InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Adding Spice ❯ Chapter Eight ( Chapter 8 )

 

Chapter Eight

 

Sango normally awoke with a great amount of pain. It was typical for her to wake up with a certain amount of soreness to her limbs. Today, however, the only pain she felt was the blinding migraine throbbing in her head. The light coming from the window across from her wasn't helping any.

 

She tried to stand up to shut the blinds when the thought occurred to her on how she got into bed in the first place. It hadn't occurred to her to wonder how she had gotten to bed in the first place, until she stood to shut the blinds. Whoever put her there should have been smart enough to close the blinds.

 

She recognized the room. She had stayed there a great many times in the past. It was the Higurashi guest room. No surprise there, after battles she would often crash there. Last night there was a battle… or something similar to it.

 

She remembered Kurama telling her something about not turning away from an opponent, but other than that, nothing. Kurama was becoming quite a puzzle. She didn't know him very well to begin with, but now he was becoming more confusing. At least he was a beautiful puzzle. If she couldn't figure him out, the least she could do was just enjoy looking at him. She sighed at the thought of his long, flowing red hair. She had envied it upon laying her eyes on it a few days ago in the park.

 

She sighed again, trying to sort through her thoughts. Kurama tried to capture them… didn't he? Obviously he didn't succeed, or she would have woken up somewhere else. She wondered how many pieces of him she'd find while venturing into the front yard. Sesshoumaru wasn't fond of attempted kidnappings as of late, and he certainly didn't appreciate it if the people were attempting to kidnap what was his. It seemed she was no longer her own person when she started working under Sesshoumaru. None of them were their own anymore. Sango found it odd that nobody seemed to mind.

 

So, she decided the ruthless Sesshoumaru had chopped Kurama into dog treats. A pity too, the guy had really good hair. She laughed, realizing that she was spending way too much time with Ayame. That girl probably only fancied Kouga because he had pretty hair, but she could get downright morbid when she was mad at the poor guy.

 

The door opened slightly, and Kohaku stepped in.

 

“Hey!” he said, much too loudly for Sango. “You're awake, and you look like hell.”

 

“Watch your mouth,” she hissed. “And it's because I feel like hell, thank you.”

 

He rolled his eyes. “Watch your mouth, she says.”

 

“That's right. Do as I say, not as I do.” She rubbed her temples. “Now do as I say, and get me a glass of water and a painkiller.”

 

“Oh yes, sister Sango,” he said as he bowed dramatically, “Anything for my dear hypocrite.”

 

Sango brought up her fist to thump the top of his head, mid bow. “Go on, get me something strong.”

 

In no time, he was out the door and back again with her aspirin.

 

“That Kurama is a weird guy,” Kohaku said after she downed the pill.

 

“I know,” she said softly.

 

“You think that's what he was after the entire time? Like when he came to the park, do you think he was just testing us? I think he's messing with our heads.” He paused, “In my case, my poor abused head.”

 

She thumped him again for good measure.

 

“We're weird too,” Sango replied.

 

“I know,” Kohaku said. “You're weirder.”

 

“I am not,” she huffed.

 

“Oh, then you're just different?”

 

“We're all different,” she said. “How many other boys your age carry around chain-scythes?”

 

He thought for a minute. “I think scythes are cool. Grim Reapers have them.”

 

“Have you ever met a Grim Reaper?”

 

“No, but when I do, I'll challenge him to a scythe-duel.”

 

“I think I'll hold you to that,” Sango told him.

 

“You do that,” he said.

 

Sango smiled. He was being normal again. He was so plagued by dreams that even playful banter seemed too difficult for him. She was glad that he was somewhat back to the way he used to be. He was a good-natured and overall happy kid. It hurt to see him so withdrawn all the time. Things would be all right, she decided.

 

“Something smells good…” she mused.

 

“Mrs. Higurashi is cooking a lunch. It's sort of late for lunch, but I suppose she's stressed. She always cooks when she's not happy.”

 

“A late lunch…Kohaku, what time is it?” Sango asked.

 

“It's about two-thirty. I was starting to think you'd never wake up.” He laughed.

 

Sango was fully awake now. It was already that late? Her whole clock would be off.

 

“You know… Kurama's friend is weird, too.” Kohaku said.

 

“Who?” she raised an eyebrow.

 

Kohaku shrugged, “The guy with black hair. He's only as tall as Souta. I didn't think it was possible for short people to look down on others. You really do learn something new everyday.”

 

He was laughing, which made Sango smile. It wasn't often that Kohaku laughed. She wondered who this short guy was.

 

“Who is he?” she asked.

 

Kohaku shrugged again. “I'm not sure, but he and Kurama have been here all day.”

 

Sango paled. “Tell me you're joking!”

 

“You told me never to lie to you,” he told her. “Like I said, they've been here all day.”

 

“Why?”

 

He laughed again, “Twenty questions is my job! Besides, I don't know.”

 

Mrs. Higurashi's yell was heard throughout the house. Whatever she was cooking was now ready to be served. It seemed that nothing pleased Mrs. Higurashi more than to be serving people food.

