Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Blind Target ❯ Chapter 3
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: WolvenJaganshi 
Leads bring Kurama and his companions closer to the psychopath and to the danger of a well trained killer.
Anime/Manga: Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Police / Hentai / Suspense | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 07.11.2005 | Pages: 2 | Words: 3.9K | Visits: 187 | Status: Completed
Leads bring Kurama and his companions closer to the psychopath and to the danger of a well trained killer.
Anime/Manga: Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Police / Hentai / Suspense | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 07.11.2005 | Pages: 2 | Words: 3.9K | Visits: 187 | Status: Completed
Chappie 3
Running...
He was running again....
Heavy weight in his arms, his clothes stained with blood, sweat, and tears....
His heart pounded, round this bush and under this tree...
Voices were becoming fainter, they were falling behind....
He was almost free....
Run...
Light... Was that light?
Yes it was light...finally light...
Streetlights piercing the darkness, lamplight dimly illuminating the inside of dark houses...
This would work, he's broken into places before...
He was in! Now he had but to hide until he was rested enough to find someplace for them...
Watch out for the chair, his arms were giving away and his legs throbbed...
Shit, he couldn't hold her... Fuck!
A loud thump brought Kurama from sleep. Was that dream reality? His chest hurt, his face was covered in sweat and the room felt muggy. Reaching into his desk drawer, Kurama pulled out his .22, a gift from Densuke when he'd first joined the force. Climbing from bed, his cautiously made his way towards his bedroom door, cocking the gun and slowly opening the door, holding the pistol close to his chest, shivering from the cold metal. Once the door was open he glanced out and then leaped out, pointing his gun at the lower floor and flipping on the light switch. On the floor lay two figures, clearly unconscious. A boy and a girl. He blinked, lowering the gun and walking towards them. Upon closer inspection he blinked, it was the two orphans, Hiei and Yukina. The girl had obviously been through hell, her face swollen and her wrists rubbed raw, her robe in tatters. The boy was worse, his chest heaving with every breath, his face bruised and his arms sliced and scarred but he held the girl with a deathgrip.
Kurama hurried upstairs and pulled an extra blanket off his bed, coming down to drape it over the orphans. A soft smile lit his face as he looked over the two. No matter what had happened to them they seemed to always keep what bond they had. The smile disappeared as he remembered that they were all they had. Hiei's eyes widened as he saw Kurama close to his sister, pulling her closer to him and trying to scoot away before noticing the blanket.
"Calm down, I'm not interested in hurting either of you but I would like to know why you broke into my house." Hiei was quiet, moving a bloody finger to his lips, not wanting this man before him to wake his sister. Kurama understood and rose to his feet, walking away into the kitchen to get something for them to eat. Hiei pulled Yukina closer as the redhead returned, setting some ramen down in front of them.
"I know it isn't much but on such short notice it will suffice for now." Hiei watched him intently as he reached for the cup of steaming food, devouring it ravenously as the first bit touched his lips. Yukina's eyes fluttered open at the movement of her brother against her, licking her lips shyly at the sight of food. Hiei placed the cup closer, Yukina also taking the pleasure in devouring the steaming noodles while Kurama made something else. Yukina got slowly to her wobbly feet, pulling her robe more tightly around her and she nodded her gratitude.
"Thank you. You do not even know us and you helped--"
"Get away Yukina." Hiei interrupted in a rumbling baritone, obviously wary. Yukina hid behind Hiei, the older boy putting a protective, battered arm around her. Yukina lay her head on his chest, closing her eyes and listening to his heartbeat, her eyes drooping. Hiei lay her down on the couch, sitting next to his sibling and watching Kurama's movements intently, his eyes practically boring through the redhead. Kurama shifted a little. He'd been in standoffs eye to eye with psychopaths before this boy's gaze just seemed much more intense as if he could stare right through him. But yet, Kurama remembered, he was probably accustomed to being wary of everyone in his lifelong quest to shield his sister from the threats of the world. Did Hiei feel what he did? A strong sense of failure for not stopping those bastards from doing whatever they did to her? Just as he did from failing to guard Shiori?
Of course he'd have to report this to Densuke which he would have rather avoided but Kurama knew it had to be done if they were going to catch the serial killer responsible for also kidnapping the orphans. Hiei looked at the gun resting on the nightstand close to where Kurama was standing and he took a few steps back, holding his sister closer to him and bending over her, the girl's face buried into the crook of his neck. The redhead watched Hiei's gaze and returned the weapon to its holster upstairs.
"Go ahead and sleep on the couch, you must be tired. I'll get some clothes for you to replace those."
