"MUKURO!" Yukina cried out, desperately trying to diminish the situation by forcing herself like a wedge between Mukuro and Keiko. Keiko was squirming, trying to get away, but Mukuro's energy was an entrapping heat! "MUKURO PLEASE!"
"Mukuro I know you're angry! I know your mad! But you can't be mad at Keiko! She's my friend!" At this, Yukina's voice broke, "Please Mukuro! Please, think of- think of- Think of Hiei!"
Mukuro faltered, only for a second, a breath catching in her throat as a sudden flash of Hiei's face came to mind. It was all Keiko needed to break free, and she immediately wrestled herself from Mukuro's hold to fall to the earth. Her bags fell everywhere, and she scrambled away sweating from the encounter. Now with Mukuro's energy temporarily expelled, Yukina grabbed tight to Mukuro's arm, holding it with such a vice like grip that she was pythonic.
"Please!" Yukina begged. "Please don't do this! I- I just- there's too much hate right now! Too much violence! Too many problems! I've got too much on my- It's just... My heart hurts!"
Mukuro stared at Yukina, and for the first time in an extremely long time shame welled up inside of her. Shame of all things. Shame of what? Shame of letting the human girl know her place? Shame of standing up for her own beliefs? Shame where and how? Why? And yet she felt it still... and it burned in her chest
"... It hurts." Yukina repeated. She looked up at Mukuro, and Mukuro felt even more ashamed to see tears in the corners of Yukina's eyes. "...And... everyone being together is all that helps. So please don't be mad at Keiko. Please."
Mukuro looked to Keiko, who had risen up shakily from the ground and was now clutching her bags again. She did not look afraid, so much as angry, and her cheeks were bright red. She glared at Mukuro, upset but unable to voice it with Yukina in between the pair of them. Mukuro looked back down to Yukina. ... Sweet Yukina. Yukina, who had never done a thing wrong to anyone. Yukina, who was Hiei's very reason for living. Yukina... who was Hiei, if Hiei had never left the Hyouga.
"Alright." Mukuro soothed, reaching up with her bionic hand to touch the top of Yukina's head, "Relax. You get so fucking worked up. Maybe I was just playing around." But she wasn't and she had a feeling Yukina knew.
Yukina slowly unwound herself from Mukuro's arm, rubbing her eyes hurriedly.
"I'm-" Mukuro paused. There was no way in hell she was going to say sorry.
"... Let's go." Mukuro grumbled instead. Pushing Yukina by the small of her back, Mukuro took all of Yukina's bags on her own arm. Keiko, angry and yet resolved not to speak of her hurt, walked on Yukina's other side. The three of them carried on into the dark, heading back in the direction of Yusuke and Keiko's apartment.
Kurama was unendingly generous, and when he pulled up to the apartment in a limousine Hiei promptly announced that the fox should be slaughtered in his sleep. Yusuke thought it all very grand, but he was the only one besides Kuwabara looking in any way excited. Yukina, Keiko, and Mukuro had returned from their little shopping adventure looking heated and upset. The three women had barely spoken a word since coming home, and Keiko was practically fuming as she stormed to the limousine door where Kurama waited holding it open. Yukina was somehow deflated, sighing often and keeping her arm linked with Kuwabara's who told her every five minutes how gorgeous she looked. Hiei, for all his usual snarkiness, just stayed by Mukuro's side and silently admired her new garb. Mukuro looked somehow... pleasant, but only in the way that dead animal in a nice pose did.
The group left the apartment at seven sharp, and as everyone climbed into the limousine Kurama was the last to slide inside, shutting the door behind him. As he closed the door, he gave everyone a wide smile.
"Well, aren't we all looking nice?" Kurama chortled, "My Keiko. You look ravishing in red."
"Thank you, Kurama." Keiko replied stiffly from her seat next to Yusuke. "Your generosity was overwhelming." She sat straight backed with her hands in her lap, looking very proper... and properly pissed off.
"Nonsense. We're courting royalty tonight. We ought to put our best foot forward." Kurama joked, looking to Mukuro. "And might I say that your kimono is unexpected, but very lovely."
"Go to hell." Mukuro grumbled back to which Kurama bowed with a smile.
The limousine was driven by a driver that hid behind a panel of black glass, and as they pulled away from the apartment complex, Yukina laid her head on Kuwabara's shoulder.
"Yukina, are you okay?" Kuwabara asked, "You look ill."
"I feel ill." Yukina admitted timidly.
Hiei looked to Yukina, his brow furrowed.
"You should be resting." Hiei grumbled, "Not going out."
