Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Kawaridane ❯ Picking Up The Peices ( Chapter 13 )

AN: This one is for my favourite reviewer on Mediaminer.org, Nyuka. Honestly every one of your reviews makes me laugh. Enjoy! I do not own IY or YYH.

 

Ayako rarely left her room over the next few weeks. The New Year had come and gone and she was still barely eating, and had grown terribly thin.

Her attractive yet seemingly cold suitor tried to call on her once or twice a week. Each time he was turned away by the only person Ayako allowed in; Shizuru.

Until one day… that is.

Shizuru was busy making a pot of tea to bring to Ayako's room when Ketsuji came calling.

Ayako felt like she was making that climb back up again. That what Hiei had left her with was no longer such a sharp pain, but a constant dull ache. She heard a gentle knock on her door.

“Come in Shizuru.” She said quietly, wondering why her friend was knocking in the first place. When the person did not come in Ayako strode across the room and slid open the door.

Standing in the doorway was the source of her misery, to some degree at least, and she was tempted to slam the door in his face, she was actually in the process when he stuck his arm out and quickly caught it before it could snap shut on his fingers.

“Ayako-san, please. Can I just talk with you? I'm sorry this has turned out this way but… I... I just want to talk.” Ketsuji's voice seemed almost, kind.

Ayako's eyes narrowed as she looked at the tall stranger.

“Alright then… talk.” She said simply.

He looked surprised and she stared at him expectantly.

“Uh… umm... well I just wanted to say I'm sorry. For how this has all happened. And I'm sorry about how I acted before. There were so many men around you that seemed so protective and I'm afraid when I get defensive I can appear much colder than I really am.” He looked at his feet.

Ayako immediately felt guilt creep into her heart. How could she have been so callous? She had never looked at this situation from his point of view. Instead she chose to blame him and wallow in her own self pity. She felt disgusted with herself.

Her face visibly brightened.

“I'm sorry too; for many things, mostly for not giving you a chance to explain yourself until now.” She smiled. “Would you like to go for a walk? It's still cold but I've discovered since I have acquired my snow leopard heritage that it doesn't bother me in the least.”

He grinned like a teenager, making him look even more striking than ever. “Sure. I'd like that.”

The two demons ventured out into the compound and into the northern forest where Ayako knew of a beautiful place to sit and… talk.

As they walked Ayako felt her heart lighten. She was surprised it was still even there. Once she had asked the question about their shared homeland in the northern Makai she hadn't needed to speak much. He told her of the beauty and the diversity of the seasons. He told her of his family history and how their families had been close for centuries before her own parents. When she asked of the current situation his face fell.

“Ever since Nikushimi killed the Lord and Lady and took over the area, the snow leopard families have lived in fear.” He shook his head sadly and his long silver hair shined in the sunlight. For a moment Ayako was left breathless at how truly beautiful this creature walking with her was.

Then she thought of Hiei, and a cold hand gripped her heart. Hiei was beautiful too.

Ketsuji seemed not to notice his companion's sudden change in mood, or he associated it with sympathy for his recent statement about their home.

Ayako shook her head to rid herself of thoughts about him… She forced herself to listen to Ketsuji once again.

“…families have lived like slaves.” Ketsuji looked down at her, his icy eyes boring into hers making her heart stumble a bit.

Ayako nodded her understanding. “How did you manage to get away? If Nikushimi knew you were betrothed to one of the Kawaridane he would have followed you here; or at least sent spies after you.”

Ketsuji smiled sadly. “When I learned of our marriage contract, from my parents it was because they were preparing to escape the Northlands. They wanted me to know so that if something happened I could have a bargaining chip. Unfortunately none of it made much sense to me at the time. To me the Kawaridane were just something that the Dark Lord was fearful and paranoid about. To me, you died 400 years ago, on the night of your birth.” He looked off into the forest. “My parents knew differently. But I was young, and very foolish.”

“Did you manage to escape then?” Ayako asked quietly, already suspecting the answer.

“Hai. I did. At the cost of my parents lives. Nikushimi learned of there plan to escape and as the current highest clan he could not allow such open defiance. It would have started a rebellion.” He took a long pause and Ayako did not interrupt him. She could see the strain on his face.

“They sacrificed themselves for my well being. I escaped and Nikushimi believes me dead as well. Burned to ashes in my childhood home.” He finished quietly and Ayako said nothing.

What could she say?

Instead she discovered that they had reached there desired location.

He stopped when she did and looked down at her questioningly. She gestured to the clearing just ahead and grasped his hand lightly in hers to lead him there.

His hand was warm and she gave it a slight squeeze to let him know she understood all the trouble he'd been through to get here, away from their mutual enemy and hunter.

Ayako watched his face as he looked around the clearing.

In the summer time this was her favourite place to swim and in the winter, her favourite place to think.

The clearing had a rather large pool of water that was fed by a small mountain waterfall. The break in the tree's allowed sunlight to reach the forest floor and the entire clearing seemed to shine with the snow reflecting the light all around them.

Ketsuji's face visibly brightened as he took in the breathtaking beauty of the secluded spot. Ayako smiled. Who wouldn't love this place?

She pointed to a log bench she had asked Yusuke to build for her many years ago and Ketsuji nodded following her to take a seat.

