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Hatorra glanced up weakly as her brother entered the room. Kat had gone to check on the children. He kneeled down and pulled out an assortment of plants. He broke one and started mashing it into a bowl and mixing it with others. He looked at his sister.
"You're thinking strategic?" he whispered and Hatorra nodded.
"Very…these were no ordinary attackers. Two demons wearing masks who knew that taking out our only source of recovery would weaken us severely? It has to be them. My question is how they got here," she said shaking her head.
Kurama wiped some sweat from her forehead and she looked at him.
"They will come for us now. Now that we have no healer," he said bluntly.
"What's our next move?" she asked quietly.
Kurama stared at her.
"You're not going to like it," he said truthfully.
Hatorra swallowed the lump in her throat. She tried to get her bearings.
"Just say it. I can handle it," she said unconvincingly.
Kurama took in a deep breath.
"We need to leave now," he said bluntly and Hatorra's eyes widened some.
"Leave? Now?" she questioned.
Kurama nodded. Hatorra shook her head.
"I don't understand," she lied.
She wanted to hear him say it. Kurama sighed lowly.
"We need to head to the Makai. Seek the protection of Yusuke and Mukuro's army. We will take the children—"
"—what about Keiko? What about Kuwabara? Yukina won't even survive the trek there!" she cried.
Kurama looked at the Koorime sadly.
"Hatorra, she won't survive the night," he whispered.
Hatorra's eyes widened.
"How could you say that?" she roared at him.
Kurama grabbed her hands roughly.
"You're wasting your ki! Look!" he said showing her the wound.
It had barely closed.
"To heal this one wound you will pay with your life! And she will die anyway!" Kurama snapped at her.
Hatorra saw it then. The fear was evident in his eyes. He was petrified. His calm demeanor was no more.
"These demons are unlike anything we've ever encountered. We will all die if we do not act now!" he persisted.
"I can't just leave her here! Hiei would never leave her and Kuwabara would stay behind as well!" she tried.
Kurama grabbed her shoulders tightly. Before he could speak a loud explosion rocked their ears. The wall to their room blew out. Hatorra covered Yukina with her body as Kurama covered his sister. When they lifted their heads they gasped.
"Hiroku!" Hatorra gasped as her eyes met his red ones.
"Hello demon wolf," he said calmly.
The others ran into the room and froze. Kurama pulled a rose from his hair, but Hiroku held up his hand. Hiei's eyes were wide as he saw how close the demon's face was to his mates.
"No need for violence Youko. I am here to help," he said softly.
His face was merely inches from Hatorra's. Kurama was careful not to make any unnecessary movements as were the others. Hiroku looked at Hatorra playfully.
"May I try something?" he asked and shooed her hands away from the Koorime.
He reached out to Yukina when Hatorra grabbed his hand, shocking the others and Hiroku. He regained his composure and smiled.
"I will not hurt her. She means something to me and I do not hurt those I value," he said friendly.
Hatorra stared at him wide eyed. Hiroku grinned.
"Though I will still honor my arrangement to your father and kill you…let's put that off for now and focus on our common interest, shall we?" he asked and Hatorra's grip weakened.
She wanted to believe him.
"You attacked her," she whispered.
"That was before I knew who she was. I had thought she was just the healer of the group. I was being tactical. But now that I know who she is…It seems I have made an error," he said and Hatorra released his hand.
He placed his hands over Yukina and emitted a strong green glow. All eyes widened. Hiroku smiled sheepishly.
"A gift from my wife before her passing," he shrugged.
Hatorra watched as Yukina's wounds began to close rapidly. Soon Yukina's eyes opened weakly. Hiroku smiled.
"Look at those eyes. Identical, eh? Until we meet again wolf demon," he said and disappeared as the last wound closed.
Everyone stood frozen, trying to process what they just heard.
"D-Did he just say what I think he did?" Yusuke asked unnerved.
"Identical eyes…" Kat said looking at Yukina.
Hatorra stared at the semi-opened red eyes of her sister-in-law. The identical eyes of her brother. The identical eyes of Hiroku.
"He's her father," Kurama said in shock.
"He's our father," Hiei corrected him and everyone looked to the fire demon.
"Oh shit," Yusuke said bluntly.
Hatorra brushed some hair out of Yukina's face. She offered a small smile to the ice demon.
"You'll be okay now Yukina," she said kindly.
Yukina furrowed her eyes in confusion.
"W-Why d-did h-he save me?" she asked weakly.
Hatorra wiped some sweat from Yukina's forehead.
"Rest now. We will explain everything when you're fully recovered," she whispered and Yukina fell asleep.
Hatorra looked up from the sleeping ice demon to Kuwabara.
"You'll stay here the night. It's better if we're all together rather than separated. Though I don't think she's in much danger anymore," Hatorra said calmly.
Kuwabara nodded quickly and stood.
"I'll go tell Yuki his mom's okay and then I'll set up a room for us," he said and headed upstairs.
Hatorra took in a deep breath and rubbed her eyes. Yusuke kneeled down to her.
