Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ All in the name of curiosity ❯ Chapter 3

Title: All in the name of curiosity.

Author: Skeren Dreamera

Notes: Alright people, I know I have been neglecting this fic. Not so many people are commenting on it at all, but I know there are a few people reading it. I'm sorry I haven't gottent o Updating it sooner than this. I will be getting into the main body of the story soon, Don't worry! *thoughts*

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho, though I do own any original characters!

Warnings: They are all in the first chapter I believe. I will not be repeating them.

Contact: Mickeofas@yahoo.com

.Part three- The catch to being home again.

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When the morning light shined in through the window, Kurama realized that the rescue hadn't been a beautiful and disappointing dream. He really was in a room with a window. Moving around so he was laying on his back, Kurama looked around the room a little, his eyes finding a pair of deep red ones that were watching him from off to his left.

"Awake I see." Hiei tilted his head a little, studying Kurama. He couldn't help a slightly sad expression from crossing his face as Kurama turned away at the sound of his voice. He had cuts and ward burns all over. *Kurama... I'm not upset, why don't you understand that? I saw it all. I was always there. You aren't a filthy beast for what was done or made to be done...*

"I think I need clean clothes." Kurama sat up, peering through his darkened green eyes at Hiei. It almost seemed as though he were asking the smaller Demon for permission...

Something that had been nagging at Hiei ever since he woke up suddenly crossed his mind. He wasn't sure if now was the best time to ask, but he really needed to know. Moving to kneel in front of Kurama, he brushed the red silken waves away from his face. When Kurama didn't flinch away, his lips twitched up in a faint smile. He already knew he was the only one Kurama wouldn't flinch away from, it was just a feeling. Kurama was such a tactile creature too... Hiei sighed a little, tipping Kurama's chin so he would look him in the eye. "How well do you remember your life as a Kitsune right now?"

"I... I don't remember everything... I remember more since the tournament, but... Much is still missing from what I remember... Why?" Kurama didn't stutter so much as pick at his words reluctantly, his fingers toying with the blanket under his hands.

Taking a deep breath and letting it out again, Hiei firmed the grip he had on Kurama's chin inadvertently, drawing a faint noise from him that smoothed from pained into a faint hmm as he leaned into the painfully tight touch, making Hiei let up immediately. That entire time, Kurama didn't show that it bothered him at all. "Kurama, were you a virgin before you went into that place?"

The question caused a flinch and a shudder before a slight, and a faintly bitter smile flitted across his face. "Yes. In this body... Even so, I never really did as much as I'm famed to have, not really. I'd never been with a male as a bottom at all before this happened... That wasn't a twice lost innocence." He moved his hand, lightly taking Hiei's hand in his own and holding it there. "I'm sorry to say I learned to like things there that I never wanted to, and that I never considered for myself before. I can't make the new needs leave me be either. You should know that. Can we go find other clothes now? And Yukina? You need healing still, and I feel filthy."

Hiei lightly squeezed his chin before releasing it and moving back. "Go wash, I'll get clothes and a towel and bring them to you." He made a slight shooing motion to Kurama, then watched the Kitsune hurry to do as told. *I don't know what to do with this obedience to me fox... Baka... Why did you have to pick me as your safety? I've never done anyone good before now. Why are you letting me be your boss all of the sudden?*

Hiei shook his head, moving to retrieve the clean clothing and towels he'd promised before moving to the bathroom door, pausing before alerting the Kitsune to his presence for a moment to listen. Kurama was laughing, a soft, barely tangible broken little sound that wasn't meant for anyone else to hear. It was followed by a soft curse, then a thump. This was the point where Hiei opened the door to look inside, checking to see if his fox had hurt himself. It was not the case, though he did notice that all sounds stopped when he moved the door further open. He decided that was enough and set the items down in a pile on the counter before retreating. He had to figure out what to do with Kurama now.

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Hiei looked over at Kurama consideringly, ruby eyes concerned as he watched Kurama dodge the crowds of Tokyo on his way to his Ningen home. He could already tell this was a bad idea. Kurama was simply not fit to be by himself in this Ningen world right now. Hiei had the mildly disturbing idea that he would soon be enrolling into the Ningen High School that Kurama attended. He hoped not, but it all hinged on Kurama's reaction to his Ningen family. *Silly kitsune, you could have let it be. You could have called her on one of the talking devices you seem to like so much and come up with one of your expert excuses so you could stay away from this mess of Ningens. But you refused to that the route of logic on this one.*

Kurama ducked his head, the combination of drugs and abuse he'd recently experienced having forced a wildness into his eyes he would prefer none of the Ningens around him see. He knew he was still too raw for this trip, but he had to try. He could not simply abandon his mother to worry like that. *Hiei, thank you for this. You have no idea that you are the only thing keeping me from attacking the people bumping into me, do you?*

They reached Kurama's front door not too long after, each still lost among their own thoughts. Kurama's dearest hope was that he would not see his mother before he reached his room. He wasn't sure he could handle even her innocent affection before he had the chance to calm his nerves. All hopes went unanswered though, as he saw the mother in question waiting in the front room for the rest of the family to arrive.