"Hn." was the only reply. Kurama went upstairs to fetch them a few more blankets from the linen closet and set them a bed on the couch, Hiei insisting that Yukina remain near him so his bed was on the floor. The redhead set out clothes for them and headed back into his room to give the twins some privacy and to locate his cell to alert Densuke. Dialing his partner, Kurama sat on his bed.
"Ello?" came the drowsy response.
"Hello. I have the twins right now."
"Eh? Oh ya do?"
"Stop speaking in English."
"Gomen...I'm tired okay? Damn captain's been keeping me at the fucking precinct and then I got something of a break myself when my bro called from America."
"And?"
"Dammit Rama I'm tired. Can't I tell ya tomorrow?"
"Fine. Sayonara."
"Night." Kurama sighed as he set down his phone. Densuke could be damn impossible but at least they had finally gotten word from the elder Miyahara so there was some kind of hope of a breakthrough. He only hoped it wasn't a lost cause. When Kurama went back downstairs, the twins were already asleep, Yukina holding tightly to her brother's hand from her place on the couch. The redhead gathered up the tattered clothes and disposed of them, grabbing the keys top his car and hoping there was a store somewhere in town where he could buy them some clothes.
Hiei lay awake when he came back, a bag of clothes for each of them, Yukina was sound asleep, and her hand around Hiei's neck, the boy's head leaned back on the couch side. Red eyes followed Kurama as he set down the clothes in front of the twins and retired to his room, the elder orphan glancing into the bag. He quickly changed into the clothes given, piling Kurama's in a corner before laying down to sleep, his hand holding fast to Yukina's arm.
Kurama flipped through his notes currently on the case. He doubted the twins would say much if anything about what had happened to them or who had taken them from the orphanage in fear that the other would be harmed. Yukina didn't seem over-defensive but on Hiei's account he found it justifiable. He wondered what news the elder Miyahara had to deliver from overseas. Hopefully it will be some kind of lead, Kurama thought as he climbed into bed, tucking his body tightly around him. The redhead gazed out the window and tried to visualize what it must be like to be alone and frightened, always on the run. He was alone, but had nothing to fear and no one from which to run. No, I am not alone, I have Densuke and Youko if anyone, he told himself before finally allowing sleep to overcome him.
A soft sneeze woke Hiei with a start the next morning. He sat up and checked Yukina's forehead for her temperature, swearing under his breath as he detected a slight fever. God only knows what Kurama had in his medicine so might as well get him. Hiei knocked twice on the door, becoming increasingly agitated as there remained no response on the other side. The boy easily broke into the room and opened his mouth to shout at the redhead, his voice catching in his throat. Damn, this is no time for this, Hiei swore. Swallowing, Hiei slowly made his way to Kurama's bedside, the redhead's mane curled delicately around a pained face, fingers clutching at the sheets suddenly as he cried out softly in the throws of a nightmare. Hiei could feel his heart racing, beads of sweat trailing down his face. With an angered snarl he pushed away the erotic responses and shook the boy. Kurama jumped to awareness with a shudder, panting.
"Hiei?"
"Yukina's sick."
"Hai."
Hiei left the room briskly, Kurama changing and coming downstairs to search through the medicine cabinet for something to give the younger Uramatsu sibling. Hiei was already at his sister's side, petting her baby blue hair and checking her temperature every few minutes, Kurama finally arriving with the medication. Yukina gratefully accepted it, thanking him with a sniffle. Kurama smiled and backed away, letting Hiei sit on the couch beside her.
"I have to go to work, will you be alright? Go into the spare bedroom upstairs if you feel safer away from so many windows." Kurama told them, slipping on his shoes and jacket. Hiei nodded stiffly and the redhead headed to the precinct where Densuke sat on the trunk of his car apparently waiting. The redhead got out of his vehicle, tossing Kurama a small pad and paper. The two walked briskly up to Kurama's office, the boy copying down Densuke's notes from his brother.
"Consistence with methods, same kind of women, and..." Kurama read closer, "Children rumored to have disappeared was found dead a few feet from one of the bodies." The redhead took out the picture of the child and his eyes narrowed. The boy's ribs were showing through his side, his face was swollen, his arms and legs covered in slices. Next to him lay a younger boy in little better shape than who appeared to be his brother. Also, it's the same weapon used in the America killings belonging to a bastard we're still looking for. Probably a favored agent of this lord. My bro handled the case, I was still on the desk job then filing for him so I'll see if he can't arrange a flight here." Kurama nodded and handed Densuke his cell phone, the man quickly dialing his brother's number.
"What is it now Densuke?"
"Yo, Taki, I need you to get me any info you got on these notes you gave me. Who was the case tied to?"
