The moment of silence that followed their appearance, was not one of fear or confusion... but of awe.
Kuwabara had never seen a demon like her.
"Mukuro." Kurama breathed an obvious sigh of relief, looking very pleased indeed with the woman's appearance. She was only slightly taller than Hiei with wild auburn hair that flew in every direction behind a hard bandana that kept her bangs off her face... and her face.
Something had happened to her, that much Kuwabara knew. Something downright awful, for the skin on the left side of her face was so torn to pieces that it was almost reminiscent of acid. Her left eye had been ripped of its upper and lower lid, so that the whole orb could be seen. It whizzed quizzically over Kurama's form, while it's partner (a normal eye with violet coloring), simply looked bored. Her clothing was mismatched, in bizarre dark plums, olive greens, and burnt oranges. Kuwabara's amazing control of the sixth sense warned him that this woman was extremely powerful. He felt like he was in a contained room with something huge. Could it be that her power was that of an A class demon like Sensui?
"I welcome you to human world." Kurama finished,regaining control over his outer emotions so that he looked at peace once more. "Tell me, do you find it to your liking?"
"I like nothing." Was the woman's sharp reply, "And if I did I would not tell you."
She was rude, and Kuwabara couldn't control the look of shock that crossed his face. Was this woman... Hiei's... girlfriend?
Well. That would explain a few things if she was.
"Who is this man." Mukuro snapped, gesturing to the Kuwabara with disdain, "And why does he vie for my attention with his ridiculous staring."
"This is Kazuma Kuwabara." Kurama quickly introduced his friend, careful to be the leader of the conversation. Kuwabara did not know it yet, but he was dealing with a deadly and vicious snake. Mukuro was not easy to understand, and attacked her prey so swiftly that there was no chance of escape by the time the punch was thrown. Kurama and Hiei could hold their ground against her, albeit only for a while... but Kuwabara?
Kurama never liked admitting that Kuwabara was not a good fighter against high class demons... but his human friend lived with different rules and goals. He simply couldn't comprehend their strategy. In Mukuro's case, his ignorance could get him killed.
"He is a member of our team." Hiei added coldly.
When Hiei spoke up for the first time, Kuwabara turned his gaze from Mukuro to Hiei. It was this moment that he'd feared, for in it he knew he would not be able to control the look upon his face. Now that he knew the truth, now that he understood who Hiei was... he could not look at his old teammate the same way. He'd promised to tell Hiei the moment he knew and yet... and yet..
Hiei gave him a quizzical and angry look. Normally Kuwabara would have been one to jump on the tail by now... but those eyes were Yukina's eyes staring back at him. His anger was the physical embodiment of her struggle... and in their depths he saw all that Hiei had undoubtably suffered.
"...I..." Kuwabara felt like there was a rock in his throat, keeping him from speaking. Hiei's look turned sour, and he rolled his eyes.
"I know."
Whatever smart comment Hiei or Mukuro had been about to make was cut short by Kuwabara's phrase. Kurama, nervous, looked from Hiei to Kuwabara unable to judge who was going to make the call first. Hiei was confused, but as he looked to Kurama for an answer, Kurama could not meet his eyes.
"What is it now." Hiei snapped. "I have much to do, and not much time to do it in-"
"I know." Kuwabara added, growing frustrated, "I know everything!"
"What do you want, sweets?" Hiei snapped, "Welcome to the world of the intelligent. Your ignorance-"
"I know you're her brother."
Hiei fell silent, his expression sliding like warm butter off his face. Where once there had been irritation, now there was only blank shock. Hiei looked to Kurama, his brow furrowed.
"So you know of the girl." Mukuro shrugged her shoulders. "Your knowledge of it does not affect us."
"...Yes it does." Hiei corrected Mukuro, and she looked to her partner with wary regard.
Kurama still would not meet Hiei's gaze.
"... You... know." Hiei let each word pass through his lips with care. Kuwabara nodded.
"Yeah. Urameshi told me everything. I... Now that I know... I can't look at you the same way." Kuwabara shook his head, "Cause I love her. and I wanna marry her. And you're her brother. And that makes you like a brother to me."
Hiei physically recoiled at this, crinkling his nose with disdain.
"Do not think yourself important to me." Hiei snapped, "Your knowledge of Yukina changes nothing."
"Maybe not to you." Kuwabara begrudgingly agreed, "But it changes a lot to me. I thought you just had a hot temper. Now I realize... you're not mad. You're struggling. You got a lot of your mind, and I wanna help."
"I do not require your help." Hiei scorned this notion at once.
"I'm still gonna offer it." Kuwabara murmured. "Cause you're a brother to me now-"
"Stop saying that!" Hiei's eyes flashed with anger, "Your words are that of a fool! Her relation to me changes nothing between the two of us-"
"It changes everything."
"It changes nothing!"
"It changes EVERYTHING!"
Kuwabara's scream echoed over the canopy above them, and temporarily stunned Hiei into silence. It was not Kuwabara's words, but his face which made him forget his normal cruel strategy- for the emotion in Kuwabara's face... it was full of pain. Physical pain, as if everything hurt. As if speaking was painful.