"No, I want to." Yukina assured Hiei at once, "It's only that I'm a little fevered. I just... need to relax." Yukina admitted.
"Perhaps the shopping was too high maintenance?" Kurama offered, a little worried, "I hope my gift did not end up becoming a curse."
"Oh...well... personalities." Yukina finished softly, leaving them all to wonder what exactly she'd meant by that statement. Hiei looked from Keiko to Mukuro, noticing the anger and silence between the two women.
Ah. Well. He'd worried about this happening.
"Remind me again why we are going to this ridiculous place." Hiei addressed Kurama. Hiei looked downright uncomfortable, wearing black slacks and a white button down that was slightly too big (and clearly Yusuke's).
"Well if we're going to plot a torture and murder session we might as well do it in style. We are classy after all." Kurama smiled mildly.
Every head in the car turned to stare at him, and expressions ranged from shock to fear.
"What?" Kurama offered with a chuckle, "Did you intend to let the impostor live?"
"We're going to kill him?" Yukina spoke up nervously.
"Oh yes. But not before we have some fun." Kurama smiled. "After all, Yukina. He's brought both you and Hiei enormous amounts of grief... and do not intend to let that go... unrewarded."
The way Kurama spoke the word left nothing to the imagination.
The ride to Kobe was slightly longer than they'd imagined, and when they finally pulled into the massive parking lot full of swank automobiles everyone was ready to get out. The driver pulled them right around to the front, and as the door was opened by a bus boy, Kurama was the first to step out.
"Ah..." Kurama sighed, "Kobe. It never gets old."
Kobe was a massive restaurant in the shape of an ancient feudal castle. Several flights of stairs draped in red carpet lead to beautifully lit glass doors where lavishly dressed groups of people entered in and out. Tuxes were the norm, followed by elegant evening gowns, and on either side of the stair case were two huge koi ponds that trickled with austere waterfalls. It was the perfect balance of nature and technology, which everyone admired as they mounted the steps one at a time. Their limousine drove away, and as they began to climb up Mukuro tripped on her shoes twice.
"Shit!" Mukuro cursed under her breath, but Hiei caught her with expert speed.
"What's wrong with your damn shoes?" Hiei demanded as they managed to get to the top of the first flight.
"They're fucking ridiculous!" Mukuro hissed in Hiei's ear, "This whole thing is fucking ridiculous! Your friends are the most uptight group I've ever met! What the fuck is wrong with them?!"
"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Hiei grumbled back, and as they reached the top of the stairs the glass doors were opened for them by two maikos. The front room was covered in ancient oriental carpet with an extravagant chandelier hanging above them. A well groomed man at the front desk scanned crisp white sheets with a ball point pen, looking for reservations. Kurama bowed, and the man bowed back.
"Party of seven, the harmony table. Shuichi Minamino." Kurama offered, and the man scanned the sheet.
"... Right this way." The man nodded, scratching off Kurama's name. With an elegant wave of hand they began their walk down a long ornate hallway.
Rooms to the left and right whisked past, some holding geisha entertaining large groups of business man, others merely holding family parties where young children laughed and played with their chopsticks. They reached the end of the hallway, turning right to enter onto a more private wing where a room on the left showed a beautiful glass wall that viewed a large koi pond. This apparently was their room, and they entered to be seated around a waxed square table. Sitting upon mats with their legs tucked underneath them, they were immediately served green tea.
As soon as the seater bowed out of the room to close the door, Kurama took charge of the situation.
"So!" Kurama exclaimed with a smile. "We all know why we're here. We all know what we want. What we do not know... is how to do it. But we will find that out tonight."
Mukuro rolled her eyes.
"Let us lay out the facts." Kurama began, "For I feel that- ah." He paused as a row of serving men entered their dining room carrying sleek black trays full of Sakizuke. The little cows atop each serving tray gleamed in the moonlight as they were set before each member of the party. Inside the ceramic cups were but a few bites of five dishes that appeared in famous osechi ryoi... baby carp simmered in sweetened shoyu with ginger, shrimp, flounder with ginger rolled in kelp, and a black bean with tsukushi bud. Beautiful chopsticks were put upon crisp linen napkins, and as soon as everyone was served with their appetizer their waiters vanished in a humble line. Once the door was closed again, everyone began to eat while Kurama started once more.
"Shimo is a doll. He is animated by dark, powerful magic." Kurama ticked off on his fingers, "Grave dust is what I fear... frankly I think it might be your mothers." Kurama nodded to Yukina. Yukina choked on her shrimp, clapping her napkin over her mouth the blood drained from her face.