"You're in luck," Taki paused as he searched for something from what Densuke could hear, "Good old Bullet Langston. The one behind all of the American killings. If he's setting up shop overseas I may have to follow him. Where are you?"
"Tokyo. We might not have the time before he strikes again. You know Bullet."
"As true as it might be Densuke, I have all the info of the past incidents with him. The bastard'll work for anyone that'll pay him the gold. I'll give you what I can. Langston is a free-hire who is supposedly connected to several murder cases but he has so many damn aliases no authority knows where to start. He's favored as an assassin for being an extremely effective hit-man and whatever else you need him for as far as homicide. We only know his last name for a slip up he made buying a new weapon thanks to the conceal-carry law. I don't know how the hell he got to Japan but he did."
"Thanks bro, see ya soon."
"Any luck?" Kurama asked as Densuke handed the redhead back his phone.
"Call Youko, I got to talk to him." Kurama blinked and pulled out his cell, setting up a meeting that evening. The younger boy finished his call and looked over to Densuke who was looking at one of the pictures of a dead woman, his expression stoic. Kurama came over, placing a hand on his shoulder. Densuke had lost his mother too. A dull pain for Shiori returned but it was nothing compared to what it had been in the past. The blonde pushed the picture away and looked down at the redhead.
"When's this meeting?"
"7:00 this evening at my house."
"How's lunch sound? My treat."
Youko arrived at Kurama's place that evening as agreed and Kurama immediately posed the question of Langston. The bandit raised an eyebrow and thought before answering.
"Langston, that bastard tried to take me down a few times. Ran before I could catch his sorry ass and is still at large from what I know. Those kids, those are the latest Mizuko abducted for that lord. "
"What is his name, you have an idea?" Densuke asked, his voice bristling. Youko shrugged, Densuke narrowing his eyes. Kurama sat silent, thinking a moment.
"Youko, what do you know about Langston?" The bandit chuckled at the redhead's persistence on the matter.
"He's an American. A favorite assassin by many of the big names and I think I might have a name for your lord. Check out Richard Gaven. Bastard's famous overseas and was the latest resident to come to my attention that was a potential threat. I sent out a few to bring him down, needless to say if they have Langston it was wasted effort. That son of a bitch isn't your everyday fighter-for-hire." Youko glanced back at the twins. "They were lucky to get out alive. Maybe Gaven is getting bored with everyone's favorite mercenary if he's resorting to orphans as tools. I can see the calluses on the boy's hands. He's held quite a few knives and I wouldn’t be surprised if he had experience in firearms. Bastards like Gaven like variety so the cops will lose his scent. Another clever one but your main shot is Langston." The two officers sat and thought a while. Most would have thought Youko an unreliable source having a rap sheet himself but still having yet to be caught for it but Kurama had used the bandit's knowledge of who was who and what was true in the world of crime and the redhead had yet to be disappointed.
"I guess you don't know anything about Gaven?" Densuke ventured.
"No. Is that all?"
"Yes, thank you very much Youko. As always, you will not be mentioned."
"Keep it that way." The bandit got up and headed from the house, disappearing into the shadows of the alley across the street.
"Langston....bastard." Kurama looked over his shoulder as Hiei stepped into the kitchen, the boy's eyes alight with a deep hate. "The bastard works for Gaven....he killed all those women...forced me to kill the others by different methods to through off the blue...he hurt Yukina. And I want him dead, by my hand." Kurama nodded stiffly. Hiei's voice had turned almost malicious when he spoke of Langston, and he seemed almost eager to have the man's blood on his hands. A kill he could triumph over, live with no regrets except the fact that Hiei was not the one for prolonged torture and refused to even kill a bastard like Langston in such a manner. The redhead was grateful for that snippet. At least he now had an eyewitness’s assurance that everything Youko had said was not merely a rumor passed through the bandits.
"Could you give a sketch of him to a forensic artist?" Densuke asked.
"Hn."
"I asked you something dammit!"
"Densuke, calm down!" Kurama snapped, the blonde mumbling bitterly under his breath. Hiei nodded and retreated to the guest room.
"Schedule it tomorrow?"
"Hai."
Bastard. He now needed to die. He knew too much. This could end him if that bandit didn't die, and the two officers. The man turned, cold eyes settling on the bushes where he crouched. Hurry and shoot, aim carefully, don't let him get away. He knew too much, he needed to die, he could endanger the whole mission and he'd be damned if he'd be ruined by a lowly bandit. Langston raised his sniper and aimed carefully at the man's face between his steely cold eyes. Dammit! There he went, fast little bastard. Langston aimed again, the bandit averting to another direction. He was zig-zagging but with no pattern, sudden turns left, other turn right, hiding behind trees. Clever little bastard. He'd have to wait until he could get a clear shot of him.