"Suuichi! I've been so worried! Where have you been?" She came up to Kurama, resting her hands on his shoulders to evaluate him, trying to see if her baby was alright. Unfortunately, Kurama was unable to suppress his new instinct, and he flinched away from the contact. His mother's eyes instantly lit with concern.

"I'm alright Kaasan." Kurama was trying hard to stay still while she was touching his shoulders, but his restraint quickly wore thin and he started to shake slightly under her touch. "Please, let go..." He trailed off, his voice weaker than he ever intended, sounding like a plea.

Hiei winced as he saw the affect that even Kurama's beloved Ningen mother was causing. Hiei moved closer as Shiori released Kurama, and he ran his hand up and down his back, trying to calm the redhead's tremors. He had never been fond of physical contact, and now he found it even less appealing, but he would pet his fox if that was what he needed of him. "Fox, you are safe." The comment was only loud enough that even Kurama could barely hear it, but Shiori watched his lips move, picking up the words.

"Safe? You confirm it then. What happened to you, Suuichi? Why are you flinching away from my touch?" She gave Kurama a searching look and he actually recoiled from it, stepping back beside Hiei.

Hiei allowed himself a soft sigh. "Kurama." He looked at the taller youkai, stunned and saddened to see how damaged he was inside, to recoil from the Ningen woman, and even worse to hide behind him.

"I'm sorry Kaasan..." Kurama ducked his head, looking away from her entirely and down at the floor.

She looked helplessly from one to the other. "Please tell me what happened to my son!" She this time was looking at Hiei, begging for an answer. Kurama flinched away from the plea, not expecting her to suddenly hug him, pleading with him to just tell her what was wrong. It proved to be a serious mistake for her to have made.

"Don't touch me!" Kurama half shouted, half whimpered, ripping himself free of the embrace and this time fully putting Hiei between himself and his mother. When he next spoke his voice was just a whisper, his fingers digging into Hiei's cloak beseechingly as he knelt down behind him, trying to hide himself behind the smaller Youkai. "Please, don't let any of them touch me."

Hiei closed his eyes, turning his back on the horrified woman as he knelt in front of Kurama, gently prying his fingers from his cloak, then taking his face in his small hands, making him meet his eyes. "It's over, Kurama. You are safe now." Hiei turned and looked at Shiori. "He needs time to calm down. Don't touch him anymore. He can't handle anyone else touching him but me now." The last phrase was soft, and he turned back to Kurama, running his thumbs across his cheeks and pulling his hands away. He then took one of Kurama's larger hands in his smaller one, leading him upstairs and leaving Kurama's mother in horrified silence behind them.

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The next morning was an improvement over the night before, as Shiori was careful to stay outside arms reach of her son. The questions hadn't left her eyes, and she informed the pair that Kurama was not going to go to school until she understood completely what it was that had happened to him. That last is what found Kurama, dressed in white and gold, to be curled up on the sofa beside Hiei, his face tucked away against the black clad chest of his protector while his mother sat across the room watching.

"I need to understand what happened while my son was missing." Shiori didn't mince words, understanding that being delicate might cause them to not tell her what she needed to know at all.

Kurama whimpered softly, his hands fisting in Hiei's shirt as he heard the pleading in his mother's voice. "I'm sorry Kaasan..."

Hiei growled softly and Kurama cut off from continuing the depressing diatribe of apologies. "Don't say anything. You did nothing wrong. I will make sure you understand this." Hiei ran his fingers through Kurama's hair, his other hand petting over his back gently in spite of his rough words. "We were captured by some people."

Shiori knew that usually she would accept something like that and let it rest. But her boy was wearing long sleeves and was huddling away from her sight. It was more than she could let go. "Who is we, and what happened there?"

Kurama winced as she pressed forward in her questions. She may have wanted to, but she could not relent, and Hiei seemed to understand, pressing Kurama closer before he could speak. "I was with him. I don't think he'd want you to know the details any more than I wish for my sister to know."

Shiori straightened her shoulders. "Does she know?"

Hiei turned his face aside, turning almost his full attention on Kurama as he answered. The woman meant so much to Kurama. "Yes. She was one of the people that rescued us."

Kurama lifted his head, giving Hiei a tiny smile as he moved his hand from its death grip on his shirt to smooth over his chest. "Just tell her. Please. I can't."

Hiei closed his eyes and sighed, finally looking back over at Shiori. "You don't want her to know this, do you Kurama?" Hiei didn't think about the human name as he spoke, merely expressing his reservation in sharing the torturous time they had spent with someone so important to the redhead.

"Do it. Please don't make me tell her. I just couldn't deal with that." Kurama dipped his head again with a faint sigh, saddened over his own weakness.

