Summary: For Mika, life is a constant struggle for survival. After some very unfortunate situations, she has isolated herself and is dangerously close to losing her sanity. That is, until she meets Kurama who turns her life upside down. But things begin to get out of control when it is discovered that she could have a strange connection to a mysterious legendary force that could be plotting a major takeover of all three worlds! Could her misery be nothing more that a cruel twist of fate or is this all connected to something even bigger?
Disclaimer: You know the drill. I don't own the song "Mickey!" and "My Boy Lollipop". They belong to Toni Basil and Millie Small.
Angel's Cry
Chapter 8
"Hey, Kurama!"
"Ugh!"
Kuwabara and Kurama were sprawled out across the floor of Koenma's office. Seas of blindingly white paper were spread around them messily.
"This is so boring," Kuwabara complained as he sat up and rubbed his knuckles. "And my hand is starting to hurt."
Hiei sat on the windowsill with his own stack of untouched paperwork beside him. His lips curled into a snarl as he glared at the redheaded teenager, "Well, if you weren't such an idiot we wouldn't be in this position."
"What the hell are you talking about, Shorty? You're not even doing anything!" Kuwabara complained as he glared at the little fire demon. "Me and Kurama are doing' all the work!"
Hiei glared at Kuwabara before he shifted his heated gaze to the pile of paper near his feet. He smirked when it exploded and caught fire. [1] "I just finished my share of the work."
"Hiei!" Kurama yelled in exasperation as he jumped to his feet to stamp out the fire. "Koenma is going to kill you!"
"You pyro little dwarf!" Kuwabara yelled, "What the hell is your problem?"
Hiei just narrowed his eyes threateningly before he turned back to stare out the window, his lips were curled into a smug smirk.
"For the love of all that is pure and holy... Could you guys please shut the hell up? Damn!"
Everyone turned to see Yusuke struggling to sit up. The brunette's hair was sticking up in all directions as he rubbed his temples. His amber eyes were narrowed into a glare.
"My head hurts..." he muttered.
"Quit your bitching, Urameshi," Kuwabara sneered, "It's your fault. We told you it wasn't a good idea to drink anything."
"It's not entirely his fault," Kurama added, with a small smirk, "You did drop him on his head, after all."
"It was an accident!" Kuwabara frowned as the fox started to chuckle quietly.
"What's all this?" Yusuke questioned as he flipped through the stack of papers beside him.
"Koenma's paperwork that we have to look through," Kurama sighed as he stamped a thick packet and slid it back into a large manila envelope.
"Why do we have to do that?" Yusuke scratched the back of his head as he let out a yawn, "Where'd Binky-Breath run off to?"
"He went to a party. And we have to do all this work because---"
"Kuwabara is a dumbass," Hiei finished, with a grin.
"No shit, Sherlock. I can't say I'm surprised." Yusuke rolled his eyes, snatched one of Koenma's stamps from Kurama, and threw it at Kuwabara's head. "Thanks a lot."
"Hey!"
~.~.~.~.~
"Oh my god, Mika!"
Mika sat in the chair staring at her reflection in the mirror that Botan held out to her.
"You look so cute!" Keiko squealed as she clapped her hands happily.
Mika forced a smile and nodded. "I guess,"
Botan frowned, "You guess? Have some confidence in yourself! You look hot! Say it!"
Mika could feel her face turning bright red as the girls all started giggling. "Ummm... I-I..."
"I look hot," Botan said slowly, hinting with her voice that Mika should repeat after her.
"Leave her be, Botan," Yukina giggled as she shook her head. She placed a comforting hand on the silver haired woman's arm. "You don't have to say it, Mika dear. Botan's just trying to rattle you."
"Awww, Yukina!" A huge grin stretched across Botan's face. "You spoiled it!"
Yukina shrugged before she smiled back.
"Who's next?" Shizuru called out as Mika stood up and moved out of the way.
"Oooh! Me! Me!"
~.~.~.~.~
Yusuke let out an exasperated sigh as he threw the papers up in the air. "This is so boring! I'm not doing' this anymore!"
Kurama shook his head. "Calm down, Yusuke."
"Calm down? Why should I calm down, Kurama? This is our day off and Commander-Diapers has us in here doing' all his freakin' dirty work! It's unfair!"