That bandit would die.
Hiei met the artist that afternoon, Yukina sat next to him to correct him on any detail he might have missed. Densuke could feel his heart race as the artist's skillful hands flew over the paper with the twins' directions. He couldn't wait to get his hands on Langston, no matter what the elder twin had said. This bastard was his, he'd never forgive him for what he did to his mother. The American looked over to Kurama and felt instantly guilty. He had lost his mother too, and Hiei had almost lost the only family he had left. All their pledges were shattered, promises broken and hearts throbbed with the knowledge of it. He couldn't wait to come face to face with Langston, kill the sorry bastard for whoever else he had hurt.
"All right, this is it?"
"Hai." Hiei's voice was tense as he looked on at even a sketch at the bastard that had held his sister prisoner. Hard eyes, fine features, no doubt it was Langston. Densuke's eyes widened at the first real gaze at the man responsible for his mother's death and he could feel Kurama bristle behind him. Yukina clutched to her brother's arm and he placed a hand on her cheek, trying to calm her.
"Well, could you get anything else in America from this?" Kurama asked, turning to the blonde.
"Maybe, we could probably get some real dirt on Langston with this." Densuke said, pocketing the sketch to give to Taki. Kurama sighed, he was no more reassured from when they had started the case and Langston and Gaven only seemed farther and farther out of his reach. However, the siblings had escaped and could divulge everything about the lord if Kurama could get especially the elder twin to talk. If only it was that easy, the redhead told himself. Kurama motioned to the twins and they followed him out of the precinct and back to the apartment, Yukina looking up at him as he closed the front door.
"You'll....get him won't you? He hurt so many people..." Kurama's eyes softened as he smiled gently down at her, placing a hand on her shoulder as he crouched down to her height.
"We'll try our hardest. He will not be easily apprehended but we won't give into chance." Yukina's eyes brightened and lit her face with a before unseen innocence. Kurama for once saw the frailty of the younger girl who looked so small next to her brother, standing protectively next to her.
"Arigato Minamino-san." She said and gave him another gentle smile.
"You're welcome Yukina." The redhead stood and headed into the kitchen to fix something for the two. After supper was cleared away later that evening, Kurama saw Yukina standing by a table looking at a picture curiously. He came to kneel by her, Hiei watching to two like a hawk a few feet away and she turned to him.
"Who is that?"
"That is..." he paused a moment, reminding himself that she was dead but he refused to speak of her like a forgotten friend by saying 'was', "my mother, Shiori."
"She's so pretty Minamino-san! You love her alot don't you?" Kurama nodded stiffly, his eyes now locked on the picture through a blur of tears. He hadn’t allowed himself to grieve for her death, having been too shocked by the abruptness of her departure and too deeply involved in trying to catch Langston that he really hadn't the time. But now, sitting here looking at her picture, the tears flowed unyielding down his cheeks, the redhead closing his eyes and allowing them to flow, not wanting to hurt every time her looked at a portrait of her although he knew he'd always feel guilty for failing to protect her.
"Minamino-san?" Yukina's voice was gentle as she placed a hand on the boy's cheek, turning him to look at her.
"She wouldn't want you to be hurting like this... I miss our mom too... She died when I was really little so I really didn't have time to get to know her but its odd. It felt like I knew her. You didn't fail, and she would tell you the same thing. I'm sure she's proud of you Minamino-san." Kurama closed the eyes he had opened to listen and placed a hand on Yukina's, holding it gently. Yukina moved a finger to stroke his cheek, smiling gently up at him as Kurama looked back to the picture of Shiori. He knew he would always hurt but for now his heart felt lighter even if just for a little while. Hiei came over and placed a hand on his sister's shoulder, nodding and she rose to go up to bed, wishing Kurama good night before climbing up the flight into the room. Kurama rose and wiped away his tears with a sleeve of his shirt, Hiei picking up the portrait to look at her. Kurama blinked, was that a flash of regret in his crimson orbs just now? Pain? What connection did Hiei have with Shiori's death?
"Hiei... What do you know?" The boy was silent, setting down the picture and looking at Kurama.
"Hn."
"Dammit Hiei tell me." Kurama snarled. Still the boy stayed quiet. Letting out an agitated sigh, Kurama stood up and headed towards his room.
"I killed her." Kurama froze at the bottom of the stairs, snapping his gaze on the smaller boy.
"What...?"
"I killed her." The redhead felt his anger rise as he snapped out of shock.
"Why!?
"I had no choice." Hiei replied calmly and brushed past the redhead as he headed upstairs.