"When I see you, I see her! Do you not understand what that does to me?! When I love her like my own wife?! When I want her to be my wife?!" Kuwabara thundered. "When I see you, I see the girl I love with all my heart! I see every tear she's cried over you! I see every day she's had to spend, not knowing where you are! I see all the suffering, all the fear, all the doubt and all the hope! I see your mom." Kuwabara mumbled, rubbing his eyes as if he was very tired. "I see your mom, Hiei... and I know how much she must of loved you, 'cause Yukina told me so."
Hiei was speechless.
Mukuro was the same.
"... You... love Hiei's sister?" Mukuro asked, curious. "You are her protector then?"
"... yeah." Kuwabara mumbled sheepishly. "I try to be. But Hiei was there first so... you gotta give him props."
"You only now knew of their connection?" Mukuro further questioned. "How could you not have known the relation between Hiei and his sister."
"Cause no one told me." Kuwabara admitted. "Cause the team thought I'd tell her. But... I haven't. and I won't." he added, looking to Hiei, "I know that he's gotta do that. Whenever he's ready."
Hiei looked away at this, and there was sorrow upon his expression.
Not once, in all his time of knowing Kuwabara, had Hiei thought of the consequences that came with him loving Yukina. Indeed, Kuwabara had been a blabber mouth many times before. He'd been hot headed, and quick to defend his 'sacred' morals. He'd shout his love for Yukina from the rooftops... and yet... it was the very fact that he'd do so that Hiei worried about him knowing the truth. If Kuwabara let it slip, what would happen? The thought sent shivers down Hiei's spine. Yukina would be horrified, no doubt. To have a felon, an ex con, for a brother.
"Hiei." Mukuro addressed him, putting a hand on his shoulder.
Hiei said nothing, but he did not shrug away from her touch.
"And I'm glad I'm meeting you." Kuwabara added, speaking directly to Mukuro now, "Cause you love him, and... that makes you part of our family."
Mukuro turned back to Kuwabara, confused.
"What did you say?" Mukuro asked, confused.
"Well, you're Hiei's girlfriend, right?" Kuwabara offered.
Mukuro was stunned.
Neither of them said anything as Kuwabara waited for a response of some type. Kurama sighed after a full minute passed, and clapped Kuwabara upon the shoulder.
"Congratulations." Kurama muttered. "You just shocked an S class demon into silence."
Kuwabara might have enjoyed such a statement in another time, but there was sorrow in his heart as he looked at Hiei. He still had not turned back to look at Kuwabara, and Kuwabara could feel all the dark thoughts that were heavy upon Hiei's mind.
"Hiei?" Kuwabara spoke up, nervously, "You gonna say somethin' to me?"
"Kazuma!"
All four of them looked around as a high female voice broke the nervous tension. Yukina had abandoned the shop post, and was coming over to them looking concerned. Upon seeing Hiei she relaxed visibly, but grew nervous again as she spotted Mukuro.
"Kazuma I heard shouting." Yukina explained, crossing the street to stand by his side. She looked up into Kuwabara's face, worried for the man she cared for. "Is all well?"
Kuwabara stared at Hiei. Hiei stared at Kuwabara. The tension between them was so thick that one could almost taste the desperation in the air. The moment of truth had come. Would Kuwabara tell?
"Of course Yukina." Kurama spoke up, not wanting the tension from their argument to reach Yukina. The less she knew, the better. "Just a friendly dispute. Come, you must meet someone. This woman is Mukuro." Kurama gestured to Mukuro, who looked down upon Yukina for the first time...
And in Yukina's face, she saw Hiei's own eyes staring back at her.
So this was the girl. This was the Yukina whom Hiei adored, whom Hiei had fought for time and time again. This was the mirror image of Hiei's past... the other side of the coin.
Yukina bowed politely to Mukuro, and Mukuro sensed the girls ice demon energy. Mukuro bowed her head, unsure of what to say as she looked down upon the petite demoness. Her hair was bright aqua, but those eyes were just the same as Hiei's. So round... so red...
"Yukina." Mukuro addressed the girl. "I have heard many things about your plight. I have come to assist you."
Yukina was shocked, and she hastily bowed again.
"Thank you ever so much!" Yukina's shock showed in her voice, "But... why when we do not know each other?"
"Oh but we do." Mukuro corrected her, looking to Hiei, "Hiei is my finest general-"
"And your boyfriend." Kuwabara added. Mukuro frowned, but Yukina broke into a wide smile.
"You... are the woman he loves?" Yukina murmured pensively. "His life's partner?"
Mukuro let out a small sigh, finally nodding at this remark.
"It is... a complicated matter. "Mukuro finally finished. "Do not let it bother you."
"Oh!" Yukina laughed a bright bubbling laugh that seemed to bring the dawn even closer, "But it doesn't bother me at all Mukuro! Hiei is very dear to me, and has always been like a brother to me."
Hiei flushed.
Kuwabara looked like someone had punched him in the gut.
Kurama managed a small wince of a smile.
"He needs someone to love, someone to be kind to him. Many people are unkind." Yukina frowned, "And he doesn't deserve it. Hiei is very brave and kind."
Mukuro smiled.
"I agree." Mukuro murmured, "Miss Yukina. We are well met. I hear your heart has been heavy."
"My brothers image has been impersonated." Yukina admitted, "And I feel like I am torn asunder-"
"You know?!" Hiei gawked, "But... I thought surely-"
"Of course I know, Hiei. A fake is a fake. My true brother is in my heart, and Shimo cannot hope to compare to the warmth that my brother's memory has always given me." Yukina explained, "I judged you wrongly before... forgive me Hiei. You were looking out for me as always... I should not have been hard upon you."
