Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Burden of Sin ❯ Ch 3: The Judgement ( Chapter 3 )

Burden of Sin

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Thank you to all of you who read and review the story! I hope you enjoyed the fic! Please continue to review and comment on the storyline. Thanks!

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*crap* - thoughts

"crap" - said

(crap) - author's note

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Chapter 3: The Judgement

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~Inside Genkai's temple~

Botan held a tray of food and stood in front of Yukina's room. "Yukina, wake-up. Time for lunch."

Silence.

Keiko opened the door slowly. "Yukina? Are you awake?"

The figure in the futon showed no movement.

"Yukina? Are you alright?" said Keiko, carefully removing the sheet.

"What??????" yelled Botan and Keiko in unison. There were pillows under the sheet, creating a figure of a body.

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~The Riekai Courtroom~

"Yukina-san??!!!" yelled Kuwabara.

Kurama couldn't believe his eyes. Koenma slapped his forehead, "Botan, you owe me a big explanation…"

Yusuke just sat there with his eyes wide open and jaw dropped.

Yukina looked at her twin brother and ran in front of the judge, "Your honor, my bro … Hiei-san did not murder the human. I was the one who did it."

There was a roar from the audience. Everyone started murmuring at the unexpected change of the situation.

The judge scanned the koorime stood in front of him, totally confused, "Excuse me ma'am, what did you say?"

Before Yukina could respond, Hiei shot up, wincing at the pain from his back, and said, "Don't listen to her! She is irrelevant of the case! Yukina, don't say anything!"

Yukina looked into the identical crimson eyes of her twin brother. She smiled and said, "Thank you, my brother. But I can't just let you do this."

Yukina turned to the judge, "Your honor, I was the one who killed the human. Hiei is just trying to cover up for me. Please punish me, not him."

He looked at the two "suspects" stood in front of him. He said to Yukina, "Ma'am, unless you can provide me with some evidence. Otherwise, I have to judge based on the existing evidence presented to me."

Yukina hesitated, "Evidence… That's right! Kuwabara-san, Kurama-san, Yusuke-san, you all know the truth! Please tell the judge!"

The three looked at Yukina, then turned to Hiei. Rather than the usual death glare, they saw a pleading look on Hiei's face. A message flashed through their minds *I have never begged anyone for anything. But this time, please, don't …* Hiei's jagan glowed in purple light through the bandana tied around his forehead, sending the message to his three friends.

The three lowered their heads, avoiding Yukina's tearful eyes. Silence.

"Please, say something!" urged Yukina, tear gems started falling from her eyes.

"Sorry, Yukina." was all the three could say to the crying koorime.

The judge scanned the three human sitting in the audience bench and turned to Yukina, "Ma'am, as there is no new evidence available to me, I am afraid that I have to continue to announce the judgment."

He turned to face the anxious fire demon, "Hiei, guilty of the murder of a human, is sentenced to death by injection. The execution will be carried out at 10am tomorrow."

Hiei sat down heavily, tore between the relief of saving his twin sister from death and the fear of facing death himself. He smiled bitterly to himself, "I must be the first-ever person in history of the three worlds who actually feels happy upon the announcement of his own death sentence …"

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~2 hour later, in Genkai's temple~

Kurama, Yusuke, Koenma and Genkai sat in the middle of the living room, heads lowered in deep thoughts. No one said a word.

Sound of steps emerged and someone slide-opened the door. It was Kuwabara, Keiko and Botan. Sadness over their faces.

"How's Yukina?" asked Genkai.

Keiko replied, "She wouldn't stop crying. It must be the most heart-breaking event in her life."

Kuwabara said sadly, "She did nothing but crying since we left the courtroom. She wouldn't even talk to me. I guess she must be very mad at me for not telling the truth in the courtroom."

"Nobody could," said Kurama, "there was only one way or the other. And I am sure that it was the last thing we could do for Hiei."

Yusuke shot up and yelled, "I can't just sit here and wait for Hiei's execution! I am going to the prison tonight and get him out of there, no matter how! Anyone coming with me?"

"Count me in!" yelled Kuwabara, "I can't stand seeing my lovely Yukina-san being sad!"

