Chapter 28: The Stalemate Ends
Miwa could smell him through the closed door. The space between the door and the floor was not even half an inch tall, but he had been in there so long, she could only imagine how strong the scent would be once she opened the door. A cool nighttime breeze brushed past her heels, and she gave a quick glance around her, just to make sure no night owl neighbors noticed her coming home so late at night. But then again, none of them have seen her at all in quite some time. Slowly, Miwa reached out her hand, turned her key to undo the lock with a loud click, and pushed her way inside.
Iizuna was waiting for her, sitting lazily on the couch, in the body of Takeo Shimizu. He pretended to focus only on the TV until the door latched shut, and he turned his head with a wide, bright smile.
"Hey there, sweetie! How was your trip?"
Miwa ignored him. A quick look around the apartment was enough to show he didn't trash the place while she was away. Not that she expected him to; Iizuna still had to fool Takeo's memory while possessing him. He watched her inspect the place, not bothered in the least that she ignored his cheerful greeting, and Miwa was glad that despite his overly familiar attitude, Iizuna followed through on his job. She walked through the living area, cast him a quick glance, and said, "Once I put this stuff in my room, you can leave him."
"But this show is just starting to get interesting!"
She slammed her bedroom door in response.
Miwa let her bag drop, the contents clunking and shifting against each other as they hit the ground. Through the door, she could hear the TV playing and Iizuna muttering to himself. She took a deep breath, and the lack of Iizuna's scent in her room was honestly shocking. It was there, no doubt about it, but it seemed that in all his time staying at this apartment, he rarely entered her room, at most coming in every other week just to air out the space. A small feeling of guilt clouded her thoughts about that weasel. As much as he loved to make fun of her, Iizuna followed through on the jobs she gave him; even avoiding her room like she had wanted. Maybe he didn't deserve to be treated so coldly.
A small clock on her desk clicked, marking the start of the midnight hour. In the living room, Iizuna stood up and walked to Takeo's own bedroom, his feet shuffling lazily across the floor. Miwa's bedroom shared a wall with Takeo's, and if the room was quiet, sometimes small noises could be heard through it. The rustle of clothes, the bed creaking under Takeo's weight, and a heavy sigh of a man about to go to sleep. Iizuna was leaving Takeo's body behind in his own bed. Miwa kicked her bag farther into her room, away from the door, and went back into the hall. Iizuna, in his real body this time, was waiting for her back in the living room. Miwa wrinkled her nose; his smell was stronger when he wasn't possessing someone. But seeing Iizuna's real body casually standing around in her apartment, his brown hair still as stiff and rough-looking as she remembered, was like an invasion of her demon life into her human home; far less subtle than his scent floating about.
Miwa asked, "Is he asleep?"
Iizuna nodded and looked longingly at Takeo's bedroom. "Probably filling in the blanks of his memory as he sleeps. I wish I could read his mind to see how he does it…"
"Did anything happen to him that I should know about?"
"Well, he might be super invested in some of the shows I've been watching," Iizuna said, pointing a thumb to the TV. "But nothing he would really talk to his daughter about, at least. Being a working human adult is sooooo tough sometimes. You're lucky you're still pretending to be a schoolgirl."
Miwa walked past him to the front door. Iizuna took the hint and followed. "I will probably need your help again in a few months," she said, "Same job."
"Another trip?" Iizuna gasped, holding his palms to his cheeks. "You're busier than your fake dad. How long can you keep up a double life? …How long can your wallet keep up?"
Miwa smirked. "Are you worried about me?"
He wiped a fake tear from his eye. "Pardon me for wondering about my favorite client's finances," he answered, feigning crying with his palm over his mouth. "I should've expected more work since you actually came back. And right now, you don't look like a girl who accomplished what she wanted to do out there."
"Did you expect me to come back skipping with glee?"
"No, but I can tell. You don't look any more sure of yourself than when I last saw you. So you either failed, or you didn't get the answer you wanted. My guess is the latter."
He looked so smug. Miwa wanted to punch him in the face. "...The only reason you are alive right now is because I will need your help again. Don't tempt me."
"Fine, fine." Iizuna waved his hands dismissively, as if that would absolve him of being annoying. "I'll just keep watching my little goldfish flop around from afar." He pulled open the front door and a waft of cold air swooped in, making other doors in the apartment rattle on their hinges. Stepping outside, Iizuna took a deep breath through his nose, taking in the quiet spring night. He turned, gave Miwa a simple wave, and said "See you soon, Himari."
The door closed behind him, and Miwa automatically moved to lock it. That habit, at least, wasn't lost after months away. An empty silence filled the room; his presence was larger than she expected, but the emptiness was welcomed. Finally, the whole messy business surrounding her return to Demon World was over. Over, at least, until their next summons to Gandara. Things could be taken slow now, and a sudden wave of tiredness overtook her body, as if all the work, travel, and stress finally hit her all at once.
Miwa glanced around the room to make sure all the doors and windows were locked; another habit she was happy to have not forgotten. The glance also showed her how little had changed in the apartment. Maybe that was to be expected, but after everything that happened in Demon World, coming back to a place so unchanged made her wonder if all of it was just a dream. Iizuna's smell lingering in the air was the only reason she knew it was all real.
That, and the long, narrow box she brought back with her.
Back in her room, Miwa gingerly picked up her bag. It was a lot lighter now that all the information concerning Fuura had been disposed of. Even some non-perishable rations she carried along were gone, given instead to a random soldier she happened to pass in the hallways of Yomi's compound. Only her clothes and the narrow box remained, but the box was truthfully a new addition, given to her the day she left Demon World. By Shirai.
"It is time I return this to you," he had said, holding out the long, black box. It was narrow and clean, without a single blemish, wrapped in a sky-blue bow. He clearly took care in its presentation.
Kurama, who was standing beside her, stared at the gift just as curious as she. Shirai had caught up to them as they prepared to leave Gandara, nearly out the door. And even though Kurama offered to give them privacy, Shirai politely declined, saying his business wouldn't take too much of their time.
Taking it in her hands, Miwa hesitated, feeling unworthy of such a luxurious-looking object. She didn't remember owning something that would be stored so nicely. "May I open it?" she asked, and Shirai nodded with his usual thin smile. She pinched the ribbon between two fingers, untied it gently, and then she pocketed it, wanting to save something so pretty. The box cover opened just as smoothly, and Miwa realized that its weight had felt familiar all along.
It was her hair ornament, made of metal and painted glossy black, adorned with a soft pink lotus flower. The ornament she received from her mother, that she wore in her first public performance, and the same one Shirai used to demonstrate his ability to read an object's history.
"You didn't take it with you the night you left," Shirai explained. "I know you have a lot to think about, but I hope this will give you a new perspective to consider."
"Perspective?"
"...Memory," he answered, strong and resolute. "Revenge may no longer be possible for you, and that is undoubtedly my fault. But I know better than anyone that memory will still remain. Your family, and who you used to be; that hair ornament remembers it, and so do you. I hope you will consider this new perspective, that keeping those memories alive in you is more important than revenge or atonement."
Her ornament lay on a soft bed of cotton, cleaner and better maintained than when it was in her possession. And it wasn't just the presentation. Shirai took really good care of this hair ornament, after all this time. Two pairs of eyes were watching her, waiting to see what she would do. There was likely some expectation that she would put it in her hair. Miwa touched it, feeling that cool metal against her fingertip for the first time in forever.
Then she closed the box, hair ornament still inside. "Thank you, Shirai. I…I will consider it."
Shirai was not bothered by her refusal to wear it again. He lowered his head and gestured elegantly to the hair pin with one gloved hand. "I apologize for my past lies, Miwa, but this is the last truth I have kept from you." Shirai sent a direct look to Kurama, which Miwa did not understand, but then he looked back to her and said, "It is my sincere wish that, whatever you decide, it will make you happy."