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And that does it for chappie 3! Sorry this one took so long, I ran out of ideas and actually only had the story half planned when I got to this point. But I think it's coming along fine, don't you? Lately I've stuck to the habit of reading mostly Iris Johansen's crime novels trying to read them all at the same time I'm trying to finish Series of Unfortunate Events so between trying to reading library books and with my little sister having my writing computer half the time it doesn't make it easy! Reviews are always accepted!
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Running...
He was running again....
Heavy weight in his arms, his clothes stained with blood, sweat, and tears....
His heart pounded, round this bush and under this tree...
Voices were becoming fainter, they were falling behind....
He was almost free....
Run...
Light... Was that light?
Yes it was light...finally light...
Streetlights piercing the darkness, lamplight dimly illuminating the inside of dark houses...
This would work, he's broken into places before...
He was in! Now he had but to hide until he was rested enough to find someplace for them...
Watch out for the chair, his arms were giving away and his legs throbbed...
Shit, he couldn't hold her... Fuck!
A loud thump brought Kurama from sleep. Was that dream reality? His chest hurt, his face was covered in sweat and the room felt muggy. Reaching into his desk drawer, Kurama pulled out his .22, a gift from Densuke when he'd first joined the force. Climbing from bed, his cautiously made his way towards his bedroom door, cocking the gun and slowly opening the door, holding the pistol close to his chest, shivering from the cold metal. Once the door was open he glanced out and then leaped out, pointing his gun at the lower floor and flipping on the light switch. On the floor lay two figures, clearly unconscious. A boy and a girl. He blinked, lowering the gun and walking towards them. Upon closer inspection he blinked, it was the two orphans, Hiei and Yukina. The girl had obviously been through hell, her face swollen and her wrists rubbed raw, her robe in tatters. The boy was worse, his chest heaving with every breath, his face bruised and his arms sliced and scarred but he held the girl with a deathgrip.
Kurama hurried upstairs and pulled an extra blanket off his bed, coming down to drape it over the orphans. A soft smile lit his face as he looked over the two. No matter what had happened to them they seemed to always keep what bond they had. The smile disappeared as he remembered that they were all they had. Hiei's eyes widened as he saw Kurama close to his sister, pulling her closer to him and trying to scoot away before noticing the blanket.
"Calm down, I'm not interested in hurting either of you but I would like to know why you broke into my house." Hiei was quiet, moving a bloody finger to his lips, not wanting this man before him to wake his sister. Kurama understood and rose to his feet, walking away into the kitchen to get something for them to eat. Hiei pulled Yukina closer as the redhead returned, setting some ramen down in front of them.
"I know it isn't much but on such short notice it will suffice for now." Hiei watched him intently as he reached for the cup of steaming food, devouring it ravenously as the first bit touched his lips. Yukina's eyes fluttered open at the movement of her brother against her, licking her lips shyly at the sight of food. Hiei placed the cup closer, Yukina also taking the pleasure in devouring the steaming noodles while Kurama made something else. Yukina got slowly to her wobbly feet, pulling her robe more tightly around her and she nodded her gratitude.
"Thank you. You do not even know us and you helped--"
"Get away Yukina." Hiei interrupted in a rumbling baritone, obviously wary. Yukina hid behind Hiei, the older boy putting a protective, battered arm around her. Yukina lay her head on his chest, closing her eyes and listening to his heartbeat, her eyes drooping. Hiei lay her down on the couch, sitting next to his sibling and watching Kurama's movements intently, his eyes practically boring through the redhead. Kurama shifted a little. He'd been in standoffs eye to eye with psychopaths before this boy's gaze just seemed much more intense as if he could stare right through him. But yet, Kurama remembered, he was probably accustomed to being wary of everyone in his lifelong quest to shield his sister from the threats of the world. Did Hiei feel what he did? A strong sense of failure for not stopping those bastards from doing whatever they did to her? Just as he did from failing to guard Shiori?
Of course he'd have to report this to Densuke which he would have rather avoided but Kurama knew it had to be done if they were going to catch the serial killer responsible for also kidnapping the orphans. Hiei looked at the gun resting on the nightstand close to where Kurama was standing and he took a few steps back, holding his sister closer to him and bending over her, the girl's face buried into the crook of his neck. The redhead watched Hiei's gaze and returned the weapon to its holster upstairs.
"Go ahead and sleep on the couch, you must be tired. I'll get some clothes for you to replace those."
"Hn." was the only reply. Kurama went upstairs to fetch them a few more blankets from the linen closet and set them a bed on the couch, Hiei insisting that Yukina remain near him so his bed was on the floor. The redhead set out clothes for them and headed back into his room to give the twins some privacy and to locate his cell to alert Densuke. Dialing his partner, Kurama sat on his bed.
"Ello?" came the drowsy response.
