Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Coming Clean ❯ Retrieval ( Chapter 23 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer: This story was written by me, mhmartini, for enjoyment purposes only. All characters taken from a show/series/book/etc. are property of their respective creators; I am only borrowing them. Original characters are mine. The storyline is mine. I am making no money from this endeavor. The only �profit� involved is the joy of writing and the reviews of my readers. No copyright infringement is intended.

Anime/Manga: Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Fantasy / Hentai | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 01.21.2005 | Updated On: 06.03.2007 | Pages: 4 | Words: 5.4K | Visits: 829 | Status: Completed

Kurama slowly entered the darkened chamber, unsure what to expect. The entire subterranean level reeked of blood and death. As his eyes slowly became adjusted to the dim light, he could make out a small figure lying still on a cement slab. Quickly scanning the rest of the room, he determined there were no other occupants, and entered. "Hiei?" he called out softly. The form did not respond. Slowly the kitsune approached his friend.

When he reached the fire demon's side, Kurama stared, aghast, at the wards on his beloved. His stomach twisted when he saw the wards attached directly to Hiei's skin on his wrists and ankles, and the blisters around the paper. Hiei was still blindfolded, and a ward was placed on the blindfold, effectively dulling his perceptions. Gingerly Kurama tried to peel the sheet off the hiyoukai's right wrist, but stopped when he realized that most of the skin was peeling off as well. Sickened and worried, the fox gently lifted the unconscious fire demon from the slab and began to carry him from the dungeon.

In the hallway, Hiei began to stir. Relieved, Kurama stopped and removed the thin blindfold, ward and all. Hiei groaned and blinked his eyes a few times. As he returned to consciousness, the hiyoukai's face reflected his discomfort, aware that someone was holding him, but unsure who. "Who are you? What do you want?" he asked tersely.

"Shh, Love. It's me; it's Kurama," The fox replied softly, his breath brushing Hiei's face gently.

"Kurama? Where are you?" was the reply.

"I'm right here, Love. You're safe now."

"Kurama, why won't you take off my blindfold?" With a quick glance at the smaller demon's face, Kurama saw to his horror that Hiei's uncovered eyes were open, but his pupils were large and unresponsive to what little light there was is the gloomy hall. His eyes were not focused on anything. Hiei was blind.

"Shh, Love. We need to escape now; we'll deal with that later," Kurama mumbled to his lover. He couldn't bring himself to tell the half-koorime that the blindfold was already gone. "Just relax, Love, and let me rescue you." Hiei accepted this, his head resting against the taller boy's shoulder, and began to drift back into unconsciousness again. Clutching Hiei to his chest, Kurama began carefully making his way towards the exit.

Once outside, Kurama met up easily with Yusuke and Kuwabara. They had created a truly magnificent distraction by blowing up a good portion of the castle wall and parts of the castle itself. Unfortunately, Intaro had escaped before they could arrest him. Once reunited, the spirit detectives made their way into the forest to find cover.

After about twenty-five minutes of walking through the dense forest, Kurama finally called to the others, "We're here!" Vines and heavy overgrowth seemingly bowed away from the kitsune as he approached, revealing a cave mouth. Bending slightly, Kurama led the others through the opening and into a much larger cavern. Strategically placed vent holes allowed in a comfortable amount of sunlight, while the outlying plants kept away unwelcome visitors. Overall the cave had a pleasant feel to it.

"Where are we?" Kuwabara asked, looking around in wonder.

"One of my dens," was the reply. Rather than elaborate, Kurama turned his attention to the hiyoukai in his arms. He went to the back of the large cavern to a pallet laid on the floor. With the ingenious ventilation from the vent holes, very little dust had accumulated during the cave's disuse. Gently, he laid his precious bundle on the bed.

"Botan should be here to guide us back to the human world shortly," Yusuke commented, approaching the two demons. When he finally got a good look at the smaller of the two, he gasped silently. Hiei was still asleep. The skin on his wrists and ankles was burnt and peeled around the wards. He was thinner than Yusuke had ever seen him. Each rib was easily discernable. His breathing was short and raspy. Looking up from the gruesome sight, Yusuke noticed that Kurama had turned to the side, facing away from everyone. "Kurama?" he asked softly.

"Not now, Yusuke. I will explain when we are home," the kitsune answered in a brusque tone. Knowing that the fox always had a reason for his actions, the brown-haired boy left it at that.

A slight groan drew both of their attention to the tiny figure on the pallet. Hiei began to stir again. He tried to move, but the wards, still stuck to his skin, effectively drained all of his energy, rendering him completely helpless. Kurama reached out and gently raised his lover to a sitting position. "I'm right here, Hiei. We're safe. We're in one of my old dens," the fox crooned softly.

"Kurama," Hiei muttered. "Please, take off the blindfold."