Hiei said nothing, shrugging at this.
"So we are all aware now." Hiei grumbled. "That Shimo is not your brother."
Kurama nodded, and Kuwabara eventually nodded as well. Yukina frowned, looking to Hiei sorrowfully.
"Have you found anything, Hiei?" Yukina asked. "In Demon World? Kurama said you'd gone to investigate."
"I have." Hiei nodded. "And now... I am prepared to face him again."
"But your jagan." Kurama worried. "I thought your jagan would need time to heal."
"You hurt your jagan?" Yukina piped up, shocked. "Oh my goodness, Hiei, why didn't you tell me? I can use my energy to heal your wounds."
Hiei stared at his sister, still in the dark. She offered up her hands, which seemed to be glowing with a familiar bright blue light.
"May I?" Yukina asked with a small smile.
Hiei could not help the tiny grin that came upon his face. He reached up, gently undoing the bandages upon his forehead. As the wrappings came away, the group finally got to see the dark puffy outline of the jagan's still healing edge. Yukina frowned, reaching up high to place her hands upon Hiei's forehead. There, she laid them to rest, closing her eyes to focus on sending her energy to the wound. A soft humming sound came upon the air, and Hiei bristled as Yukina's energy slowly mended the hot flesh beneath her hands. Mukuro and Kurama watched in wonder as the two siblings shared the intimate moment... one of them completely unaware of whom she touched.
Her hands upon his face were like soft summer rain, washing away all the pain of the past. Her touch was splendor, golden and pure without any equal in the world. As he relaxed into her caress, Hiei felt all the hurt in his chest ease away. She did not know it, but she healed him a thousand ways, stopping the ever flowing agony in his heart to replace it with simple peace. It was a testament to their bond. Even when not fully known, it still worked wonders on the pair of them. Yukina smiled broadly, bringing down her hands.
The jagan was healed.
Hiei opened his eyes again, and saw that Yukina looked very happy with her work.
"There." Yukina beamed, "All better."
And so it was.
Hiei let out a breath of relief, feeling no pain in his forehead for the first time in a month. It left his head feeling light and clear, as if he'd come through a dense fog into the norm once more. Colors deemed brighter, light seemed less harsh, and as he gazed down at his sister he saw a look of joy upon her face.
They stared at one another, for a moment saying nothing, and the earth seemed to shudder to a halt.
She was his image. She was his alternate. For every angle upon his body, there was a curve upon hers. For every blemish, there was an equal. For every follicle of hair, there was a twin. As he looked into her eyes, he found that he was captured. Utterly taken, without any hope of breaking free, and in her powerful grip she enfolded him in waves of love. Those amazing eyes, which had seen terror and torture, had never once looked upon man with disdain or scorn. She'd begged, she'd pleaded, she'd cried endlessly... but she'd never hated.
And Hiei was her opposite.
Kurama coughed loudly, and Yukina broke eye contact to look around slightly embarrassed.
"Forgive me, I forgot where I was." Her cheeks were flushed, and Hiei noticed there was a strange sorrowful tenderness upon her expression. As if her pleasure had somehow been marred by confusion and pain. Had she felt what he'd felt too? Had she seen in his feature- in his face- her own image staring back?
And if she had, how had it made her feel?
Fretful?
"You're just tired, babe." Kuwabara wrapped an arm around Yukina's shoulders, giving off an enormous yawn, "We've been up all night serving ramen. We were waiting for you." Kuwabara added to Hiei, "We've been waiting ever since Kurama got back and told us the news about your surgery. We figured when you came back someone oughta be waitin'." Kuwabara let out another yawn, and rubbed his weary eyes with defeat. "Guys can start headin' back to the car now? I'm about to fall dead."
"The what?" Mukuro snapped. "Where are we going?"
"Ah yes, this will be troublesome." Kurama murmured thoughtfully. "This is your first trip to human world isn't it, Mukuro."
"Perhaps." Mukuro sneered, but Hiei knew the truth and gave her a disapproving glare. Now was not the time for snide pride, and coming from Hiei- well... that was saying quite a lot.
"It's a way of travel." Hiei grumbled. "Like the centipede, save smaller. All humans have one."
"Most, not all." Kurama chided Hiei, but Hiei just rolled his eyes.
"Guys, I'm seriously gonna pass out." Kuwabara groaned, complaining as he yawned again.
"This way." Kurama gestured down the street. "We must close the shop first. Kuwabara, why don't you take the others to the car. I'll lock up." Kurama offered, taking the key from his taller friend before heading off into the forming mist. He was soon swallowed up by the dark, and so the two couples were left alone in awkward silence.
"C'mon." Kuwabara lead the way, with Yukina tottering close behind.
Hiei and Mukuro followed, casting wary eyes about.
The street was darkest just before dawn, with no life about on the streets. Mukuro, only having just arrived, could not begin to fathom what life was like during the day. She had never before seen a black sky, knowing only shades of red. As she kept looking upward, she almost tripped over loose pavement so that Hiei had to catch her balance. He might have chided her at another time, but he felt now that silence was the smartest answer. Let her observe... let her think. After all, Hiei remembered his first time seeing the stars.