Her fingers closed around the box, and Shirai politely saw them off with his thin smile.
…I told him I would consider it, Miwa thought now, alone in her bedroom, but I…
She brought the hair ornament all the way back to the Human World, but it stayed hidden in her bag, wrapped in several layers of clothing. Miwa undid the wrappings slowly, unveiling the corners of the black box in small portions with every layer. In the journey across dimensions, the formerly pristine box gained a few dents while living in Miwa's bag. There was a brief flash of guilt for sullying such pristine packaging, but the feeling quickly passed when Miwa opened the box. Her ornament was just as unblemished and perfect as when she last looked at it. She touched it with her finger, smooth and cool as always against her skin, and wondered what memories it still held. Other than the glimpse Shirai gave her long ago, she had no idea. And after she carelessly left behind a family heirloom, was she even someone worth remembering? She never took care of it, nothing close to the care Shirai put in restoring it for her. And she was a nobody back then, a nameless face in a sea of dancing snakes who happened to wear a lotus hair ornament.
But Shirai said it does remember who she used to be. So does she, and keeping those memories was more important than revenge or atonement.
I told him I would consider it…
Miwa closed the box and stuffed it in her desk drawer, slamming it shut with a bang that cut through the room's silence.
…but I don't want to think about anything.
{00}
Returning to school after being away for months was as difficult as expected, but expectation didn't make things any easier.
When Miwa left school for brief periods in the past, like going to Maze Castle or the Dark Tournament, coming back to her Himari Shimizu life was so easy. As easy as slipping back into a well-practiced routine, and the events in between disappeared like they were merely a dream. But this time, the transition wasn't nearly as smooth. More like forcing herself into a shirt or jacket she had outgrown. There was a strange feeling on the first day Miwa walked to the Meio campus. Everything around her looked the same; some storefronts didn't even update or rearrange their outdoor displays. The people she passed by didn't spare her a second glance. Even her red uniform fit just as well as the last time she wore it. Familiarity was all around her, but Miwa herself felt like a confused tourist looking around in every direction. That she was the only one who changed.
However, she could pretend the confusion didn't exist by training her eyes forward. Missing months of classes, by comparison, was not as easy to hide. Kurama, ever so kind and diligent, gave her his notes from while she was away, but Miwa could only absorb so much of it before throwing herself into the new school year. She somehow managed to scrape by, avoiding her average scores noticeably trending downward. For the first month of school, it was a small point of pride that she was at least clever enough to only trail slightly behind until catching up with her classmates.
Miwa and Saya were still in the same class, and Miwa was bombarded with greetings and catch-up talk the moment she first walked into the classroom. Taichi did the same thing upon seeing her at the opening ceremony. But over time, Miwa was able to appease all Saya and Taichi's questions using fake story details to explain what happened in her absence. Everything was fine at home, she told them, there was no need to worry. And for a time, Miwa's life as Himari Shimizu returned to normal. The routine human teenage life became familiar again. An endless stream of homework, projects, and exams. Commuting between school and home, lounging on the weekends, and occasionally meeting with Saya and Taichi. Her duty to Gandara and the threat of Demon World's stalemate faded into the background as they waited for Raizen to die. Miwa's hair ornament had not seen the light of day for weeks, nearly forgotten amid the other knickknacks in her drawer.
Miwa's life seemed stable, but her seal was not.
She had, for better or worse, gotten used to the constant burning sensation in her chest, even before going to see Fuura. However, the random surges of energy increased in frequency, happening at least once a week. They came at any time: in the middle of class, while walking to school, or even in the dead of the night. Despite their frequency, Miwa could not predict when the surges would come. Her pain was somehow managed and tolerated when in the presence of others, but anyone paying close attention would notice her wincing, hunching her shoulders, or clutching her chest for minutes at a time.
Unfortunately, Saya and Taichi were two of the few who did pay attention.
One day, after school, Miwa decided to walk with them to the gym. It was raining, so both of their clubs were holding activities indoors. Miwa didn't have any intention to watch or participate but spending a little extra time with them was always nice. Simple. Relaxing.
And then Saya decided to ask, oh so innocently, "Himari, did you decide on the universities you're applying for?"
Miwa broke stride and almost tripped over her feet. "Uh…More or less."
The hottest topic of conversation among her classmates, and the only new addition to Himari Shimizu's life. College entrance exams, after all, were looming ever closer, and Miwa's classmates were in the thick of planning their futures. Choosing their paths after their high school lives ended, deciding on universities to apply for, or specialties to be educated in. This topic, while normal for humans at this age, was an unwelcome wrench in Miwa's already unstable life.
Taichi adjusted the strap of his duffel bag. "You don't sound very certain, Shimizu."
"It's fine. I'm fine."
She wasn't fine. This was karma. It had to be. Why else would Miwa be faced with choosing a path toward an uncertain future in both of her lives? A karmic debt, perhaps, built over her entire life for her unwillingness to think and choose for herself. And of course, upon hearing Saya's question, Miwa's seal decided that this would be the perfect time to flare up in pain and unstable energy.
"You two have already decided, right?" Miwa asked, desperately taking the focus off herself as her chest tightened and her shoulders involuntarily hunched over.
Saya and Taichi glanced at each other, eyes off of Miwa and unaware that her pace slowed down. "We are applying for the same university," Saya answered, "but I'm thinking of studying kinesiology." She smiled, excitement and hope glistening in her eyes. "Maybe…I'll be a physical therapist one day, or a P.E. teacher!"
I have to get away. Before they see…
"I'm going for business," Taichi said with a lighthearted laugh. "I dunno. It sounds like a safe option, and I can get a job almost anywhere, right?"
Miwa envied them. She knew they had been thinking about this for a long time. It came up in their talks occasionally, but she always evaded giving her own input. Miwa never had a plan for herself, and she couldn't admit that to them. Her plan was always going to follow what Kurama decided. If not the same trajectory, then one similar enough that she could still be there for him. Of course, even that plan, once a safe and easy choice, had gone right out the window. He wouldn't be happy if she followed that plan.
A sharp bolt of pain seized her body, and all strength disappeared from her legs.
"If you're still not sure," Taichi said, turning back, "hasn't the guidance counselor been talking with-. …Shimizu?"
They noticed.
"Himari, are you okay?!"
Of course, they noticed. Despite her frequent disappearances, the secrets, or the vague explanations of her personal life, Saya and Taichi considered Himari Shimizu a dear friend. They saw her on her knees, shaking, one hand clutching her chest and the other her upper arm, her face scrunching together and clenching her teeth tight. If confusion and worry had not overtaken their senses, Saya and Taichi would have noticed her teeth had grown sharper, or streaks of white had flashed through her hair, but with no spiritual awareness, they would never sense the tumultuous Demon Energy surging through her body.
"I'm…fine," Miwa grunted, forcing herself to stand. Immediately, Saya moved forward to support her, but Miwa stepped away. "I'm fine," she repeated unconvincingly through gritted teeth. She forced her eyes open and her cheeks to curl into a smile. "I'll just lie down at the infirmary for a bit. You two are going to be late for your club practice." She took two large steps back and hoped they didn't look as unstable as they felt.
Miwa never wanted them to see her seal attack her like this. But considering how often they were together, it was only a matter of time.
"You're not fine!" Saya cried, stepping forward again, "I know something's been wrong ever since you came back."
Miwa couldn't argue with that. "It's not as bad as it looks," she lied, taking two more large steps away and turned to round a hallway corner. "I just need a bit of rest."
And then she ran. Through the pain and surging energy, Miwa forced herself to run. Her steps were weak and wobbly, making her path meander from left to right. If someone else saw her, they would immediately assume she was either drunk or about to pass out. Miwa opened her eyes and lifted her head. Her sight was unfocused, and the hallway was spinning. Each surge burned from the inside, sending sharp, stabbing pain across her flesh, like it was containing the force of a bomb, but Miwa survived worse pain than this. She straightened her back and looked forward, biting the inside of her cheek to distract from the pain in her chest, and she tasted blood. Let any bystander think she was sick, she decided, but Miwa could not reveal how much pain she felt, or she would be carried off to a human hospital.