"Hello. I have the twins right now."
"Eh? Oh ya do?"
"Stop speaking in English."
"Gomen...I'm tired okay? Damn captain's been keeping me at the fucking precinct and then I got something of a break myself when my bro called from America."
"And?"
"Dammit Rama I'm tired. Can't I tell ya tomorrow?"
"Fine. Sayonara."
"Night." Kurama sighed as he set down his phone. Densuke could be damn impossible but at least they had finally gotten word from the elder Miyahara so there was some kind of hope of a breakthrough. He only hoped it wasn't a lost cause. When Kurama went back downstairs, the twins were already asleep, Yukina holding tightly to her brother's hand from her place on the couch. The redhead gathered up the tattered clothes and disposed of them, grabbing the keys top his car and hoping there was a store somewhere in town where he could buy them some clothes.
Hiei lay awake when he came back, a bag of clothes for each of them, Yukina was sound asleep, and her hand around Hiei's neck, the boy's head leaned back on the couch side. Red eyes followed Kurama as he set down the clothes in front of the twins and retired to his room, the elder orphan glancing into the bag. He quickly changed into the clothes given, piling Kurama's in a corner before laying down to sleep, his hand holding fast to Yukina's arm.
Kurama flipped through his notes currently on the case. He doubted the twins would say much if anything about what had happened to them or who had taken them from the orphanage in fear that the other would be harmed. Yukina didn't seem over-defensive but on Hiei's account he found it justifiable. He wondered what news the elder Miyahara had to deliver from overseas. Hopefully it will be some kind of lead, Kurama thought as he climbed into bed, tucking his body tightly around him. The redhead gazed out the window and tried to visualize what it must be like to be alone and frightened, always on the run. He was alone, but had nothing to fear and no one from which to run. No, I am not alone, I have Densuke and Youko if anyone, he told himself before finally allowing sleep to overcome him.
A soft sneeze woke Hiei with a start the next morning. He sat up and checked Yukina's forehead for her temperature, swearing under his breath as he detected a slight fever. God only knows what Kurama had in his medicine so might as well get him. Hiei knocked twice on the door, becoming increasingly agitated as there remained no response on the other side. The boy easily broke into the room and opened his mouth to shout at the redhead, his voice catching in his throat. Damn, this is no time for this, Hiei swore. Swallowing, Hiei slowly made his way to Kurama's bedside, the redhead's mane curled delicately around a pained face, fingers clutching at the sheets suddenly as he cried out softly in the throws of a nightmare. Hiei could feel his heart racing, beads of sweat trailing down his face. With an angered snarl he pushed away the erotic responses and shook the boy. Kurama jumped to awareness with a shudder, panting.
"Hiei?"
"Yukina's sick."
"Hai."
Hiei left the room briskly, Kurama changing and coming downstairs to search through the medicine cabinet for something to give the younger Uramatsu sibling. Hiei was already at his sister's side, petting her baby blue hair and checking her temperature every few minutes, Kurama finally arriving with the medication. Yukina gratefully accepted it, thanking him with a sniffle. Kurama smiled and backed away, letting Hiei sit on the couch beside her.
"I have to go to work, will you be alright? Go into the spare bedroom upstairs if you feel safer away from so many windows." Kurama told them, slipping on his shoes and jacket. Hiei nodded stiffly and the redhead headed to the precinct where Densuke sat on the trunk of his car apparently waiting. The redhead got out of his vehicle, tossing Kurama a small pad and paper. The two walked briskly up to Kurama's office, the boy copying down Densuke's notes from his brother.
"Consistence with methods, same kind of women, and..." Kurama read closer, "Children rumored to have disappeared was found dead a few feet from one of the bodies." The redhead took out the picture of the child and his eyes narrowed. The boy's ribs were showing through his side, his face was swollen, his arms and legs covered in slices. Next to him lay a younger boy in little better shape than who appeared to be his brother. Also, it's the same weapon used in the America killings belonging to a bastard we're still looking for. Probably a favored agent of this lord. My bro handled the case, I was still on the desk job then filing for him so I'll see if he can't arrange a flight here." Kurama nodded and handed Densuke his cell phone, the man quickly dialing his brother's number.
"What is it now Densuke?"
"Yo, Taki, I need you to get me any info you got on these notes you gave me. Who was the case tied to?"
"You're in luck," Taki paused as he searched for something from what Densuke could hear, "Good old Bullet Langston. The one behind all of the American killings. If he's setting up shop overseas I may have to follow him. Where are you?"
"Tokyo. We might not have the time before he strikes again. You know Bullet."
