Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ A Well Too Deep ❯ Chapter 7 ( Chapter 7 )

Author Note:

The prejudice will be explained better in the chapters to come, plus I have author's prerogative.

Kurama has a human body and has lived a human life - if only for a few years - and so is regarded as human until he fully regains his Youko form and discards his human one. Until then he will still be tainted. I'm going against my own knowledge of kitsune possession to write this fic, but again, I have author's prerogative.

"Thank You" to my reviewers:

ForeverFornever

WC - thanks for clarification on the eye color.

Hedi Dracona - same as above goes to you

MikaSamu - lol, and same as above to you too

What2callmyself

Nasa Ow/d Maxwell

Kooriya Yui - thanks, I'm leaving the "…" as is but I made the other corrections

MultifacetedTune - (read below)

Ko-Krama - no can't say I have bought that. It sounds yummy. Try the Tully's

new vanilla spice shake. Yum! Not exactly coffee, though, lol.

ALL WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE TRIVIA QUESTIONS READ THIS:

MultifacedTune has nearly answered both questions. The Plague Army question has been declared closed and MultifacedTune will be named the winner if they can tell me where the name "Morana" comes from.

As for the second question: Don't think of the well as being physical but purely emotional. Yes, it does involve the love between Hiei and Kurama.

(It's funny, the more responses I get to that question the more and more I realize how appropriate the title was to my story because it applies to so many of the things within the story.)

Reviews for chapter seven are the last possible time that you can guess on the trivia. The prize is either a cameo of a character of your choice/design in one of my fics, or a one-shot of your chosen plot.

I've decided to add TWT to the description of this story seeing as I haven't seen the end of the series and so can't guarantee the accuracy of my timeline.

Chapter Rating: PG

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A Well Too Deep: Chapter 7

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Hiei slowly came to consciousness with a groan. His body held the heaviness of long sleep. Something soft was covering his eyelids and preventing him from opening them. He raised an arm to remove it, annoyed at how sluggish the limb was. A feminine hand grabbed his arm to stop the motion, startling Hiei. He hadn't even sensed another's presence.

"Calm Hiei. You are in Reikai, healing." The voice was light and soft, the voice of a healer. Hiei didn't recognize it. "Lord Koenma?"

"Thank you Hanako. Would you leave us for a moment?" Koenma asked.

"Of course my lord. I will be just outside the door." Hiei heard her slight steps getting farther away and then the clicking of the opening and closing of a door. He couldn't sense her or Koenma and it greatly unnerved him.

Koenma willed the walls to muffle his words. It was necessary for the healer to remain close by, but he would not have information leaking into Reikai's ranks. Koenma didn't speak for a few minutes, quietly listening to guarantee their privacy and gauge Hiei's condition. Hanako had spoken of his expected physical weakness and spiritual blindness. There really was no reason for him to personally visit the patient but Koenma felt as if he owed him at least that much. Guilt Koenma hadn't thought possible wouldn't allow him to remain idle. Hiei, for his part, remained silent as well.

Koenma eyed the bandages encircling Hiei's eyes and forehead. He gave an approving glance at their faint glow. Hanako had thought to recharge them with her energy before she was required to leave. Smart girl, she was turning out to be quite the unexpected treasure.

"Your jagan is being repaired."

"How long?" Hiei cut in. Nothing about him changed. He had lain flat on his back, arms straight out at his sides since the healer had grabbed his arm. Only his lips moved to form the question.

"Clarify."

"How long have I been unaware?"

"Two weeks."

Hiei nodded. He had expected as much. "And how much longer will I be damaged?"

"Hanako gives it another week before the bandages can be removed and another two after that before you may open your jagan eye," Hiei winced, "I will assign someone to help you -"

"No!"

Koenma couldn't restrain his smirk, "or I will leave you in the care of your teammates, none of whom will be leaving Reikai until this mission is complete. We -" Koenma paused at Hiei's derisive snort, "I need to be able to reach any of you four at any given moment. I have called in Genkai to aid as well. Yukina will be staying here during Genkai's absence for her safety."

Hiei stiffened at the name of his still-ignorant twin. "And the others?"

Koenma knew whom Hiei was truly referring to, "Kurama, as far as my healers can tell, is physically fine. He has been branded with the mark of the stag pendant, which we have locked away, but there is nothing wrong with him. He regained consciousness after only a few days of intensive energy restoration and has been wandering the palace freely. I often find him in the library." Koenma faltered. If they could have, Hiei's eyes would have narrowed. As it were, his suspicions came through his low voice. The sound would have been a growl had his throat not been so parched.

"Koenma…."

"As I said, Kurama is perfectly alright…physically. He hasn't spoken a single word since your return from Morana's territory. He is interacting well…just silently. And he prefers loneliness to company."

Hiei sighed, deeply and silently.