One step forward. She didn't fall. In the distance, she heard Saya calling her name.
Two steps forward. Still didn't fall. Around that corner was an emergency stairwell. She could hide there until this awful feeling passed.
Three steps forward. The sound of approaching footsteps cut through her intense focus.
"Miwa?"
She flinched. She wasn't used to hearing her name at school, but that voice could only be one person. Kurama appeared around the corner, his shoes skidding across the ground to slow his running speed. The relief upon seeing him made Miwa's legs feel even weaker, but she refused to let herself fall. Regardless, Kurama grabbed her shoulders to offer support, just as Saya had tried to do. Without asking any questions, he guided her to the emergency stairwell and kicked the door open with his foot. Miwa stumbled her way down the first flight of stairs, one arm over Kurama's shoulder and the other holding the railing, until they reached the landing between floors. They were farther away from the door now, giving a small sense of privacy, but they could only hope nobody would pass by. Miwa immediately dropped to the ground and leaned her shoulder against the wall, breathing heavily. Minutes passed, and the rushed panic faded away, but shame crept its way in, and Miwa pulled her legs to her chest, resting her forehead on her knees to hide her face.
Kurama kneeled next to her. He was wearing a white lab coat over his uniform. Probably sprinted over from the science lab, Miwa reasoned, abandoning his after-school experiments as soon as he sensed her energy going haywire. "Are you alright?" he asked.
Without looking at him, Miwa took in a slow, deep breath. Sweat coated her skin, and every movement made her chest twinge, but she managed to whisper, "I will be." Now that she felt safe, the surging pain was beginning to pass. This was the second time his presence helped her seal calm down, but knowing what she did now, Miwa wasn't sure that was a good thing.
Kurama patiently waited for her to catch her breath and for her energy to calm. Occasionally, she would glance up at him, and he'd be watching the stairs, ready to deter any human that may walk by. In one heart-stopping moment, Saya's voice echoed down the hall, calling for Himari, which made Miwa's muscles tense. But luckily, Saya didn't check the stairs and her voice went farther and farther away.
Ten minutes passed, the pain slowly ebbed away, and nobody found them. Miwa finally raised her head, grateful that her luck held out long enough to keep this moment private from other humans. "Thanks," she said, taking another deep breath. "Sorry you had to run all the way over here."
Kurama relaxed, as did the tension in his body, and stood up. "That was a strong one," he said, holding out his hand. Miwa took it, pulling herself to her feet with his help. "Did something happen? I thought you were accompanying Tsutsumi and Kimura to the gym."
"I was. It's just…" She wanted to hide it. She told him everything that she learned from Fuura, except for this. This paralyzing fear that kept her from taking even one step forward. "It's nothing. I'm fine now."
She hesitated. It was obvious. "Miwa, if you keep putting this off…"
He was concerned. Miwa knew he said that because he was worried for her, still using her real name. She turned to the stairs, but even thinking of climbing them made her nervous. "...I'm fine."
"You're not. It's been months, and your seal has only gotten worse." He glanced at her hair, knowing she had never worn her ornament. "I know there's a lot for you to consider, but-"
"Easy for you to say" Miwa snapped, but she couldn't stop herself. This feeling was building for so long. "You've already decided what you want for me, huh?"
If she were looking in his direction, Miwa would have seen Kurama recoil, but he recovered quickly. "It's not about me. You can't hide this forever. Not from your friends or your father. The longer you put off what you need to do, the worse your condition will get."
"...What I 'need' to do?" she repeated. There was a faint, ever-so-quiet hiss hiding under her tone. Slowly, Miwa turned to look at Kurama, aching for somewhere, anywhere, to aim her frustrations away from the bundled mess in her head. "You all make it sound like I have a choice, but it's like you don't even want me here anymore. Like nobody would be happy if I don't renounce this oath. What kind of choice is that?"
"...You know this can't continue."
"Well, what if I want this to stay?" Her fingers dove into her hair and messed it up. "My hair, my fangs, my eyes…even a stupid heartbeat. I can't be Himari Shimizu without the seal. Everything was fine until Shirai had to… What's wrong with wanting things to stay the same?!"
"You can be more than the same. Do whatever you want!"
"But not here, right? Hell, what would I even do in Demon World at this point..." Miwa clenched her teeth and shook her head with an annoyed groan. Then, she found herself staring at Kurama's white lab coat. It belonged to the school for communal use, but he used it so often that nobody else bothered to touch it. "...Must be nice to have a demon and a human body."
He recoiled again, and his recovery was not as quick as before. "What?"
"You have Shuichi Minamino's body, a human form you can transform into. I don't. If I renounce my oath, that's it. Himari Shimizu is gone, and there will be nowhere for me in the Human World. Unless I wander the underworld with the other demon criminals. Is that what you want?"
"Miwa…" Kurama's fists clenched. "You're clinging to your cycle because it's familiar. That's what you've always done, even when you came here to find me. If you don't break it now, you'll fall into it again, with or without the seal."
"There's nothing for me out there! But even here, you've never needed me. I'm not nearly as useful as a human." She shook her head and wandered away to stare at the wall. "Another stupid cycle of uselessness," she muttered, "How am I even still alive after four years of this crap?"
Alarmed, Kurama grabbed her shoulder and forced her to turn around. "What do you mean?"
"That was our deal, wasn't it? You'd kill me when I was no longer useful," she said, but rather than looking at him, her eyes pointed in every other direction. She couldn't stand the look he was giving her. "Instead, you're trying to send me back to Demon World."
"I…" He shook his head in vehement denial, "I told you; this isn't about me!"
"It's not?! You've wanted me to give it up since we stole the Artifacts of Darkness!"
"For you! So you could do something you wanted!" He paused, his fingers gripping tighter into her shoulder. She was looking at him now, confused, and perplexed. That wasn't an answer she expected, but Kurama ignored it. "…Hiei is in Demon World now. You could…You could tell him how you feel."
"I-" Miwa's face scrunched up, and she sputtered a few nonsensical sounds. Then she yanked herself out of his grasp and retreated. "That's pointless. He'd never accept that from someone so indecisive and pathetic."
"That's why you…? You're not-"
A door opening brought everything to a halt. "Himari?" a quiet voice asked, and Miwa and Kurama whirled around to witness the intruder, both in unison and in equally awkward surprise. Their intensity made Saya jump, knowing she stumbled onto something she wasn't meant to see. "Is everything alright?" she asked, powering through her own confusion. "I heard shouting."
The dreadful weight in Miwa's stomach was quickly replaced by shame. Arguing about this stuff on school grounds was incredibly stupid. Arguing when she knew Saya and Taichi were running around looking for her was even stupider. Miwa had excuses prepared in case her friends ever saw her seal reacting, but in that moment of shame and dread, none of them were coming to mind at all. Just constantly questioning if Saya heard things that couldn't be easily explained.
Kurama recovered first and stepped forward. "Everything's fine, Kimura. We're sorry if we worried you."
Saya didn't seem convinced, but she shouted over her shoulder into the hallway, "Taichi, I found them!"
In the distance, a confused, "Them?" echoed as a response, but Saya pushed open the door and kicked the doorstop down. Descending the stairs two at a time, she went straight for Miwa just as Taichi poked his head in the doorway. "What happened?" she asked, "Are you sick?
Miwa's first instinct was to deny it, but that option was long gone. "I'm fine, Saya. Don't you two have club practice?"
"Are you joking?! You looked like you were about to collapse! Taichi and I were looking everywhere for you."
