Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ A Well Too Deep ❯ Chapter 10 ( Chapter 10 )

Thanks to:

ame-tennyo

shiorifoxiesmom

Zelia Theb

darksaphire

MikaSamu - it's good to be back. :)

A. Minamino - nope, not dead yet. :)

Mala Darkling - The myth you're thinking about is that of “Orpheus and Eurydice.” I'm grateful to hear that another person likes how I'm handling Koenma in this story. Don't worry about the challenge, ritual, etc. too much. It should all be covered in this chapter. If it isn't, please be sure to let me know.

 

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A Well Too Deep: Chapter 10

 

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Hanako had recently left, her duties performed.

 

Koenma faded into the shadows of the infirmary room, content to watch his tantei interact with one another. Only just recovered and already picking fights, Hiei was painstakingly enraging Kuwabara. A well timed smirk, almost out of sight but purposefully visible to the tall human boy. A muttered phrase, pretending to be bored with Kuwabara's presence, who choked on the baited hook before he'd even seen the line. Kuwabara was thoroughly flushed. The bulky muscles of his neck and forehead were standing out with an impressive clarity. Though, Hiei's teasing, for all the commotion it caused, was light. Yukina was still in the room. Yusuke was performing his token duty of preventing Kuwabara from mauling the recovering “patient.” The black haired youth's laughter was easy going, the kind of casual, sarcastically derivative laughter that everyone in the room had fallen in love with. Occasionally, Yusuke would carelessly toss his own words into the chaos of familiar insulting jargon, earning him at least one glare. Kurama, who was still sprawled across Hiei's lap, chuckled at them all. He was too tired to participate this round and settled for being entertained by it.

 

It surprising, thought Koenma, that everyone had refrained from questioning the pair upon the bed. This was the first time in weeks that Kurama had uttered a sound, let alone spoken and no one was concerned. Kurama was obviously exhausted. His hair was ruffled from sleep and falling limply over his shoulders. A purple tint could be seen tainting the skin underneath his eyes and their lids were heavy, barely being held open. He was a deadweight leaving a heavy imprint on the comforter. And more than that, Hiei and Kurama's obviously changed relationship was being pointedly overlooked. They weren't holding hands, but their body positions, and the smallest glances of concern or affection were not so sly as to be ignored by experienced fighters such as Kuwabara and Yusuke. Yusuke probably knew and was keeping Kuwabara quiet. Yukina was unaware of the previous circumstances, ignorant as to why there actions were so odd. Maikai born or not, she was still of an isolated species and likely did not know of the human and demon interaction ban. Even if she did know of it, it was likely that she wouldn't consider Kurama a human. There were too many rules regarding the law. Koenma would plead for its simplification except he knew it would fall on apathetic ears. It was complicated because one cannot challenge it without full understanding. Ignorance of the minute rules and the fear of breaking them are what truly empower the taboo. Sick Bastards.

 

Koenma left the room, pausing once to give Hiei a brief nod behind everyone else's back. He would return in a few hours, after the troop had disbanded. After tonight, Hanako would be gone: her body, her beauty, her innocence, even her pure soul would be utterly consumed. It was unfair. This was only her first life, a long life from a human's perspective yes, but still her first and only life. It was her soul's rare youth that was responsible for her utter innocence. He loved her. Being with her soothed everything he was, simplified the world for the briefest, most precious moment. But he only loved one other with such dedication. With Botan it was a passion that dragged them both down into the bowels of ancient treachery. Botan was another kind of love, one his body craved. His skin and heart and mind sung when they were together. She took his breath away even when he only held her in his arms. The calm peace and isolation of Hanako was so close to death and Botan's energy was everything that made Koenma's eyes dance with youthful vigor and life. Between life and death there could be only one choice.

 

These things he thought as he phantomed through room and courtyard. He stopped just short of the entrance to Hanako's wing. He could not find it within himself to appear before her as comfort and habit had ingrained. How he wanted to step through the walls separating them and embrace her where she lay upon her bed of down and silk, bury his face into her and feel safe within her eternally virgin aura, but he could not. Not this time. It seemed wrong to play with love and sorrow like that. He could not run to her while preparing to sacrifice her. Even the prince of Hell could find no solace in the arms of Death. He would tell her everything and then accept what she would give him.

 

He knocked once, knowing that was enough to summon his Hanako. She answered the door and that mere action she seemed to make fresh and new like a bud about to bloom. Her wide pink eyes were surprised at his formal entrance, but she welcomed him, silently speaking her confusions, curiosities, and apprehension. Koenma walked inside almost too quickly and had to check his stride. He grabbed her hand in a gentle hold and led her inside to sit upon her large down mattress. He had to push the gossamer hangings out of the way to avoid sitting on them.

 

“Hanako, what do you know what human and demon taboos?” he inquired. Koenma's voice was steady but quiet.

 

She shook her head, “I know little my lord.”

 

“One exists that prevents any romantic relationship between demons and humans. You must trust me when I say that this law along with all the others were set in place with the intentions of protecting all three worlds.”

 

“I trust you.”

 

Koenma's heart ached at her perfect obedience to and patience with him. She had a miraculously kind and loving heart. At this moment, he hated himself. “A terrible fate awaits the demon and human who violate this taboo so it is usually a preventative for all such relationships rather than for merely romantic ones. However, there is one way around the taboo, one way to ultimately break it and free the human and demon from its shackles….” Koenma paused, swallowed. Everything in the room tried to distract him and nothing could get him to meet Hanako's searching eyes. “The ritual to break it involves the summoning of a god, one who will side with the two pleading would-be-lovers. If the god accepts the request, he or she must…sacrifice something or…someone that they truly cherish and…love.” One tear fell from the corner of his eye as he finally found the courage to look into hers. “Please forgive me Hanako, I cannot refuse.”

 

Neither moved nor spoke for many minutes. Single tears continued to slip noiselessly past Koenma's eyelashes. Within Hanako's heart she knew that she would willingly choose her fate as long as Koenma remained by her side throughout it. She owed him everything that was her's to offer. Gradually she came to realize that this, her life, was all she could ever give to repay him for how he had cared for, protected, and pampered her. She turned and pulled him to her breast, rocking him. At first, Koenma was stunned, but familiarity won over and soon he was seeking comfort from her as he had for hundreds of years now. The tears soon ceased to flow and he pulled her with him up to the mountain of pillows. He was guilty, bitter, and angry inside. The knots in his stomach were twisting to unnatural measures. But for now, Hanako was still with him, she was holding him, and he was holding her.

 

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In her private day room, Botan cried for both Hanako and Koenma. She had never been jealous of the wispy healer, not for a moment. And now she realized that she had loved Hanako too, for everything she had done for Koenma. More than that, one could not help but love the purity personified within her. She was a shining light to attract the flies of all three worlds who would risk death simply to be near it. Botan vowed to do everything in her power to be everything for Koenma that Hanako had been. Utterly impossible she knew it to be, but she loved both of them enough to try.

 

The other side of her heart wept for Kurama and Hiei - partly in anger, partly in pity, but mostly in love and sorrow.

 

`What was the point of it all?' she wondered. `What was the point of love when it hurt and what was the point of hurt when there was love?'

 

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A/N: Ok, I know the last line was a little corny, but it is Botan thinking it so I figured I could get away with it, lol. This is pretty short, but it's better than nothing I suppose. I'm figuring that this story is about 2/3 done by now. I warn you though, the next chapter will contain much gore.