"Alright Kurama. I can do that for you." Hiei met the attentive woman's eyes, seeing the sad, yet knowing look in her eyes. She already suspected. "It was harsh. There was torture, abuse, and rape. Much of the time he was kept too drugged to know what was going on, and he blames himself for things he couldn't prevent from happening. That's enough for you to know."

Shiori only had one more question then. "Why aren't you in a state like my son?"

Hiei turned hard, blank eyes on Shiori. "It's happened to me before. They weren't creative enough to do something that could break my spirit. They didn't do the things to me that they did to Kurama. If they had, I might have been in the same state as he. Ask no more. He's shaking."

"I'm not broken." Kurama lifted his head, glaring into Hiei's eyes from his position.

"No. They couldn't break you. They just made you feral. I understand the difference. I should not have phrased it that way." Hiei ran his hands through Kurama's hair until the hostile expression faded away into a pleased hum. He just met Shiori's eyes and saw the sadness within. He also saw a faultless core of determination. Kurama would get better.

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What resulted from that meeting with Shiori was just as Hiei had feared. He was being enrolled in school with Kurama. It was the school that insisted in dressing all students in that horrible, horrible pink color. Hiei had been denied the classes at first because they did not believe him to be old enough. He wasn't a child. He was well over the age of the other students, but he settled on matching Kurama in his Ningen age, determined not to accidentally ruin his chances of being placed with his comrade in the school. He asked Kurama what classes he was taking before hand so he could be sure of what he was to insist on. He ended up with a slew of classes that had never before ever even occurred to him to be interested in, though he scored well enough on the entrance exam that he was put where he wanted, for which he was thankful.

It was too much to hope that the precautions they had chosen on would be enough to keep Kurama calm for an entire school day. He barely even made it past the school gates with Hiei before things turned for the worse.

"Suuichi-kun! Suuichi-kun! Where have you been?"

"Suuichi, who's your friend, is he new?"

"Minamino-san are you well?"

"Oh no! What's wrong with Suuichi-sama?"

Those were just a few of what poured forth from the crowd of concerned and eager on-lookers just seconds within the gate. Kurama reacted violently, as he normally would not have. He hit the first person that dared to touch him, kicked the second, then ended up in a defensive crouch as he growled lowly at the shocked students that were rapidly backing away from him.

Hiei rested his hand on Kurama's shoulder, feeling the tension in his body before he gave him a little shake. "Fox, snap out of it. Just your classmates. You're scaring them."

Kurama blinked a few times and stood, turning away from the crowd of on-lookers. "Please don't try to touch me any more. I don't want to accidentally hurt any of you." Kurama finally turned forward as Hiei tugged on his sleeve. "My apologies, but the time I was missing was not pleasant."

Hiei glared at the few who lingered after this before guiding Kurama to their first class of the day. It was going to be a very, very long journey for them both. Kurama needed Hiei though, and no matter what was true of him, he never abandoned someone that he cared about when they needed him.

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Yuusuke's reintroduction to society went slightly better. Men really didn't bother him. Most of his abuse had, however, stripped away any hope of him ever having a simple relationship with a woman, no matter who she was. He refused to leave Genkai's temple. It was really only that simple. Genkai could get near him, but none of the other ladies could without him shrinking back away from them.

Keiko turned wounded eyes on the doorway Yuusuke just fled through, unable to understand why he wouldn't see her. "Genkai, why won't he even look at me?"

The reply was a sad sigh. "They hurt him badly. I don't know why he's decided that I am safe, but apparently, anyone who hasn't been killed at least once and is female is a threat now."

Yukina moved into the room after checking for their guest. She hated how he looked at her. It was like he was trying to be brave. It was going away, but so very slowly, and he'd been here two weeks already. "How is he this morning?"

"I tried to talk to him, and he ran from me, Yukina! I don't understand why he runs from me!" The upset girl slumped, unsure what to do with this at all.

Yukina gave Keiko a pitying look, understanding how frustrated she must be with her failure. No matter how many times or ways Genkai said it, the girl seemed unable to accept that Yuusuke wouldn't get better. She couldn't act as she normally would, for he would run from her. Keiko had hurt Yuusuke too deeply and too often before the weeks as a captive to ever let her near him again. It simply was not going to happen.

"Don't you look at me like that! Don't you dare Yukina! He'll let me near again! He will! I love him! I know he loves me back..." Keiko's fire seemed to splutter out suddenly at the end of her words. No. No, she didn't know. He'd never said that he loved her too.

"Please Keiko... Go home. Come back another day. He can't handle being near you now. Just go." Yukina pushed Keiko gently towards the entrance.

Genkai watched the pair as Keiko left. There was something inherently wrong when a girl couldn't see that her dreams were flawed. Keiko's dreams were flawed beyond repair and Yuusuke was suffering for her lack of understanding. Genkai turned and moved inside the building to see to her student.

To be continued.