"It's unjust!" Kuwabara yelled as he took a dramatic stance.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Yusuke and Hiei roared at the same time; amber and ruby gazes narrowed dangerously.
Kuwabara let out a laugh as he sat down next to Kurama, who was biting his thumb in an attempt to keep himself from cracking up.
A pregnant silence settled in and the only sounds heard were the scratching of pens and the dull 'thunk' of stamps being pressed on paper.
"I wonder what the girls are doing right now..." Yusuke muttered as his eyes began to glint mischievously. He stood up and began to walk around the room as if he were searching for something.
"Yusuke," Kurama started, his narrowed jade eyes were wary yet curious. "What are you looking for?"
"You'll see."
Everyone watched in curiosity as Yusuke rummaged through Koenma's desks.
"Ahah! Found it! Now... how does this thing work?"
In Yusuke's hand was a black remote with several different colored buttons. With his lips pursed in curiosity, the brunette's eyes scanned his choices. He pressed the bright red button.
A hissing sound echoed throughout the room. Kurama, Kuwabara, and Hiei were off their feet in an instant and were standing in place, cautious and alert. They all watched as a panel in the wall slid back to reveal a glossy black television.
"Cool," Kuwabara breathed.
The four boys watched as the television flickered to life. Yusuke pointed the remote at the screen and flipped through the channels until he stopped at the one he liked.
"C'mon, Yukina!" A voice came from the TV's speaker, "I'm gonna curl your hair!"
"Yusuke!" Kurama frowned as the brunette grinned and returned to his perch on the couch. "We can't spy on them."
"Why not?" Kuwabara questioned loudly.
"Because it's an invasion of privacy." Kurama stated as he folded his arms across his chest.
"But they don't know we're watching," Yusuke added, "Besides, have you ever wondered what girls really talk about? This could be our one chance to figure out!"
"It's not right," Kurama let out a loud sigh as he shook his head. He sat down and began to finish up his pile of work, "Do what you want. If the girls find out, I wasn't involved."
Yusuke and Kuwabara grinned at each other before Yusuke turned to volume up on the TV.
"This is gonna be good!"
~.~.~.~.~
Mika ran her fingers through her long silver locks as she stretched across the couch. Her amber eyes watched the group of girls before her.
"Hey!" Shizuru glared at her. "Hands out of your hair! You're gonna mess it up!"
"Sorry," Mika murmured as she removed her fingers from her hair.
"So... Mika..."
She turned around to see Botan and Keiko staring at her with wide eyes, filled with curiosity.
Oh god, she thought, what's up now?
"What is really going on between you two?"
"I don't know what you mean..." Mika answered warily.
"What's going on between you and Kurama?" Botan questioned.
"What were you two doing before he left?" Keiko chimed in as both girls surrounded her and Yukina and Shizuru watched and listened intently.
Oh god...
~.~.~.~.~
Kurama could feel his face get hot as he heard Keiko and Botan's questioning voices as they interrogated Mika.
"Hey!" Yusuke looked at the redheaded fox, his eyes filled with curiosity. "What are they talking about?"
"Yeah, tell us!" Kuwabara chimed in.
"I don't know what they're talking about," Kurama said as he slipped into his usual unreadable mask. He looked Yusuke straight in the eyes and shrugged, "You know how Botan and Keiko are."
Kuwabara seemed convinced as he turned back to the television, but Yusuke stared at him for a few seconds. His eyes were narrowed in both suspicion and curiosity before he shrugged and turned away.
The redhead averted his gaze to the paperwork but he continued to listen to the voices floating from the television.
"There's nothing going on between me and Kurama," Mika insisted, "Before he left we were talking."
"Are you sure?"
"Because that didn't look like talking," came Shizuru's voice, "And if you guys were then that was one serious talk."
"Stop jumping to conclusions." Kurama said, not bothering to look up to meet the glances thrown his way. "They are blowing things way out of proportion."
An exasperated sigh floated from the speakers---a sigh, Kurama assumed, that came from Mika.
"It's nothing, you guys," Mika's voice had a pleading and desperate edge as she tried to get the girls to stop pestering her.
"Awww... alright... But I've got my eyes on you, missy!" Botan's voice responded.
"And we've got ours on you, Foxboy," Yusuke smirked at the redhead who was now glaring at him, "No funny business, unless you tell us first."