"Wh-what?!" Yukina cried out, horrified. Hiei looked like he might have a stroke, and was clutching the table with such a hard grip that the wood underneath squeaked in protest.
"Well who else?" Kurama shrugged. "After all, this is clearly a personal attack on you, Yukina. Also, I feel this is an attack on Hiei... after all, he was targeted." Kurama added thoughtfully.
"But who would want to attack Hiei?" Yukina asked, nervous. "Hiei's done nothing wrong!"
"Hooo..." Yusuke laughed aloud, slamming his fist on the table, "Sweetheart, baby, let's not be naive. I can list about twelve people who'd like to take a whack at Hiei."
Hiei shot Yusuke a menacing glare, but he could not help agreeing.
"So it's Hina's grave dust..." Kuwabara whispered.
"Only an assumption. We won't know until we crack open the shell." Kurama shook his head, "But there in our danger lies. Depending on what is beneath the surface, we will be facing several types of evil. It could be a demon. It could be a parasitic growth. It could be a noxious gas that might kill us all. Whose to say?"
"You were saying it felt creepy at the temple." Yusuke commented, "When we went to pick up Yukina. Maybe it is grave dust."
"We do not want this." Kurama shook his head, "Because once we crack open the shell... the ghost will come out, and it will be livid."
Hiei paled again. He'd completely forgotten about his Sakizuke, and stared at the table with a bloodless face.
Ghost? Ghost? What if it was grave dust... Hina would no doubt emerge. Could Hiei handle that? Could he handle himself? He looked back up to see Yukina was in a similar state of panic, her hands trembling in her lap.
"What will it include." Hiei bit out, "Taking out the ghost."
"We'll have to exercise the shell." Kurama began, "We'll kill the ghost, and when its remains finally emerge we'll have to burn them."
"B-b-burn then?" Yukina stuttered, "But, but that's my mother!" she cried, "You can't burn my mother!"
"Yukina, your mother is in a better place..." Keiko soothed automatically, rubbing Yukina's back, "She won't actually feel the pain of the fire. Why, I think she might like knowing that you're watching out for her remains. After all, if Shimo is using them then we have to save your mother. Don't you think?"
Yukina looked unsure.
"So why the fuck am I here?" Mukuro snapped.
Their conversation was suddenly interrupted as the waiters returned with new trays. Taking away the Sakizuke, Hassun was the next portion of their menu. Salmon roe, fried gingko nuts, prawns breaded with shredded wonton skins and deep friend, miso coated broiled salmon were next. Autumnal garnish covered the plates, and as their first round was taken away they were left alone once more with the new dish.
"You are here because we will need your help depending upon what is inside the shell. If it is a powerful demon, your help will be much appreciated. Besides, Hiei is your concern. Shimo attacked him once, he will attack him twice. Imagine his surprise when Hiei returns alive- well-" Kurama chortled as he dug into his Hassun, "Let's not continue saying 'Shimo' as if 'Shimo' is alive. Who will really be surprised is the person pulling the strings. Which I suspect... is Yukina's elders."
Yukina spat out her green tea, unable to control herself as she immediately covered her mouth with her napkin. Kuwabara patted her gingerly on the back, using his own napkin to clean up the small mess. Yukina was downright terrified now, staring at Kurama in horror.
"My- my elders!" Yukina cried, "No! No it can't be!"
"It can and it is. Observe." Kurama reached around, pulling from inside of his tux the weathered old file that Mukuro recognized as Hina's. Yukina took it at once, almost snatching it out of Kurama's hand. She opened it, and the tiny note fell out. She plucked it from her lap.
"...No..." Yukina whispered. "...Oh no." She touched her trembling mouth, chewing on her lip.
"What." Hiei snapped, "What?"
"Died a foolish martyr." Kurama sighed, "Your elders did not like your mother, did they Yukina."
Yukina shook her head.
"And they didn't allow you to leave the island, did they."
Yukina shook her head again.
"You snuck out... you left... and you thought they'd never find you. I'm afraid your plot had one little hole. You told someone you were leaving, didn't you."
Yukina slowly looked up to stare Kurama.
"... Yes." She whispered. "Yes."
"Who did you tell." Kurama asked, "Their safety may be on the line."
"Rui." Yukina explained in a rush, "She's like a mother to me. She was my mother's best friend. She raised me after my mother was murdered-"
Hiei was the one to stutter now, choking on his salmon roe. Mukuro thumped his hard on the back and he shakily took a sip of green tea.
"Hina was murdered?" Hiei demanded at once, "I thought she killed herself."
