Disclaimer - I am not epic enough to own anything Yu Yu Hakusho. Hikari is my character, but her world here in someone else's genius.
Chapter 7
Hikari woke, feeling tied and confused to Hiei saying something she couldn't catch while he shook her gently. "What?" Hikari asked sleepily.
"If you plan on seeing Yukina this morning I'd suggest you start by waking up. It's 9am" Hiei informed her.
"Shit, thankyou" Hikari mumbled in reply. She pulled off her covers and frowned to see she was still in yesterday's clothes, and frowned deeper when she realized she didn't remember getting in her bed the night before.
"I'll see you downstairs when you are ready" Hiei said, closing the door behind him.
Hikari ached all over from her long run after so much time sedentary while she healed from her injuries. To help ease her tired muscles she indulged in a long, hot shower. After she showered, she tied her hair in a loose knot, and pulled on some clothes (grey tunic and leggings). She skipped make-up as she wasn't a big fan of painting her face, and patted down the stairs to the kitchen.
Hikari wrinkled her nose as smells of bacon, eggs, pancakes, syrup, and fruit assaulted her. Those foods were way too heavy for Hikari's sleepy stomach. Instead, she grabbed a piece of buttered toast, and turned on the kettle for some tea. Toast in mouth, Hikari got to work on the dishes as she waited for her tea water. Before long, Kurama, their self appointed chief, joined her at the sink.
"Thanks for your help with the dishes, Hikari" Kurama said with a smile. "As much as I love to cook, cleaning up after so many people can be very disheartening."
"No problem. We will have to make dishes duty the next punishment for someone who does something stupid. That shouldn't take long. Provided you are not the culprit, you will be off the hook until the next episode of idiocy."
"Hmmm, that is a really great idea. We might want to invest in cheaper cookware though, I'm not sure I trust some people to not break every glass we own."
To Hikari's surprise, she giggled and said, "true story". Soon Hikari realized that the dishes were a lost cause until after everyone had finished eating, and gave up. She went over to the pantry, grabbed a packet of her calming tea, and waited as the packet soaked in the hot water.
When Yusuke and Kuwabara were finishing their fifth stack of pancakes (respectively), Yukina entered the kitchen, apparently in intense conversation with Hiei. Suddenly the two looked up, as if realizing they had entered the kitchen, and their conversation fell silent. Hikari felt her heart quicken. What am I so afraid about? I am being silly. Hikari scolded herself. Instead, Hikari decided to attack her worry outright. "Good morning Yukina, can I get you anything for breakfast?"
"I've got it, thanks though" Yukina said an innocent smile. "I'd love to have some of your tea though, if you are sharing. You always seem to make the best packets. Someday you will have to reveal the ingredients in all the teas you make."
"Never!" Hikari said in a playful voice as she poured Yukina a cup of tea.
"Kuzuma and Koenma mentioned that you wanted to meet with me this morning to go over your injuries, is that still correct Hikari-chan?"
"If you have time that would be amazing. I am itching to get training again. I have always been the doing sort of demon, not the sitting sort".
Yukina laughed at Hikari's comment and said, "I have time. I want to do it at Genkai's temple though, because my medical treatment office is there, and Koenma sounded like he wanted this to be official. Is that alright with you?"
"Ummm yea, that's fine. I'm ready to go whenever you are."
"Aren't you missing something important?" Yusuke teased as he pressed upon one of her legging covered feet with his foot.
"My black boots are by the door, Baka."
"Then let's go" Yukina said sweetly.
Hiei watched Hikari go, unable to avoid staring too openly at her beautiful figure, and thought to himself, why did I let her go? Dismissing the thought Hiei turned away and straight into Kurama. When Hiei met Kurama's eyes, Kurama gave him an odd look full of surprise, caring and. . .pity?
Hiei felt himself turning crimson as he pushed past Kurama and out into the hallway.
"Hiei!" Kurama called after him. Hiei turned around to see it was just him and the red head in the hallway. "Hiei" Kurama panted slightly when he got to Hiei's side, "when did you fall in love with her again?"
"You are talking nonsense fox."
"Don't pull that on me Hiei, I know you. We have been friends for too long."
Hiei sighed, still not willing to meet Kurama's eyes. "I don't know. I put her out of my mind after we separated, or at least I thought I did. But finding her mind when Koenma asked me to was so easy, so familiar. And when she was hurt I wanted. . . I needed to protect her. She is so strong Kurama, but also so fragile and broken inside. I want to save her, to remind her who she really is. . . the woman who was my mate. . ." Hiei trailed off.
"Oh Hiei" Kurama said, before unexpectedly hugging his friend fiercely. "I suppose when someone like you finds love it is never simple." Kurama turned and walked back to the kitchen to finish the dishes, his heart fearing for the tender feelings of his best friend.
When Hikari and Yukina exited the portal to Ningenkai Hikari gasped at the beauty of the area and the temple before her. Such green did not exist in Makai. The warmth of the sun was so much different than the spirit world's artificial light. She couldn't help but feel there was something in Ningenkai worth preserving, even if the humans were useless. A old woman with aged pink wavy hair was in front of the temple, apparently tending the garden. The woman turned when Hikari and Yukina approached.