Knowing Hiei wouldn't ask aloud the condition of Kuwabara, Koenma moved on without prodding. "Kuwabara is well. The wounds were merely physical and easily dealt with. He began walking about a few days ago." Hiei kept in mind that "easily" was a relative term. "Yusuke only needed sleep and has been bored out of his mind for nearly two weeks." Koenma added with a small smile. He failed to mention that Yusuke was likely now busy training with Genkai.

Hiei smirked appreciatively, "Hn. If he's so bored, send him in. I have nothing better to do either."

Koenma expected the request for company, but gifted Hiei was a semi-shocked expression. Even if the demon couldn't see it, the expression would carry through in his voice. He had the suspicion that the request had more to do with information than camaraderie. But even if it didn't, everyone but Hiei knew how kind-hearted Hiei truly was with regards to his "friends."

"I will do that." Koenma knew better than to ask if Hiei would like to see Kuwabara and Kurama as well. Koenma stood, "Heal Hiei," he said, threading a small amount of his god's authority into his farewell words to increase Hiei's inclination to do only what would aid in his convalescence.

Koenma heard the sheets of the bed rustle as Hiei settled into a more comfortable position and inwardly smiled, satisfied.

He wasn't always sure how he was to treat his tantei. When he was still limited to his toddler body, they treated him like a petulant child - and he didn't blame them for often he was: a selfish, self-centered cowardly, complaining child. In his teenage form they, whether they knew it or not, gave him more respect. Though if it were because the form was older or very attractive, he didn't know - would sometimes rather not know. At times like that he was often unsure whether he was their leader, their friend, or their desired lover. And now he felt like to a guardian or parent, or, he thought ruefully, a general ordering his troops into deadly war, knowing the horrible odds that they do not. And Koenma was so unsure as to how he wanted to be viewed by them. He could assume any of these roles flawlessly if only he had a purpose. No wonder his tantei had so little faith in him. He had never given them anything solid to have faith in.

The door snapped shut behind him and he recalled his will from the walls, returning them to their normal state. The healer Hanako was leaning against the opposite wall, her body was willowy and frail. It made her look incredibly small, though she was the same height as Koenma. Her skin was dark yet it had the transparent appeal of pale skin. Her small eyes and hip-length hair were of the same shade of clear salmon pink. She was a very striking young girl with amazing healing talent specializing in foreign elements, namely implants.

Koenma remembered when he had first discovered the girl over four decades ago. A demon-run facility similar to the Roman coliseum had been shut down by his tantei of that time. Koenma himself had distinguished her from the crowd of human and demon slaves by her smell. No matter what the circumstances, Hanako always smelled faintly of wildflowers after a spring rain. Koenma had originally kept her for her allure. It was luck that turned her into a healer.

Koenma crossed to her and lightly nuzzled the crook of her neck, breathing deeply of her scent, loving the way it filled and relaxed him. The room had been too thoroughly steeped in Hiei and healing energy for the smell to be apparent. Hanako relaxed into his familiar presence. There was nothing sexual about the moment; it was loving. Koenma would not allow anyone to taint her eternal purity. Here was something solid that he could cling to. There was no uncertainty in this. She was his source of unquestionable comfort: caretaker when he was condemned to his toddler body, daughter now that he had claimed his older form. And she was content in her innocence.

He gradually pulled away from her. "Hanako, Yusuke will be visiting shortly. Make sure that they are undisturbed and have Yusuke report to my office when he leaves."

"Yes my lord."

Koenma placed his right palm flat against the wall and closed his eyes. His phantom rapidly searched for Yusuke's life force within the town-like palace. He found the man unsurprisingly in the makeshift training arena that had been hastily constructed only yesterday in the basements at Genkai's orders. No full power attacks were allowed of course, those would have to be taken outside. Koenma, with his phantom locked into its current location, pushed gently with his hand against the palace wall with only a fraction of his mind physically within his body. The wall lost its solidity and Koenma effortlessly stepped through. The other side of the wall found him in the basement just outside the covered arena.

"Yusuke," Koenma said. His voice carried to the two combatants and the fight ceased. "Hiei's awake…and he requested that you visit him."

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Yusuke growled obscenities as he ran up twenty flights of stairs to reach Hiei's room. He could have traveled by phantom and been there within a matter of seconds. But no, Genkai wouldn't allow it. She decided it would be better to make him run, while she phantomed upwards through each level to keep an eye on his progress. Heaven forbid he slow, stumble, or pause.

"Lazy old hag, don't you think it's more important to see Hiei right now than train!" he screamed at the walls surrounding the stairwell.

"Actually, he'll probably find the story amusing. Now shut up you lazy bastard, you're almost there."

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Hiei sat up when he heard Yusuke's loud and annoyed voice nearing his door. He smirked. Within moments, Yusuke came crashing loudly through the door, "Yeah a curse on you too! Don't you have arthritis cream to be putting on or something?" He closed the door before she could reply. He winced as what sounded like Genkai's shoe hit the door with a loud bang.