Taichi nodded as he also descended the stairs. Then he paused, noticing Kurama for the first time. "Is she okay?" he asked.
"Yes, she's fine. Luckily, I happened to be passing by, so Himari didn't fall down the stairs or anything." Miwa frowned at him for a second, but he ignored her. "She was just feeling sick from dehydration. I found some water for her, so everything is fine now."
Saya looked back to Miwa, still looking skeptical. As a long-standing sports team member, Saya must have seen her teammates dehydrated before, and it probably didn't look anything like what she saw today. Not to mention, a sharp eye would notice there were no bottles of water anywhere nearby. Like an idiot, Miwa had left behind the one she always carried in her school bag, which was currently in her classroom. Or worse, if someone noticed Kurama's white coat and realized the science lab was in a separate building from where they stood, this scenario made even less sense.
But somehow, Miwa found the means to smile from the hilarious thought of a mizuchi becoming dehydrated. "I'm sorry for scaring you both, but I promise I'm feeling better now."
Still, Saya was unconvinced. Her eyes darted between Kurama and Miwa, perhaps sensing some sort of secret, but she didn't press on it. "Well, please go home and get some rest, then. And drink more water." Miwa recognized the look on her face. Saya was going to grill her about this the next time they were alone.
"I'll make sure she gets home safely," Kurama offered, and he smiled warmly at Saya and Taichi. "Could you two take her down to the front entrance? I'll run back to the classrooms and get our things."
"Yeah, sure," Taichi answered immediately.
Miwa frowned. He was going to leave her alone with them?! "You guys don't have to-"
"No way," said Saya, wrapping her arms around Miwa's elbow. "I'm not letting you run off alone again."
Miwa's willingness to resist deflated. Saya's concern was very sweet, but her suspicious glances at Kurama did nothing to help Miwa's nerves. "Fine, let's go."
Satisfied, Saya chuckled and tugged Miwa's arm, both dragging and guiding her down the stairs to the floor below. Taichi and Kurama exchanged a quick nod before Taichi followed the girls and Kurama went upstairs to the classrooms. Taichi made some small talk as they walked, pointing out that the rain finally stopped, so maybe club activities could be held outside after all. Saya and Miwa both gave appropriate responses, but they were short; mere filler to keep the conversation going. Miwa was preoccupied berating herself for starting a stupid argument in such a public place. Saya, on the other hand, was carefully observing the area around them, as if she was afraid they would be seen. But at this point, students loitering around after school would have settled into their preferred locations, not wandering the halls. They arrived at the front entrance, and Saya seemed pleased that nobody else was around.
"Himari," she said, taking one last glance down the nearest corridor. "I can walk you home, if you want."
"Huh? Why?"
Saya's grip on her arm tightened. "C'mon, I heard you arguing with Minamino on the stairs."
And then it clicked. That's why Saya was being so cautious. She thought Kurama had done something to make her angry.
"Wait, what?" Taichi asked. "You and Minamino?"
Saya nodded. "I don't know what happened, but you both sounded pretty upset. If you're not up to walking home with him, then I'll take you instead."
Miwa thought about it. Really thought about it. And thinking back, replaying everything that just happened, what were they even arguing about? Her seal? Her oath? Staying in the Human World? Every pent-up frustration and insecurity had tumbled out in one complaint after another, as if ranting about her problems was somehow going to fix anything. It was childish. It was embarrassing. And her chest clenched with nerves knowing she'd have to face him again, let alone walk with him. "I think…" Miwa said slowly, and then she shook her head. Saya's offer was tempting, but one thing that came up did stick out. His whole reason for sending her back was for her sake? It was the one answer she didn't expect. "No… Thanks, Saya, but I think there's still some things we need to talk about."
"Hold up," Taichi said, "What were you even arguing abou-oof!" Saya's swift kick to the shin cut him off. Taichi shook out his leg and timidly cleared his throat. "Sorry. It's just hard to picture you two fighting."
"W-well, I mean…" Miwa lowered her head and ruffled her hair. "It was mostly me. I was annoyed at something and took it out on him. It was stupid…"
"...Then, I guess it's a good thing he offered to get your things." Saya loosened her grip and glanced up the corridor again, but this time appearing much calmer. "Now that you're not all worked up, you can talk it out properly, right?"
Miwa's cheeks burned with shame, but she nodded anyway. "That was probably his plan."
Finally, Saya smiled, and she gave Miwa's arm a comforting squeeze. "Don't worry. You guys have been friends for years. It'll work out."
Taichi nodded eagerly, but Miwa stared at the ground, refraining from saying it's more complicated than that. This was hardly the first time they've fought. A lifetime ago, they occasionally argued on the best course of action for a heist, or Miwa had to justify why she diverged from Kurama's original plan. But in those arguments, Miwa would eventually accede because her only goal was to be useful, not to push her will over his. This fight was…different, more emotionally charged than before, and Miwa didn't know what to say when he got back.
And Kurama did come back, lab coat gone, and two school bags stuffed under one arm. His smile was calm and gentle as he thanked Saya and Taichi for their help, but to Miwa it was just as unreadable as a mask. Was he angry? Or would he forgive her childishness? His ability to hide what he's thinking was scary when it worked against you. Still, he held out her bag, smiling as he asked, "Ready to go?"
Miwa slowly took her bag from his hand, and she sensed her water bottle resting inside; he refilled it for her, too. Unnecessary, as she wasn't really dehydrated, but the effort was enough to make her feel even more embarrassed. Or he was buying more time so they both could calm down. She didn't deserve this kindness. Still, she forced herself to look up and said, "Yeah, let's go."
They quickly put on their outdoor shoes and Miwa waved goodbye to Saya and Taichi. Saya looked a bit worried, but she saw them off with a smile anyway. Then, they left the building, alone once again. Miwa touched her elbow, missing her friend's supportive warmth.
It was quiet for several minutes. Miwa found herself purposefully walking faster than normal to keep Kurama out of her peripheral view, unable to stand the idea that she would notice him watching her. It was dumb; he didn't need to look at her to know her seal's condition had improved, for the moment anyway. He didn't even need to walk her home. It was just a way for them to continue their…conversation away from school. Miwa clenched her fists. She should say something. She started the stupid argument, so she should be the one to end it. But all her brain would allow was reflecting on her childishness and failing to think of something, anything to break the ice and start this conversation again.
Then, she heard him laugh, amused and good-hearted. "Miwa, I can tell you don't know what to say."
She bit her lip, but somehow his laughter was calming. "That obvious?"
"You just look so nervous."
"Because I am!" Miwa plastered her hands to her face. "I was being so ridiculous!"
"Well," Kurama shrugged and quickly matched his pace with her. "I may have pushed you a bit too hard."
Miwa pulled her hands away. "You weren't wrong, though," she said, now fiddling with her hair, "I just took out my frustrations on you."
"I think we both did," he said quietly and pointed up ahead. "Shall we talk over there? The sidewalk might not be the best place for this."
He pointed at a park, which Miwa immediately recognized as the place where she and Yusuke talked before the whole Demon World business. Back when he felt he didn't fit into this world anymore and didn't know what to do next. How fitting, Miwa thought, now that a year later, she was back in this space feeling just as lost. Still, she nodded, and they turned into the nearest entrance. The rain had only just stopped, so the park was still empty despite being a prime hour for after-school play, but it gave them a quick sense of seclusion and privacy. By the vending machines, Miwa waved away some rainwater that hadn't evaporated yet, drying off the bench so they both could sit. It was the same bench where she sat and talked with Yusuke. Kurama likely didn't know that, but the familiarity made her fiddle with her hair again.
But then, perhaps spurred on by the memory of her friend, Miwa found a bit of courage. "I'm sorry," she said, looking down at her lap, "I was wrong to…vent at you like I did."
Kurama's lips curved into a small, kind smile. "I'm not mad."
