Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Like Sakura Petals Falling... ❯ Awakenings ( Chapter 6 )

Blanket Disclaimer: InuYasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi, YuYu Hakusho belongs to Yoshihiro Togashi. Perverse bastardizations of both can be blamed on me.

"Chasing a trail of smoke and reason." - 'Third Eye' by Tool

Chapter Six (Awakenings)

Yuusuke glared down at the diminutive demi-god, whom was suckling frantically on his pacifier, as the spirit detective silently promised a slow death.

"I will ask this one more time, toddler," Yuusuke ground out, painfully slow in an attempt to control his growing ire. "What the hell is going on?" He demanded, shouting out the last part as his rage got the better of him.

"And I'll tell you again, Yuusuke, I don't know what you're referring to." Koenma snapped back, matching the spirit detective temper to temper. "There have been no unauthorized breaches of the barrier!" He shouted back in his own defense.

"Then why the hell have there been sporadic youkai attacks?" Yuusuke countered back heatedly. "Kuwabara, Kurama, and supposedly Hiei are all acting weird about them!"

"I don't know." Koenma sighed out.

"You're not telling me everything, are you?" Yuusuke accused angrily.

"I can't tell you what I don't know, Yuusuke." Koenma replied sharply, his brow creasing sternly at the impetuous champion before him.

"Is there some other spirit detective out there? Again?" Yuusuke asked after a momentary glare-off with the youthful looking demi-god.

Koenma blinked, his eyebrows hiking upward in obvious confusion. "A new spirit detective? Why would you think that?" He asked truly perplexed.

"Oh, I don't know," Yuusuke returned airily, before glaring daggers and bearing his proverbial fangs at his cosmic employer. "Maybe it has something to do with all these demons you know nothing about being purified by some mysterious holy man!" He snapped out tersely.

"What are you talking about?" Koenma inquired mystified as his eyes grew pensive. "There hasn't been anyone like that in some five-hundred years. There's been no need for anyone with that ability." Koenma explained, slipping into deep contemplation.

"And what does that mean?" Yuusuke drawled, crossing his arms over his chest as he eyed the deity appraisingly.

"It means that when the barrier was erected, the need for humans to protect and defend themselves from the youkai diminished." Koenma lectured flatly. "Therefore, the need for individuals of such purity diminished, as well. Those priests and mikos became relegated to myth and legend; until, eventually, there were none left living."

"Well, then how do you explain what's been going on?" Yuusuke demanded wearily.

"I can't." Koenma answered gravely. "Nor do I intend to."

"Why not?" Yuusuke asked in annoyance.

"Because it's not my place." The demi-god retorted sharply.

"Oh? And who's place is it then?" Yuusuke snapped back.

"My father's!" Koenma shouted, then grimaced at his own unintended admittance.

So that's what the brat was hiding. Yuusuke mused, wallowing in the glory of his own one-upmanship over the deity.

"Enma Daioh?" Yuusuke asked aloud in disbelief. "How deep of shit are we in?"

"I don't know, Yuusuke, I don't know." Koenma answered solemnly.

~*~

Kuwabara longed for a cigarette. A cigarette, or a bottle of aspirin to stave off the impending headache he knew was coming.

He should have learned by now that just when you thought things could not get any stranger, nor more indecipherable; they inevitably would.

Earlier that evening, he'd received a phone call from a very brusque and demanding Yuusuke. Then, shortly after that bout of painful interrogations and petty death threats, another call--- this time from Kanzaki. Which led him to the impending headache named Ueno.

Two security officers had been found dead during the shift change for the Tokyo National Museum's overnight shift. The popular new exhibit lie in shambles; it's main attraction--- missing or destroyed.

Though destroyed seemed unlikely. How the hell do you destroy something made from diamond? That was the question that kept rattling around in Kazuma's head, refusing to be pinned by an answer.

The whole place was a bloody disaster… literally. The guards had had their throats ripped out, nearly to the point of decapitation. One was even eviscerated; there was currently a sweep in suit for the deceased's missing liver. The exhibit, not fifty yards from the corpses, looked as though it had been hit by a tornado, or some other natural disaster.

And seemingly true to form, the entire scene was saturated with youki and purifying energy. The only differences between here and the previous crime scenes was location and the lack of a semi-comatose surviving witness.

What the hell am I missing? Kuwabara pondered, chewing on a toothpick to stave off his nicotine cravings and failing miserably.

He'd give his right arm for a cigarette.

Kanzaki made his way over to Kuwabara with a weary shake of his head. "I'm getting to old for this shit." He commented upon reaching his younger partner.

"That, and it's 3am." Kazuma replied, massaging his temples fending off the first signs of the oncoming tension headache.

"The security guards are no help." Kanzaki muttered gruffly with a withering glare in the direction of the two shaken uniformed men being interrogated again for the sixth time at least.