Kurama rolled his eyes and let out a sigh.
~.~.~.~.~
An hour slowly ticked by. Mika listened idly as the girls chattered away, discussing the latest fashion and makeup trends, the latest celebrity news, and recent happenings.
It was when Shizuru had finished styling her own hair that Botan dropped the makeup pallet in her hand. It clattered noisily to the floor, snapping Mika out of her daze.
"What's happening?" She questioned in alarm when Botan let out a loud squeal.
"I LOVE THIS SONG!"
Shizuru rolled her eyes as she and Mika exchanged a look. They watched as the deity ran towards the stereo and cranked up the music which had just been a quiet buzz in the background.
"Botan, it's your iPod. Of course you love the music that's on there," Keiko said as she tore her eyes away from the fashion magazine in her hands.
"Yes," Botan defended herself, "But I absolutely love this song! It's so old but it's still amazing!"
"What is this song?" Mika questioned as the peppy beats of the song reverberated against the walls.
All the girls gasped, except for Yukina (who looked just as puzzled).
"You've never heard this song before?" Botan's eyes were wide in shock.
Mika shook her head, "That's why I asked what it's called, Botan."
"Here, I'll start it over! You have GOT to hear this song!"
~.~.~.~.~
"This is so boring!" Yusuke whined as he watched as Botan moved to the stereo. "Is this what girls seriously do all day?"
Kurama smirked and shook his head as he let out a chuckle.
"What are you laughing about, Foxboy?" He demanded with a pout, "I thought we were going to hear somethin' good but all we get is frickin' makeup and hair tips!
"Well you could use them right now," Hiei smirked as his bright eyes took in Yusuke's messy hair.
Kuwabara let out a loud guffaw and Yusuke kicked him in the head. "OW!"
"Fuck off, you little bugger," Yusuke flipped Hiei the bird before he let out a yawn, "You could use a child psychiatrist and a growth spurt, but I never said anything."
Kuwabara was still rubbing his head before he started laughing at Yusuke's comeback.
"You better watch yourself, Detective," Hiei glared.
"Sure, sure," Yusuke waved off the threat in a patronizing manner before he turned to the television. "Hey, they're singing."
The boys turned their attention to Koenma's television.
~.~.~.~.~
Oh
Mickey! You're so fine, you're so fine, you blow my mind,
Hey
Mickey! Hey Mickey!
Oh Mickey!
You're so fine, you're so fine, you blow my mind,
Hey Mickey! Hey
Mickey!
Mika watched as Botan snatched a hairbrush from the floor. She held it in her hand as if it were a microphone and began to prance around the room. She began to dance in front of Mika, lip-synching along with the song.
"Hey Mickey!
You've been around all night and that's a little long
You think you've got the right, but I think you've got it wrong
Why can't you say goodnight so you can take me home, Mickey!"
Keiko decided to join in on the fun, and she grabbed another brush to substitute for a microphone. She lined up beside Botan in front of Mika, and she moved her body to the beat.
"'Cause when you say you will, it always means you won't
You're givin' me the chills, baby, please baby don't
Every night you still leave me all alone, Mickey!"
Shizuru had joined the two girls by now. She had managed to shove herself in between Botan and Keiko and was now grinding against Botan. Yukina was giggling loudly, her pale face bright red with embarrassment.
"Oh Mickey, what a pity you don't understand
You take me by the heart when you take me by the hand
Oh Mickey, you're so pretty, can't you understand
It's guys like you Mickey!
Oh, what you do Mickey, do Mickey
Don't break my heart, Mickey!"
"WOAH, SHIZURU!" Keiko shrieked with laughter, "I think that beer's starting to get to her!"
Hey
Mickey!
Now when you take me by the hooves, everyone's gonna
know
Everytime you move, I let a little more show
There's
somethin' we can use, so don't say no, Mickey
"There's something we can use--- a condom! So don't say no, Mickey!"Shizuru added her own lyrics to the song causing everyone to squeal in laughter.
"So
come on and give it to me anyway you can
Anyway you wanna do it,
I'll take it like a man
Oh please, baby, please, don't leave me in
the damn, Mickey!"