"As true as it might be Densuke, I have all the info of the past incidents with him. The bastard'll work for anyone that'll pay him the gold. I'll give you what I can. Langston is a free-hire who is supposedly connected to several murder cases but he has so many damn aliases no authority knows where to start. He's favored as an assassin for being an extremely effective hit-man and whatever else you need him for as far as homicide. We only know his last name for a slip up he made buying a new weapon thanks to the conceal-carry law. I don't know how the hell he got to Japan but he did."
"Thanks bro, see ya soon."
"Any luck?" Kurama asked as Densuke handed the redhead back his phone.
"Call Youko, I got to talk to him." Kurama blinked and pulled out his cell, setting up a meeting that evening. The younger boy finished his call and looked over to Densuke who was looking at one of the pictures of a dead woman, his expression stoic. Kurama came over, placing a hand on his shoulder. Densuke had lost his mother too. A dull pain for Shiori returned but it was nothing compared to what it had been in the past. The blonde pushed the picture away and looked down at the redhead.
"When's this meeting?"
"7:00 this evening at my house."
"How's lunch sound? My treat."
Youko arrived at Kurama's place that evening as agreed and Kurama immediately posed the question of Langston. The bandit raised an eyebrow and thought before answering.
"Langston, that bastard tried to take me down a few times. Ran before I could catch his sorry ass and is still at large from what I know. Those kids, those are the latest Mizuko abducted for that lord. "
"What is his name, you have an idea?" Densuke asked, his voice bristling. Youko shrugged, Densuke narrowing his eyes. Kurama sat silent, thinking a moment.
"Youko, what do you know about Langston?" The bandit chuckled at the redhead's persistence on the matter.
"He's an American. A favorite assassin by many of the big names and I think I might have a name for your lord. Check out Richard Gaven. Bastard's famous overseas and was the latest resident to come to my attention that was a potential threat. I sent out a few to bring him down, needless to say if they have Langston it was wasted effort. That son of a bitch isn't your everyday fighter-for-hire." Youko glanced back at the twins. "They were lucky to get out alive. Maybe Gaven is getting bored with everyone's favorite mercenary if he's resorting to orphans as tools. I can see the calluses on the boy's hands. He's held quite a few knives and I wouldn’t be surprised if he had experience in firearms. Bastards like Gaven like variety so the cops will lose his scent. Another clever one but your main shot is Langston." The two officers sat and thought a while. Most would have thought Youko an unreliable source having a rap sheet himself but still having yet to be caught for it but Kurama had used the bandit's knowledge of who was who and what was true in the world of crime and the redhead had yet to be disappointed.
"I guess you don't know anything about Gaven?" Densuke ventured.
"No. Is that all?"
"Yes, thank you very much Youko. As always, you will not be mentioned."
"Keep it that way." The bandit got up and headed from the house, disappearing into the shadows of the alley across the street.
"Langston....bastard." Kurama looked over his shoulder as Hiei stepped into the kitchen, the boy's eyes alight with a deep hate. "The bastard works for Gaven....he killed all those women...forced me to kill the others by different methods to through off the blue...he hurt Yukina. And I want him dead, by my hand." Kurama nodded stiffly. Hiei's voice had turned almost malicious when he spoke of Langston, and he seemed almost eager to have the man's blood on his hands. A kill he could triumph over, live with no regrets except the fact that Hiei was not the one for prolonged torture and refused to even kill a bastard like Langston in such a manner. The redhead was grateful for that snippet. At least he now had an eyewitness’s assurance that everything Youko had said was not merely a rumor passed through the bandits.
"Could you give a sketch of him to a forensic artist?" Densuke asked.
"Hn."
"I asked you something dammit!"
"Densuke, calm down!" Kurama snapped, the blonde mumbling bitterly under his breath. Hiei nodded and retreated to the guest room.
"Schedule it tomorrow?"
"Hai."
Bastard. He now needed to die. He knew too much. This could end him if that bandit didn't die, and the two officers. The man turned, cold eyes settling on the bushes where he crouched. Hurry and shoot, aim carefully, don't let him get away. He knew too much, he needed to die, he could endanger the whole mission and he'd be damned if he'd be ruined by a lowly bandit. Langston raised his sniper and aimed carefully at the man's face between his steely cold eyes. Dammit! There he went, fast little bastard. Langston aimed again, the bandit averting to another direction. He was zig-zagging but with no pattern, sudden turns left, other turn right, hiding behind trees. Clever little bastard. He'd have to wait until he could get a clear shot of him.
That bandit would die.