"No! That's a lie!" Yukina snapped, almost angry, "My mother never killed herself! Someone killed her, and everyone said she committed suicide as a cover up! It was a conspiracy! My mother was murdered!"
"Calm down baby, or someone will hear-" Kuwabara begged, "It's gonna be alright, we're gonna take care of it. Rui's probably just fine, you always tell me that she's tough."
"Tough yes... but not unbreakable." Kurama murmured to himself, finishing his green tea. He poured himself another cup from the fine china kettle, and contemplated.
"Yukina, tell me about your elders. Tell me what you know of them."
"...There were five of them." Yukina whispered bitterly, poking at her plate. "Taida, Okui, Akui, Oheina... and Shikei." Yukina spat the last name. "They are the ones who hold justice in the Hyouga, and keep routine. They are the oldest... and some say the wisest. Shikei is the true elder. She is the one who is in charge."
"I see." Kurama nodded, "Which one of these women did not like your mother."
"Shikei."
"So it's Shikei that we need to look at." Kurama decided, chewing thoughtfully on this fish. "How much do you know about her."
"I know she is over a hundred thousand years old." Yukina murmured, "I know she does not leave the castle. I know she is related to me through lineage. I know she hated my mother... and that she was the one who ordered my brother to be thrown of the cliff. She... hated us." Yukina shook her head, "She hated me. She hates me still, no doubt."
"So Shikei is a hundred thousand years old... practically decrepit. How is she still alive?" Mukuro grumbled.
"Some say it's her supernatural hold over the living and dead. Her name means death, you know. She will never die." Yukina shook her head, "That is the legend."
"It is a lie. She will die." Hiei grumbled. "Painfully." He added after a moment of contemplation.
Yukina looked to Hiei at this, a little confused. Still, it made her smile if only for a moment.
"Shikei is probably the one pulling the strings and animating Shimo. No doubt when we kill Shimo, she will know. How she will react I cannot say." Kurama paused. The waiters had returned again, this time with several dishes in hand. Sliced seasonal sashimi took the place of Hassun, along with vegetables served with tofu that were all simmered in different broths. Last came a lidded dish, which turned out to be a gentle soup, and so once again they were left alone with a new course and a fresh pot of green tea.
"What does she want from me?" Yukina demanded, "Why is she tormenting me like this! Why!" She almost slammed her hand on the table, but caught herself and instead put her hand in her lap.
"Hey, can we change the friggin subject." Kuwabara demanded, slightly angry. "This is just gonna get Yukina more upset. Lets just relax for a minute and eat. Okay?"
"As you wish." Kurama shrugged, happily eating his sashimi. Silence fell. "Mukuro, how have you found human world?"
"... Dull." Mukuro muttered, focusing on eating her food. Keiko seemed to find this idea humorous, for she made a noise between a laugh and a snort.
"What now." Hiei snapped, narrowing his eyes as Keiko glared at Mukuro, "What is wrong with you two fools."
"Oh, nothing." Keiko bit out, chewing on her food as if it had done her a personal injustice. "Your girlfriend tried to kill me."
Yusuke nearly choked on his sashimi, looking to Mukuro at once .
"The hell?!" Yusuke demanded. "What the fuck are you talking 'bout?"
"She had me by the throat!" Keiko snapped, and suddenly the attention of the group shifted from Yukina's nervous trembling to Mukuro's flushed face. Kurama was wary, Kuwabara seemed shocked, and Hiei for all his normally crude words was suddenly silent. He looked up from his food, glaring icily at Yusuke and Keiko.
"Your exaggerating." Mukuro snapped.
"You would have killed me if Yukina hadn't been there to stop you!" Keiko cried.
"Bullshit." Hiei snapped harshly. "Yukina couldn't have stopped Mukuro even if she had tried."
"You don't know, you weren't there!"
"I don't need to be there to know what's the truth and what's a lie!" Hiei snarled, and from his forehead a light purple glow appeared. "Instead of focusing on your own supposed trauma perhaps you should broaden your narrow mind to understand people from different cultures."
"In what culture is strangling someone okay?!" Keiko cried out.
"Ours!" Hiei snarled back defiantly, "God only knows I've wanted to snap your neck a few times!"
"Watch it!" Yusuke snapped, "Or I'll snap yours!"
"This is getting far too heated." Kurama intervened, attempting to restore the peace, "I'm sure there's a logical explanation to all of this."