The experience had touched his soul.
Her eyes were ever roving, as she looked from stars, to buildings, to roads, to traffic lights, to all the things that kept a city thriving. All must have seemed familiar and yet unfamiliar as well...how confusing to see something so contrasting. Hiei knew she was wondering where the violence was. Where was the blood? Where was the murder? Where was the smell of smoke, sweat, and sex with screams upon the air?
What was this mundane... plain... heaven?
Kuwabara and Yukina lead the way through a vacant long parking lot. Trash littered the sides, and many fallen withered leaves scuttled across the cement with each gust of wind. The red mercedes that Hiei knew to belong to Kurama was ahead, and upon spotting it Mukuro halted mid step with a wary glare.
"The car." Hiei muttered, gesturing to the automobile.
Mukuro curled her lip, still wary, but continued forward. As the four of them finally reached the car, Kuwabara pulled a key out from his jean pockets and opened the driver's door. With a strange metallic sound, all the doors were unlocked, and Yukina was quick to to enter the passenger side. Mukuro just stared, befuddled as the lights inside the mobile came on to illuminate the spacious leather seats.
It was familiar and yet... completely new.
Hiei, unsure of how to best get Mukuro into the car, opened the door for her so that she could climb in. Yet she didn't move from her spot and still stared at the car with wary distrust.
"... Trust me." Hiei murmured. "It's... not an enemy."
"How do you know." Mukuro snapped.
"Because." Hiei murmured simply. "There are no enemies here."
Mukuro looked to him with awe, for never in her life had such an idea been possible. No enemies? No enemies at all? Not near nor far? Not even if she walked ten thousand miles in an unknown forest?
No enemies... at all?
"None?" Mukuro fathomed, agog.
"None." Hiei murmured again. "... Get in the car."
And she obliged.
Mukuro slowly, nervously, got into the back seat with timidness never before seen in her character. As she spread her hands out, touching the leather, she ran her fingers along the inside of the door as Hiei closed it behind her. So many buttons, so many switches- what did all of them do? Did humans use these buttons as weapons- but Hiei had said there were no enemies here.
Did that mean there were no weapons here either?
How strange a world... How wonderful an idea.
Hiei got into the other side, closing the door behind him, and Kuwabara started the car. Mukuro jumped, slightly taken aback at the roar of the engine. Several blue lights illuminated the panel and dashboard, and seemingly from out of no where a strange sound hit the air. It might have been music but it was god awful and without beat.
"Alright, my favorite song!" Kuwabara laughed, turning the volume up. Mukuro grimaced as the song got louder.
As Kuwabara shifted into reverse, the entire car lurched with the familiar clutch. Mukuro, not used to the sensation, grabbed Hiei's arm so tight that it could have broken bone. Hiei winced, yanking his arm out of her grip with an irritable scowl.
"Damnit, woman." Hiei growled, "Will you fucking relax? You're wearing my nerves raw."
Mukuro said nothing, her teeth clenched tight and her hands gripping the leather seats with slight fear. Kuwabara drove on, heading back in the direction of the now dark ramen shop to pick Kurama up. Yukina looked in the rear view mirror, slightly concerned for the new demoness.
"All is well, Mukuro." Yukina assured the her, "I had trouble with cars at first, but I've learned not to be bothered. Humans are always concerned with safety, and cars are wonderful for travel. They can cover great ground, and spare the expense of energy." Yukina smiled.
Mukuro said nothing, but Hiei saw her hands unclench slightly from the leather. Her face certainly looked less tense.
The car stopped right outside the shop, and Mukuro peered curiously through Hiei's window as Kurama walked around to the driver's side. Kuwabara put the car in park, getting out to allow Kurama back into the driver seat. Yukina followed suit, exiting the car to climb right into the back seat. The result was that Hiei was forced to squeeze in between his sister and his employer.
Which put him in quite a predicament.
The three of them were quite comfortable as Kurama took off, Kuwabara now relaxing in the passenger side as he let out a huge yawn and turned the radio to another dial.
"Man I'm gonna sleep for a year!" Kuwabara groaned. "I'm done, dude... Shoot I'm glad you guys are back now. I'm not an all-nighter kind of guy."
"I confess, I've been stretched rather thin." Yukina added with an apologetic murmur. Hiei cast a narrowed glance at Kuwabara.
"You couldn't stand shop on your own? Why did you drag the girl into it." Hiei snapped. "Or were you simply trying to gain more time to flirt."
"Oh don't start!" Kuwabara growled, far too sleepy to think of a good comeback. "She's darn good with customers. She waited tables, I was the one doin' all the cooking."
"And what did you do Kurama? Gorge?" Hiei sneered. Kurama let out a soft chuckle.
"Kazuma's food is very good, Hiei. He even makes an excellent rendition of Bitter Melon Soup. Your favorite, if I recall." Kurama added with testing humor. Hiei scoffed, folding his arms and looking out the window with narrowed eyes. Mukuro might have said something, but she was far too enraptured by watching human world whiz past her eyes.
Hiei's sister was right. The car was unbelievably fast. Mukuro barely had time to take the sites in of large steel architecture that towered into the sky. Some were dripping with colorful lights. Some were simply full of windows, all dark and quiet. Some were squat and fat while others were thin and tall... all of them were unknown to her. Their purposes like great secrets locked away for her to uncover one by one. Humans were obsessed with colored light, and Mukuro watched each one flash like drops from rainbows. She wanted to touch them, to smell them... to taste them. Why did humans like the light so much? Did it give them power or ward off enemies-?