Hiei met the artist that afternoon, Yukina sat next to him to correct him on any detail he might have missed. Densuke could feel his heart race as the artist's skillful hands flew over the paper with the twins' directions. He couldn't wait to get his hands on Langston, no matter what the elder twin had said. This bastard was his, he'd never forgive him for what he did to his mother. The American looked over to Kurama and felt instantly guilty. He had lost his mother too, and Hiei had almost lost the only family he had left. All their pledges were shattered, promises broken and hearts throbbed with the knowledge of it. He couldn't wait to come face to face with Langston, kill the sorry bastard for whoever else he had hurt.
"All right, this is it?"
"Hai." Hiei's voice was tense as he looked on at even a sketch at the bastard that had held his sister prisoner. Hard eyes, fine features, no doubt it was Langston. Densuke's eyes widened at the first real gaze at the man responsible for his mother's death and he could feel Kurama bristle behind him. Yukina clutched to her brother's arm and he placed a hand on her cheek, trying to calm her.
"Well, could you get anything else in America from this?" Kurama asked, turning to the blonde.
"Maybe, we could probably get some real dirt on Langston with this." Densuke said, pocketing the sketch to give to Taki. Kurama sighed, he was no more reassured from when they had started the case and Langston and Gaven only seemed farther and farther out of his reach. However, the siblings had escaped and could divulge everything about the lord if Kurama could get especially the elder twin to talk. If only it was that easy, the redhead told himself. Kurama motioned to the twins and they followed him out of the precinct and back to the apartment, Yukina looking up at him as he closed the front door.
"You'll....get him won't you? He hurt so many people..." Kurama's eyes softened as he smiled gently down at her, placing a hand on her shoulder as he crouched down to her height.
"We'll try our hardest. He will not be easily apprehended but we won't give into chance." Yukina's eyes brightened and lit her face with a before unseen innocence. Kurama for once saw the frailty of the younger girl who looked so small next to her brother, standing protectively next to her.
"Arigato Minamino-san." She said and gave him another gentle smile.
"You're welcome Yukina." The redhead stood and headed into the kitchen to fix something for the two. After supper was cleared away later that evening, Kurama saw Yukina standing by a table looking at a picture curiously. He came to kneel by her, Hiei watching to two like a hawk a few feet away and she turned to him.
"Who is that?"
"That is..." he paused a moment, reminding himself that she was dead but he refused to speak of her like a forgotten friend by saying 'was', "my mother, Shiori."
"She's so pretty Minamino-san! You love her alot don't you?" Kurama nodded stiffly, his eyes now locked on the picture through a blur of tears. He hadn’t allowed himself to grieve for her death, having been too shocked by the abruptness of her departure and too deeply involved in trying to catch Langston that he really hadn't the time. But now, sitting here looking at her picture, the tears flowed unyielding down his cheeks, the redhead closing his eyes and allowing them to flow, not wanting to hurt every time her looked at a portrait of her although he knew he'd always feel guilty for failing to protect her.
"Minamino-san?" Yukina's voice was gentle as she placed a hand on the boy's cheek, turning him to look at her.
"She wouldn't want you to be hurting like this... I miss our mom too... She died when I was really little so I really didn't have time to get to know her but its odd. It felt like I knew her. You didn't fail, and she would tell you the same thing. I'm sure she's proud of you Minamino-san." Kurama closed the eyes he had opened to listen and placed a hand on Yukina's, holding it gently. Yukina moved a finger to stroke his cheek, smiling gently up at him as Kurama looked back to the picture of Shiori. He knew he would always hurt but for now his heart felt lighter even if just for a little while. Hiei came over and placed a hand on his sister's shoulder, nodding and she rose to go up to bed, wishing Kurama good night before climbing up the flight into the room. Kurama rose and wiped away his tears with a sleeve of his shirt, Hiei picking up the portrait to look at her. Kurama blinked, was that a flash of regret in his crimson orbs just now? Pain? What connection did Hiei have with Shiori's death?
"Hiei... What do you know?" The boy was silent, setting down the picture and looking at Kurama.
"Hn."
"Dammit Hiei tell me." Kurama snarled. Still the boy stayed quiet. Letting out an agitated sigh, Kurama stood up and headed towards his room.
"I killed her." Kurama froze at the bottom of the stairs, snapping his gaze on the smaller boy.
"What...?"
"I killed her." The redhead felt his anger rise as he snapped out of shock.
"Why!?
"I had no choice." Hiei replied calmly and brushed past the redhead as he headed upstairs.
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And that does it for chappie 3! Sorry this one took so long, I ran out of ideas and actually only had the story half planned when I got to this point. But I think it's coming along fine, don't you? Lately I've stuck to the habit of reading mostly Iris Johansen's crime novels trying to read them all at the same time I'm trying to finish Series of Unfortunate Events so between trying to reading library books and with my little sister having my writing computer half the time it doesn't make it easy! Reviews are always accepted!
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