"There is nothing logical about strangling someone!" Keiko cried out, "She lied to a shop keeper-"
"I went along with her human nonsense to get the kimono." Mukuro retorted angrily, "Which I did not want to buy in the fucking first place. I am merely here to accomplish a mission, but apparently I have to go about flaunting ridiculous fashion in stupid 'restaurants' whatever the hell those are!"
"And you keep saying humans are weak, stupid, and vain!" Keiko added, her face flushed now.
"And they are!" Hiei snarled. "They are weak, beyond all compare! They are stupid to the point of illogical reasoning! And they are content to believe their mundane lives matter!"
"Well if that's how you feel-!"
"That's how I've always felt!"
"STOP IT!"
Hiei blanched. Keiko snapped her mouth shut. Yukina was trembling so hard it looked like she was close to hypothermia. She took deep steadying breathes, but they were all for not. She rose up from her seat, and without another word left the room.
Hiei leapt to his feet at once, and ran out the door after her.
Yukina was fast, and she was completely gone from the hallway by the time Hiei managed to shrug his way through the thick crowd. But the jagan left little to chance, and so he followed her energy scent all the way around the main dining area to an outer balcony with a flight of stairs into a well lit koi garden. There she was, pacing back and forth, looking lost and angry as she held her hands over her eyes. Hiei descended the stairs rapidly, and when he hit the bottom flight he paused to give Yukina a chance to acknowledge his presence. She did not.
"Yukina-"
"Please, Hiei, I am not in the mood."
"I am not trying to irritate you further." Hiei assured her. He came around her side, and so they were facing one another amid the beautiful canopy of sakura trees. Yukina's flush face was now streaked with tears, and she kept wiping them away before they could form hirosekes. Hiei did not know what to say... but he knew what he wanted to say.
"... Rui is smart." Hiei muttered softly, "She's not going to let some elder run her into the ground. You know that-"
"I thought I knew many things but apparently not!" Yukina snapped, looking into his eyes with fear and anger. "My elders are controlling Shimo! They are behind Shimo! You do not know how much that scares me-!"
"I do." Hiei assured her. "I do know. Because... it... scares me." Hiei muttered, rubbing his brow exasperatedly. "It scares me too."
"Why should it scare you." Yukina huffed. "They're not after you."
"They are." Hiei murmured quietly. Yukina paused, looking up at him with confused eyes.
"...Why?"
"... Reasons." Hiei did not elaborate. "But I know how it feels... to be stalked."
Yukina looked away to the koi fish that were swimming peacefully in their elaborate pond.
"I don't know what they want from me. I don't know if they want to kill me... or to convert me... and... I don't know which one scares me more."
Hiei reached out, touching her shoulder which he held in a soothing firm grip.
"Probably being converted." Hiei managed a tight grin, "That's what scares me."
"They hated my mother. So much. So why would they want me." Yukina whispered, wiping her tears away.
"Because you her daughter... and maybe by having you, they feel they have won some sacrilegious battle with Hina." Hiei offered. Yukina shrugged.
"My mother was murdered." Yukina repeated bitterly, "And no one believed me."
"I believe you." HIei assured her. "I believe every word of it."
"But you never even knew my mother!" Yukina retorted, "Why are you so kind to me? Why do you understand me when I'm upset? Why do you say things that make me feel better? ... Why do you make my heart ache less?"
In her questions, Yukina forgot to wipe away her tears. A hiroseke fell to the ground with a clatter, and Hiei bent down at once to pick it up. He handed it to her, and she pocketed it slightly embarrassed.
Hiei reached out, bracing Yukina by the shoulders. He wanted to hold her. He wanted to hug her till their flesh melted away and their hearts could heal one another. Yet he had to be strong for her in this terrible moment of confusion and fear. He had to show her that he would not be swayed. That he would not be moved.
"... Tomorrow, we're going to the temple." Hiei murmured softly. "And we're going to kill that bastard. And when we crack open that pasty hide of his to see what's inside... we're going to face it."
"But what if-"
"Fear and doubt never solved a problem in this world." Hiei murmured gently. "... Then again, neither did being nice."
Yukina broke into a small smile, snorting a little despite herself.
"... This dinner was a bad idea." She whispered.
"Yeah, it was." Hiei chuckled. "Did Mukuro really strangle Keiko?"
"No. They argued and she grabbed Keiko by the throat. I don't know how much pressure she applied, but she showed Keiko a bit of her energy and it really scared her." Yukina corrected Hiei, shaking her head sadly. "Mukuro's nice, she's just... tough."
"She's a pain in the ass." Hiei shrugged, "I know. I live with her."
Yukina smiled again.
"Well that was a fucking disaster!"