Kazuma nodded. "And the security video tapes are fried, as is the entire museum's alarm system." He stated dryly. "Whoever did this was a fucking pro." Kuwabara added.

"No shit!" Kanzaki agreed, his irritation clear in his tone.

"This might actually work in our favor, though." Kanzaki speculated after a moment. "Not many could pull all of this off."

Kuwabara simply nodded in concession to his partner's musings. He could only think of two people, well, demons, capable of pulling a stunt like this off. But they wouldn't…

Would they?

Kazuma shook himself, disturbed by the turn of this thoughts.

They wouldn't. Besides, it just didn't fit, for them to be behind this.

Right?

~*~

Hiei landed silently on the fourth story balcony before stealthily entering the fox's apartment.

It had taken the disgruntled fire apparition nearly six hours to find his way back to human civilization. Six appalling hours of running and backtracking his own fading youki signature. How the hell he had ended up out there, and who played the mental mind-fuck on his jagan; where the two prime questions he wanted answered.

Silently, Hiei navigated his way through the dark apartment toward the kitchen.

"It's 3am."

Hiei turned and frowned sharply at the kitsune seated at the breakfast nook half in shadow.

"Hn." Hiei grunted, before boldly raiding the freezer and grabbing a pint of chocolate ice cream.

"That's a little late, even for you." Kurama added, staring musingly into his tea.

Hiei narrowed his eyes at the brooding kitsune, before loosing another grunt and sitting down across from Kurama. Quickly stealing the red-head's spoon for his own use.

Kurama gave him a quizzical glance, then sighed as the fire apparition pointedly ignored him, focusing on the thieved ice cream instead.

"Why are you still awake anyway?" Hiei finally asked after a moment of heavy silence.

Kurama made to answer, but was interrupted by a muffled whimper, and the should of bed springs protesting the movements of a restless sleeper.

Hiei froze, claret eyes narrowing in the direction of the bedroom. "Company, Fox?" He drawled out with a slow smirk. "Never pegged you the type to bring your `meals' home." He taunted darkly. Maybe things were looking up for him.

"She's not a --- `meal,' as you put it." Kurama replied in obvious distaste. The kitsune lifted his cup of tea and took a sip, only to grimace and push the offending cup away from him.

"Then who is she?" Hiei pressed, intentionally antagonizing the moody fox.

Kurama raised annoyed green eyes to the smaller demon, and for a brief moment, Hiei thought he saw a flash of gold in their depths. The youko?

"I don't know." Kurama replied after a moment, regarding the tea in his cup with a marked frown.

"You don't know?" Hiei replied in open curiosity, eyes sliding toward the bedroom in a calculated fashion, then back to Kurama.

«You don't know, and she's not a `meal.' Then why is she here, in your bed?» Hiei mused with a wicked smirk, as he polished off his ice cream in sadistic satisfaction.

«Hiei---» Kurama warned silently.

«Only curious, Fox.» Hiei returned in blatant amusement. «It's a little strange, though.»

«No.»

Hiei's head jerked up at the third voice, eyes narrowing on Kurama, as the kitsune's own jaw clenched.

«The youko?» Hiei asked carefully.

«Yes.» Kurama replied tersely.

«I thought he was sleeping again.» Hiei stated with a frown.

«Apparently not.» Kurama shot back in a rare display of temper.

«What the hell is going on?» Hiei demanded of his comrade.

«She called to us, but he wouldn't answer.» Youko volunteered sulkily.

«Who is `she?'» Hiei asked Kurama in confusion, then glanced back to the closed bedroom door. «She, she?»

Kurama just sighed and shrugged. «I don't know. Though I suspect `She' is the force that has been purifying the awakening youkai in Ningen-kai.» He stated echoing Hiei's own confusion.

«Why would something that is purifying demons, be calling to you?» Hiei asked, then caught the rest of the kitsune's remark. «Wait--- `awakening youkai?'» He added sharply.

«It would seem Kuwabara's youkai are not of Ma-kai origin, or rather, the pre-date the Ma-kai.» Kurama replied with a nod.

«Pre-date?» Hiei echoed. «Then how would they have been able to remain in Ningen-kai after the realms divided?»

«They were held dormant by holy spells. Which would also explain why all the attacks have been on shrines.» Kurama explained placidly.

«How do you know all this?» Hiei asked suspiciously.

«I witnessed it today, at the family-run shrine of a friend of my step-brother's.» Kurama replied. «Shuuichi-kun created a myousa.»

«How could he do that? Aren't those merely from myths designed to scare bad little youkai into behaving?» Hiei retorted scornfully.

«He said he had some help.» Kurama replied darkly.

«She helped him.» Youko interjected in irritation. «And he saw her, and we didn't.» The kitsune's more primal aspect spat out in disgust.

Kurama sighed wearily. «This is what I've had to listen to for the better part of the day.» He nearly lamented.