"I'm just…I'm just scared." That single word felt so foreign. "I've never had to decide my own path like this before, and I've never thought about what I want to do. The paths I've followed so far were either decided for me or…or something I thought I had to do."
"Well, I'm sorry for pushing you. This was a more difficult decision for you than I realized."
"But I said some really stupid stuff, like you having Shuichi Minamino's body. I know you've been worried about the biorhythms or transforming in front of your family, but I was too jealous to care."
"I told you, I'm not mad. But I…I think I kept something from you for so long that you ended up misunderstanding something important."
Miwa frowned. "Like what?"
Kurama sighed and leaned back onto the bench. "You think I want you to give up your oath because you're no longer useful. I understand why you would think that, but to be honest, I stopped caring about your usefulness to me before you even arrived here."
Wait… "...Before I even-?"
He interrupted with a nod. "I changed a lot from being raised as Shuichi Minamino, and I wanted you to think I was dead. I knew it was risky killing the scouts you sent to find me, but…I was a coward and couldn't tell you directly. You've done everything I asked without question for so long, and I truly am grateful. But if you knew I was alive, you'd do everything in your power to find me. I wanted you to forget about all this and find a new purpose, something you wanted to do with your life. Unrelated to me and your oath, or even unrelated to your tribe if that's what you wanted."
"...So, you wanted that even before we stole the Artifacts of Darkness? That was the first time you ever suggested something like that to me."
"I thought the artifacts were a way I could force you to renounce your oath on your own. Or force you to truly live without me. But even then, I kept what I really wanted a secret because I felt guilty."
"...For what?"
"For not telling you. If I had just told you all this from the start, maybe you wouldn't have gotten the seal in the first place. And when you appeared as Himari Shimizu, I was really happy to see you again, so I decided to not say anything. I care about you, and I didn't want everything you did to get here be in vain. But, even that was just an excuse to keep you here. And knowing what we do now, it needs to end."
"So that's what you meant when you said it was all for me…" Miwa squeezed her arms. "I can't believe I didn't realize that." She should have been the closest person to him. How did the mere possibility not once cross her mind?
"I know how you are. You always gravitate towards what is familiar, and I took advantage of that. Even if you find a way to renounce your oath and live as Himari Shimizu, you'll fall back into an old routine again. I don't want to take any more of your life than I already have." Then, an encouraging smile appeared on his lips. "You're more capable than you think, Miwa. You found me all on your own. You tracked down anything you needed. I'm certain you can find a new purpose for yourself, too."
Miwa's cheeks burned, unprepared for the compliment, and she turned away, her face twisting into an awkward, embarrassed expression that she did not want to be seen. Hiei's harsh criticism was somehow easier to take than this. "You make it sound so easy," she muttered, nervously curling a clump of hair around her finger.
"I might be, but I know you'll figure it out. One day."
Miwa bit her lip and slowly looked back. Kurama wasn't smiling at her anymore, perhaps noticing her awkwardness and politely choosing to look straight ahead.
"...And you'll be okay? Even if I'm gone?"
He didn't answer for several seconds. He didn't move, blink, or even breathe, as if he had turned to stone. He didn't want her to know what he was thinking; that much was clear. But, before worry could properly fester in her heart, he turned, and his lips curved into a smile.
"I'll be fine. I can find my own way, too."
The dull ache of her seal warmed her chest and followed her everywhere, a constant reminder that she needed to act. The push and pull of its power were driving her mad, and each painful flare up drove her to retreat into the safety of her everyday routine. Saya and Taichi saw it in full force for the first time, and Takeo would no doubt witness the same thing one day. Miwa then realized that if they believed she was ill, it would be so easy for Himari Shimizu to disappear from their lives…
Kurama suddenly chuckled to himself. "Shirai told me some time ago that you shouldn't make such an important decision without knowing all the applicable information."
Miwa remembered her hair ornament, collecting dust in her desk drawer. "Perspective."
"Yes. I'm sorry I let you misunderstand my intentions for so long. I wanted to ignore him back then, but…" He bit his lip. "...he wasn't wrong."
"Why would you want to ignore him?" Immediately, Miwa knew just how hypocritical that was when she shut away her hair ornament for so long. But she was genuinely curious. They may not have the best relationship, but it wasn't like Kurama to ignore well-intended advice.
"I didn't want my…" He stopped, as if catching himself before saying something. "...my perspective to get in your way."
"No, I…" The words were hard to form. "Thank you for telling me. Feeling useless was… It was really getting to me."
A couple of children ran past them, beelining straight for the playground equipment in fits of innocent laughter. The dark clouds had passed, and they witnessed the first brave souls to play in the park after long rainfall. More were sure to come, but it seemed they no longer needed the privacy. And, after all this time, it would be best if they didn't linger. If Saya or Taichi passed by after leaving their club, there would be more explaining to do. And Miwa just wasn't ready for that yet.
Kurama stood up and held out his hand. "Shall we go?"
He held out his hand to her before, at the stairs when her seal finally calmed down. It was to help her stand after going through so much pain, but this… She wasn't in pain anymore, nor did she need help to stand. He didn't have to be polite. But Miwa took it anyway, and he easily pulled her to her feet. She expected him to immediately let go, but he didn't. They stood facing each other, hand in hand, for what couldn't be more than a couple seconds, but the moment itself felt suspended in time. His warm and large hand could easily envelop hers, and his eyes drifted downward to look at them. His face was unreadable, despite the small smile, and he slowly let go. Miwa had to consciously lower her own hand so it wouldn't hover alone.
What was that?
Without a word, Kurama put his hands in his pockets and turned to leave. He clearly intended to escort her home, so Miwa followed. And their walk was pleasant and calm, the opposite of their trip to that park. Side by side, they walked in silence, but the air around them was much clearer, less dancing around hidden secrets. For decades, across dimensional planes, Miwa gladly followed this person wherever he went, so even moments like this felt normal and right. Would leaving his side ever feel like the right decision? Miwa looked at her hand, knowing that she would never know the answer until she tried.
He saw her home like a proper gentleman, and he waited from the street to make sure she made it up three floors to her apartment, only leaving once Miwa closed the door behind her. His presence went farther and farther away until it was completely gone, and she was finally alone. Takeo wasn't home yet but returning late wasn't unusual since his promotion. Miwa used her time alone to calm herself and prepare for his return; check that the rice cooker was on and that there were dinner ingredients ready in the fridge. Very quickly, Miwa felt her seal's attack drift further into the past as the familiar routines and sounds of home settled in.
But she couldn't get comfortable. Saya would absolutely want a thorough explanation tomorrow, regarding the argument she overheard or Himari's sudden illness; possibly both. Would giving false promises that she was okay really blow everything over? Or would planting the idea of illness make it easier if…when Himari Shimizu disappeared? Miwa ruffled her hair again with one hand; imagining all Saya's questions and preparing proper answers might take her all night. But Miwa would do what she had to do to keep them from the truth. There was no need to drag them into this underworld any more than they already have. They had hopes and dreams for their future, something Miwa never did, but she would never get in the way of their lives.
Miwa returned to her room and quickly changed out of her uniform, pondering over what to make for dinner that night. But as she pulled a white T-shirt over her head, her eyes landed on her desk drawer. Perspective. Was that really all she needed to get through this? Miwa took a deep breath, yanked open the drawer, and retrieved her hair ornament from its black box. Even after being hidden in a drawer for months, its weight and touch was as familiar as it had always been. An artifact from her old life given to her current self. Did this ornament even recognize her, after all this time?
"...keeping those memories alive in you is more important than revenge or atonement."
She remembered Shirai's letter, the one he wrote before they were invited to Gandara. He explained everything he wanted in vague words. Reconciling their differences and finding the place they were meant to be. Back then, Miwa thought he wanted to scold her for her choices, or possibly force her to return to his side. She had no idea it would have led to something like this, telling her every truth he withheld so she could be free. Free to find the place she was meant to be. For a time, Miwa's place was beside Shirai, offered to her as an escape from a tribe that didn't want her. And then, she forged a new place alongside a thief, thinking it was something she made for herself. But now, that place was gone, and she needed to find something new. To finally decide on a path for herself.
