InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Broken Promises, Shattered Dreams ❯ Chapter 20

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Title: Broken Promises, Shattered Dreams
Authors: BrokenSouledPoetess and Ryukotsusei
Disclaimer: We don't own any part of Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hakusho. We merely torment the characters for our own amusement.

Author's Note: This might be the last chapter for a few days since both of us have other fics that we still need to work on. It all depends on how the muses decide they want to cooperate.

Chapter Twenty

It was nearly ten minutes when the phone rang again and Yusuke snatched it up. "Hello?"

Kurama leaned back in his chair, not exactly thrilled with the news he had. "It's me Yusuke, I've found out what is wrong. Kagome needs to return to the Shrine, her grandfather passed away two days ago." It had taken him a few minutes to convince Kagome's mother that her daughter was okay and hadn't dropped off of the face of the Earth. She was understandably upset but knowing that didn't make things any easier on him.

"Shit, she's not going to take this well. When is the funeral?" Yusuke was already heading into his bedroom to change clothes. He needed to get ready to head into the Makai. The sooner he got moving the better though he wasn't exactly looking forward to being the bearer of bad news.

Kurama picked up the sound of movement and then rustling material through the phone and sighed. "It's in two days. Yusuke I'm planning on heading into the Makai after work. This can wait for a couple of hours. Let her enjoy the rest of the day while she can." He could understand Yusuke's impatience but a few hours would not make much of a difference. Hiei wouldn't be happy with their unexpected visit but it could not be helped. Even he knew how important family was to Kagome.

"Dammit Kurama, I can just meet you there you know. It's not like we have to travel together." On one hand Yusuke knew that Kurama was right but it still didn't curb the part of him that was impatient to see her again.

"No, technically we don't but you know as well as I do that if you show up there on your own it's going to set Hiei on edge as soon as he knows you are coming. If both of us go he'll know that there is something wrong." It was a reasonable excuse even if he wasn't particularly worried about Hiei's reaction. Most likely the hybrid would be wary of Yusuke's appearance but that would be the extent of it. Still though, it was better safe than sorry. "It's only two hours Yusuke, wait for me and we will go together."

Yusuke sighed, there were times he hated how the kitsune was always so logical. He had a point and he really couldn't find a reason to argue. Saying that he just wanted to go see her wasn't going to be good enough, especially with the news they carried. "Alright Kurama you win. Two hours, if you aren't here by then I'm leaving without you and you can play catch up."

"That's fine Yusuke, I won't be late. See you then, goodbye." Kurama hung up the phone, satisfied that for now Yusuke wouldn't go rushing off. Shaking his head he turned his head to the stack of paperwork that had appeared on his desk. He had a lot to do if he were to leave in two hours.

Yusuke finished changing and sighed. "What the fuck am I supposed to do for the next two hours anyway?" He walked back out to the living room and sat back down on th couch. The television remote found it's way into his hand and he began flipping through channels hoping to find something to catch his attention. After he had been through it twice he threw the remote down and turned his gaming system on. If nothing else he could busy himself with video games until Kurama arrived.

Two hours later at exactly five o'clock a knock was heard at his front door and he shut his game system off. He pulled himself to his feet, grabbed his keys and headed for the front door. As expected Kurama was standing there waiting patiently for him. "Now I know you get off at four thirty and it takes at least fifteen minutes to get here. How did you get home and change so damned fast and show up here on time?"

Kurama laughed as he turned and walked away from the door, Yusuke right beside him. "I changed on my way out of work. I believe in being prepared Yusuke, there's no way even I would attempt to venture into the Makai wearing a business suit." His hand ran absently down the side of his fighting tunic as they made their way down to his car. It would only take a few minutes to get to a spot where they could slip through the border. Yusuke climbed in the passenger side and chuckled. "I suppose you are right. Between your ruined clothing and how fast Hiei's shirts get burned off I bet the two of you spend a fortune on clothes."

Kurama smiled at this as he started the car and began driving. "Indeed, though you're not exactly one to talk Yusuke. You seem to go through your own share of destroyed clothing if I remember correctly." It was true, Yusuke seemed to be rendered shirtless almost as often as Hiei did. At least he managed to remain clothed, even if he was usually the one covered in blood.

