Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ A Well Too Deep ❯ Chapter 9 ( Chapter 9 )

MikaSamu - You really over flatter me with that review. It makes me feel all warm

inside to know that what I'm writing really matters to some people.

 

WC - Thank you. I'm glad to know that my improvement is enough to be recognized.

 

KitsuneLover - yes I have an account (under the same name) at FF.net, MM.org, and

AFF.net

 

SKSuncloud - sweet to abrupt? You're the first person I've heard say that and I admit

I don't really see where you're coming from. I appreciate the opinion nonetheless

 

And thank you to everyone who reviewed but is not included above.

 

A/N: There is quite a bit of dialogue in this chapter, some filler, and a lot of me trying to get this story back on track. Btw, I've decided that this story is TWT, but generally placed between the Dark Tournament and Sensui.

 

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A Well Too Deep: Chapter 9

 

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Yusuke was early, possibly for the first time in his life, the next morning to see Hiei's eye bandages removed. More than anything, he was avoiding this morning's training session. Genkai was a merciless hag, he thought miserably, gingerly touching a bruise on the back of his head. He angrily wondered whether she was so evil because of her withered, old leather handbag appearance. She had been quite the powerful beauty when younger after all. Sure a little work here and there to keep in shape was great, but he didn't believe this hard-ass system of Genkai's was necessary. Wasn't he supposed to be recovering and saving his energy? And besides, he'd already beaten the dreaded Toguro, wasn't that worth anything?

 

Yusuke was about to pull open the door to Hiei's room when he realized what prematurely waking up a short-tempered fire demon could result in (images of himself flaming, screaming, and charred came to mind - he physically cringed). He opted for knocking first. When there was no response, he rapped his knuckles even harder against the thick wooden door. This time he heard movement coming from within the room.

 

“Hey Hiei, it's me. I can come in, right?” Yusuke called out.

 

“Just be quiet.”

 

Yusuke raised a quizzical eyebrow but proceeded through the doorway as softly as he could.

 

The sight inside made Yusuke stop short. Hiei was sitting upright with his back against the headboard and legs still underneath the comforter, bound eyes facing in Yusuke's general direction. Sleeping next to him and on top of the covers was Kurama. He lay on his side facing Hiei. He was curled so that his head was loosely propped upon Hiei's thigh, while the rest of his body was angled outward, away from Hiei's body. His clothes were still in the half-state that Koenma had seen the day before. One of Hiei's arms was draped protectively over the redhead.

 

“Don't wake him up. He needs to sleep,” Hiei said, ignoring how odd the situation must seem to his leader.

 

Yusuke nodded, “So…want to tell me why Kurama's asleep in your lap?”

 

“No.” Hiei's tone indicated that, if he could've glared at the detective, he would've been.

 

“I thought -”

 

“You're not wrong.”

 

A few seconds passed, during which Yusuke stood still and went over the previous conversation the two of them had had about Kurama. He was becoming increasingly confused and frustrated, the stress of being stuck in the Reikai palace for weeks on end with his secretive and fragmented team was beginning to manifest.

 

“Damn it Hiei!” Yusuke remembered their sleeping comrade and lowered his voice but lost none of his vehemence, “Damn it Hiei. I'm sick and tired of everyone fucking around with me. Just tell me straight and be done with it, it's too late to tell me nothing and leave me be in peace.”

 

Hiei hadn't expected the detective to be this testy and he was taken aback at the frustrated outburst. Apparently Kurama and him weren't the only ones tossing secrets about. Taking pity on the boy, Hiei relented, nearly sighing but actually grimacing. If anyone had the right to know it was this teenage boy standing defiantly before him with his hands on his hips in the typical impatient Yusuke pose. Many people failed to see how it was possible that Yusuke was becoming as great as he was. He was just a boy with a bad attitude after all. However, Hiei and Kurama were not among those people. They were of the precious few who looked beyond the hair gel, the factual stupidity, the laziness, and the overly-loud mouth to what really made up the detective: luck, loyalty, courage, and trust. Yusuke may often times be irritating, but he'd earned at least Hiei's respect time after time. He was their leader.

 

“Kurama dared to summon a judgment - to ask a god to free our love from the taboo last night. That's why he's here and that's why he's exhausted.” There was no need for Hiei to tell Yusuke the whole truth behind Kurama's weariness, that the power within the pendant was slowly killing him and that much of his concentration was going towards keeping the mindless stag's energy from overtaking his soul. It wasn't his place to tell. “Understand that if I don't, Kurama will gut you and hang you from your intestines if you abuse this information.”

 

Yusuke wasn't fazed by the threat, though he did take it seriously. He had been around both people long enough to know that while they both *could* follow through with their most gruesome threats, Hiei would never injure a valuable ally and Kurama would never hurt a friend. Besides, Hiei's voice wasn't low enough to warrant true fear from Yusuke. If anything it was weary and less substantial than normal.

 

“Gotcha,” Yusuke said, taking the same reversed seat he had in days past, “But if all you have to do is ask a god to undo the taboo's power, why haven't you before?”

 

“Because it requires innocent blood and a broken heart. Nothing involving ancient power and the gods is ever simple, remember that Urameshi.”

 

Yusuke ignored the urge for silence within Hiei's weighted statement and plowed straight ahead. “Then why ask for it now?”

 

“You ask entirely too many questions, Detective,” Hiei smirked at the irony. “I will say no more.”