The people around her all believed she could do it. The last one to be convinced was herself.
On a whim, Miwa tied up her hair, stuck in the ornament, and stood before her mirror. She looked different from the last time she wore it, but the pink lotus still stood out beautifully in contrast with her dark hair.
What future could be found in the infinite possibilities of an "after"? What would it look like for Miwa? For Himari Shimizu?
And would she be able to walk into the infinite alone?
{00}
Later that night, the Shimizu house phone rang. Takeo answered it while Miwa was busy washing the dishes. His voice grew loud and cheerful upon recognizing the person on the other line, asking how they had been, it'd been too long. Takeo called Miwa over with a wave of his hand, pointing at the receiver as she got closer and completely unaware that her hands somehow dried without using a towel. Miwa was worried that it was Saya, calling to check in after everything she saw that day. She wasn't sure if she was ready for the barrage of inevitable questions, but then Takeo held out the phone to her, saying it was Shuichi.
A different kind of worry crept into her stomach. She knew exactly what he was going to say before she even put the phone to her ear. The one message they both had been waiting for.
"Miwa, we've been summoned back to Gandara."
{00}
The next two weeks became a blur of planning and preparation. Miwa called Iizuna to her apartment to possess Takeo once again, and documents were forged to grant them a leave of absence from school. This summons, unfortunately, did not coincide with a school break, but Kurama and Miwa both made preparations over time for the inevitable call to action.
The day after receiving their summons, Miwa met with Saya after school, answering all her questions with more vague explanations and insincere promises. Saya was persistent, now fully confident that Himari Shimizu was hiding something. But no matter how much she begged or got angry at her, Miwa stood her ground. She should have felt guilty, and normally she would have She didn't like lying to Saya, but there was no time to worry about that anymore. This was surely the calm before the storm, before the precarious balance of Demon World was tipped forever, and only by focusing on that balance could Miwa pull herself out of the simple human routine. If nothing else good came from Saya and Taichi witnessing her seal, it at least laid the groundwork for Himari Shimizu to easily disappear. What human could argue against receiving treatment for an illness with Iizuna there to smooth over the details with lies and false information?
Shirai greeted them at the gate when they returned to Gandara, and although he didn't say anything, his thin smile undeniably grew wider when he saw the ornament in Miwa's hair. But there was very little time for pleasantries and catching up. Two attendants immediately took Kurama and Miwa's bags to deliver them to their rooms, and Shirai escorted them to the conference room.
"There's been an…unexpected change since we called you back," Shirai explained as they walked, and then he chuckled. "I suppose luck is on our side since it coincided with your return to us."
"Then something has happened in Raizen's kingdom?" Kurama asked.
"Yes," Shirai said, "Raizen's stomach growl, renowned as a consistent time-keeping marker, has stopped."
"I see." Kurama's expression didn't change, but the implications were clear.
"Then, if we know," Miwa said slowly, "surely Mukuro knows as well."
"Yes. Lord Yomi wishes to finalize our plans moving forward. I am certain Mukuro's moving fortress will soon seek a more advantageous position."
So, without time to rest from their journey, Kurama and Miwa were thrown into the Unification Conference meeting. They sat at a table for eight, surrounded by Yomi, Shirai, Youda, and the other two council members, Houju and Mamie. One seat remained conspicuously empty, once occupied by Shachi, but his absence was no longer noticeable to the council members. Only Miwa was aware of his empty seat, as it was her first meeting here since his death six months ago.
"Raizen's stomach has ceased its incessant rumbling," Yomi began, "What do you make of it, Kurama?"
"Two possibilities," he answered, rather quickly as well. Kurama already planned how he would approach this discussion. "First, he couldn't bear it anymore and gave in, satiating his hunger by eating a human. Or second, he suffers no longer. Meaning…"
Yomi grinned. "Meaning he's dead."
"But so much earlier than we anticipated?" Kurama asked.
Shirai politely raised his hand to speak. "Agents reported a fight between Raizen and his heir. One of their usual bouts to test Urameshi's strength, they say, but not long after, the rumbling stopped completely."
"Is it possible Urameshi killed him?" asked Houju.
"Or Urameshi was eaten," Mamie joked.
Miwa pressed her lips together, trying to keep a straight face. Neither of those options seemed like something that would happen to Yusuke.
Shirai smiled. "Our reports are still in the preliminary stages, of course, but Urameshi is still alive.
"Then," Kurama said, folding his hands together calmly. "I believe it's far too soon for us to conclude that Raizen is dead. If it's true, the death of a Lord will not remain a secret for long."
Yomi nodded, satisfied. "We'll wait," he said, "Whatever you suggest, Kurama. That's why I made you my top advisor."
There was something in Yomi's tone that Miwa didn't like. It was strangely…amicable. Yomi was never rude or harsh towards them, even when he threatened Shiori Minamino's life. But to Miwa, it sounded as if he was emphasizing his faith in Kurama's judgment, rather than the judgment on its own merit. Was he testing them? Sooner or later, both Kurama and Miwa could be up against their friend and former teammate. There was no doubt Yomi anticipated wavering loyalties at this stage of his unification plans. If he prepared secret safeguards for that possibility, then Miwa needed to be ready with countermeasures.
The rest of their meeting focused on their logistical plans to prepare for Raizen's death. Where should the armies be stationed to defend against Mukuro's moving fortress? What were the best strategies for defeating Raizen's warriors once he was gone? What tactics would the heir use when ascending to the throne? Being someone who only had a seat at the table to support Kurama, Miwa did not speak up too much. But when discussing Yusuke Urameshi's fighting abilities, she couldn't lie no matter how much she wanted to. Not when the balance between worlds could be at stake.
"Kurama," said Yomi," I want you to make sure your six warriors will be ready for battle at any time. Things will move quickly once Raizen's death is confirmed."
"Of course."
Eventually, the council concluded all their thoughts and disbanded for the day. Yomi left first and Youda trailed after him. Houju and Mamie soon followed suit, and Shirai politely bid them farewell before walking away. Once they were alone, Kurama and Miwa could finally talk freely. Or at least, as freely as they could while within earshot of Yomi's sensitive ears.
"Miwa," Kurama said, strangely tense. "If we are forced to do battle, are you planning to fight with the warriors?"
Miwa nodded immediately "I'm not doing much else around here, so if that's where I can help, then why wouldn't I join them?"
Kurama sighed and folded his arms. "You sound so casual about it. I want to avoid having you working under me if I can."
"Look," she said, frowning, "I promise I'm thinking about what I'm going to do. But I also said I'd be here to support you through all this." She waved her hand towards the conference room. "At least let me see this through."
He sighed again, but this time sounding defeated. "Alright. But if at any point you decide there's somewhere else you want to be, then please tell me. I'll release you, no matter what Yomi says."
"...I will."
But Kurama didn't have to worry about that for long. Just two days later, Yusuke Urameshi appeared on the Gandaran horizon, one attendant in tow. Yomi knew he was coming. Shirai's scouts had long since reported that Urameshi was on the move. His plan, however, was a complete mystery. The armed forces were ready at the gates, prepared to strike at the first sign of hostility. What would Raizen's heir do? His minimal protection suggested a diplomatic visit, but what if that was just a front? Could Raizen's armies be secretly making a move, out of sight from Shirai's agents? Endless possibilities and a limited time to prepare for them all. But this wasn't Gandara's first meeting with an enemy, and Yomi was very skilled in negotiations and diplomacy. Like a game of chess, he could predict several possible openings the boy could make, whether this was a sincere visit or not.