"You got a point there." Yusuke stared out the window watching the buildings beginning to thin out. "How do you think she's been?" An abrupt change of subject wasn't unusual for him, nor was the subject matter. She had been dominating his thoughts constantly. It had been a constant strain on him not to say the hell with it and go into the Makai to see her. On those days he called Kurama, hoping that the kitsune would be able to help him hold back. Barging in wasn't going to help anything.

"I'm sure she's fine Yusuke. If there had been problems I'm sure we would have heard about them by now. Hiei wouldn't keep her there if there was a problem, you know this." Kurama knew that there had only been a thin chance that Yusuke would give up on this idea but he'd had his doubts. They had been confirmed when Yusuke's behavior only seemed to get worse as the days passed. He could count on hearing from him at least once every two days by phone and had been disturbed on more than one occasion when Yusuke showed up on his doorstep. Perhaps now Yusuke would get the reassurance that he needed that Kagome wasn't about to be eaten by some random creature lurking about in the fortress because Hiei was busy.

"I know you're right. I just.. need to see her again." Yusuke fell silent, knowing they would be far enough out of the city soon that they could slip through.

~*~

Hiei stopped in his trek back to the fortress, his patrolling done for the day. He could feel them coming and waited. He had almost been expecting Yusuke to make an appearance for several days now but Kurama's presence was a surprise. Was this a social visit or something more? Somehow he doubted that they would come all the way out here just because and their rapid pace did nothing to discourage that thought. As the pair broke through the tree line he relaxed slightly. Kurama was the one in control, if Yusuke was being problematic then no doubt the spirit kitsune would be the dominant soul at the moment. "Why are you two here?"

"Hello to you too Hiei. We need to speak with Kagome, there is urgent news from the shrine." Kurama ignored the scowl they were receiving from the apparition. He could understand his concern over their appearance but he wasn't going to beat around the bush just to reassure him right now.

Hiei raised an eyebrow at this, it had to be important to drag the both of them out there. "What happened?"

""Kagome's grandfather died. She needs to go home, her mother is worried sick about her since she couldn't get a hold of her." Yusuke was already tired of standing there waiting and wanted to get a move on. Standing here talking wasn't getting anything accomplished aside from making him impatient.

Hiei sighed, knowing that there wasn't going to be any getting rid of these two. He didn't even have to ask if they'd be accompanying him back to the compound, it was a given. Kagome wasn't going to take this well and to a certain extent guilt began to make itself known. He had known the man was in poor health and that Kagome had been wanting to return to see her family. He had put it off though, saying they would do so in a few months when things calmed down. While he couldn't say that he held any particular affection for the old man he didn't wish him dead either. At least, not after the human had stopped trying to exorcise him with his useless wards anyway. "Fine, if your coming than do so." He turned and walked away from them knowing they would follow. Kurama immediately fell in place beside him with Yusuke flanking his other side. He could feel Yusuke's eyes on him and looked up. "What?"

"Is he gone? Kayane I mean." It had been something that had been bothering him for a while since Kurama told him he had basically gift wrapped Kayane and given him to Mukuro. He wanted to make sure that he had paid for what he had done. He had wanted to kill the bastard himself but gave up that opportunity.

"He has been disposed of. Maiko will soon follow but first we will deal with this. Kagome does not know that Kayane was even here, do not mention it to her." Hiei looked away after he saw the look of approval on Yusuke's face. It was slightly surprising to him that Yusuke would condone killing a human but all things considered the knowledge pleased him. It proved to him that the Toushin could be ruthless in the defense of someone he cared for. Before Yusuke had settled for merely beating the crap out of those that threatened Keiko when the aggressors were human. Now Hiei knew he could and would carry it further if necessary.

"Good, Koenma hasn't contacting you has he? I haven't heard from him but it wouldn't be surprising, assuming the soul made it to the Reikai." Kurama knew there was only a slim chance. Once a human disappeared into the Makai and died unless the soul managed to make it back into the Ningenkai for pick up it was difficult for any of the ferry girls to track it down. If that was the case it was still unlikely that Koenma would get any detailed information from it, most humans would break down under the kind of torture Hiei was capable of. The memories would be so distorted there would be no sense to be made out of it.

"No he hasn't and even if he had he would learn nothing. It was a simple case of arriving just in time to see a human devoured by a Vorseth, nothing more." Hiei's expression didn't really change except for the satisfied gleam in his crimson eyes that told the both of them that it was anything but simple. Hiei knew that Yusuke was not likely to know what that statement implied but one look to Kurama told him that the kitsune understood completely.

