Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Cry For Me ❯ Chapter III: Hope ( Chapter 3 )

Cry for Me - Chapter III: Hope

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho, nor do I own any stores or their products.

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A voice was calling me, calling from somewhere far away...A crystal clear yet foggy, beautiful voice of someone familiar yet unknown to me. I dared to open my eyes. Colors swirled before me - blue, violet, pink, green - all bright colors imaginable. Then I heard soft footsteps coming nearer. I sat up quickly - I had been lying down? The voice was clearer now. I could discern what it was saying.

“Kurama...” it called softy and quietly, although I could hear it perfectly. Yet, I still did not know where it was coming from. I heard the footsteps again...even closer that before. Then I saw it. A figure in light blue, walking towards me, as if it knew me. As it came closer and closer I was able to determine who it was.

“Y-Yukina!?” I choked. Indeed, it was her standing before me, reaching out her hand to help me up. I felt my eyes growing their widest. I gingerly placed my hand atop hers, have expecting it to pass right through - but it didn't. She grabbed onto my hand and pulled me to my feet. I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came. I collapsed on what I thought was floor in amazement.

She giggled. I loved hearing her laugh again, although I still couldn't convince myself that it was really her standing there. How ironic - for the past few days I have been trying to convince myself that she wasn't really gone.

“Stop looking at me like I'm a ghost,” she ordered. Even though she was serious, she could not resist smiling.

“You mean...you're not?” I asked carefully. Right after I said it, I realized she must have been joking. But, as it turns out, she didn't seem offended. Instead, she looked ponderous.

“Actually, I guess I am.” She smiled again. “But I'm still the same Yukina.” No. She wasn't. She was...different. Older. Prettier... Wait - where did that comment come from? I mentally shook my head to clear my thoughts. “Anyway, I probably should tell you why I'm here.” I nodded mechanically, so she kneeled down and explained everything with my head bobbing up and down every few moments to show that I was listening and comprehending.

What she said first was the best news that have ever heard or will ever hear. She was coming back - to here, life, the world, Hiei, Kuwabara, us, me...home. I had the urge to squeeze her, but I restrained myself. To all my exclamations of “Really!?” she replied affirmatively. Grabbing my arms, she had to tell me to calm down a repeated number of times. I looked down at her hands, pressed tight against my wrists. Quickly, Yukina released her grip.

“But...how?” I asked slowly, while looking up. “Is Koenma-”

“No, silly,” she interrupted. “You know as well as I do that he can't. You are going to help.” She giggled again at my surprised expression.

“Me? What can I do that Koenma can't?”

“Not to worry. You will see when you get there, which is behind the church in Hirosaki at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning.” I nodded again. And smiled. I was actually happy for the first time in a week. “I must go now.” As quickly as it had come, my joyfulness disappeared.

“No! You can't!” I didn't want her to leave again...she couldn't! She just had to stay here. I felt as if a piece of me was being torn away, just like it had before. “Please, Yukina, don't leave us again...” I looked at her anxiously, but she frowned.

“I have to go, Kurama. But I have to ask you one more favor: Don't tell anyone about this, not even Kazuma.” She slowly stood up. “Good-bye, Kurama.” As she walked away into what appeared to be the horizon, I pleaded for her return one last time.

“Yukina...” Tears started forming in my eyes.

I sat up jerkily, causing me to be dazed for a moment. I looked around to see the familiar attributes of my room. My gaze fell on the clock, which read 1:27. Good. It wasn't abnormal that I was extremely tired. But what about the dream? Already my memory of it started fading away. There was...Yukina...She said she was returning...She told me not to tell anyone...

I desperately tried to convince myself that it really happened, but the reality was it was most likely a fabrication thought up by my desires. I had heard that can occur. It was true - I wanted her - but we all did. Why had she come to me and not the others? Or maybe she did and I just didn't know it. Yes, that was the case. I satisfied this dilemma by deciding that my mind had created the whole dream on its own.

Whatever the case, sleep was one thing I could not do without. I lied back on the sleeping bag. Staring at the ceiling, I thought of the future. It would certainly not be easy carrying on like this. Yusuke's strong - he'll survive easier than most, I suppose. But Kuwabara. And Hiei. They both suffered worse blows than the rest of us, even though Yukina didn't realize how much she affected the latter. I wondered if either of them would ever recover. I worried that Kuwabara might become crazy. I heard that can occur as well.