…However, no one could predict Yusuke Urameshi screaming at the top of his lungs to announce his presence to the entire city.
"Yomi! You son of a biiiiitch! You hear me?! I'm comin', so boil up a kettle of tea!"
Yomi, Kurama, and Miwa watched the whole thing from a large monitor, noting the unusually large sack slung over Yusuke's shoulder. Once he finished screaming, Yusuke grinned proudly at his attendant, the monk Hokushin, and Miwa had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing.
But as it turned out, Yomi was laughing, too. "This friend of yours seems rather…silly. Can he really be the descendent of Raizen? But let's assume it is true, doesn't his presence here confirm that Raizen is no more?"
"I suppose so," Kurama answered.
"Well then," Yomi said, very amused, "I am eager to hear what Raizen's heir has to say to me." He ordered Youda to welcome their guests in proper fashion, and to make sure the sentries don't harm them at the gate. Their only preparation would be to measure Yusuke's energy at the door. "Kurama, I want you to have your warriors standing at the ready in the next room."
Miwa stopped laughing immediately.
"If he tries anything," Yomi continued, "I won't hesitate to issue the assassination order. And I know as Chairman of the joint Chiefs of Staff, you won't hesitate to act on it."
There's that tone again… Yomi and Youda left the room, leaving Kurama and Miwa to watch the monitor. This was it. The loyalties of former teammates would be tested today.
"Yusuke hasn't changed at all," Kurama said quietly.
"I'm…I'm a bit relieved to see that," Miwa said, watching Yusuke and Hokushin descend the border cliffs.
"Yes, but this time, his impetuous nature may trigger a full-scale war."
Miwa took a deep breath, unable to deny it. The time had finally come for the three-way standoff to end, and Yusuke's intentions, whatever they may be, would decide how the tables would turn. But, despite the risks to the delicate balance, Miwa couldn't help but feel excited as she watched Yusuke and Hokushin enter the city. Yusuke absolutely hadn't changed. Even through the screen, he exuded the same aura she remembered from the Dark Tournament. An air of confidence that inspired those around him to believe everything would be alright.
…I just hope I'm not wrong.
{00}
Kurama, Miwa, and the rest of the warriors were the first to enter the guest house, where the fateful meeting would take place. They quickly hid in the neighboring room, kneeling on the ground in the dark with only an ornate sliding door as their cover. Yusuke and Hokushin were soon escorted to the room by one of the guards, and Miwa heard a loud thump and a quiet rattle, like hundreds of small objects settling into place. Yusuke's bag, she realized. What on earth could he have brought? Yusuke and Hokushin didn't talk as they waited, and eventually Yomi entered the room. He sat down opposite Yusuke, and a servant politely set a hot cup of tea in front of their guest.
"Uh," Yusuke said, sounding genuinely surprised, "I guess you do have good ears."
Youda walked in and whispered something to Yomi's ear. Although Miwa couldn't hear him, Shirai briefed her beforehand on what Youda delivering a message would mean. Only one thing would be important enough to interrupt this meeting: Yusuke wasn't the only guest they were welcoming that day. Miwa picked up one of the sheets of paper scattered around their feet. It was the only way the warriors could communicate while in hiding, so she messily scribbled the message, "Mukuro is here."
Kurama nodded, but Jin and Chuu were both too excited to care. They left the sliding door open by a tiny sliver and pressed their noses up against the frame just to get a look.
Jin, grinning so widely that all of his teeth were visible, wrote, "Been so long since I seen him, it has. But he's not changed one itty bitty bit!"
Chuu agreed, writing, "'Cept he's even stronger! Bloke's built like a brick shithouse!"
Touya, far calmer and kneeling behind them, wrote, "That's all well and good, but what will we do if Yomi gives the order to attack?"
Kurama took his time writing a response, but he seemed unusually tense. "I've been pondering that myself. I did swear my allegiance to Yomi, and I would enjoy sparring with Yusuke in his new state…" and then he added on a new sheet, "...but not to the death."
Miwa wrote on the back of her first sheet, "I resigned myself to fighting him if it's to protect the balance of Demon World. But I want to avoid that at all costs." In the back of her mind, Miwa wondered if Hiei was on the premises as well, observing everything with his Jagan Eye. Including this paper conversation…
For some reason, Rinku decided to join the paper conversation by writing "...", but Chuu elbowed him in the head for wasting time by writing out a dramatic pause.
Kurama grabbed more sheets. "To be honest, I'm torn, which is why I want to know what you all are thinking." The next one, he wrote in large letters, as if to express its importance. "If it comes to that, whose side will you be on: Yomi or Yusuke?"
Instantly, unanimously (after Suzuki corrected Shishiwakamaru's "Undecided."), the warriors held up a single paper that answered, "Yusuke!" Rinku even added a small note, "Do you even have to ask?!"
Finally, Kurama relaxed. He looked over to Miwa, who smiled back encouragingly. Of course she would side with Yusuke! Now certain of everyone's feelings, and hopefully reassured, Kurama thanked them all, and Jin wrote the final message: "No sweats, pal!"
Then, the meeting began.
Yomi made the first move, stout and resolute. "So, why have you come to see me? And please, be direct. I have neither time nor patience to waste beating around the bush."
Yusuke didn't mind at all, so he bluntly opened with, "Well, Raizen is dead now…"
Behind him, Hokushin gasped, and Kurama and Miwa glanced curiously at each other. Even if a secret's been exposed, showing surprise during negotiation was a serious blunder. Right off the bat, Yomi knew Yusuke was going off script. That is…if there ever was a script.
"And you know," Yusuke continued, unwavering, "as the new king on the block, I thought it'd only be fair for me to tell you in person exactly how I'm gonna rip you off yer throne."
"Oh?" So direct, even Yomi was taken aback. "All right, then in the interest of full disclosure, allow me to show you how I plan to stop you."
Everyone hidden in the neighboring room tensed, preparing to act in an instant. They sensed Yomi powering himself up to take Yusuke out. Assassination order or not, they had to do something!
But instead of preparing to fight, Yusuke threw his large sack onto the table. "That's cool, but first, I got something for ya. We'll call it a gift." There was a loud scraping noise as he pushed it across the table.
Miwa frowned. He sounded so sure of himself. Snarky, even. Was this really a peace offering? Or a trap?
"How thoughtful of you!" Yomi exclaimed, his tone showing all the expected pleasantries. He was prepared for anything. "Would you mind unwrapping it, too? I'm afraid I can't see things as well as I used to."
"Sure. Now, they might scatter a bit, so I hope you don't mind."
Something clattered loudly onto the table, the sound reminding Miwa of heavy rain hitting a window, and she couldn't stop herself from peeking through the sliding door. Thousands of small stones in various colors of pink, blue and yellow rolled across the table and onto the ground. A dramatic, loud, messy presentation of his gift, but Hokushin scrambled to his feet in absolute horror.
"But that's our entire national treasure!" he cried, "All our Rurimaru stones! Do you have any idea how rare and valuable those are?!"
This time, Kurama and Miwa just exchanged equally shocked expressions. What on earth was Yusuke doing? Was he trying to pick a fight or join forces?
Yomi picked up a blue stone and rolled it between his fingers. "I thank you, Mr. Urameshi, for this most generous of gifts. …Ooh, I can tell this Rurimaru stone is real by its touch. But what is your true purpose and offer?"
Yusuke didn't answer. He just smirked as he watched Yomi's fingers inspect the stone.
Then, Yomi noticed something. "There's something carved in this stone. It says, 'Mukuro.' …And that one says, 'Kurama.' And 'Miwa.' 'Touou.' 'Hokushin.' 'Hiei.' You engraved names in all of these stones?"
"Yeah, well, I would've just painted them on, but I thought this way, you could read 'em yourself."
Hokushin's shock was unending, nervous sweat pouring from his forehead and falling on his butt as he clambered away, but Yusuke ignored him.