"I never knew you to go for that sort of torture Hiei. I must say even Youko is impressed." It was true, Youko was emitting a pleased aura at hearing this news. Female Vorseth had no interests in killing, much less eating humans. The males on the other hand were another story and with what time of year it was, he knew exactly what had happened. He nearly rolled his eyes as Youko made mention of filing that away for later use. The kitsune found the oddest things satisfying at times.

Hiei smirked over at Kurama. "Normally no, but in this case it was fitting." The rest of the trip back consisted of nothing more than small talk, though he remained mostly silent choosing instead to watch Yusuke closely. There was an increased edginess to him that hadn't been present last time. The time apart hadn't made a difference, this was something that he would be forced to deal with eventually whether he liked it or not. When they came to the fortress he led them into an empty sitting room and left them in order to retrieve Kagome.

She was sitting on the bed with a book she had already read three times since they had came to the Makai. Kagome looked up when she heard the door open and Hiei stepped through. She had felt him coming and knew that there was something wrong. He felt closed off, more so than usual which was strange. Even if he didn't express he feelings that often they were constantly flowing back and forth between the bond so she immediately became concerned when he locked them down. "Is everything okay?"

Hiei debated on how to tell her this, he wondered if they should wait until they actually crossed into the Ningenkai to say anything about it. It could become problematic on the way there if she were distracted and upset yet he knew that if nothing else Yusuke most likely would be unable to keep his mouth shut. He sighed, knowing then that he really didn't have much of a choice. "Kurama and Yusuke are here, they come with news of your family."

Kagome stared at him with wide eyes, those two wouldn't just show up for no reason and she had been gone without a way to contact her mother. The book slid from her fingers to the bed. She knew, somehow she knew what he was trying to say but she didn't want to believe it. She blinked back the tears that threatened to spill. "It's my grandfather isn't it?"

"He's gone. As soon as you are ready I will take you home. Your family needs you." Hiei went over to the bed and sat down next to her as the first of the tears began to spill. He hated seeing her like this but there wasn't anything he could do other than offer comfort. His arms wrapped around her as she leaned into him, silently giving her the shoulder she so desperately needed.

~*~

Yusuke stood from his chair and began to pace the room for what had to be the twentieth time since Hiei had left them there. He didn't like being left out like this when Kagome would most likely need them all but he knew that he couldn't just go looking for them. How was she going to deal with this on top of everything else? He doubted Hiei would be much of a help to her somehow, he'd never had any close ties with his family aside from Yukina. He was far better at dealing out death than dealing with it.

Kurama narrowed his eyes as he followed Yusuke's movements, the man was going to drive him insane long before Hiei brought Kagome out. "Yusuke will you sit down? You aren't helping matters right now." He was seriously considering Youko's idea of tying the Toushin down with a vine or two just to get him to stop pacing.

"Dammit Kurama how can you just sit there? I feel useless!" Yusuke sat back down and scowled, at least if he was moving he was doing something.

Kurama removed a couple of seeds from his hair, letting the vines grow in his hand while giving Yusuke a warning look. "I can sit here because whether I like it or not I am not needed at the moment. Hiei has to be the one to do this,he is the one she will turn to just as it should be." He knew how Yusuke was feeling to a point, he wanted to be in there helping her get through this but it wasn't his place. Nor was it Yusuke's, at least not yet anyway.

"Are you sure he can help her with this? He's not exactly Mr. Emotional you know." Yusuke eyed those vines in Kurama's hand warily, knowing exactly what threat the kitsune was giving him. He didn't exactly care for the idea of being trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey.

Kurama let the vines revert back to seeds, knowing that his warning had been taken at least for the moment. "Had you asked me that question even a year ago and I'd probably say no. But Hiei has changed, even you have to agree with that. Being with Kagome has forced him to grow in ways that none of us ever expected him to be capable of considering his past."

Yusuke ran his hand through his hair and sighed. "I guess you're right. I never pictured him in a serious relationship, it just wasn't something I could see and now he is." As much as he wanted to deny it, before this entire situation had ever happened even he had to agree that Kagome and Hiei were good for each other and now the bond that they had was likely only to get stronger.

