Hello, everyone!
Iduna : Thank you so much for the review! I'm so glad that you are enjoying it so far and I hope you enjoy it until the end!
I have another chapter for you! I do not own rights to Yu Yu Hakusho, but I do own rights to one character in particular but you'll find out yourself. Without further ado, I bid you good reading!
Of Petals and Thorns
Chapter 2
"…Why?..."
Asuka sat upright, sweat trickling down her brow. Her head swiveled as she searched the room but she was alone. "Was I…dreaming?" she whispered, running a hand through her hair. Her breath caught as many strands of hair tangled in her fingers. Time seemed to freeze as a shadow moved near her window, a figure with hair that stood upright. "Who are you?!"
"…Why?"
The figure faded, leaving only empty space. "Why is this happening to me?" Her head fell in against her knees as tears filled her eyes. She tensed as a knock came from the door as well as her mother's voice. Rubbing her eyes, she hurriedly stood and peeked out the door in time to see her mother descend the stairs. "I'll be right down!" she called, closing the door and shoving the handful of hair into the waste basket as she quickly put her locks into its traditional single pony then dressed. She slipped out onto the back porch while on her way to the kitchen and fondly gazed at the blooming rosebush that sat in the corner.
Her mother had bought it shortly after giving birth to Asuka and had passed its care unto her when she had turned ten. Even when she was sick, she would ask her mother to bring the plant to the hospital so that she could care for it. The blooms were still on the small side but their vibrant colors portrayed the emotion and care that she had put forth to them. There were red, white, yellow, even orange that came together to form the beautiful bush. "You're looking amazing," she whispered while watering it. "Let's get better together!" During her stay in the hospital, the roses had been attacked by a bug swarm and was on the verge of dying, but it miraculously began to come back to life when Asuka herself started on the road to recovery.
Asuka slid the porch door closed behind her just before her mother called for her again. "Did you sleep well?" her mother asked while sliding an omelet onto the plate.
She nodded, lifting the glass of water to her lips. It nearly fell from her hand as a dark shadow appeared in the window. Standing, she rushed to the window and flung it open, cringing at the sudden sunlight that blinded her. A breath escaped her as the spots finally faded and revealed a cat on the fence. "I think I might still be half asleep…" Her mother appeared at her side immediately asking questions, but Asuka waved her away as the doorbell rang.
"Hello, it's a pleasure to meet you," a familiar voice echoed down the hallway and into the kitchen. "I'm one of Asuka's classmates."
Was that- She leapt from her chair and poked her head out, smiling and blinking in surprise as familiar crimson hair came into view. "I'll be right there!" Asuka quickly wolfed down the rest of her breakfast and grabbed her bag as she passed the hallway bench. "Good morning, Shuichi!"
"Good morning." Kurama greeted as she moved to stand next to him. They bowed and began their way to the school. Asuka blushed lightly as he reached up and picked something from her cheek, a piece of egg between his fingertips. "I see that you were in a hurry to finish your meal, should I come by a little later tomorrow?"
"You don't have to walk me to school everyday," she shook her head in an attempt to hide her embarrassment. Her breath caught as a shadow on the opposite side of the street shifted and she unconsciously moved closer to Kurama.
For the briefest of seconds, his green orbs too had spotted the shadow and took a deep breath. So it appeared that Hiei was on the move. His thoughts of the case were interrupted by Asuka's sudden movement closer to his side. "It's nothing to worry about," he soothed, smiling. "It was probably just a cat."
"Uh…yeah," she nodded, forcing her lips into a smile. "Come on, let's hurry before we're late."
…
"How were your classes today?"
"They were alright, I guess," Asuka shrugged as they began walking home. "I can make it home on my own today, you don't have to follow me everywhere."
Kurama nodded. "Alright, if you insist. I will see you in the morning then." His eyes followed her as she stepped down her street before they closed. "Hello, Hiei, it's been awhile."
A short man with jet black hair dropped from the tree next to him. Dressed in a black cloak, he would almost appear as a monk if it weren't for his hard and cold eyes. "You finally lost that girl. Is she your new girlfriend?"
"I noticed that you were searching the street this morning. Have you found anything yet?"
Hiei smirked. "I may have, but I won't know until I observe a little more." When Kurama sent him a questioning glance, the shorter apparition held up a rose similar to the one that had been in the video. "I found this at the school you go to. Know anything about it?"
"May I?" Kurama took the rose and examined it from every angle. It looked like an ordinary rose, but its dark color left him bemused. They blinked as the rose's hue slowly returned to a more natural shade of red. "In all my life, I have never seen a rose like this." Taking a deep breath, his nose was able to pick up the faintest hint of- "Vanilla?"
"Isn't vanilla something you put in food?"
"Yes, so why would it be on an inedible plant?"
…
Asuka was just stepping out of the shower when the voice from before whispered into her ear. Shaking her head, she slipped into her room and closed the door with a click. A shiver shot down her spine as a shadow moved past the window. "Why ask me? It's not like I know the answer to your unasked question. I'm sorry, but I don't understand. I don't know how to help you."
"He left me…"
She blinked as the room swam out of focus. "What are you-" Her breathing grew shallow as a tight pain entered her chest and her legs buckled. The last thing she saw before slipping into unconsciousness was her reflection and it was unrecognizable. Instead of sienna, her hair was navy and her eyes had taken on a copper tinge with a sapphire ring around the outer edge.
"Why?"
Asuka spun around, but everywhere she looked it was all black. The carpet, the walls, the furniture, even the sunlight coming through the window was black. The voice kept calling out, but no matter how hard she tried no sound came from her own lips. She felt her heart miss a beat when she looked down and found herself covered from head to toe in red.
"Why?!"
Panic rose in her as the red began to spread and cover her entire being. What is this?! What's happening to me?! Her eyes widened as world began to warp around her, the ground rising to become the ceiling and the furniture began to fall like rain.
…
"Asuka, time to get ready for school!" The woman called through the door. When she didn't receive an answer, she knocked once more and peeked in. "Asuka?" She fell onto her knees next to the bed the second her eyes fell on her daughter. The girl was sweating and was as pale as death despite the feverish red in her cheeks. Tears fell from her eyes as her daughter remained unconscious despite her callings. "Asuka, wake up! Asuka!" She collected the girl into her arms and raced down the stairs, grabbing her keys and purse. Just as she was about to lock the door, the keys fell from her shaking hand and into an unfamiliar hand that appeared from nowhere.
"Hello, I'm here to escort Asuka to school. You must be her mother-" Kurama's eyes widened when he saw Asuka wrapped in the blanket she was carrying. "Is everything alright?"
"I'm so sorry, but she will not be attending school today," she bowed, snatching the keys and hurried over to her car. His hand grasped her own, stalling her movements in time for him to take Asuka from her. "What are you-"
"You drive and I'll keep her stable!" He opened the driver's door and the one behind it before slipping into the backseat.
Sorry that the chapter is so short and choppy, but I will try to make the next longer! Please let me know what you think!