The dinner had ended abruptly, without even sampling dessert, and Kurama had been forced to get the limousine to drive Yusuke, Keiko, Yukina, and Kuwabara back to Yusuke and Keiko's apartment. When they'd finally pulled up, the four had clambered out with very hasty goodbyes. Keiko had said nothing to anyone besides a clipped 'thank you' to Kurama. When they had all exited the vehicle, Hiei and Mukuro were left staring at Kurama with dry irritation. Kurama rolled his eyes, rapping at the black glass which separated them from the driver. The car pulled away again.
"What did you do." Kurama asked Mukuro. "To Keiko."
"I taught the little bitch a lesson." Mukuro sneered, "To not mess with me, nor attempt to threaten me."
"Keiko is no threat to you." Kurama shot down. "Why did you assault her."
"She didn't assault her, Yukina told me what happened." HIei cut in, "They were arguing and Mukuro grabbed Keiko by the throat. She showed Keiko her energy. That is what scared Keiko."
Mukuro sneered with slight pleasure. Kurama shrugged his shoulders.
"Well... it's of no use now. We'll have to board you at my house." Kurama decided. "I live alone, so you'll have privacy. Tomorrow we'll head to the temple."
"Good." Mukuro grumbled. "The sooner we're done with this world, the better."
"Mukuro, I never intended for you to have hate in your heart for humans." Kurama sighed, bitter. "I wanted you to experience the pleasure of human world... the blue sky. The birds in the trees. Humans are not bad."
"They are annoying." Mukuro scowled, "And I do not like being annoyed."
Silence fell. The rest of the car ride was help in quiet reverie, and by the end of it Mukuro felt not only physically but emotionally drained as well.
They pulled up to a small house on the outskirts of town that was covered by foliage along with a high brick wall. As the limousine pulled into the driveway, Mukuro looked out to see that though the house was tiny it was by no means understated. There was no gaudy human architecture to 'marvel' at, but instead simple and clean lines that Mukuro enjoyed. The real beauty of the place was in the flowers and trees that thrived despite the cool night, and as they stepped out Mukuro smelt familiar flowers from demon world.
"... Is that the blood blossom?" Mukuro murmured.
"It is indeed." Kurama nodded, paying the driver a generous tip so that as they made their way to the front door the driver pulled out and vanished into the night. "I find them comforting. This is my home, Hiei knows it well. This is where he often stays when in human world."
Hiei nodded, and as they climbed the short flight of steps, Kurama unlocked the front door before sliding his hand smoothly down the wood. Mukuro heard a strange noise, like creatures retreating.
"What was that?" Mukuro grumbled.
"A man eating plant just inside the door." Kurama smiled. He opened the door wide, and, sure enough, a massive plant that hung from the ceiling was swaying back and forth with massive jaws that dripped in acidic saliva. Kurama touched it fondly, it and it crooned.
Kurama's house was cozy and quiet, consisting of a living room, dining room, kitchen, two bed rooms, and a bathroom. It was only slightly bigger than Yusuke and Keiko's apartment, and as Mukuro looked around she noticed that every wall seemed to have a book case of some sort. There were shelves filled with treasures, artwork long since stolen, and in the dining room Mukuro thought she spotted a very rare orb that had been taken nearly five thousand years ago from one of her smaller territories. She glared at Kurama, who merely smiled.
"I enjoy fine things." Kurama chortled. "Mind the plants. They bite."
Indeed, the entire place was full of plants. It was warm and humid despite the cool weather outside, and Mukuro immediately brushed sweat off her brow.
"Some ogre killer?" Kurama offered, stepping into the kitchen to pull off his tuxedo jacket. He reached into the refrigerator, pulling from it a thick clay jug that Mukuro recognized as demon made, "For the day gone wrong?"
"Why not." Hiei shrugged, and Mukuro had to agree. Three glasses were poured, and Mukuro momentarily excused herself to change back into her regular clothes in the spare bedroom. It was a laborious process, untying and unwinding, and when she finally finished getting the whole kimono off she felt like she'd shed five pounds. She donned her green pants and purple vest, forgoing her usual white shirt. It was far too hot for long sleeves. She returned to the living room to find Hiei and Kurama talking quietly on the couch. Sitting down, Mukuro took her glass of ogre killer and threw it back at once. It burned the whole way down, making her eyes water and her throat sting- yet it was good and familiar.
"The dinner was a foolish process." Kurama finally admitted, "This matter is best handled between the three of us. I am sorry, Mukuro. I only did it because I thought you might enjoy the fine dining."