"Love, it is off. Your eyes are uncovered," Kurama whispered, tears beginning to gather in his eyes.

"Is it so dark in here, then?" Hiei asked, still not quite cognizant of his surroundings.

"No, Love. There is light. Hiei," Kurama began, but paused. Licking his lips, he continued. "Hiei, the wards that blocked your perception were very powerful. It seems that you haven't recovered from their influence yet." Still uncomprehending, Hiei just sat quietly for a few minutes, before drifting into oblivion yet again. Kurama hugged the demon to his chest as the first tear broke free and slid down his cheek.

Yusuke stood quietly behind the kitsune. He didn't wish to interrupt, and he had no idea what to say. His shocked mind was not even registering the conversation. One thing was clear: Hiei was blind. Whether this would be temporary or permanent was yet to be discovered.

Kuwabara was standing at the mouth to the cave, peering out between the dense plant growth shielding them from unfriendly eyes. Suddenly he turned to his companions. "Botan's here, let's get out of this place!" Without a word Kurama lifted Hiei again and started towards the door. Silently, Yusuke followed.

Botan quickly opened a portal that dropped the spirit detectives right in front of Genkai's temple. Kurama quickly carried Hiei inside, and placed him on a futon. Yusuke, aware of Hiei's grave condition, immediately went to find Yukina to heal the hiyoukai. Kuwabara, still unaware of the magnitude of Hiei's injuries, entered the temple and followed Kurama.

After a few moments, Yukina appeared in the doorway, her face filled with concern. "Brother!" she cried out, seeing Hiei. In the bright light of the temple it was easier to make out Hiei's injuries. His small, weakened body was cut and bruised all over. He was covered in grime and blood. It was obvious that he had been tormented mercilessly. Yukina saw the wards, and instinctively reached out to remove them from her immobile brother. Upon touching the ward, her eyes opened wide. With a sharp cry, she withdrew her hand. These wards had been designed specifically to hold Hiei still. They were effective against both fire demons and ice demons. "Brother." Yukina whispered, ignoring the welt forming on her hand where she had touched the paper.

Meanwhile, Kurama had been mixing some plant material with some hot water he had asked Yusuke to bring him. He turned towards the siblings in time to see Yukina rubbing her sore hand. "The wards will affect you as well, Yukina, although not to the degree they have affected your brother," he stated softly. "I have prepared an herbal mixture that will help to heal his skin, while making it easier to remove the wards. I will handle them. Please be prepared to heal him when they are removed." Yukina nodded.

Kurama soaked a cloth in the mixture and began to bathe Hiei's blistered wrist with it. Slowly he began to work the edge of the ward up, using the wet cloth to rub under the paper and loosen it. The wards were not attached using an adhesive; rather the paper was laid against Hiei's skin. The intense burns they caused were enough to almost melt the flesh, and fuse the paper onto it. The process of removing the damnable wards was a long, and tedious chore. As slowly and meticulously as Kurama worked, a great deal of skin still stayed attached to the ward, tearing off the small demon's limb. Even in his sleep, Hiei began to groan. Finally one ward was removed, revealing dark patches of raw, bleeding skin. In some spots the skin was gone completely, revealing muscle tissue. Without flinching at the horrid sight, Kurama began the task anew on Hiei's other wrist.

Finally, near nightfall, Kurama removed the last of the wards that clung to Hiei's body. Collecting his things the kitsune left the room to tend to his own small injuries, knowing that his beloved would be safe in the care of the small koorime beside him. As Kurama left, Yukina leaned forward to heal her brother. As she placed her hands on him she felt a good portion of her energy sucked away from her. It seemed that since the wards had been applied directly to Hiei's skin, and had remained there for quite a while, residual power from them remained in the demon's body. Gritting her teeth against the discomfort and fatigue, Yukina concentrated on healing her brother as best she could.

Kurama had dressed his own small wounds in very little time. He had received only a few scratches form flying castle debris. He intended to return to Hiei's bedside immediately, but a hand on his shoulder stopped him. Glancing behind him he saw Yusuke. "Give Yukina some time with him," the shorter boy said.

"I need to return to him," Kurama started, but was cut off.

"You need to rest! You've gone at least two full days with no sleep, and little, if any, food. Sitting there, staring at him won't help him any. You need to regain your own strength. I have a hunch you'll both need it." Yusuke gripped Kurama's shoulder tightly and led him to a neighboring room containing a futon. "Sleep. I'll call you if he wakes." It wasn't merely a suggestion.

With a soft sigh, Kurama yielded to his friend's advice, and laid down on the futon. Despite his lack of sleep, and total physical and mental exhaustion, Kurama did not get any rest at all. Lying awake, he spent the night wondering how his beloved was doing.