Unless, the dream was true...It seemed to be haunting my contemplation often. Did that mean it was true? Or was it still a figment of my imagination? I turned over on my side, angry because of my frustration. `Everything is always so complicated...' was my last coherent thought before I drifted into serene sleep.

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When I opened my eyes again, the sun peeking in through the curtains engulfed the room in a wave of light. I rubbed my eyelids with the back of my hands, feeling dried tears across my cheeks. Looking around the room, I saw the sun's rays illuminating the sheets' pattern on the empty bed. Wait - empty bed? My eyes widened as I bolted upright and dashed out the bedroom door.

“Hiei!?” I called worriedly, taking the steps two at a time. Turning the corner into the kitchen, I saw him sitting on the floor facing the open refrigerator. He didn't seem to care that the door was jammed into his arm.

“You have nothing to eat, Kurama,” he told me without moving his gaze. I was going to counter with a witty comment, but I decided not to. I noticed he was still crying, although it wasn't much of a surprise.

“Then let's go grocery shopping.” I walked over and kneeled down next to him. I held out my hand. It took a few minutes for him to realize it was there and take it. We stood up in unison. I reached out and closed the fridge with my other hand. I told Hiei to wait in the living room while I dressed and washed up. Approximately 10 minutes later I came back downstairs, so we left.

As my earlier sights had foreshadowed, it was sunny like yesterday. On the way to the store, I stopped by Dunkin' Donuts and ordered a Frappuccino for myself and, according to his request, a hot chocolate for Hiei, along with a couple of muffins. He drank his entire beverage quickly, even at its high temperature, so I poured some of mine into his cup.

By the end of the drive, my drink tasted a little salty. I hadn't realized that I was still crying. I made Hiei wipe off his face before we went in the grocery store. The paper towel I handed him became a pile of ashes when he was through with it, making me scavenge for a new one for myself. Afterwards, we exited the car and entered the building.

I never realized shopping could be so heartbreaking. Practically every item on the shelf reminded me of Yukina. How she liked this, disliked that. How she hated Takoyaki but ate it anyway because it was nutritious. As we passed by them, I involuntarily reached for the ingredients for Okonomiyaki - her favorite food.

I stood looking at the head of cabbage I had just picked up for a long time, until Hiei broke my meditation by tugging on the edge of my shirt. I peered down at him. He yanked the vegetable from my hands and tossed it into the cart, obviously disturbed. He then proceeded to dump the rest of the ingredients in as well. I raised an eyebrow in question, but he ignored me.

Continuing our journey, we crossed paths with a girl from my school in the bakery aisle.

“Hey, Shuuichi,” she greeted cheerfully. I looked up from my grocery list to see her smiling.

“Hello, Maya,” I replied, trying to return the smile. “Why aren't you in class?”

“I have a cold.” She coughed, as if to emphasize her response. “But my mom made me go grocery shopping anyway.” Glancing at Hiei, she raised an eyebrow. “I didn't know you had a younger brother.” I opened my mouth to explain, but she shook her head. I closed it again. “No matter. What's his name?”

“Hiei,” he answered for me, while placing a loaf of bread in the cart. He glanced up at her, then stared down again. I saw a glimpse of his eyes quivering.

“I heard about your friend.” Friend...Yukina. No, she wasn't our friend. She was more like family to us. “I'm really sorry, Shuuichi.” Maya put a gentle hand on my shoulder. I looked at her apologetic face. I felt tears coming to my eyes, so I blinked in an effort to hold them back. “Well, I got to go. See ya, Shuuichi.” She waved good-bye as she walked away.

“Good-bye, Maya,” I said, waving as well. I then turned to Hiei. “Are we done?” He nodded, so I pushed the cart towards the checkout line with him following behind. Once we had paid for our purchase and loaded it all into the car, I checked my watch.

It read 9:14. She had said to be in Hirosaki at 10. I only had 45 minutes to get home, put the groceries away, call Yusuke, and reach the church in Hirosaki. Which, by the way, I had never been to.

Should I believe the dream or not?