Mika was laughing loudly now as the three girls jumped around as the musical break began to start. Keiko grabbed Yukina's hand and pulled her to her feet. Botan ran over to Mika and pulled her to the dance floor. She shook her head but Botan ignored her.
"C'mon, Mika! It's just us girls!" Shizuru yelled out, "Woooh!"
Or so they all thought...
~.~.~.~.~
"Holy shit!" Yusuke yelled out loud as he watched the girls dance around and sing on the television. "What the hell?"
Kurama's eyes widened as he watched Shizuru bend over and Botan smacked her butt. [2] What in all the three worlds were going on!?!
All four boy's eyes were glued on the television screen in both shock and amazement.
"Woooh! Take it off, Shizuru! Ow-owww!"
They watched in shock as Shizuru ripped off her shirt and tossed it over her head. Shrieks of laughter boomed from the speakers as Shizuru began to dance around the room topless.
"Oh..." Hiei started his eyes wide as he stared at the screen.
"My..." Kurama chorused as he turned his eyes away from the screen, his face as red as his hair.
"Fucking..." Kuwabara continued,
"God." Yusuke finished.
"HOLY SHIT! SHIZURU, WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING!?!" Kuwabara yelled at the screen before he covered his eyes. "You bastards! Don't look! That's my frickin' sister you're staring at!"
"I'm not looking' at your sister!" Yusuke yelled back as his eyes were glue on the screen. "I'm waiting for Keiko to take off her clothes! I get a free show, man! I've been waiting for this for forever!"
"Oh my god..." Kurama groaned as he shook his head.
~.~.~.~.~
"You know what?" Shizuru yelled over the music as she twirled Mika around in a dizzying circle in an effort to force her to dance. "I think we should dedicate this song to a special boy!"
"You're right!" Botan yelled. "This song describes a guy we all know perfectly! And I think all of you girls know who I'm talking about! Start the song over!"
Keiko dashed to the stereo and turned the music off.
"We dedicate this song to..." Botan started, sweeping her hands grandly through the air like an awards show hostess. "The mind blowing..."
"Absolutely gorgeous,"
"Amazingly hot,"
"I'd totally rape him but it's illegal and he's my friend," Shizuru added, causing laughter to erupt around the room.
"Hottie of all time---"
~.~.~.~.~.
Yusuke was standing up and taking his bows as the girls continued their list of descriptions, "Sorry, guys. I know you're jealous that all the girls love me. I mean, what girl wouldn't? With my good looks and my charm---"
"WE DEDICATE THIS SONG TO KURAMA!"
"WHAT!?!" Yusuke yelled in disbelief as he stared at the screen. He turned to look at the fox who looked just as shocked. "All the girls are lusting after you? Not me?"
Oh
Kurama! You're so fine, you're so fine, you blow my mind,
Hey
Kurama! Hey Kurama!
Oh
Kurama! You're so fine, you're so fine, you blow my mind,
Hey
Kurama! Hey Kurama!
"Oh god," Kurama hid his face in his hands in embarrassment. "Please turn the television off."
Kuwabara was cracking up with laughter and rolling on the floor. Even Hiei was laughing quietly.
"I feel bad for you, Kurama!" Kuwabara choked out, "Shizuru said she'd rape you!"
Hiei was in his corner by the window sill, silently cracking up.
"No way! It's not me?" Yusuke rambled on before he turned on the blushing redhead, "Unbelievable! Kurama, stop stealing everyone's girls!"
"I-I didn't..." He mumbled as his face turned an even more intense shade of red.
Oh
Kurama, what a pity you don't understand
You take me by the heart
when you take me by the hand
Oh Kurama, you're so pretty, can't
you understand..."
"He's not pretty; he's SEXY!" Shizuru's voice rang loud and clear from the speakers. "In all caps! He's so hot it's like someone soaked in gasoline and set him on fire!"
Laughter.
"Someone turn it off!" Kurama pleaded.
But the guys were too busy laughing to listen to his pleas, and Kuwabara turned it up even more.
Oh
Kurama! You're so fine, you're so fine, you blow my mind,
Hey
Kurama! Hey Kurama!
Kurama cringed in embarrassment and took a look at the screen. He could see Mika, spinning around in a dizzying circle with Shizuru (whose top was still missing in action). Her face was bright red and she was laughing loudly. She wasn't singing along, he noted in relief. And neither was Yukina. Thank god!