"... I enjoy slaughter and victory." Mukuro grumbled, filling up her glass again. "So let's stick to that."
"Agreed." Hiei murmured, sipping on his own glass. "Tomorrow morning, we'll head to the temple early before anyone has a chance to get up. I'll comb the grounds with my jagan, find the bastard, and we'll attack. Three on one, he'll stand no chance. Once he's down, we'll crack him open and-"
There was a knock of the door.
Kurama looked around, confused, and the plant on the ceiling immediately began to snarl and sway.
"Shh." Kurama chided the plant, rising up to touch it's massive fronds. He approached the door, looking through the eye hole to pull back in shock.
"What." Hiei snapped. "Who is it."
Kurama merely unlocked the door and opened it wide.
There, on the doorstep, was Keiko, Yusuke, Kuwabara and Yukina... all of whom looked uncomfortable and nervous.
"... Are they here?" Keiko asked, and Mukuro immediately scowled on the couch. Kurama nodded, silently welcoming them inside, and as the four entered to spot Hiei and Mukuro on the couch, Keiko blushed fervently. Yusuke was carrying a white cooler, looking tired but content, and both Kuwabara and Yukina seemed eager to clear the air with small smiles that were only briefly interrupted with quick glances to the plant on the ceiling that was drooling on them. All of them had changed from their fancy clothes to regular wear, and it seemed to lessen the tension in the atmosphere greatly.
"I spoke with Yukina." Keiko began, clearing her throat with a nervous cough, "And... I realize I may have approached you in a way that you were not comfortable with. For which I apologize."
Mukuro just glared from the couch, the ogre killer in her stomach only adding fuel to the fire.
"But I do not apologize for believing that my race is not weak or stupid." Keiko added with sharp retort, "Because all races have worth, mine included."
Mukuro still glared.
"Hey I hate to cut in and all but uh..." Kuwabara mumbled, pointing up to the vicious plant hanging from the ceiling, "When's the last time you fed that thing?"
"A few days ago." Kurama shrugged. "It keeps it motivated to protect the house."
Kuwabara immediately skirted around the plant, taking Yukina with him, and the front door was closed by Yusuke as he took of his leather jacket.
He did not look happy, but he did not look mad either.
"Okay, so we fucked up tonight." Yusuke admitted, "And I think we went about it the wrong way. That dinner didn't fill me up for crap so I grabbed dinner on the way here. And I brought some for you guys." Yusuke lifted up the white cooler. "How's about a peace treaty. On me."
Hiei rolled his eyes, leaning back into the couch.
"Can I borrow your kitchen?" Yusuke asked, "I gotta make dinner."
"By all means." Kurama waved Yusuke into the small but tidy kitchen, and Yusuke immediately took over to open his cooler and withdraw several fresh ingredients. As oil was poured into a wok pot and the sound of clattering commenced, Keiko approached Mukuro on the couch to sit down next to her. Mukuro looked like she might punch Keiko in the face. Yukina and Kuwabara took seats on a smaller love couch, and Yukina laid her head on Kuwabara's shoulder as Kurama took the final seat on a lazy boy reclining chair.
"... I've met a lot of mean demons." Keiko began, "And they were always out to kill Yusuke. They only wanted to eat me, or rape me, or just plain slaughter me. They never talked to me or gave interest to human life. Hiei, Kurama, and Yukina are all rare exceptions." Keiko admitted, "and maybe I was hoping you would be too. But I think you're different. You're not bad but you're not... a fan of humans. Are you."
Mukuro threw back another glass of ogre killer.
"I am a fan of nothing." Mukuro scowled.
"As I figured." Keiko nodded. "Maybe it was too much of me to hope that you would understand why things like Hiroshima affect me. Because as a teacher, as a human, they are emotionally disturbing. I don't know anything in demon history that can compare."
"... Hmm." Kurama spoke up, furrowing his brow. "Hiroshima was a violent period in human history. Demon world is always violent... frankly the only thing that could possibly compare was before the mafuken was put in place and S class demons were at war with one another. It was an extremely violent process..."
"That was an interesting time." Mukuro grumbled. "It separated the weak from the strong."
"It did." Kurama agreed.
"But you did grab me by the throat. You were going to choke me." Keiko warned. "You made the air get... hot. And... I can't even explain it." Keiko shook her head, "But why did you try and hurt me? When all we were doing is arguing?"
"Because arguing is not an occurrence in demon worlds. Demons do not argue, they fight." Kurama explained wisely, "In Mukuro's eyes, you were testing her dominance. She responded by asserting her power."
"You were lucky to escape with your life." Hiei sneered, finishing his glass of ogre killer and pouring a second.