"Look," he said, "I'm not a particularly bright guy. And just because I'm Raizen's heir doesn't mean I'm qualified to replace him. So maybe it's time we find another way of crowning the big cheese around here. Each of these has the name of someone from Demon World on them. We'll all face off in a big tournament, representing not kingdoms, but ourselves."
Yomi gasped. His first show of genuine surprise through the whole meeting. But in the hidden room, a bubbling surge of excitement quickly eased their tension.
"And the one who wins the tournament will be the one to rule us all...for a period of time, at least, until the next tournament when we all do it over again. From what I understood in social studies, it's called, 'democracy,' and it's all the rage back home. Except we'll cast our votes with fists. What do you say, big guy?"
Jin was grinning wide and shaking like an eager child, so Kurama tapped his shoulder and nodded. This was what they could do, so Jin shot to his feet and slammed the door open, shouting, "Sign me up, so I say!"
Yusuke scrambled to his feet, surprised but thrilled. "What are you guys doin' here?!"
"To see you, pal!"
Yusuke laughed and playfully punched Jin's stomach, and then he noticed the others. "Chuu! Are you sober?"
Chuu lumbered over, and the three friends happily reunited. All the formalities and strategy of the meeting with Yomi were completely forgotten. Yusuke jumped up and hung from Jin and Chuu's shoulders like a child in a jungle gym, so Kurama stepped forward to clear the air.
"I'm sorry, Yomi, but from now on, I represent only Kurama's side. But if you don't go along with this, I promise you. None of us will hesitate to take his side over yours."
"Kurama... Not you…"
Yomi was forcing a smile, but it only betrayed his stress. No Lord would ever believe Urameshi was truly willing to surrender his power and risk it all in something so simple as a tournament. But no Lord truly knew Yusuke Urameshi. And with all of Kurama's warriors prepared to change sides, Yomi was standing on unstable grounds. None of his own fighters could match the power of anyone standing in that room.
But if Yomi himself chose to fight back… Miwa decided she didn't care; she was too busy being impressed. There were no tactics on Yusuke's end. No negotiation strategy that anybody in Gandara could predict. Just an insane idea that was so undeniably Yusuke. Always the one to do things the way he believed was right, and doing it with full confidence in himself, refusing to let anyone tell him otherwise. Decisive and confident. Just like Hiei.
…Just like Hiei?
"Fine," said Yomi, resigning to this fate and he rose to his feet. "I accept."
Negotiations were over. Everyone in that room now represented themself. Finally, Miwa was free to laugh at this astounding and unexpected success.
Yomi turned and opened the door, ready to see himself out. "As a show of good will, Mr. Urameshi," he said, "I'll allow you to use this room to catch up with your friends. The next time we meet will be at your tournament."
He closed the door behind him and walked away. Everyone waited silently, listening to his footsteps go farther and farther away. And when Yomi was truly gone, the energy immediately rose.
"I can't believe you guys were hiding back there!" Yusuke said, dropping down from Jin and Chuu's shoulders. "My birthday's not for another couple months, y'know."
"You're lucky we didn't have ta kill ya, mate," Chuu said, clapping Yusuke on the back.
"Huh? Why?"
"Consider yourself lucky, Urameshi," Rinku teased, proudly crossing his arms. "If we didn't butt in when we did, your whole plan could have flopped."
"Oh c'mon, give me some credit! You make it sound like I didn't have a backup plan."
"Did you?" asked Rinku.
"I mean…of course I did!"
Their conversation continued, and Yusuke eventually greeted each person. Other than Shishiwakamaru, who pretended not to care away from the crowd, everyone had comments about how strong Yusuke had become in the past year, but Yusuke returned the same compliment. Their eagerness to fight each other and witness their skills was clear as day, but eventually his attention turned to Kurama and Miwa.
"And you two must have been busy this past year," he said, walking towards them and looking proud. "Kurama, you got up to Chief of… somethin' or another."
Kurama chuckled. "That doesn't matter anymore. Thanks to you, we all represent ourselves. Not the will of any one Lord."
Miwa frowned a bit, just now realizing what that really meant. Everyone represents themselves, including her.
"And Miwa…" Yusuke squinted and peered right into her face. "How's your seal doin'? Getting better? I can tell it's still there, but it feels…different? Not as crazy as before."
"Yeah it's…" She knew Kurama was listening carefully to her answer. "I talked to the person who made it, and I know what needs to be done."
"Oh yeah? That's great!"
He didn't even question why it wasn't already done. Miwa didn't know if Yusuke was being courteous or if he didn't notice the implications. "You seem to have adapted pretty well to Demon World," she said, changing the subject. "But you somehow managed to throw your own spin into politics and make it go your way."
Yusuke scratched the back of his neck, smiling bashfully. "I dunno if it's that great, but it's like you told me. I'm just trying to choose a path that satisfies me so I won't regret anything."
"O-oh," Miwa averted her eyes, caught completely off guard. "I'm glad I could help."
Yusuke grinned proudly, and then Jin pulled him back so they could continue talking. Their excitement was contagious, and Miwa and Kurama stood quietly on the side, like parents watching their children at play. It was hard to imagine that mere minutes ago, they were all nervously waiting for the order to attack their friend. It was even harder to imagine that, in one quick meeting, Yusuke managed to dismantle a centuries-old stalemate and free them all from the complicated web of alliances.
"I guess you give good advice," Kurama said playfully. He was smiling, too.
"I'm surprised something I told him a year ago helped him figure this out."
Kurama folded his arms. "...I hope it can help you, too," he said. "You represent yourself, now."
Miwa nodded slowly. "Are you going to compete in the tournament?"
Kurama turned to her. "Yes. I suppose have a duty to participate after using it to force Yomi's hand, but I want to make sure the worlds stay balanced."
"I see…"
This was it. Miwa's part in helping Gandara was over. The last connection to her previous life was gone. The next cycle was about to begin, and an "after" seemed elusive for months. But seeing Yusuke again reminded her why she admired him so much. His decisiveness. His strong awareness of what was important to him, and how he always managed to do things his own way. They were all qualities she lacked, but interestingly enough, very similar to what she admired about Hiei. Just like Hiei…
And realizing that made all her problems much clearer. Like the answers all fell into place.
Miwa's advice to Yusuke was to decide on the things he didn't want to give up, and to choose the world that would satisfy him. If only Miwa had taken her own advice sooner. Maybe her "after" would have been easier to find. She already knew the things she couldn't give up. But she couldn't take all the credit. Yusuke and Hiei were the reasons she learned how to find those things, to discover the things important to her. It was time she took her own advice and started down the path of no regrets. This tournament would be where Miwa's "after" begins. The place where everyone's plans for the future converge, becoming a small glimpse of the infinite possibilities for Demon World.
"Then," she said, a sly smile creeping onto her lips, "I'll compete, too."
Kurama looked at her curiously. "Are you interested in ruling the Demon World?"
She shook her head and motioned towards Yusuke and the others. "I'm interested in seeing how serious everyone is about the futures they have in mind."
Miwa knew what must be done.
Notes: We're rolling back into the canon now. YYH is always pretty vague about the passage of time, but I tried my best to keep this timeline consistent. If there are any errors, even moving forward, then that's my mistake.
Back when I started seriously outlining this story, I was still in school and uncertain about what I wanted to do when it was over, and a lot of those feelings became a part of Miwa's struggles. I still think about it, even now, and I think most people can relate to being afraid of an uncertain future, even if they don't take it as far as Miwa does. It was also a genuine struggle for me to write Kurama and Miwa actually arguing with each other, so this chapter took a lot longer to write than I intended. Kurama is generally so level-headed, but a friend helped me a lot in cleaning it up, so I'm really grateful. I wanted to have them actually fight for so long. But now, Miwa is finally seeing a path forward, and the Demon World Tournament is about to begin!