Oh god... I will never be able to look any of them in the eye without remembering this... He thought as he closed his eyes and tried his best to ignore the girl's singing and the laughter of his friends around him.
~.~.~.~.~
The song ended and a wild dance party and karaoke match ensued before the energy of the party took a nosedive. Keiko and Botan had collapsed on the couch and Shizuru (who apparently decided that she missed her shirt and put it back on) had stretched out across them. They were watching an old sitcom; everyone was too lazy and tired to get up to put in a movie. Their makeup had sweated off while they were dancing; but their hair had oddly stayed in place nicely.
Mika was lying on the floor, idly flipping through a fashion magazine. Yukina lay beside her, her head resting on her arms and her eyes closed. Botan's iPod played lowly in the background and everyone was silent.
My boy lollipop, you made my heart go giddy up.
You are as sweet as candy, you're my sugar dandy.
"Does anyone else think that this song could be determined in two ways?" Shizuru questioned.
Ha,
ho my boy Lollipop,
Don't never ever leave me,
Because it would grieve me,
My heart told me so,
Keiko rolled her eyes, "Every song can be determined in two ways to you Shizuru."
Shizuru smirked, "Yeah, but, seriously listen to the lyrics! 'My boy lollipop?' I bet you the girl who wrote this song was sucking on her boy's lollipop---"
"SHIZURU!"
"What? Hey, I was only stating my opinion."
"You and your dirty mind..." Botan sighed and shook her head and she ran her fingers through the brunette's hair, "But we love you anyway."
"You should," Shizuru sniffed before she turned to bite Botan's hand, "Hands outta my hair! I worked hard on it!"
Everyone laughed before the room was filled with yawns.
"What time is it?" Mika questioned as she tossed the magazine onto a pile and rolled over onto her back.
"Around two in the morning..." Botan responded, her usual chipper voice now low with fatigue.
"I'm tired! Let's go to sleep!" Keiko yawned hugely and she pushed Shizuru off the couch so she could get up.
"Bitch!" Shizuru joked as she smacked Keiko's leg as she walked by. "We're going asleep so early... but I'm tired so, whatever."
"Yukina's already asleep." Mika said before she turned to she shake the ice maiden gently, "C'mon Yukina. You shouldn't sleep on the floor. C'mon, let's go to sleep."
Mika helped Yukina to the couch before everyone gathered their pillows and blankets and choose their spot to lie down. The lights were flicked off, the television and stereo unplugged, and everything was silent.
PPFFHHTTT!
"Ewww! Keiko did you fart?"
"Shut up, Shizuru! That wasn't me!"
Shizuru began to cackle loudly before something hit her with a loud 'thump'.
"Good aim, Yukimura," Shizuru's voice sounded in the dark and Mika let out a giggle. "I'll be good from now on."
"Good. 'Night, everyone!"
"Goodnight," Mika smiled as she closed her eyes.
She never knew that she could have so much fun. She was really beginning to like being around all these people. She could feel the careful walls that she had built around her heart crumble even more. Her cheeks hurt from smiling so much; her sides ached from laughing all the time; and her heart felt like it was swollen and about to burst with happiness.
Thank you all for everything. I never knew I could feel so happy, was her last thoughts before she fell into a deep and peaceful slumber.
~.~.~.~.~
Kurama tried shake off the drowsiness as he reached for another stack of paperwork. His emerald eyes were clouded with fatigue, and he let out a large yawn.
The room was completely silent except for the shuffling of papers, the quiet buzz of the television, and the deep snores coming from Kuwabara and Yusuke who were both sprawled out across the couch. Hiei was no where to be found.
Kurama rubbed his temples as he looked wearily at his watch. It was around four o'clock in the morning. He turned his attention to the paperwork when something moved in his peripheral vision. His eyes flashed to the television screen, and he tilted his head to the side when he could see Mika getting up.
She should be asleep, he thought as he set down his pen. He reached for the remote control that was on the floor and turned the volume up, where is she going?
~.~.~.~.~
The room was dark but Mika could make out the faint shapes of the girls sleeping in their selected spots. She glanced at the clock and frowned, it was only four in the morning.
It's so cold, she thought as she picked her way across the room in an attempt not to trip over anything. She had her arms wrapped tightly around her, trying to keep warm. Her teeth chattered slightly.