Kurama's eyes shone with hesitation. The proposal was very tempting. For the last 2 days, his mind went through millions of plans to get his best friend out of this deadlock situation, but no avail. It seemed that Yusuke's plan was the very last resort. However, it was definitely not a good solution to the situation.

Finally, Kurama inhaled deeply and spoke, "Yusuke, Kuwabara, I can understand your frustration. But even if you can managed to get to the prison, do you think Hiei will go with you?"

Yusuke and Kuwabara looked at Kurama in shock. The question rang through their minds again and agin, "Will he?"

Kurama closed his eyes, "I believe that Hiei just wanted the whole thing to end. He doesn't want any more harm done to his sister, though we all know that severe harm is already been done. I doubt very much that he would prolong the case by escaping the prison. Don't forget, he is already a S-class demon. Though he was badly hurt in the last mission, do you think that little Reikai prison can really hold him?"

Koenma said, "I agree with Kurama. I can tell you that the defense of the Reikai prison is not strong enough to hold a S-class demon. If Hiei wanted to leave, he can surely do it with ease. Besides, I am sure that Hiei does not want you guys to take the risk."

Yusuke and Kuwabara looked at Kurama and Koenma, defeated. They sat down heavily on the floor, sighing.

"So there is really nothing we can do for him?" asked Yusuke.

"There is," said Genkai, "look after her sister."

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~Inside Yukina's room~

Numerous beautiful tear gems scattered across the ground of the room, reflecting the light of the full moon from the window. The sound of the newly-generated precious gems hitting the ground filled the room.

The little koorime buried her face with her hands. She could not stop her tears running. Her heart was broken into thousands of pieces.

"Why are you doing this to yourself? How can you just take away my sin like this? How am I suppose to live without you?" her mind screamed.

The light of the full moon shone gently over the crying figure but could do nothing to comfort the broken-heart.

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~In the Reikai prison, 4pm~

The iron cell door opened.

The shadow of a tall figure appeared at the door as the light in the corridor flooded into the tiny cell. A black clad demon sat in a corner of the cell, head resting on his arms, facing the ground.

"They said that you refused to eat or drink anything for the last two days. And you did not allow anyone to check on the wound on your back or change the bandages. What do you think you are doing? Trying to kill yourself?" asked the tall figure through a suckle in his mouth.

"Hn. It is none of your business. Why let anyone waste his time on someone who is going to die in a few hours?" murmured the dark figure, unmoved.

*The usual harsh tone, at least he is being himself again.* thought Koenma, "It's your choice. I am just trying to make you more comfortable."

"Yeah, right." said the fire demon, finally looking up.

Koenma was surprised to see a very calm face, as if there was nothing happening.

Hiei continued, "So, what brings you here? If you just want to say hi, say it and get out of here. I want to be left alone."

Koenma sighed, "I know you are not very happy at the moment. I just come to ask you one question. According to the Reikai law, you can meet one person, any person, tonight for 10 minutes. I want to know your choice so that I can arrange."

"Any person?" murmured Hiei.

*Who I want to meet?* thought Hiei, *Yusuke? Noap. I may want to have a good fight with him before I leave. But not for a conversation.*

*Kurama? That stupid fox. I really want to have a good talk with him. He has always been the one who can understand me. I am sure he helped a lot in restraining those guys from doing stupid things. He can understand me even if no word is exchanged. But… Kurama, I don't think I will choose you this time. I am sure you will understand, as usual.*

*Yukina? I am sorry, my sister. I don't think I can face you. There are too many sins in me. I don't worth to be your brother. All I can do now is to take away your sin with my death.*

Hiei made his decision and said a name which was least expected by the whole three world, "Kuwabara."

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~Inside Genkai's temple~

"WHAAAAT???!!!" screamed Yusuke, unbelieving his own ears, "Hiei wants to see that stupid head as his last wish?"

"Not his last wish," corrected Koenma, "it is the last `outside' person he wishes to meet."

Yukina's tears started to fall again, "He doesn't want to see me even at this stage …" She fell to her knees, crying.

"Yukina-san…" said Kuwabara, trying to comfort the crying koorime. He turned and looked at Koenma, "Koenma, can I swap with Yukina so that she can meet Hiei?"