Once again she had to mentally chide herself. Hiei had already told her there were no enemies here.
Unfamiliar voices suddenly drifted through the air, and Kurama turned up the volume as he sat keenly up in the driver's seat.
"Aww man..." Kuwabara grumbled.
"Shh." Kurama chided him, "I want to hear the news."
"...Police arrested seven members of the same extended family Wednesday in a multiple murder investigation that has transfixed Japan. Three decaying corpses were found in an empty house in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture several weeks ago. A fourth body encased in a concrete-filled drum was pulled out of the sea in Okayama Prefecture earlier this week as police said more people were missing, presumed dead. The main suspect in the case- a 64 year old woman named Miyoko Sumida who used to live in the abandoned house- has been in custody since early in the probe, which began last year. Officers on Wednesday re-arrested Sumida and arrested her 62 year old common law husband, and her two sons, aged 30 and 25. They also arrested a 42 year old man married to one of the women whose body was found in her house, and three others, a police spokesman said. This takes the total number of arrests to seven. All four dead were related to, or acquainted with, the chief suspect. News coverage of the case has featured tangled family trees and speculation over the reasons behind the multiple deaths, which has centered on claims the family has large debts and hinted at the involvement of organized crime-"
"You're a fucking liar!" Mukuro snarled, turning on Hiei so fast that the rest of the reporters sentence was drowned out, "No enemies you said! No dangers either! Then what the fuck was that?! The car spoke to us! It told us of murders!"
"First of all, you flighty fiend!" Hiei snapped, shoving Mukuro back so that Yukina emitted a terrified squeak and flattened herself against the opposite window. "the car didn't fucking speak it was the radio! A man somewhere else, whose voice was- was-"
"Transmitted via radio waves through a series of electrical-"
"Shuttup fox! I never asked you for your goddamn opinion!" Hiei snarled, though he was partly grateful for the helpful addition, "The man in the radio spoke! And I told you the fucking truth, there are no enemies for us!" Hiei added bitterly, "We are far more superior than these pathetic low lives, scrounging for money!"
"Hey!" Kuwabara retorted defiantly, but Hiei continued on.
"There are no weapons in this world, no people in this world, that could pose a threat to you. You are above them. You are superior. You could claim victory over Japan with such simple ease that it is absurd. Are you happy now? Has your ego been stroked enough?"
Mukuro gave him a scathing look.
"You are by far the dumbest man I have ever met." Mukuro snorted. "I could have a hog for a general and still get better results than you."
Yukina gasped at this, shocked at the conversation occurring right next to her.
"Fuck you!" Hiei laughed scornfully. "I told you to stay behind, you coward. You wanted to come along because you cant stand to be alone!"
"Excuse me, but I recall a much different Hiei begging for me every fucking minute of the day about two weeks ago!" Mukuro scowled, "You couldn't even feed yourself without my help!"
"May fortune help me if I am ever without you!" Hiei sneered, "I certainly couldn't have survived a jagan implantation on my own, it's not like I did that before!"
"Fuck you! You make every day a living hell!"
"This is not hell!" Hiei snarled, "If this was hell you'd be on a throne and satan would be packing his bags!"
"Please!" Yukina wailed, her high pitched voice overriding the others. "Please don't fight! I thought you loved each other!"
Mukuro paused, biting her tongue as she glanced around the rest of the car. Kuwabara was passed out in the passenger seat as the sun finally began to start it's monumental climb into the pale pink sky. Kurama didn't seem to care, far too transfixed in driving them to their destination safely. Yukina, however, was deeply hurt by their bantering. Her eyes were glimmering, as if heated.
"I-" Hiei faltered, his normally snide voice losing it's bite, "It's not- We aren't-"
"This..." Mukuro stared at Hiei for a moment, utterly lost on what to say. Yukina looked even more upset.
"This is... how we... talk." Mukuro finished lamely. Normally she would have chided anyone daring to get in the middle of an argument, yet Yukina was hardly 'anyone'. Indeed, her opinion mattered more than most.
Because in her eyes, she saw Hiei.
"... We're merely testing one another." Hiei muttered, and Mukuro sensed only the tiniest bit of shame in his voice. "We shouldn't have talked around you. I should have known you would not have agreed with our particular conversation."
"But why must you use such hurtful words when you speak?" Yukina asked, "You don't say such things to me, Hiei. We speak often. You've never said cruel things to me."
"Nor will I ever." Hiei added hotly.
"So why are you cruel to the woman you care for? I thought you would love her endlessly. I thought you would use kind words."
"I do!" Hiei seethed. "I merely do not say them often."
"I don't feel that you do." Yukina shook her head sadly. "I feel you enjoy saying hurtful things to Mukuro because you think it's a game."
And indeed he did.
Hiei flushed, angry at himself. Taking a deep breath through his nose, he stared at the floorboards of the car wishing he could punch something hard.
"It's how we talk." Mukuro repeated again.
"Of for gods sake woman, just stop you're making it worse!" Hiei snarled.
"You're doing it again!" Yukina cried.
Hiei snarled, holding his head in his hands.