She stopped in front of the thermometer on the other side of the wall and squinted in an attempt to read the numbers with the pale moonlight streaming through the windows. 73.5 degrees...
She punched the red arrow that was pointing up until the number changed to 82 degrees. She could hear the air shut off and soon the purr of the heater followed.
She smiled sleepily to herself as she turned to go back to sleep when she heard something in the kitchen.
"Oops!"
Mika hurried across the room, tripping a couple of times, before she stopped by the doorframe of the kitchen.
"Who's there?" She questioned hesitantly.
"Oh! It's me, Yukina!" Yukina gave Mika a sheepish smile when the silver haired woman entered the kitchen with a curious yet dazed expression on her face. "I hope I didn't wake you."
"Don't worry," Mika took a seat at the table and smiled sleepily. "I couldn't sleep anyway."
"Really?" Yukina mused in a soft voice, "Neither could I. I was just making hot chocolate. Would you like some?"
"What's hot chocolate?"
Yukina turned to Mika, her bright ruby eyes alight with curiosity and excitement. "You've never heard of hot chocolate?"
"No,"
"You have to try it!"
Mika watched in curiosity as the tiny ice maiden moved around the small kitchen busily. She went to the cabinet to get two mugs, grabbed two spoons from the drawer below, ran to the refrigerator and pulled out a quart of milk, and went to the pantry and pulled out a box.
Mika could feel the irrational fear creeping up her spine as she watched Yukina open the jug of milk and began to tip the milk into the glasses.
"Yukina!" She watched as the woman jumped and looked at her. "N-Not too much, please."
"Oh, are you lactose intolerant?" Yukina questioned, "If you are then---"
"No," Mika scrambled for an excuse, "I just...I'm just on a strict diet."
"Oh..." Yukina nodded as she filled the glass up half-way. "Is this too much?"
Mika came closer and peered into the glass. "No, that's perfect."
Yukina smiled before she pulled two packets from the box and ripped them open, pouring the contents into the mugs. She put the jug of milk up and she set the glasses in the microwave. Three minutes later she was handing a steaming mug to Mika.
"Be careful," Yukina warned, "It's hot."
Mika took the mug with a smile, and she stared curiously at its contents. Inside he mug, a deep brown liquid swished from side to side. Cream colored clouds floated across the surface but were quickly broken up by the spoon that she swirled the liquid with.
Mika carefully sipped the beverage as Yukina set down a small jar that was filled with sugar cubes. She sipped at the drink carefully, and angling the mug carefully so Yukina wouldn't see, she only allowed herself to taste the drink before she spit it back into the mug
"It's good isn't it? It's cocoa powder mixed with either water or milk. I've always preferred milk. Oops!" Yukina's eyes widened, "I should have asked you if you'd rather water or milk in yours."
"It's okay, Yukina," she shook her head and smiled, "It's good."
A pregnant silence fell between them. It wasn't awkward; it was comfortable. She watched as Yukina reached into the jar and dropped two cubes into her drink. She did the same, and watched the liquid jump and the sugar sink to the bottom with a loud 'plop'.
She was dying on the inside to drink it. The sweet chocolate taste was so tempting, it had been so hard for her to spit it back out earlier. She craved the chocolate. But she could hear the little voice in the back of her head urging her to be strong.
Don't be weak. Don't be a bad person, it was telling her with it's high-pitched nagging voice, Don't give in.
She stared intently into the mug with longing eyes when a bell-like laugh broke the silence she looked up.
"I'm sorry," Yukina covered her mouth with her hand, hiding her smile. "It's just that you remind me so much of myself."
"What do you mean?"
Yukina took a sip of her hot chocolate before she answered.
"I don't think anyone has told you my story. Would you like to hear it?"
Mika nodded eagerly causing Yukina's lips to twist into a bright smile. She was curious and the story that Kurama had told her had intrigued her and sparked her interest to learn more about demons and their world. It was interesting to her. How could such things that were so strange to her exist? It was amazing, that all of this was right there---under society's nose--- and no one even realized a thing. The world was clueless. And it absolutely blew her mind.
"I was born and raised in the Makai in the Land of Ice. I'm a Koorime. We're a race of all female ice apparitions."