 

“You go on,” Sango told her brother. “I'll be down in a minute.”

 

“You're going to brush your hair aren't you?” he teased, then added in a girl-like voice, “I'm Sango, I must brush my hair for the guy who tried to kill me…”

 

Sango threw a pillow at him. It wasn't quite Hiraikotsu, but it was the closest weapon she could find.

 

“I'm going, I'm going,” he said, walking out the door and leaving her alone.

 

Now that he mentioned it, she really did need to find her hairbrush before someone else walked in. Being caught with bed-hair was not something Sango found enjoyable. So, after she was mildly happy with her reflection, she descended into the dining room.

To say that she was shocked was an understatement. People around the table sat glaring at the other members. The tension in the air nearly suffocated her. Sesshoumaru sat at the head of the table, with Kurama and the stranger Kohaku had been talking about to either side of him. But something wasn't right…

 

“What's going on?” She asked.

 

Inuyasha smirked. “Looks like we've got ourselves a pair of servants, Sango!”

 

“What?”

 

“I'm only saying this one more time,” Inuyasha started, “so all of you guys that ignored me the first time better listen up!”

 

The table grew silent, except from the growling that came from the demon dressed in all black.

 

“Look, sunshine,” he continued, “there's this little rule in the Makai, that says that if someone saves—or spares—your life, you're indebted to them. So last night, while you were sleeping on the job, Sesshoumaru had these two a breath away from death. So, the old fool spared them. Lucky them, being demons and all, they gotta' listen to everything he tells `em.”

 

“Wait… wasn't there another of them?” Sango asked.

 

“You were awake that long?” Inuyasha gave her a pointed glare.

 

Kurama stood up, “You'll have to forgive me for that. I had a job to do. But yes, there was another one of us. He's human, for the most part; the rules don't apply to him. Hiei and I grew up in the Makai, we're well aware of our position at the moment.”

 

Sango looked at Kurama while he was speaking and finally placed what was off about him.

 

“Kurama, what on earth happened to your hair?!”

 

Inuyasha smirked. Kurama pouted.

 

“Sit, all of you,” Sesshoumaru interrupted coolly.

 

Kurama clenched his hands into fists and did as he was told. Inuyasha grunted, then plopped down into his chair, while Sango found a place beside Kagome.

 

“We have much to discuss,” Sesshoumaru said. “I don't particularly like repeating myself, which would be Inuyasha's job.”

 

“Hey!” Inuyasha exclaimed.

 

“Quiet down!” Sesshoumaru told him. “Tonight we are, yet again, going searching for Naraku. His power is increasing quickly; it needs to be extinguished just as quickly. Sango, by eight o'clock tonight, you will have poison masks made for everyone. We will not take another unnecessary risk.”

 

She nodded, “Of course.”

 

“If you so much as smell Naraku, incarnation or otherwise, you will not hesitate to destroy him. Is that clear?” He asked evenly.

 

A chorus of agreement passed through the table. Sesshoumaru nodded, “Now eat; you'll need energy for tonight.”

 

*

 

Kurama was relieved that Sesshoumaru wasn't as demanding as he had thought he would be. The Dog-Prince gave Kurama more freedom than another demon would have given him, and he managed to be civil about the whole thing.

 

The upside to this ordeal was that he would be working under someone who knew what he was doing, unlike Koenma. Sesshoumaru would give details about things, while Koenma would leave out as much information as possible. Sesshoumaru planned ahead before he struck, so he would only have to strike once. Koenma was so very different.

 

Kurama sighed; this level of order would take some getting used to.

 

He walked out into the yard, intent on sitting next to the Goshinboku. Maybe he would even talk to the tree for a while, for a small amount of comfort. It seemed, however, he would not be able to complete this goal. Hiei had taken residence in the tree too, his aura flaring viciously. Kurama would have to calm down his friend before calming down himself.

 

Kurama looked up at his friend, two branches above his head. “It isn't so bad.”

 

“Hn,” he said, crossing his arms.

 

Kurama leaned against the tree. “It could be worse.”

 

“Explain.”

 

“He could have us pushing a rock up a glass hill with our noses,” Kurama said.

 

“Don't jinx us, fox.”

 

Kurama sighed.

 

“I don't like it.” Hiei growled, “I hate being tossed from one `employer' to the next. I didn't have any say when Koenma had us working under him, nor when Mukuro volunteered me to be in her service. Now, I have no say in this as well. Great fun, really.”

 

Kurama bowed his head. “I know, Hiei. This is partly our fault, we were careless.”

 

“You were careless, fox. You and your human emotions get in the way of things every time.” Hiei glared at him.

 

“What is that supposed to mean?” Kurama asked tightly.

 

“It means that we wouldn't be in this mess if you had listened to me in the first place!” Hiei seethed, “Your emotions got in the way with the Forlorn Hope. You saved Yuusuke when I nearly took his head off with the Shadow Sword. If you wouldn't have gotten in the way, we would never have been serving Koenma, and none of this would have happened!”

 

“What did you expect me to do, let you kill him?”