"I'll take Yukina upstairs. Take it easy, okay? You're still recovering yourself," he chided lightly.
Hatorra smiled weakly and nodded as Yusuke scooped Yukina up and headed upstairs. Kat touched her arm softly before heading upstairs with Kurama.
"We'll tell Kasei you'll be right up," Kat whispered and Hatorra nodded thankfully.
Hatorra's eyes met with her brother's and for a tense moment they stared at each other before he broke contact and followed his mate upstairs. Hatorra got to her feet and stumbled slightly. She was steadied by two strong hands. She glanced up at her mate. He seemed distant, as if his mind was so far off.
"We'll be okay," she whispered comfortingly.
But Hiei shook his head quickly. Almost before she said it. Like he had heard her think it first.
"Not this time," he replied not looking at her.
Hatorra's eyes widened. She touched his cheek softly, but he pulled away. He backed up and before she could speak, he was gone.
He's so fast…
Hatorra sighed and brushed her hair back with her fingers. She looked around the large, empty room. She was so tired, but knew she wouldn't be sleeping tonight. She was on edge. She knew Kasei was waiting for her upstairs. She knew she had some explaining to do. Kas would have questions. She was about to head upstairs when Yusuke walked down them.
"What are you still doing down here?" he asked firmly.
Hatorra smiled at his concern.
"I was trying to talk to Hiei. It didn't go well," she answered looking towards the door.
Yusuke leaned against the counter top.
"You couldn't have thought it would. I mean, he just learned his dad is alive and is trying to kill you and almost killed Yukina. Not to mention it looks like Hiroku doesn't even know about Hiei at all. It can't be easy to deal with all at once," he said and Hatorra nodded.
"I just didn't expect him to take off. We need him here. They're going to come back and when they do we all need to be ready. Speaking of which, I need to find a way to regain my ki quicker. I'm still recovering and am no use to anyone this way," she said annoyed.
Yusuke smirked at her.
"You sound a lot like her now," he said and Hatorra looked at him confused.
"Like whom?" she asked.
"Like the Hatorra from that other future," he said and Hatorra's eyes widened.
"Badass Torra," he grinned and Hatorra chuckled.
"Well several near death experiences could change someone drastically," she guessed.
Yusuke shook his head.
"You always had a badass side Torra. It just wasn't showing until now," he said and they both became silent.
"Kurama thinks we should leave to the Makai," she said suddenly.
Yusuke nodded.
"Yeah, I've thought of that too. The idea has its pros and cons," he said shrugging.
"Big cons," Hatorra reminded him.
"Big pros too," Yusuke shot back.
"You are not concerned for Keiko? Kuwabara? The children?" she asked him.
"Oh yeah of course. I worry about Keiko and the kids all the time. Kuwabara can take care of himself, but down in the Makai, I'll admit I worry about him too," he admitted lowly.
"But it might be our best chance. Having two whole armies to help us fight those guys' sounds really good right now," he said scratching his head.
Hatorra nodded. She leaned on the counter and placed her head in her hands. Yusuke became worried.
"Hey, are you okay?" he asked quietly.
Hatorra took in a deep, shaky breath and nodded slightly.
"Why isn't my ki returning quicker than this? I've never had a problem recovering before. Why am I still so weak that I can barely stand sometimes? What is happening?" she asked out loud frustrated.
"You went through a lot Torra. I mean physically and emotionally damaging shit. Your body probably wasn't used to it and just needs time," he suggested.
Hatorra shook her head.
"I don't think that's it. I don't know Yusuke. I just don't feel right. Something's off," she admitted to him.
"What do you mean?" he asked concerned.
Hatorra wasn't sure if she should be putting her fears on him. But Hiei wasn't there at the moment and Yusuke was asking.
"I don't know. Perhaps I'm just tired," she lied.
Yusuke frowned.
"Do you feel alright?" he asked.
Hatorra nodded slowly.
"I'm sure you're right. My body just wasn't used to the amount of trauma. It'll heal in time," she said smiling.
Yusuke grinned at her.
"When are you going to realize that you really suck at lying?" he asked and Hatorra's eyes widened.
Yusuke chuckled.
"Just be honest with me. I can handle my fair share. I'm stronger than you're giving me credit for. Shame on you," he chided playfully.
Hatorra gave him a real smile and chuckled.
"Okay…honestly…I feel like I'm not healing at all," she admitted and Yusuke's eyes widened.
Hatorra's smile fell.
"Sometimes I feel stronger, like my ki is returning to me. Like this morning, I woke up and I felt fine. I actually felt like I was getting better. But then other times I feel like it's being sucked away and I feel so weak. It feels like it's being taken from me. My wounds are healed, but on the inside it hurts so much sometimes. I've never experienced this before so I don't know what it is and it leaves me concerned," she spoke quietly.
Yusuke took in the information and processed it all.
"You don't have any idea what it could be?" he asked and she shook her head.
"None," she confirmed.
Yusuke nodded.
"Well whatever it is, we're going to find out. We're going to the Makai and we're leaving tomorrow," he said firmly.
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