"Grandmother" Hikari said, bowing to the woman.
"Genkai-sama, this is Hikari-san. Hikari-san, this is Genkai-sama, this is her temple" Yukina introduced.
"Your grounds here are breath taking." Hikari said in awe.
Genkai offered one of her rare smiles. "Feel free to come here to enjoy them whenever it suits you. Your soul could benefit from some of the healing nature can offer."
Taken aback momentarily by Genkai's piercing words, Hikari collected herself and bowed again, "Your invitation is most generous. I will anticipate taking advantage of it in the future."
They all bowed to each other, and Hikari and Yukina excused themselves. Hikari followed Yukina to the back of the temple and into a small dojo which had been made up into a sickroom. Herbs of various kinds hung from the ceiling, making the room fragrant. There were a few pallets laid against the wall for the sick, and dressers which Hikari assumed were fill of healing supplies. Along the far wall a small fire place with a tea kettle ready use, and a table and chairs near the hearth. "Make yourself comfortable on one of the pallets" Yukina instructed as she brought a fire to life to boil water for tea. "Oh, and I am sorry but I am going to need you to change into this robe for the examination. There is a screen folded up against the wall over there if you would like privacy".
Hikari took the robe Yukina offered and disappeared being the screen. Carefully she took off her boots, tunic, and leggings, and replaced them with the silk robe, patterned with Sakura petals. Hikari folded up her clothing in her arms and then reappeared from the screen feeling considerably naked. Yukina was waiting for her by one of the pallets. Hikari laid down upon it and focused her eyes on the ceiling.
"I'm sorry, this is never a very comfortable process, but I will try to get it finished as quickly and efficiently as possible." Yukina said. Hikari gave a nod for Yukina to begin.
Yukina's hands glowed with a blue fire as she placed the along Hikari's body, pausing longest on the areas that Hikari had recently injured in the torture. Occasionally Hikari would feel a small shock, as if a spark had gone into her body. The first time Hikari jumped, but afterward she kept her body as still as possible to aid Yukina. Hikari kept her eyes on the ceiling. After being raped so many times during those three weeks of torture, Hikari was uncomfortable with any physical contact with someone else, especially when she was so exposed. Eventually Yukina stopped and the blue fire on her hands faded as she said, "we're all set, you can put your clothes on, and then come sit at the table and we will have some tea."
Hikari did as instructed. Holding up the rope she said, "Where would you like me to put this?"
"Oh, I'll take it" Yukina said, hanging the rob on a wall hook.
The two women sat down and Yukina poured them both some tea. After a few minutes of polite silence Yukina said, "Well I think I can pass you for your physical examination, Hikari-chan. Your body is still a bit tender, and you have a few old injuries that healed a bit strangely, but I tended most of those."
"Ah, that explains that shocks."
"Yes" Yukina said, smiling. "Those scars on your arm look painful, were they part of the torture used on you?"
"Something like that" Hikari replied evasively, her heart beating fast.
Yukina didn't seem to notice as she continued, "Well I have some cream for scars I am happy to give you, and I have a tea I would like you to drink for the next few weeks after you train, to help your muscles recover from not being used for awhile."
"Thank you." Hikari said, preparing to get up.
"Ummm, one more thing." Yukina said, studying the tea cup in her hands. "Physically you are doing great, and I am impressed and happy you have had such a swift recovery. But I, and the others too, are a bit concerned about the other effects the torture had on you. Even after meeting once briefly Genkai-sama saw it too, your soul is a bit out of sorts. I don't know if talking to someone would help you, but as your friend I am always wanting to listen and support you. Some people find journal writing very therapeutic. I am not sure what works best for you, but I think you need a constructive outlet for all the hurt and abuse you felt. I mean. . . I guess I am rambling, but do you understand what I am trying to say?"
"I do" Hikari said quietly, "and I thank you and the others for your concern. I will try to keep your counsel in mind, but really I'll be fine, don't worry."
Yukina shook her head, privately thinking sometimes you are too much like Hiei for your own good. Instead Yikina said,"I think I am going to help Genkai-sama with some of the gardening, Hikari. Feel free to go back on your own. Oh, and here I will write a note telling Koenma I passed you."
Handing the note to Hikari, both women bowed and exited the dojo, separating to their individual destinations. Hikari reported to Koenma's office to give him Yukina's note. The ogre at the door, however, said Koenma could not be interrupted at the moment, so Hikari left the note with the Ogre and made her way to her room.
Hiei had hoped that the struggle the day before would have made Hikari more cautious about cutting again, and thus found himself disappointed to see Hikari go to her room, belt knife in hand and a roll of bandages concealed under her tunic. Hiei resigned himself to the reality that Hikari's habit was going to put up a fight. Fear never inspired permanent change. If he was right, this wasn't the first time Hikari had participated in self harm, if her torture wounds were any indication. After about 15 minutes Hikari emerged from her room wearing long sleeved training gear and sporting a faint bulge over her left arm were Hiei presumed bandages had been placed to hide newly torn skin.