Keiko glanced at Mukuro's face again, and shrank back a little at the sight of the open eye. Mukuro, spurred on by the ogre killer in her stomach, decided to confront the issue.
"What?" Mukuro demanded, "What do you keep staring at me for? You cow eyed fool!" Mukuro slammed her glass onto the table, her face flushing from the alcohol.
Keiko crossed her arms over her chest.
"I'm not a fool!" Keiko retorted angrily, "I'm staring because face is ripped in half and you have a robotic arm! You don't have an ear, you have wires and your eye is practically loose in its socket! What did you do to yourself? Get in a fight with a lawnmower and loose?"
"I poured acid over my naked body!" Mukuro snarled. "To defeat the arrogance and supposed superiority of men!"
Keiko just stared.
"... You... poured... acid?" Kuwabara spoke up, nervously, "Over your... naked body?"
"My entire arm disintegrated to the bone! My ear fell victim too! But I showed every bastard about that I was not to be messed with and I rose to power swiftly through cold anger! Something you human girls could never comprehend! By the time I was a young woman, I had over seventy six territories under my control! Every man trembled at my name!" Mukuro thundered.
Keiko just kept staring.
"But... didn't that hurt terribly?" Keiko asked.
"Pain is nothing compared to the joy of victory!" Mukuro toasted Kurama at this, who shrugged. Throwing back her fourth glass of ogre killer, Mukuro put down her cup with unsteady hands. Her vision was swimming and she let out a hot breath. She leaned too far to the left, and toppled into Hiei's lap by accident.
"Get off me!" Mukuro snarled, jerking up. Hiei rolled his eyes, setting down his own glass to glare at his partner.
"You take pride in making an ass of yourself?" Hiei sneered.
"Please!" Mukuro cried out with a little too much bravado, "I could cut you into ribbon!"
"No fighting!" Yusuke shouted from the kitchen, "Dinner's ready."
Yusuke appeared, his arms covered with paper plates that were loaded with fried rice, lo mein noodles, and chicken stirred in a honey sauce. Keiko stood up to help him serve everyone, and plastic forks were passed about. Everyone began to eat immediately, and the room fell silent as mouths were filled.
"Enjoy!" Yusuke grinned, taking Hiei's unfinished glass of ogre killer and throwing it back. "Woo! Ogre killer! Damn that's hot!" Yusuke shook his head, attempting to clear his mind, "Reminds me of Chu, that adorable bastard."
He returned to the kitchen to fetch his own plate, returning with a six pack of cheap beer. He passed them about, though Yukina declined, and as bellies were sated the atmosphere lessened in tension.
"So. Let's talk about how we're gonna kill this fucker." Yusuke grumbled from his place on the floor. He took a heavy swig of beer.
"Tomorrow morning. Early." Kurama decided on the spot. "Who will be going."
"Me." Hiei snapped at once. "Alone."
"Fuck you!" Yusuke cried from the floor, "I'm going too."
"As am I, I did not come down here for nothing." Mukuro sneered.
"I wanna go too!" Kuwabara cried out indignantly.
"I want to be there." Yukina murmured. "I want to see what is beneath the mask. I want to watch him die."
Hiei caught Yukina's eye, and gave her a small smile. All eyes turned to Keiko, who looked very unsure of herself in that moment.
"There is nothing that I can do." Keiko mumbled, looking disappointed.
"Don't sweat it." Yusuke flashed Keiko a smile, "The six of us will have Shimo covered. You can wait in the car! We'll kill the fucker then go out for moshi!" At this, Yusuke gave a devious cackle.
"So I'll stay behind?" Keiko asked.
"You can drive the car." Kurama joked. "We'll take my mercedes and your own sports cv. What do you say?"
"That ought to work." Keiko agreed. "I can take three and you can take four."
"So how do we strategize our attack?" Kuwabara asked, finishing his plate with a small belch. "'Scuse me." He muttered softly.
"Hiei and Mukuro will take the forefront. Let them grapple the beast by the horns because they can take it. After we see what the demon is made of, then Yusuke, you, and I will join in with our own assault. As soon as he cracks open, we will need to retreat immediately. If it is grave dust, the problem of possession is very real. If one of us were to become possessed, Genkai would have to restore our sanity. Not exactly an avenue one would want to travel."
"Creepy." Yusuke added from the floor. "But I like it! Mukuro and Hiei, then the rest!"
"What about me?" Yukina asked, confused.
"Ah, Yukina." Kurama smiled, slightly sadistically. "You, my dear... will be the bait."