Morning's first light revealed Hiei, still asleep. His wrists and ankles were still blistered and raw, but the large chunks of missing skin had been restored. His breathing was much more even. Yukina sat by her brother's side, shoulders slumped, sore and exhausted. She wondered that Hiei was still alive. The residual effect of the wards had weakened her greatly, and they would be much stronger on her brother. She had healed him as best she could, but the remaining power from the wards absorbed any additional energy she tried to give to him. It seemed that the only thing to do now was to wait for the residual energy to fade. Until then, Hiei would have to heal the old fashioned way.

When the sun peeked through the window into his room, Kurama slipped off the futon and out the door. With skills that won him the title King of Thieves, he crept silently into Hiei's room. Yukina looked up and smiled weakly. "Some of the worst injuries are healed. There is still a great influence remaining from the wards, even though they have been removed. This will fade with time, but it may take a very long time. He will have to heal the rest of the way with out my help," she said softly. Kurama nodded, pulling the girl into a warm embrace.

"Thank you," he whispered.

Yukina returned his hug. "He's my brother; I love him, too," she replied. After a moment she pulled out of the fox's arms, and slipped quietly out of the room. Alone with his lover, the kitsune began to gently run his fingers through Hiei's hair, brushing it away from his face.

When Genkai entered the small room, she looked at the demons in front of her. Of all the apparitions she had met, these two seemed the most human. The concern on the kitsune's face was genuine, and the deep love evident in his gentle touch was something she had thought demons to be utterly incapable of. As she approached, the fox looked up at her. "I think Hiei will be more comfortable if he were to wake up at home, in a place more familiar to him." The elderly human nodded.

"I do not possess the skills to heal him further, but if you need anything, please do not hesitate to ask me," she said, in a much gentler tone than she usually used with the youngsters she guided. Kurama gave her a weak smile and a soft "Thank you." before he gathered his unconscious lover, and began the trip home.

A few hours after they arrived in their apartment, Hiei began to wake up. His eyes fluttered open. Kurama was hopeful at first, but his hope died when he saw Hiei's overly large pupils scan the room without sight. "Hiei, I'm beside you," he said gently. Hiei was silent for a moment before he finally spoke.

"Fox, where are you? I can't see you. I can't move. Why are the wards still on me?"

"Hiei, this isn't easy to tell you. The wards have been removed. You are completely free of them."

The fire demon cut off the explanation. "Then why can I not move and not see?"

"Hiei, the wards were very powerful, and were designed specifically for your unique characteristics. They were placed directly on your skin. Much of their power remains, even though they have been removed. In time, as the effects wear off, you will regain your energy. Until then, the residual effects of the wards will drain you, and you will be unable to use your Jagan, or your youki, or to move...or to see," Kurama explained, his voice trailing off to nothing by the end. Hiei was silent. "Hiei?" Kurama prompted.

After a long silence Hiei finally spoke. "Kurama, I...I'm...I'm afraid." Hiei closed his sightless eyes in shame.

"It's okay, Love. What you're feeling is okay," Kurama responded immediately, reaching out to again stroke Hiei's hair. At the unexpected touch, Hiei's eyes flew open, and a look of sheer panic flooded his pale features. Realizing that even a loving touch, given without warning, would terrify the demon, Kurama withdrew his hand. "Hiei, I am right here. I won't leave you. We will get through this. I'm going to touch your arm." Gingerly, Kurama placed his hand on Hiei's upper arm in a reassuring gesture, and was quite relieved when the hiyoukai did not panic. Very gently, Kurama started rubbing Hiei's arm. For a long time they sat like that in silence.

Finally Kurama broke the quiet. "Now that you're awake, I need to clean you up. You're filthy. I'll go draw a bath. I'll be right back." Kurama rose to his feet and entered the small bathroom. With shaking hands he turned on the water and filled the tub. The kitsune added some herbs to the steaming water. A pleasant aroma filled the bathroom. Besides smelling nice, the herbal bath would help heal Hiei's injuries and relax him.

Kurama turned off the water and returned to the bedroom. He began speaking as he approached his lover, knowing that just touching the hiyoukai without warning would panic him again. "Hiei, I'm back. I'm going to take off your clothing now, and we'll get you cleaned up. Okay, Love?" As Kurama began to undo the tattered remains of Hiei's pants, a small voice stopped him.

"Kurama?"

"Yes, Love?"

"Please...I...I can't do this. I...kill me, please."

Kurama leaned back and looked at the small demon with a look of shock on his face. "Hiei. Never, NEVER ask that again! I could never hurt you! I love you, Hiei! We WILL get through this, and you WILL recover!" he replied in a harsh tone. Silence and a slight quiver to Hiei's chin were all that answered him. Regretting his angry demeanor, Kurama lay on the bed next to Hiei, and reached out a hand to gently stroke Hiei's cheek. In a soft voice the fox continued, "Hiei, I love you. I will always be here for you. I know this is a horrible experience for you, but please, trust that I will take care of you! Together, we can get through this."