 

Yusuke slumped over the back of the chair, pouting and muttering under his breath, (“How am I supposed to lead a team that won't tell me anything.”) defeated for the moment and searching for another topic to discuss. A sly expression worked its way onto his face, “So…what about this judgment has Kurama so exhausted?”

 

“Yusuke! If you don't shut up, I will make you!” Hiei yelled, hoping to distract Yusuke from the faint blush he could feel tinting his cheeks.

 

“I'm not late am I?” a teal-haired girl peeked in the room through the barely open door. Her voice was high and feminine yet it possessed a soft hardness one wouldn't consciously acknowledge but would feel across their skin. Goosebumps might rise imperceptibly at the sound and heads might turn at per passing - the first snowflake of winter.

 

“Hey Yukina. Don't worry, I'm just early,” Yusuke said. He was holding his nose in an attempt to stifle his snickers. It was failing miserably.

 

“Good, I wanted to make sure that I didn't - oh.” The short girl was caught by surprise at the sight of Kurama just as Yusuke had been. “Is he alright?”

 

“Just tired,” Hiei's voice was tight. He was caught between snapping at Yusuke and being kind to Yukina.

 

“YUKINA!!!!!!” Kuwabara crashed through the door with enough force to send it slamming open against the inside wall and bouncing back, shutting in his face. He suavely reopened it and strutted inside the room to Yukina. “Yukina, seeing you is enough to make me forget my terrible company of the last few weeks. Surely you came here to see me and rekindle our bonds of love.”

 

“You always say the funniest things Kazuma. You know that I've come here to support Hiei…”

 

For Kurama, the conversation was nothing more than irritating background noise. Much to his chagrin, he had been rattled from sleep by Kuwabara's overenthusiastic entrance. He buried his face within the gathered cloth at Hiei's waist. His hands clenched and relaxed and a low, tired groan vibrated against Hiei's stomach. Hiei leaned over, running his fingers through Kurama's hair, and whispered, “Yukina, Yusuke, and the idiot are here. Sorry they woke you, I'll kick them out if you want me to.”

 

Kurama looked up at Hiei out of the corner of one of his haze-filled eyes, “No it is alright. I should be waking anyway.” Kurama looked back down into the covers, “Any word?”

 

“Not yet.”

 

“Then time is still ours, no matter which side his verdict shall fall.”

 

“Kurama?” Kurama turned to see Yukina peering at him. The other two boys had long since engaged in one of their typical brawls.

 

“Yes Yukina?”

 

“Are you sure you're alright? I know Hiei said you were just tired, but, well…I can't help but notice that you're aura is darker than normal and I was wondering if I could help.”

 

Kurama smiled, it was tired but genuine. “It isn't something you need concern yourself with. Say, where have you been this past week? Koenma had you brought here for your protection a while back did he not?”

 

“I have been staying with the other Reikai healers. They've taught me so much. Healers' hall is a fascinating place.”

 

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“Yusuke,” Kuwabara roughly whispered from his headlocked position. “What's up with Kurama and Hiei?” The two teenagers were hoping to use this fight as a decoy for their discussion. Kuwabara had been curious by the close proximity and intimate position of the other two members of their team since he'd first stormed into the room but hadn't yet had the opportunity to question it. After Yukina had wounded his noble heart, Yusuke had promptly stepped on his foot, quelling any comments he might have voiced. A serious look had kept Kuwabara from protesting.

 

“I can't tell you, I don't know enough about it myself. Just don't say anything, `k?” Yusuke tightened his grip on Kuwabara's neck for emphasis, only to find himself promptly flipped backwards by a tight grip in his hair.

 

“Why is this so important?”

 

“Because it is asshole!”

 

“Well isn't that a fine greeting.” The room froze. Everyone in the room turned to face Koenma, standing in the doorway. How none of them noticed his approach or entrance was a testament to the god's power over the palace. Behind and slightly to the side of his body frame hovered Hanako. Her dark shoulders and back were straight and her chin level, but those astonishing pale pink eyes wavered. These were not the eyes of a healer. They were the eyes of a proud and willing lamb afraid of finality. Yusuke and Kuwabara had not the experience to read her expression nor had they seen Hanako enough to notice the change. Kurama, however, had and did. His eyes roamed across what was visible of her body, studying her posture and movements, then up to the strained muscles in her jaw. He suddenly felt her eyes upon him and firmly met her gaze. So this was the love that Koenma had chosen. Kurama was relieved. The possibility of him selecting Botan had been constricting upon his soul.

 

“Hanako, if you would please,” Koenma motioned her forward and towards Hiei. Yukina backed away out of respect for a superior healer, but Kurama refused to move. Hanako's deft hands worked around him with the simplicity of field experience. Even under the redhead's scrutiny, she remained calm and steady in her work.

 

What a fine image of innocence, Kurama thought in awe. He found himself admiring her untouched curves and tight, unbound breasts whose peaks were distinguishable under the lightweight and hanging fabric. It was obvious Koenma dressed the girl to demonstrate her purity. A child, she was, that should be kept in a case of glass and silk. Guilt, Kurama was feeling guilt and appreciative reverence. He clutched tighter at the folds of Hiei's shirt.

 

Hanako's soft, airy voice spoke, “You can open your eyes.”

 

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A/N:

 

Let's have a big cheer for my finally writing another chapter for this story. It's been a really long time since I've looked at this story, engrossed in UBP and then busy with life (stupid life), so the rhythm is different. The voice is more casual, the characters less distinct - I just really wanted to get through this chapter regardless. I apologize if this chapter is seriously detrimental to the story.