Hiei fought hard to bite down on the chuckle swelling in his throat. «So what does all this have to do with the mysterious girl in your bed?» He asked.

Kurama just glared at him with an indignant frown marring his features, before rising and depositing his tea cup in the kitchen sink.. He then turned and padded silently toward his living room.

At the doorway, Kurama paused glancing back over his shoulder. "Excuse me, but I need to rest." He dismissed civilly before disappearing into the pre-dawn gloom pervading the other room.

Hiei, losing his inner battle, let out a low chuckle at the kitsune's expense.

~*~

The glowing brilliance and warmth of the mid-morning sun spilled across the cozy bed, waking its occupant from her deep slumber.

Stretching lazily, the girl blinked open large, warm brown eyes, not really taking in her surroundings. Instead, she opted to burrow down into the bed and coverings in an old habit. Breathing deeply, she was immersed in the scent of roses and sage--- and something else, something warmer. Almost like a puppy's fur after its spent the day playing out in the sun, only wilder. The girl smiled and nearly giggled at the thought.

Squirming she buried her nose against the pillow to better lose herself in the addictive scent, with a contented sigh. Then her eyes flew open, as she sat up in the bed suddenly in her astonishment.

Pillow, blankets, bed, room, sunlight--- Shippo? The girl gasped as the face from last night swam before her vision. Her brow creased in concentration as she lifted one delicate hand up for her to inspect.

"I'm alive." She breathed out softly, turning over her hand over and wiggling her fingers, only to pat her throat at her own utterance.

I can talk--- and move! She realized, biting on her lip to quell hysterical squiggles bubbling up in the back of her throat.

Lifting her hand up for inspection once again she did giggle, as she reached down to lift up the blanket then drop it to fall back into her lap. Her eyes lifted and began exploring the neat, orderly room, not recognizing a thing in it.

A knock sounded at the door, and she quickly turned to the sound. Shippo? She thought fidgeting nervously. When the knock sounded again, she jumped slightly, wetting her lips absentmindedly and shaking her head at her own silliness.

"Yes?" She called out meekly, watching with doe eyes as the door opened revealing a graceful figure, holding a tea cup in his other hand.

The girl bit her lip, as she watched the young man enter the room. His clothes looked rumpled, as though he'd slept in them; but, otherwise, he looked immaculate. Long red hair swept past his shoulders in a silky cascade, and framed a delicate, yet masculine face. Kind green eyes regarded her with gently concern as he glided to a stop before her. She found herself fighting back a meek "eep!" as she gazed up through thick eyelashes at the young man's lean frame to his perfect, perfect face. Instead, she settled for a blush.

"I thought you may be thirsty," The young man spoke in a rich, cultured baritone, winning a deeper shade of red to stain the girl's otherwise pale cheeks.

Blinking, the girl regarded the proffered tea cup, then smiled broadly at the young man. "Thank you." She enthused gratefully, taking the cup and sipping the tea with a happy sigh.

"Are you alright?" The young man asked, interrupting her happy I'm drinking tea! thoughts.

"Hmm?" The girl purred, glancing up to find two intense green eyes watching her every move. Swallowing nervously, she then nodded quickly. "Yes, I think so." She confirmed, tapping her chin in thought as a light smile graced her own delicate features.

Glancing up again at the young man, a mischievous glint played across warm brown eyes, as the girl reached out and grabbed the young man's wrist. With a firm tug, she managed to pull him onto the bed near her. Smiling at his astonished eyes, she gave a curt nod and made a small sound of approval.

Much better. She thought, now that she was no longer having to crane her head back to look at him.

Happily she took another sip of the tea, before carefully setting the cup aside on the bedside table.

Alive, I'm alive. I'm real! She thought happily, ignoring the eyes watching her every move.

Turning her attention back to the now bemused young man and smiled brilliantly at him, then cave to impulse.

A surprised grunt was her reward as she flung herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck in an ebullient hug, with a joyous, lilting laugh. Reflexively, the young man's arms rose to encircle her dainty form.

"Fox." She whispered happily as she mysterious smell found its name. It reminded her of Shippo's pelt.

"What?" Asked the young man as he stilled at her comment.

"You smell like fox fur!" The girl chirped, pulling back to nail him with another brilliant grin.

"Do I?" He asked, a faint smile gracing his own features. "That is something I've never heard before."

"It's a nice smell." The girl insisted with a laugh, then paused giving him a thoughtful glance.

"Hey," She called cheerfully. "I don't know your name." She huffed lightly.

"I'd imagine you wouldn't." The youth quipped back.

"So?" The girl prompted musically.

The young man arched an elegant brow at her importance, then conceded with an amused air. "Shuuichi Minamino."

"Shuuichi-kun." The girl whispered softly with a pleased smile.

"And your name would be?" Shuuichi prompted with a slight tilt of his head.

"My name?" The girl squeaked, startled from her wandering thoughts. "My name ---

"--- Kagome."