For a long time they simply sat together. Soaking up the comfort of each other's presence and listening to the rush of water flowing over icicles and splashing down in the pool before them.

After awhile they began to speak again. They spoke of Ayako's past; of her childhood and her adventures with the Spirit Detective and the others. She told him of her own spiritual powers and how she had recently survived regaining her demon powers as well.

She avoided the subject of Hiei and he didn't pressure her. Right now they were simply two people stuck in a situation not of their choosing. They were trying to become friends.

**********

Hiei was huddled near the small fire in the northern forests of the Makai.

`What a dreadful place. Almost as bad as the Koorime homeland.'

It was now early January and he still had not found what he was looking for. Instead he was beginning to learn something of great interest. He needed to follow the leads he was finding about the demon who had stomped into their lives declaring that HIS beloved was, in fact already spoken for.

Thoughts of Ayako were with him constantly. The last of her mark had faded and he was ashamed to say it was a relief. The added pain and sorrow that came through the mark was almost enough to undo him.

His trip to the Makai had almost been thrown to the wind countless times when he thought the pain in his chest and stomach would swell to the point of killing him and the only was to make it stop was for him to give up this foolish quest and run to her, hoping beyond hope she could forgive him.

He tried to push her from his thoughts; he stared intently into the fire and thought over what he had learned so far.

Fukiyama, Ketsuji, was indeed the oldest son of the second highest clan in the Northern Makai. His name was widely known and spoken highly of in these parts. He was apparently a saintly young demon, who did everything in his power to help the apparitions under Nikushimi's reign to fend off despair.

Rumours were being spread, however that the man they knew as Ketsuji was dead. Burned alive along with his parents in their ancestral house.

Hiei hated to bet on rumours and thus his search was being diverted. It was possible that the young demon had escaped and fled to the living world then. Although how he got through the Kekkai barrier was yet another hole in his story. His power was among the A class demons and thus he had to be let through, or suppress his power somehow to get by.

The technique he himself used was a possibility; though Genkai had developed it specially along with Koenma to allow the team to travel freely between worlds. For that type of technique to simply be stolen was not likely. Spirit world would be in a lot of trouble if that were true.

His thoughts returned to Ayako once again. He longed for her almost every second of every day. He knew now that it was a mistake to leave the way he did and he cursed him self daily for being such a coward. If he ended up losing her to that snotty, pansy, snow leopard than he had no one to blame but himself.

He just wouldn't let that happen. He'd beg if he had too.

Hiei cursed silently to the night and gathered his cloak around him. He would find the reason why his gut told him the demon was bad news. If he didn't he knew deep down in his heart that he'd never hold Ayako in his arms again.

**********

The sky was beginning to darken when Ayako heard a loud crashing through the trees and two heads turned to see what the commotion was.

“Ayako what the hell??? We've been searching for you half the day!!” Yusuke shouted from the tree he was perched in at the edge of the clearing.

“Yusuke I find that a little hard to believe when both you and Kurama are perfectly capable of sniffing me out. Like you just did. Hi Kurama.” Ayako smiled at the kitsune.

Kurama smiled back, deeply pleased to see her happy again. “Hello Ayako. I'm glad to see you out and around.”

Ayako blushed. “I'm sorry about my behaviour the past few weeks. And for keeping your mate away from you as much as I have. I promise you I'm on the mend… somewhat.” She looked away knowing her words were only half truth. She didn't think she'd ever stop loving Hiei, even if she did hate him right now.

Kurama nodded and smiled knowingly. He knew her thoughts without asking. They'd known each other far too long for it to be otherwise.

“Yeah well… You scared the crap out of me when Shizuru said you went out… with him.” Yusuke said the word him like it left a bad taste in his mouth.

Ayako sighed. He never would lose this big brother act. “His name is Ketsuji, Yusuke, and if I can give him a chance then I expect you to as well. All of you.” She looked at Kurama as well knowing that behind that cool, friendly exterior, he was constantly measuring up the demon sitting beside her.

Ketsuji fidgeted and Ayako stood up stretching her cramped limbs.

“Alright, then Yusuke. You found me. I assume from the look on your face you have more to say…” Ayako tried to hide her grin; she could see the sulk in Yusuke's form from a mile away.

Yusuke let out an exasperated sigh. “Ketsuji, Keiko has instructed me to invite you in to the main compound for dinner tonight.” His voice was barely audible.

Ketsuji looked down at Ayako for confirmation that it wasn't a cruel joke. He'd been here almost a month and had yet to be invited in for dinner.

She smiled encouragingly and he smiled back.

“I would be honoured.” He said politely with a nod of his head. He then turned to Ayako with a mock bow and offered her his arm.

She laughed and took it also exaggerated and mocking the gesture itself, for it was a gesture a man would offer his bride to be.

Kurama and Yusuke were so taken aback by Ayako's apparent comfort with the demon that they fell quietly into step behind them shooting each other the same puzzled glance.

As they made there way back to the compound Ayako believed she hadn't felt better in months.

With that thought a tiny alarm sounded in the back of her head.

`Haven't felt better in months?? That is definitely strange!'

She shook her head of that thought but the moment was ruined. She felt great… yet strange.

Strange indeed.