Yusuke was, by now, sweating profusely. His tight jeans and white t-shirt had long since become uncomfortably wet and clingy. Yet his breathing was still even and easy. His hair was hanging down in his eyes. Koenma thought providing the boy with hair gel was too trivial. Yusuke kept trying to sweep it back out of habit, horribly annoying.

Yusuke turned around to face the room's interior and sobered. "Hey Hiei."

This was the first time he had seen his egotistical and powerful friend since the healers had taken him away two weeks ago. Koenma had warned him of how grave the injury to his jagan was, but he hadn't really expected it to take so long to heal. This was the same demon that had fought in the Dark Tournament with his dominant arm incapacitated by black dragon fire after all. Hiei appeared so young and fragile with all three of his eyes bound and covered. Yusuke could feel how weak he was without even trying. The usual warmth surrounding the fire demon was gone. It was unsettling.

"Hn," Hiei greeted his leader.

"Koenma said you wanted to see me?"

"I suggested you come by to ease our boredom."

Yusuke chuckled and crossed the room, "Whatever, I'm here now." Yusuke pulled one of the basic wooden chairs closer to Hiei's bed and sat down in it backwards, facing the back of the chair. "So how are you, really?"

Hiei grimaced, "I'll heal." Silence fell between them. In a rare display of humanity, Hiei engaged their dialogue, "And everyone? I don't trust Koenma's take on things."

Yusuke laughed quietly again, "Can't blame you for that. He dumped the real purpose of our mission on me only after we'd gotten back and you three had been dealt with." Yusuke presumed from the motion of the bandages that Hiei had raised an eyebrow at that statement.

"And that would be?"

"We were to collect the pendant to prevent Morana from completing her collection and becoming the most powerful dark lord in the Makai. We did," Yusuke added hastily, "by not having it when it activated, she was stopped from gaining all the power."

"At our expense," Hiei said darkly. Yusuke nodded then quickly spoke, remembering that Hiei was blind.

"Yes. It affected you and Kurama worst."

Hiei made a small sound in his throat, Yusuke waited. "How - how is…Kurama…in your opinion?"

"What has Koenma told you?"

Hiei shook his head. He wanted to hear what Yusuke had to say first.

"He's alive and healthy…only silent. It's creepy. He acts completely normal except that he hasn't spoken in two weeks. He speaks through gestures. And I keep finding him by himself, staring at nothing with his hand on a spot on his chest. I've never seen him like this before. He's there but he's also not there." Yusuke shrugged, "I dunno, that's the best way I can put it. It's hard to keep his attention."

Yusuke trailed off. He was waiting for Hiei's reaction, but none came. Getting tired of the tense silence, Yusuke plunged into dangerous waters with his usual tactlessness. "So what is it between you two anyway?"

"What?" Hiei was sharply pulled from his musings.

"Don't play dumb. I know more than you think I do. I know you lo -"

"Quiet! Don't speak of it!" Yusuke was startled by the vehemence behind Hiei's sudden words. "You meddle in matters you couldn't possibly know."

"Then tell me!"

"I-I can't."

"Why?" Yusuke pushed angrily. He was tired of being left in the dark: by Koenma, by Kurama, and now by Hiei. He was the leader of this team and as far as he was concerned, the suffering of his teammates was his business.

Hiei opened his mouth to retort, but instead only exhaled and closed his mouth again. His head hung forward chin to chest. Hiei was tired of this and he wanted to tell someone, but his mind screamed at him to shut his mouth, to not say another word. Wait, to not say another word? Oh Kurama….

"It is an ancient taboo," Hiei's voice was low. Yusuke had to listen hard to hear his words. After a half-hour of waiting, he had almost given up on getting a response. "A demon may do anything they can imagine to a human, …but…any demon who proclaims a strong emotional tie to a human is forever cursed. It goes beyond human prejudices. It-it would curse my soul to voice such. I would be forever trapped as a human incarnate with only enough heart to prevent me from becoming anything - good or evil - worth being." He spoke slowly, purposefully.

"But Kurama isn't -"

"Kurama is not, but Shuuichi is. It would be a different matter were he a half-blood, hanyou, like you. The rules of what constitutes a demon and what a human are specific and there is no middle ground. Kurama's main body is human therefore he is human."

"But how is that possible? Koenma controls the souls."

"I don't know how. Though I assume it was instated to prevent a race of outcast mixed-bloods back when the two worlds were still connected. I doubt even Koenma could override it. I can already feel the eyes of the gods upon us and it makes me quake. Kurama can feel it too. That's why he's stopped talking." Hiei paused for a few moments. There was no need to mention what had transpired between himself and Kurama when the pendant activated.

Hiei vaguely heard Yusuke's soft "oh." Yusuke didn't know what to think and there was nothing he could have said. Hiei's sudden display of honesty and vulnerability had caught Yusuke off-guard.

"But that doesn't explain his lack of lucidity." Hiei's voice rose in substance, "I don't dare speak to Kurama right now. So let's go over exactly what Koenma told you about the mission."

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