Mika leaned forward as the small woman began her tale. An all female race? But I thought she said she had a brother...
"When we cry, our tears harden into hiruiseki stones. They aren't naturally made here in the Ningenkai. There are many things that exist in the Makai that don't exist here. But there are humans that know too much of our world and the things that exist there. The stones are very beautiful and sell very well on the Black Market."
Mika nodded and Yukina continued.
"Because of the ridiculous prices that our tear gems could be sold for, a human ordered the kidnapping of an ice maiden to be able to produce gems to sell. Unfortunately, it turned out to be me. I was the unlucky one. I was out in the forest that day when I was kidnapped and was held captive by an associate of the Brokers of Darkness."
"The Brokers of Darkness?"
"They call themselves the Black Book Club. They're a group of human billionaires who gained their wealth by working with demons. The man who captured me was named Tarukane. He did everything in his power to make me cry so that he could sell my tear gems. The years that I spent there are the most memorable and more horrible of my life."
Yukina's eyes watered as she remembered. "I-I was so scared. I wanted to go home. I missed my friends. I was so alone and I didn't have anyone to talk to... The first few days, I cried continuously---even when they didn't hurt me. He must've made a fortune off me in those few days."
That's horrible, Mika thought as Yukina continued on.
"I eventually told myself that I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing me cry. I wouldn't let them break me down. I wouldn't give them what they wanted." Yukina's eyes narrowed, "And Tarukane got mad. I was tortured day in and day out. They did whatever they could to make me cry... It hurt so bad...but I didn't cry."
"Look," she said as she pushed the sleeves of her kimono up. She held out an arm to Mika so the silver haired woman could see. Yukina had a slight smile on her face as her fingers traced the faint marks on her skin. "They burned me with wards."
"How can you be smiling?" Mika questioned in shock as she stared at all the marks that decorated her arms.
"Because I didn't give up. I'm proud of myself."
Mika looked at the small ice maiden with awe in her eyes. She watched as the ice maiden's eyes seemed to freeze over and her smile faded quickly. Yukina pulled her sleeve back down and folded her hands in her lap. She let out a sigh, looked at the floor, and continued her story.
"But... there were times that I really did feel like giving up. There were times when it got so awful and too much to bear that I would cry... Once, one man... actually came very close to raping me... so I understand, in a way, how you feel."
Mika froze in her seat as she watched as tears watered in Yukina's eyes.
"You just want to forget it. Like you could shove the memories in a box and hide it in some dark place. It's scary. Because that person has complete power over you at that moment. They can do whatever they want. And you feel so helpless... and so alone. It happened so long ago... but sometimes I dream that he's going to come back and that no one's going to be able to help me," her voice raised a few octaves as she put her hand over her heart, "And that he's really going to---"
Mika shut her eyes as they began to water with tears. She felt the same way---she always had ever since the first time Taro had forced himself on her. Every night she'd dream he'd come back, always wanting more from her. She couldn't stop him, and no one would help her---not because they didn't want to, but because they couldn't. She couldn't tell anybody. She refused to tell anybody, the shame was too much to bear, but she wanted to call out. To ask for help. To ask for someone to help her---to care about her. But no one would be able to understand how she felt. She was all alone.
"You're the first person I've told," Yukina admitted as she gazed up at the woman with eyes filled with shame, "I don't want anyone else to know... I just want to forget it. Maybe one day I'll be able to tell someone else. But for now..."
Mika nodded her head furiously, "I feel the same way."
Yukina's lips twisted into a small smile. "I'm glad," she whispered, "that someone understands. I know that I have friends and that I'm not alone... but sometimes... especially at night, I really truly do feel alone."
Mika sniffed and closed her eyes as she nodded. Yukina sighed before she continued on.
"Eventually, Yusuke and Kuwabara came and saved me. And I made friends with everyone else. I remember on my first sleepover, I couldn't sleep. I had that nightmare again."
Yukina shuddered slightly as she bit her bottom lip. She shook her head before she looked up and forced a tiny smile.
"So Botan offered me hot chocolate and told me that when your worried about something it makes you feel better and helps you to go to sleep. You reminded me of myself with the hot chocolate; because that's the same way I reacted when Botan gave me some."