Kurama stood up and walked over to Yusuke putting a hand on his shoulder. "I know it's not something that necessarily makes you happy but.. Try for be happy for them, they've earned it. Give their relationship the time and space it needs to recover from what has happened. Afterwards perhaps you too will find happiness as well." He hoped that Yusuke would be willing to give them the space they needed, especially now. It wasn't the time to be putting added pressure on Hiei, for he was certain to be feeling the same emotions Kagome was by way of their bond and any further strain on Kagome was likely to send him over the edge.

"I'm trying. It's just hard you know?" He knew that he was being selfish in what he wanted but he couldn't change the way he felt. He saw Kurama's eyes turn golden for a moment as he nodded and his mind wandered back to the conversation he had with Kurama a while ago. The one where Kurama nearly taken his head off for making the wrong comment. "Kurama can I ask you something?"

Kurama raised an eyebrow and nodded. "It seems that you've already done so but speak. What do you need to ask?"

Yusuke stared at him for a long moment before taking a deep breath. "You told me once before that you knew how it felt. How did you get passed it?" It didn't make sense to him. Kurama could have any girl he wanted, it wouldn't take any great effort to snare the one who had earned his love.

Kurama shook his head, knowing immediately what it was Yusuke was asking. The one he needed to be talking to was Youko, but the kitsune wasn't any more likely to share his feelings than Hiei was. He only caught the echoes of what Youko was feeling at any given time. "I can't give you a good answer to that Yusuke because I've only experienced a small part of it. You'd have to ask Youko that but truthfully I do not believe he has gotten past it, he's just dealing with it the best way he knows how."

"I'm not sure what the problem is Kurama. Either you or him could have any woman you wanted, you had several throwing themselves at your feet all through high school. You can't tell me there's one girl out there that is immune to your charms." Yusuke waited to see what he would say but no answer was forthcoming, all emotion had disappeared from Kurama's face. "You gotta be shitting me, what happened? Did she tell you no? Who is this girl?"

Kurama was beginning to regret telling him he could ask his question. He could feel the irritation radiating off of Youko, not that he blamed him. Had his own feelings been the same as the kitsune's then perhaps they would have tried but they weren't and it was something that Youko had learned to deal with even if it hurt more than he'd like to admit. He looked towards the door and silently thanked Inari for the interruption. "It isn't important Yusuke, what's done is done."

Yusuke followed his gaze and noticed Hiei walking beside Kagome. She looked like hell but she wasn't crying. At least not anymore though it looked like she had done a fair amount already. Hiei looked fairly stressed as well but refused to leave her side. Suddenly he didn't know what to say. Everything that he had been thinking about over the past few weeks had disappeared and as happy as he was to see her he suddenly wished he hadn't come. If he hadn't, then this wouldn't be happening now. While he stared and grasped at something to say he watched Kurama step forward, changing forms as he closed the distance.

Youko stopped in front of her casting a quick glance to Hiei who nodded in return. His arms wrapped around her smaller form, embracing her gently. "I'm sorry Kagome. I wish there was something we could do." Her silent nod was the only reply he got which was fine with him. He wasn't about to force any more of a reaction out of her, he could feel the tension coming off of her as she tried to choke down her tears. He looked over to Hiei once again, noting how his expression was strangely devoid of any jealousy at the moment. For that at least he was thankful, there was no need for any of them to fight right now. "Let's take you home okay?" He stepped back from her slowly and allowed Hiei to take his place once more.

Kagome looked up at him and tried to smile but it just wouldn't come. "Thank you... Will you both be coming with us? To the shrine I mean?" She wasn't sure if they would or not. They had been there a few times but that didn't mean they would want to go. She'd understand if they didn't, it wasn't something she was looking forward to by any means.

"Of course, Yusuke?" Youko turned towards the man and raised an eyebrow. He somehow doubted that Yusuke would say no to her question but he wasn't going to assume anything with him. He saw a light of recognition dawn in the man's eyes as they stared at each other. It would seem this was one of the times Yusuke had used his head and figured out the answer to the question he had asked earlier.

"I'm going too." Yusuke kept his expression neutral as he continued to look at Youko. It should have been obvious to him before now but it hadn't been, which wasn't surprising considering the fact that Youko really didn't make an appearance that often. He understood now and silently pitied the kitsune, realizing now what he had meant when he said what's done is done. Youko knew there was no chance for him and had gracefully stepped out of the running long before Hiei had taken her for a mate. Youko was putting her happiness above his own, why couldn't he do the same?