The rest of the car ride was unusually silent for such a vocal group, and by the time that they arrived at Yusuke's apartment Yukina looked downright exhausted. Mukuro was transfixed with the human building, consisting of several stories that were all open to the cool morning air. As they parked and exited the car, Mukuro was hit with the strange smell of garbage that was answered by a massive green car that was pulling around the side of the apartment complex. It had metal hinges which lifted and sank, all the while taking large stained white bags that smelt foul.
"Ignore it." Hiei grumbled, and Mukuro looked around to realize that she'd been left behind once more. The group was heading off to a pair of gleaming metal doors.
"Come on." Hiei sighed, taking her by the cuff of her sleeve and dragging her away from the packed parking lot to where Kurama, Kuwabara, and Yukina stood waiting by the metal doors. A small bright light in the shape of a circle was the only indention in the wall, and Mukuro stared at it curiously.
"What are we doing?" Mukuro grumbled.
"This is an elevator." Kurama explained. "It will take us to our floor."
"Why don't we just walk?" Mukuro snapped. "Are humans all so lazy."
"Because it's on the tenth floor." Kurama explained. "If you would like to take the stairs then, by all means, do so."
Mukuro turned her back on the group at once, eager to avoid any more damn human technology while she could. She spotted the stair well just to the left of the elevator, and immediately took it. Hiei followed right after her till they were side by side, mounting the stairs in silence.
"Your friends are pathetic." Mukuro snapped.
"I'm well aware." Hiei agreed, irritable.
"Your sister does not like it when we debate." Mukuro added. "You want to explain that to me?"
"She has grown to care deeply for all men even when they torture her." Hiei sighed, and Mukuro could see the sense of weight that this brought him, "She continues to look for the best in all things, despite the cruelty of her kinfolk and the apathy that she's found here in human world. Her undying optimism is the only thing that has kept her sane."
They'd reached the tenth floor, simply because they'd leapt from flight to flight. Such a feat was nothing compared to their usual excursions in demon world, and as Hiei diverted from the stair well to the floor door, Mukuro followed behind.
They entered the hallway, back into the open air, and were met by a strange soft bell like noise that announced the arrival of the 'elevator'. Sure enough, the metal doors slid open, and there was Kurama, Kuwabara, and Yukina. Kuwabara was startled to see them there, but Kurama and Yukina didn't seem to nonplused.
"How did y'all climb ten mounts of stairs?!" Kuwabara demanded. "That was like... a minute!"
"Pathetically simple." Hiei sneered, and Mukuro smirked at this. Kuwabara just scowled, clearly a little jealous of their speed, and as the trio entered the hallway they all began the long walk to the left. They passed door after door to their right, and Mukuro could smell food being cooked on the other side. She heard strange noises- the sounds of small children laughing, the early morning arguments of lovers- and as they reached the very last door, Kurama bent down to retrieve a key from underneath a weathered mat. Its metallic surface glinted in the morning sun, and he slid it into the lock to turn. The door opened, and Mukuro was given her first view of human living conditions.
The hallways were cramped but cozy. There was carpet underfoot, and everyone immediately took of their shoes before stepping inside. Mukuro slowly unbuttoned her slacks, slipping off her dark flats to reveal her sharp clawed feet. They walked inside, and Kurama shut the door to the cool wind to call out softly.
"Keiko? Yusuke? We're home."
"We're in the living room." A soft feminine voice drifted merrily upon the air, and Mukuro was overwhelmed by the smell of coffee and green tea. "How did the shift go? Any luck?"
The trio turned the corner into the large spacious living room, and tentatively Hiei and Mukuro followed.
"Actually yes." Kurama smirked, as silence fell among the group.
Mukuro was given a broad view of the small quarters, which were furnished by a soft couch covered in bed sheets along with a coffee table, a few thick chairs, a tv in an armoire, a bookshelf, and even a small fireplace that was cold despite the weather outside being chilly. On the couch in their bed clothes were Yusuke Urameshi, the Mazoku that Mukuro had seen battle so ferociously against Yomi, and a young woman with tousled mousy brown hair and large doe eyes. She was clearly his mate.
"Well hey!" Yusuke laughed loudly, slamming a fist onto the coffee table as he set down his cup and rose up to greet the two newcomers. He was unshaven, clad only in boxers, and he greeted Hiei with such enthusiasm that Mukuro was taken aback. He hugged Hiei, embracing him like a brother, and Hiei gave a tiny (if forced) smile.
"You son of a bitch! Look at you!" Yusuke laughed, sounding relieved, "Fuck you scared me to death. I thought you were dead meat when Kurama told me everything. Shit man, don't do that again...yeah?" Yusuke's voice grew softer. "I'd had to pound you if you went and died on me."
"I do not require threats of violence to stay alive." Hiei retorted with a smirk. Yusuke clapped Hiei on the shoulder, almost in a companion like way.
"Yeah, I know... just... watch it, okay?" Yusuke murmured. "Don't go fucking with me like that again. You scared the hell outta me."
"I was worried as well." Hiei admitted quietly; his voice was so quiet Mukuro could not hear.
"Yeah well, lets no cry over the dead dog." Yusuke grinned, turning his attention to Mukuro, "Holy shit, look who it is! What's up, Mukuro? You're looking old and freaky as usual."