Mika sniffed and nodded her head. Finally someone could understand how she felt. Finally there was someone who could relate to her. It felt so good to know that she wasn't alone. It felt so... relieving that someone knew how much it still... hurt.
She winced when she felt a pair of cold arms wrap around her. Her eyes were blurring with tears and she buried herself into Yukina's comforting embrace.
"I shouldn't have told you the story, Mika," Yukina apologized, "I'm so sorry I upset you."
Mika shook her head furiously, "No, I'm not upset... I'm so.... I'm so happy that there's someone else that understands me! I'm so glad that... I have friends. And that I'm not alone anymore. And I'm so happy that I met you all. It's just too much! I'm just so happy, I-I can't say how happy I am..."
Mika felt like her heart was going to pop. She could feel it swelling with so much emotion and she squeezed wrapped her arms around Yukina and squeezed her tighter. It felt like her heart could explode out of her chest and fly high in the sky like a bird. It felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders. It felt so good to finally feel... free.
Yukina squeezed Mika tighter, her voice strangled with relief and tears, "I feel the same way, Mika dear."
The two women stood there for a while, just holding and comforting each other. The only sounds heard was the ticking of the clock on the wall, a soft tinkering sound, and the soft snoring coming from the other room.
"C'mon, Mika dear," Yukina said softly as she pulled away from Mika. She smiled brightly, her bright eyes glittering with tears, "Let's clean up and go back to sleep."
Mika nodded and smiled. She turned, and she picked up the two unfinished mugs of hot chocolate. She went over to the sink and poured them out in the sink. When she finished, and turned back to go into the living room, she paused in confusion.
"Yukina? What are you doing?"
Yukina was kneeling on the floor, searching for something. Mika went closer and looked more closely. There were gems scattered all over the floor.
"I'm picking up my tear gems," she said, "I don't want anyone to slip on them."
Mika knelt down to help her retrieve all of the glittering gems. When they had gathered every last one, they stood up.
"Here," Yukina said, stretching her hand out to the silver haired woman, "Keep this."
"What is it?"
"I want you to keep this one," the koorime insisted and she pressed a cool gem into Mika's palm. "It's shaped strangely; but that makes it unique. I guess we can call it a 'friendship gem'. Kind of like the friendship bracelets they sell in the stores; except, this one is a gem and it's for free."
Mika giggled softly as she tucked the gem into the pocket of her jeans (she had fallen asleep in them). "Alright, Yukina."
"Alright, Mika dear," Yukina said as she reached out and took a hold of Mika's hand and began to walk with her towards the living room, "Let's go back to sleep."
Mika smiled and followed behind the small ice maiden, her lips twisted into a smile.
Thank you, Yukina.
~.~.~.~.~
Kurama shut off Koenma's television with a sinking feeling in his gut. He felt guilty for spying on the girl's conversation. He felt horrible. There were things that he had heard that he was not supposed to know.
He couldn't believe that something like that had happened to Yukina. Of all people, it had happened sweet and innocent Yukina! He hoped that the man that had did that to her was suffering dearly.
As for the man who had hurt Mika so deeply... Kurama wished that man was rotting and burning in the deepest darkest pits of Hell for the rest of eternity.
He sighed as he gathered all the finished paperwork into large piles and set them on Koenma's desk. He had finally finished all the work.
No thanks to my friends, he thought with a shrug, Oh well.
He was desperately tired, but at the same time oddly relieved. At least he finally had an idea of how hurt Mika was. He could see it in her face, he could see it in her body language, he could see so much. And he knew that it would take a long time to heal the scars on her heart.
But I'm willing to give up that time to help her, he thought as he slipped out of Koenma's office (leaving the good-for-nothing slackers asleep on the couch) and journeyed down the corridors. No one deserves to hurt that much.
The halls of Spirit World that were usually busy and filled with chaos were quiet. The only sound heard were the echoing of Kurama's footsteps as he made his way through the winding halls to his quarters.
When he arrived he opened the door and stepped inside. He quickly got ready to go to sleep, the fatigue starting to get to him. He slipped beneath the covers.
I will help you get better Mika, he thought before he closed his eyes and let sleep take him, I promise.
~.~.~.~.~
Author's Notes
[1] - I can't help myself. :D It's just hilarious making Hiei a total pyro.
[2] – My friends and I always play around like this. We're really silly. And no, we're not lesbians.