"But, Kurama, it's so...humiliating."

"Hiei, Love, we are lovers. There is nothing to be embarrassed about with me. We know each other, body and soul. It's okay for you to depend on me. Know this: you are my life. I have never felt for another what I feel for you. If you were to die, I know I could not go on. Please, Love, keep living, if only for me." By now, tears were streaming down Kurama's face. He saw the glisten in Hiei's eyes, and wiped the wetness away before the drops could fall and solidify. The kitsune then sat back up, and continued undressing his lover.

Once in the bathroom, Kurama gently lowered Hiei's immobile body into the hot bath. The fox picked up a clean cloth, and slowly began to clean the blood and dirt from Hiei's face. Kurama worked his way down, gently wiping his beloved's neck, shoulders, chest, and arms. Leaning Hiei front carefully, and supporting him with one arm, Kurama wiped his back.

As Kurama leaned the small apparition back against the wall of the tub, he noticed that the drawn expression that had creased Hiei's features seemed to be relaxing. He cleaned the rest of Hiei's body gently, holding the cloth against the wounds covering any exposed parts of the small form. The fire demon's sightless eyes were closed, and his breathing was deep and even. "Hiei, are you awake?" Kurama asked softly.

"Yes, Fox," was the equally soft reply.

"I need to wash your hair; I'll have to lean you back into the water. I won't let you fall."

"I know you won't, Fox."

Smiling at Hiei's uncharacteristic reply, Kurama slowly leaned the tiny frame backwards into the water, supporting Hiei's head and neck with his arm. When the black spikes were underwater, and only Hiei's face was left above the surface, Kurama carefully shifted his other arm to begin massaging Hiei's hair and scalp. A red cloud of loosened blood issued from the dark locks, and Kurama's nimble fingers found several wounds on the smaller boy's head. Carefully, the fox cleaned these, and then pulled his lover back into an upright position. Kurama pulled the plug to drain the water from the tub, and grabbed a nearby towel to wrap the now clean hiyoukai in. Sitting on the bathroom floor, the kitsune cradled the towel wrapped figure in his lap, while using a second towel to dry Hiei's hair and face.

When the fire demon was mostly dry, Kurama picked him up and returned to the bedroom. Carefully placing his precious bundle on the bed, he pulled the covers over Hiei. "I'll be right back, Love, I'm going to the kitchen," he whispered, placing a gentle kiss on the demon's forehead. Receiving no response, Kurama left the bedroom. In the kitchen, the kitsune quickly heated some soup and some tea, as well as getting a pitcher of water and a glass. When all was ready, he placed it on a tray and headed back to the bedroom.

"Hiei?" Kurama called softly, as he entered the bedroom. Placing the tray on the bedside table, he sat on the bed, and called out again to his friend. Hiei responded by opening his eyes. "Love, I brought you some soup and some tea."

"I'm not hungry." Kurama knew his lover was lying. Hiei's thin body told how much he had lacked nourishment during his captivity.

"Love, you have to eat. It will help you get well quicker." Without a response, Kurama lifted Hiei into a sitting position and situated himself behind the fire demon. Placing the tray on Hiei's lap, Kurama reached around the small form, and spooned up some soup. Raising it to Hiei's mouth, the kitsune said, "Open up."

Hiei tried to protest, but when his mouth opened, he found it occupied by a spoon, and soup. Swallowing, Hiei realized that the soup tasted pretty good, and he was, in fact, quite famished. Dropping his pride, he allowed his lover to feed him the rest of the meal in peace.

After Hiei was fed, and had drunk his tea, Kurama began to settle him in for the night. "Did you need anything else, Love?" the fox asked.

"Yes, I...I have to...I..." Hiei's voice trailed off, as a slight blush crept across his face. Kurama understood immediately, and carried Hiei back to the bathroom. Hiei knew Kurama was right. They were lovers, and there was no need to feel embarrassed in front of his fox. But still, Hiei was humiliated. He was so weak he couldn't even move his head. He was blind and immobilized. He couldn't even relieve himself without Kurama's help. The urge to request his own death again surfaced, but he resisted. It would only upset Kurama, and the fox was being so attentive to him.

Kurama tucked Hiei back into bed, laying him on his side. Climbing in behind the hiyoukai, the fox spooned up against his back, slipping his bottom arm under Hiei's head as a pillow, and placing his top arm protectively around Hiei's waist. Hiei could feel the kitsune's warm breath on the back of his neck. "Kurama?" he asked softly.

"Yes, Love?"

"Thank you." Kurama smiled.

"I love you, Hiei. Now get some sleep, Love." Slowly the two demons drifted off to sleep, each plagued by his own worries and fears.