"Yusuke!" the girl cried out indignantly from the sofa, "You can't say that to a guest! I'm so sorry, ma'am." The girl added to Mukuro, "I-"
But then she paused.
Then she saw Mukuro's face.
The horror in the girls expression was undeniable. She clutched at her heart, her face turning white as her brow furrowed with fear. Mukuro sneered at this, rolling her eyes.
"Your world is pathetic and vile." Mukuro snapped to Yusuke, "It smells like shit and its inhabitants are weak and greedy. I don't see why you lot insist on protecting it."
"Yeah well, boozers and losers, it's still home!" Yusuke grinned, "Besides, it ain't so bad. Put a bunch of dead guys in the street, paint the town with blood, burn a couple of buildings- you'd feel right at home!" Yusuke gave her a mischievous wink. "Man am I glad you're here. We're really have Shimo in the bag with you leading the charge."
"I do not intend to waste my time with speeches. Where is this creature so that I may dispose of him." Mukuro snapped.
"Hey, don't get so hot!" Yusuke eased her with a lounging smile, "We gotta plan out the chase first, yeah? Kurama thinks-"
"I already know damn well what Kurama thinks, the idiot came when I called and we discussed everything at Shigure's." Mukuro cut him off, getting a little irritable. The boy certainly wasn't active like she'd remembered. He'd grown lazy, and she did not like it.
"Without Mukuro's help we would have been lost. She illuminated much of the memory that Hiei saw when Shimo-" Kurama paused, looking at Yukina who was eagerly awaiting the rest of his sentance.
"Hiei saw a memory?" Yukina asked. "What?"
Silence greeted her question.
"...It's not important." Hiei snapped. "I thought you said you were tired. You ought to go to bed."
"How can it not be important if you needed Mukuro's help for it?" Yukina demanded, looking slightly hurt, "Won't you tell me what you saw?"
"Something I had already seen before." Hiei skirted around the answer. "Shimo's inability to form memories of his own was the important factor, not my own memory. You ought to go to bed."
"I am going!" Yukina gave a huff, "I just want to know what you saw! Please tell me..."
Silence still persisted, and all eyes were upon Hiei as he desperately thought up a lie.
A lie.
He paused.
... Would he lie to her now? Now when lies had persisted him for so long?
Could he tell the truth... while avoiding the sting?
"... It was not what I saw. It was what I didn't see." Hiei admitted sourly. "I saw a place from... long ago. A place I do not wish to talk of." Hiei finished. "And it damaged my jagan. Shimo's intention, I assure you."
"Why would a place from your past damage your jagan? Is it so painful to think about?" Yukina prodded, her voice more tentative than before. Hiei looked away, and she seemed to accept that he was done with speaking about the memory.
"...I'm sorry." Yukina murmured. "About what you saw. About everything, too."
She reached out to touch the frayed hem of his dark sleeve.
For a moment, they stared at one another, till Yukina bowed her head and left the group to toddle off down the dark hallway. She exited left through a door, closing it softly behind her.
"Ah, man, I'm pooped too." Kuwabara sighed. "I'm heading off."
Hiei thought that Kuwabara would now leave, but instead Kuwabara moved to walk down the hall after Yukina. Hiei watched him go with narrowed eyes, and as he opened the door to Yukina's room he made a noise in the back of his throat that sounded like a strangled snarl.
Kuwabara closed the door, and Hiei had to take a moment to roll his neck in a methodical calming manner. As a man of actions, not words, Kuwabara's actions spoke plenty of the level that his relationship with Yukina had taken. Hiei didn't give a damn- refused to a give a damn- but a small part of his soul was seething with a brotherly rage that demanded he storm after the brute and break his neck.
Just a small part.
"I confess, I too am very tired." Kurama murmured. "Since we're now no longer needing to hold the shop in shifts, I do believe I'll return home and bathe. Why don't we go out to dinner tonight? We can work out what to do about Shimo and tomorrow made good headway, well rested."
"Sounds good." Yusuke agreed. "Go shower while you're at it. You smell weird."
"Alas, that is the smell of time well spent." Kurama gave Yusuke a cheery wink, turning away to head back for the door. Mukuro watched him go, unsure of what to do. Were they leaving? Were they staying? Hiei didn't look too troubled, and even took a seat in one of the large chairs with an irritable huff. Mukuro followed suit, simply because she was flying by the seat of her pants and couldn't make heads or tales of their plan just yet. As she took her seat, she noticed the female on the couch staring at her nervously. Every time Mukuro would glance at her, the girl would immediately look away, as if fearful of being caught.
Mukuro sneered, content with the thought that she could break the fools neck with simple ease.
"So you guys just got back?" Yusuke plopped back down on the couch with a lazy grin, "Hows the weather in demon world."
"Shit." Hiei sneered, "What is Yukina doing living here along with the buffoon."
"Kuwabara thought it would better if Yukina was with us instead of at the temple. This way she's away from Shimo... it's horrible, Hiei. Shimo's been stalking her, and even Genkai is having trouble keeping a hold on him. We'll have to do something soon." The girl murmured.
Hiei rolled his eyes.
"I will deal with the doll." Hiei decided firmly, "The rest of you need only stay out of my way."
"Hey man, I wanna shot too!" Yusuke snapped, "How 'bout we beat each other up. First guy to black out loses killing rights." Yusuke laughed at this. "God I've missed you, Hiei! I've been needing a good fight!"
