your tongue has loosened at all on the subject of your young partner. I will get that mirror, Kuronue." His lips shifted into a smirk. "And I will get the kitsune."
"Like hell you will," growled Kuronue. "That boy is better now than you'll ever be, and he only stands to improve. And…" his voice wavered for a moment as he hesitated, then continued. "You can forget about any rescue attempts. He's far smarter than that; I'm dead to him now. You'll never lay a hand on him." The last of his strength spent, he fell unceremoniously to the ground.
As the memory faded, Kurama heard the final echoing words of the black-haired human. "We'll see about THAT…" He shivered, realizing for the first time that he had rolled out of bed during that memory and was huddled on the ground beside his nightstand. He sat up, then jumped as he finally noticed the pair of red eyes staring down at him.
"Hiei! Don't scare me like that!"
"What happened?" Hiei's voice was sharp, his hand tight on the hilt of his sword. Kurama shook his head, holding up a hand.
"Nothing, no need to panic. It was nothing but a… bad dream." He didn't feel like explaining exactly what he had experienced to the little fire demon. It would only raise a line of questioning he really didn't feel like answering at the moment. "Just go back to-" He cut off abruptly as Hiei leaped, quite suddenly, out the window, his sword flashing from its sheath as he moved. Before Kurama had a chance to get up, Hiei was back, the ugly little messenger demon clutched in his fist.
"What do you want?" Hiei demanded of the creature he was holding. "Who sent you?" The snake demon writhed, apparently unable, or unwilling, to respond.
"Hiei, no, that's Sakyo's messenger!" Hiei glanced up at Kurama briefly, then dropped the snake demon with a grunt.
"Oh. He's early…" He re-sheathed his sword in a single movement, but only a fool would think him sufficiently relaxed. Every muscle in his body was taut, ready to react in a millisecond.
The snake demon, meanwhile, was picking himself up with a vicious glare directed at Hiei.
"I return when Master Sakyo say. Not early." He turned his attention to Kurama. "You have Mirror of Darkness?" Kurama nodded, opening his mouth to speak, but the little demon spoke over him. "Good. You come now. See Kuronue, yes?" He turned toward the window and began to slither towards it, but Hiei slammed a foot down on his tail, stopping him with a yelp.
"Where exactly are we going?" The snake turned to snarl at him.
"We go nowhere. I take Youko Kurama with me to Master Sakyo. He say nothing about annoying fire demons."
"Tough shit. If Kurama's going, I'm going with him."
"NO!" snapped the messenger. "Youko Kurama come. He bring Mirror. You stay. End story."
"Why can't he come?" asked Kurama, frowning at the snake demon. "He's my partner, he helped me steal the Mirror." The little demon was becoming steadily more and more annoyed.
"He come, you not see Kuronue!" The reply Kurama had had ready froze on his lips. Seeing Kuronue was the entire point of this heist, and if Hiei was in the way of that… well…
"It's alright, Hiei, I'll go alone."
"What?" Hiei spun, fixing Kurama with a burning glare. "Hell no, I'm coming!"
"Look, I can handle myself. I'll be fine; I'll see you when I get back." His eyes were locked with his partner's, willing the fire demon not to protest anymore. Naturally, Hiei refused the prompt.
"No! Not a chance! I helped you steal the fucking thing; I'm coming with you to see what this psycho wants to do with it!"
"Hiei, please!" The look in Kurama's eyes was something close to pleading now. He HAD to see Kuronue, didn't Hiei understand that? "I'll be fine, don't worry about me." Hiei opened his mouth as if to protest again, then closed it with a snap. He seemed to be thinking for a moment, then finally, grudgingly, nodded.
"Fine, go." And, without another word, he jumped out the window once again. Kurama stared at the place his partner had stood a moment earlier for a full thirty seconds before returning his gaze to the messenger demon, who was waiting impatiently by the window.
"We go now. Get Mirror." Kurama nodded absently, retrieving the Mirror from its hiding place inside his pillow. He noted how the snake's eyes followed the Mirror beadily as he nestled it firmly in his arms. Kurama wasn't about to let the thing out of his sight until he was certain Kuronue was alive.
He was already dressed, having slept in his clothes (he was paranoid like that), so that wasn't an issue. But his mother… Pulling a sealed envelope from his pocket, he kissed it gently and laid it on his desk. Inside was a letter to his mother explaining how he had left early to go and finish his science project. It went on to explain how his project had been nominated for a national award and that he would be gone for some time in the city to see about competing in the national science fair. He promised to call her soon and signed it with love.
Taking one last, long look around his room, Kurama finally turned and nodded to the snake demon, who led him out the window, across the yard, and towards a portal in the nearby woods. Kurama followed him, never once looking back at the house in which he had lived for the past 16 years. No point dwelling on the past; the only way to go was forward. An ironic smile crept across his face in spite of himself. His way forward was a direct connection to his past… Shaking his head, the kitsune lengthened his stride, moving steadily towards whatever was to come.
Both focused on their own thoughts, neither Kurama nor the snake demon noticed the small, dark figure slip from shadow to shadow after them. Hiei scowled to himself as he slid in and out of the light. Damned if he wouldn't follow the fox anyway! The fool had no idea what he was getting himself into…
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Well? Was it worth the wait? I certainly hope this gets some praise, I'm rather proud of this chapter. But... too much jumping around? Let me know, I don't want to make the same mistake twice! Reviews keep me going, so keep 'em coming! Much love to you all!
Princess Seki