 

Hiei's eyes narrowed. “He's human, Kurama. He'll die for real someday. You save a human life, you get stuck serving time. Hn. Not worth it, fox.”

 

“It was worth it to me,” Kurama told him softly.

 

“You're still thinking with your human emotions,” Hiei huffed.

 

“If you could go back, and I didn't interfere, would you still have killed Yuusuke?”

 

Hiei jumped off the branch. “Hn.”

 

Kurama leaned more comfortably on the tree. “That's what I thought.”

 

Hiei sat down next to him and glared at their surroundings. A small boy bounded out of the house, and Hiei glared at him too.

 

The boy tossed two metal masks at them, which they caught easily. “Sister Sango said to give these to you. She's too busy making more to give them to you herself.”

 

“We don't need them,” Hiei said, placing it down next to him.

 

The boy's eyes widened. “You can talk!”

 

“Hn.”

 

“Tell Sango we give our thanks.” Kurama smiled.

 

“We?” Hiei raised an eyebrow at him.

 

“You bet,” the boy exclaimed. “See you later!”

 

Kurama watched as the boy bounded back into the house in much the same manner as he came out. He turned the metal mask in his hands, observing it. He was certain that he wouldn't need it. Whatever poison had overtaken the oldest Higurashi daughter, would not overtake him. He sighed; humans were so frail. Growing up posing as one had taught him a great deal about compassion. Maybe Hiei was right. He was letting his emotions think for him. But was that really such a bad thing?

 

Hiei was frowning at the mask, not liking the idea of having to wear it.

 

“It's an order, Hiei.” Kurama told him. “And it's only for a night.”

 

Hiei said nothing, his eyes narrowed almost to the point of shutting. Kurama didn't remember Hiei being this angry when they started working under Koenma. Koenma, of course, hadn't beaten Hiei in a duel. That was probably the reason the Koorime was seething.

 

“It's an improvement from our last employer,” Kurama told him. “Lord Sesshoumaru seems to have control over everything.”

 

“…Including us?”

 

“Yes.” Kurama shrugged.

 

“Hn.”

 

“I agree.”

 

*

 

Koenma's office was scattered in papers again. He was sucking at his pacifier, and his face was just a few shades lighter than a tomato. Botan was sitting on her oar in the middle of the room. She would have stood, but her oar was convenient at the moment. She didn't want to step on any important papers, and she wanted to be able to fly out of the room if Koenma got out of control.

 

“We're going to get them back!” Koenma screamed.

 

“Sir, that's not exactly possible…” Botan told him.

 

“I don't care!” Koenma stamped a paper violently. “I'm the ruler of Reikai, and I have a say in what happens to my detectives!”

 

Botan cringed; they couldn't get Kurama and Hiei back unless they went through Lord Sesshoumaru. She preferred an angry Koenma to an angry Sesshoumaru any day.

 

“I had no idea the people that were causing the unbalance were working under the Dog-Prince!” Koenma nearly stamped a paper through his desk. “As soon as I can, I'm changing the Makai law!”

 

“But Sir, that law has been around since the barriers were first created!”

 

“Then I'll take down the barriers!”

 

Botan wanted to slap him. He was acting like a spoiled child. “Sir, listen to me! You still have Yuusuke and Kuwabara.”

 

“They're getting old,” Koenma told her stubbornly.

 

“They're in their prime, Sir!”

 

“Hmph,” Koenma snorted. “Speaking of Yuusuke, how is he healing?”

 

Botan's shoulders softened, “Not good I'm afraid; the younger Dog nearly took out his vital organs. He's breathing, and the hole in his chest is healing, but he'll be out of the game for awhile.”

 

“You'd think he would heal better after all the times he's been clobbered.”

 

Botan crossed her arms. “The boy can only die so many times.”

 

“He's fine, that's what matters,” Koenma said flatly. “Tell me more about the situation with Hiei and Kurama.”

 

Botan sighed, “By the looks of it, the only way we can get them back is if Lord Sesshoumaru releases them. Even then, they would be under no obligation to serve under Reikai standards. As soon as Lord Sesshoumaru took them into his custody, they were no longer ours by any means.”

 

“We'll have to convince him to give them back to us, then. Hiei and Kurama may even do something stupid and steal something again, and then we'll have them back for sure!” Koenma grinned.

 

Botan smiled weakly. It wasn't possible to gain them back through any other means. However, it was not likely that the Dog-Prince would release them. But if he did, and Kurama and Hiei were to team up and steal something again, they would make sure they did not get caught. They were smarter than that. They learned from their mistakes. All hope for having them back shattered.

 

 

I'd like to thank my new beta, Guyute24 for editing this chapter. You really do rock.

 

Review Responses:

 

 

Cookiiex- Thank you for reviewing, I'm glad you like it.

 

Chigirl- Oh wow, thank you! Of course I'll give Sango more screen-time. She's my favorite character too.

 

Lady Lightbulb- I find it a little hard to write action scenes, but I'm relieved I do a good job at it. It's also a bit difficult for me to remember everybody too. I had to go back into previous chapters and see who I had in the cast. As always, thanks for reviewing.