"No." said Koenma, "Hiei has made the decision and nobody is allowed to change it without his consent. If you don't want to meet him, then the deal is off."

"No, wait." said Kurama, understanding his best friend's intention. Although he wished in the depth of his heart that Hiei would choose him as the last person to meet, he understood that there were something more important to the fire demon at his final moments. "Kuwabara, I think you should go and meet Hiei. I am sure he has something to talk to you."

"But…" the orange-headed hesitated.

"Please," said the little koorime, who had stopped crying and wiped her tears, "go and meet my brother. Please tell him that I love him… though I really want to tell him this myself…"

"OK then."

Koenma walked towards the door, "Let's go. We don't have much time left."

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~A meeting room in the Reikai prison~

"Here we are." said Koenma, opening a metal door.

The room was small and dark. A long table in the middle with two chairs placed in the opposite sides of the table. The chair at the far end was already occupied by a small figure. Arms crossed upon his chest, head slightly lowered, eyes closed.

The door closed heavily behind Kuwabara, sending an eerily feeling throughout his spine. He approached the small figure with caution, as if it might suddenly jump on him and bite his head off.

"Hiei?" said Kuwabara with hesitation, "You requested to see me, right? I am here now. What do you want to talk about?"

The small fire demon slowly opened his eyes. He scanned the ningen standing in front of him, from head to toe. His crimson eyes finally met those black ones of Kuwabara's.

"Sit down." said the fire demon.

Kuwabara obeyed. He found it very uncomfortable being alone with the fire demon. Those crimson eyes seemed to have penetrated his mind and searched for his thoughts.

A few uneasy silence moments passed. It was the fire demon who broke the silence.

"Do you love Yukina?" asked Hiei.

Kuwabara was taken aback, confused, "What?"

"You heard the question. Now answer it."

Kuwabara flushed, the colour of his face matched the one of his hair, "Of course I do. I love her with all my heart. She is the most important person in my life."

"Hn."

"What do you mean by `hn'?" yelled Kuwabara angrily, jumping to his feet, "You doubt my love towards Yukina-san?? I can sacrifice my life for hers! Unlike some evil rotten head, who is arrogant enough to lie to his own sister for all these years, leaving her sad and disappointed!"

Hiei stared coldly at the angry orange-head stood in front of him, a ripple spread across his long-still emotion.

"Have you finished yelling?" said Hiei calmly, "If you have, sit down."

Kuwabara was about to explode. He swallowed hard his roar, suppressing his anger, held back his fists from hitting the fire demon, before he sat down heavily on the chair. Death glares threw from his eyes towards the fire demon.

Hiei ignored the death glares threw at him, "I just want to make sure you truly love her." He sighed, "I just want to make sure that you are worthy for me to give my only sister to you and you will love her and protect her when I am not around." Sadness suddenly filled his eyes.

Kuwabara sensed the sadness in the fire demon's eye and in his statement. He relaxed and lowered his voice, "Hiei…"

Hiei continued, "OK. Enough silly talks." Sadness in his eyes replaced by determination, "I want you to promise me one thing."

Kuwabara straightened his body, ready, "What is it?"

"I want you to swear in the name of the three worlds that you will take good care of Yukina in your lifetime and you will protect her at all costs." Hiei looked straight to the eyes of the ningen.

Kuwabara held up his hand, face serious, "I, Kuwabara, swear in the name of the three worlds, and to you," he said as he looked at Hiei, "that I will take good care of Yukina in my lifetime and I will protect her at all costs."

Hiei closed his eyes, satisfied, "Good. One more thing."

His hands reached behind his neck, untying the two necklaces, one belonged to him while the other belonged to his sister, each with a tear gems on them. He gave the necklaces to the ningen, "Give these to Yukina."

Hiei stood and walked towards another door on his side.

Kuwabara looked at the necklaces for a moment and looked up, "Wait."

Hiei stopped but didn't turn, listening.

The ningen continued, "Yukina told me to tell you that she loves you."

Hiei half-turned, "Tell her that I don't deserve her love."

The fire demon then disappeared behind the metal door.

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End of Chapter 3

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One more chapter to go. Stay tune!