This stroke another chord within Mukuro, for the Mazoku's words were oddly comforting and familiar. A good fight, with bragging rights to the victor...yes... a good way to decide the end killer.
"Yusuke you're such a jerk." The girl next to the Mazoku snorted, "Not everyone solves things through violence."
"They do!" Yusuke grinned cheekily, pointing to Mukuro and Hiei, "Hey, that reminds me... you've never met Mukuro before! This is Mukuro." Yusuke gestured to Mukuro, and Mukuro flared her nostrils irritably. "She's Hiei's boss... and girlfriend." Yusuke added saucily.
Hiei let out an annoyed huff.
"Oh..." the girl forced a smile, and Mukuro could still see the fear in her eyes. "My name is Keiko Yukimora. I'm Yusuke's fiance... it's... very nice to meet you." Keiko let out a nervous laugh. "Uh..." She looked to Yusuke. "You know, I feel a little nervous about sitting her in my night clothes. I'm going to go change. Yusuke, you at least ought to put on some pants, not everyone likes seeing your hairy legs."
"Ah, alright alright. Quit naggin'." Yusuke shrugged Keiko off. The pair of them rose up, heading down the hallway till they were out of sight.
Mukuro watched the girl go, and feeling of mild disgust rose inside her.
"She's a fool." Mukuro growled, looking to Hiei. Hiei merely blinked, a little droll.
"And? She's a human." Hiei gestured lazily. "The detective has always had a plain fancy for her. I used her once as a ploy to get him where I wanted him... he loves her." Hiei finished calmly. "She will be here whether you like it or not. So deal with it."
"I could kill her." Mukuro commented idly.
"Easily." Hiei agreed. "But what would the point be. One human less... the world is still full of them. Either way, I don't care."
Mukuro couldn't help but agree.
As soon as the door closed, Keiko immediately turned on Yusuke with all the anger of a harpy.
"What on earth happened to her?!" Keiko whispered heatedly, shoving Yusuke as she spoke, "Why didn't you warn me?! Why didn't you say something?!"
"What?" Yusuke drawled, pulling out a shirt and jeans from a chest of drawers. "What's your problem?"
"My problem is that woman! Mukuro!" Keiko cried out indignantly, "Did you see her face?! Did you see her body?! Yusuke, one of her arms is robotic! Half of her face is rotted off! Her whole eye is showing, and she has wires for an ear, why didn't you tell me to be ready for that? Something awful must have happened to her and you didn't even think to tell me?"
"What difference does it make?" Yusuke demanded, a little annoyed as he dressed, "And I thought you said you wanted to get dressed."
"OH!" Keiko threw up her hands angrily as she headed to the closet to hurriedly find a simple day dress. "It makes all the difference in the world!"
"What, you don't like her?"
"It's not about liking her!" Keiko snapped, pulling off her night gown to put on a bra, "It's about her being so mutated and transformed and you not giving me a heads up."
"I thought you wouldn't need one!"
"Well I do!" Keiko retorted, snatching a light yellow dress and unbuttoning it from its coat hanger.
"Well sorry!" Yusuke growled, "Didn't mean to upset you, princess!"
"Yusuke you're missing the point!" Keiko cried out indignantly, turning around now dressed to find that he was practically right behind her. "I like her! I'm glad she's here! I want her to be here, a part of our family, especially since she's so dear to Hiei! But I'm not used to demons! I'm not used to violence! The Dark Tournament was terrifying, and it was my only experience of demons. I've seen demons that look like animals and humanoids. I've seen weird and I've seen freaky, but I've never seen a demon like her! A demon that has been brutally marred! And for what reason? Why when I'm sure she's really nice and has no enemies."
Yusuke burst out laughing at this.
"Holy shit, Keiko, are you kidding me?" Yusuke guffawed, "Mukuro used to rule a third of demon world! She's an S-class demon. She's made tons of enemies, and those who don't personally hate her fear her. Hell I fear her sometimes!" Yusuke admitted with no amount of shame, "She's stronger than me, and I gotta be able to admit that to myself. Maybe not by much, maybe only by a little, but she's still stronger than me... and she doesn't have a lot of empathy for her prisoners." Yusuke added warningly. "I guess along the way she's gotten torn up."
"How are we going to go about our world with her and get away with it?" Keiko demanded, "Yusuke think of the attention she'll draw! I don't want people staring at her or saying mean things! She's a visitor here, I want her to have a good time! But people are bound to be cruel, you know that!"
Yusuke shrugged.
"She's got thick skin. Don't worry about her." Yusuke assured Keiko, giving her a light kiss on the lips for posterity's sake. "She's Hiei's girl. Anyone with Hiei for a boyfriend's gotta be hard as steel."
"She's still a woman. She still has feelings." Keiko mumbled, but accepted another kiss on the lips all the same.
"Well you two can go shopping and shit. Take Yukina. Have a good time with her." Yusuke offered. "Hey, maybe she'll tell you how she got those wounds. Lucky you!" Yusuke added saucily. Keiko scowled, pushing him away to run a brush through her bushy brown hair.
"Yusuke, you're such a jerk sometimes."
"Yeah, but you love me." Yusuke grinned, and he planted a kiss on her neck.
Keiko couldn't help but agree.