Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Cry For Me ❯ Chapter IV: Return ( Chapter 4 )

Cry for Me - Chapter IV: Return

 

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho.

 

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Why did I kid myself like that? Thinking that she was really going to be there? As much as I tried to convince my mind the dream wasn't real, I had this instinct - a feeling that I had to believe it. I suppose there wasn't harm in seeing the reality of the situation by going to Hirosaki. I would only be a fool in my eyes. No one else would know.

 

So I drove home, then put away the groceries as quickly as possible. I could tell my fast pace made Hiei suspicious, who was helping out. Simultaneously placing food in the cabinets, I picked up the cordless phone and dialed Yusuke's number.

 

“Urimeshi residence,” Atsuko's voice answered after two rings.

 

“May I speak to Yusuke?” I asked, before realizing I was in such a hurry that I neglected to say hello. She replied affirmatively, then called to him. “Yusuke?”

 

“Hey, Kurama,” he replied in a melancholy voice. “What's up?”

 

“Do you think you could take care of Hiei for a while?”

 

“Sure, but I don't think he needs much taking care of.” Yusuke said I could bring Hiei over anytime. I told him it had to be immediately, then we said our good-byes and hung up. After rushing around the house searching for a map book of northern Japan, I finally located one in the study, behind the desk. Hiei came in and told me that he had put away the last of the groceries. With a Thank You, I followed him out the door.

 

On the way there, he asked me where we were going. I was confused for a moment, but then realized he probably wasn't listening to my half of the telephone conversation.

 

“Yusuke's house,” I told him. “Can you stay there while I do something very important?” Hiei nodded. To my relief, he didn't pry into why he could not come along. What was I to tell him if he did ask? His only question was how long it would take. “Not more than a couple hours.” I prayed that I was right. I truly did not want to make Hiei even more upset by lying.

 

However, I felt like I was already lying by not telling him the whole truth. Yet, Yukina had asked me to refrain from doing so. I momentarily wondered why she had requested that, but then cleared my mind of such trivial thoughts. After all, it was her business; not mine. But was I just fooling myself with an imaginary creation? There were always so many question left unanswered.

 

“What did you say?” Hiei asked me. I realized I had said that last statement aloud by accident. I shook my head slowly.

 

“Nothing, Hiei.” He looked at me worriedly, causing more regret to wash over me. “Really, I'm fine.” He faced the window again.

 

“That makes one of us.” No, that makes none of us. I lied. It was obvious, but I lied. Even though I told myself that I wouldn't, I did. I felt like Kuwabara would if he broke his honor code. I was about to break down again. Good thing we were at Yusuke's. He came out and approached my side of the car, so I rolled down the windshield.

 

“Is there something you want to tell me?” he asked with a raised eyebrow, while leaning on the car door. I nodded.

 

“He likes macaroni and cheese,” I told him, while indicating Hiei in the passenger seat. By his expression, I could tell that Yusuke was clearly expecting an explanation of my errand and not this answer. He narrowed his eyes.

 

“I'll keep that in mind.” He started walking towards the other side of the car, but stopped when he noticed that Hiei was already on his way to the house. Again, Yusuke faced me. “I'll see you in a hour or so?”

 

“Or so,” I confirmed, nodding and rolling up the window. As Yusuke sauntered off in the direction of his house, I drove off in the direction of Hirosaki. The general direction, however. In the end, I became lost twice - the first time when I accidentally turned the wrong way. I suppose I was concentrating on other things, or maybe I was stressed. Either way, that time I merely had to turn around on a back road.

 

The second time, however, the situation arose where I simply had lost my way. The page in the book of maps I had brought that included this section of the city was the one page missing. Just my luck. After parking my car on the side of the road for a few minutes, I leaned my head against the dashboard and desperately tried to relax.

 

Breathe in; breathe out. Breathe in; breathe out. Think for a moment. Glancing at the clock, I noticed with despair that it was already 10 o'clock. Obviously, no chance of arriving on time existed. An image of Yukina floated into my mind. This was all for her, wasn't it? She was - had been - forgiving. It would be okay if I were late, if this was even true. If it weren't, than everything would be okay anyway. That is, if you take everything and subtract everything minus one.

 

There. That worked. At least for the time being, I was calm enough to place the key back into the ignition. I stopped by the nearest gas station and purchased a small, affordable map of Hirosaki and the adjacent towns, along with gasoline. For a moment I contemplated asking the shop clerk about how to reach the Church, but I was reminded of something that Keiko had said once, when Yusuke was in a situation similar to my own:

 

“What is it with men and asking directions?”

 

This sadly being quite true, I bought the map and left. This time I arrived at the Church without fail, sighing in relief as I parked the car in front of the massive building. Yukina had said “behind the Church,” so I made my way past the scarce crowd. Some glanced in my direction, then whispered to their friends. My head dropped in embarrassment. It wasn't like me, but right then I felt like snapping back at them. Many people seem irritated when they're truly in deep despair, and I was no exception.

 

As I rounded the rear corner, I slowly started to lift my head back up. However, it couldn't help but jolt upright when I saw what - or rather, who - was sitting on the nearest bench: a sprightly, somewhat-human-looking demon, hair as red as mine yet shorter and more pointed, well known to me and the rest of our group. After a few moments of my speechlessness, he noticed that I was standing there, turned to me, and spoke.

 

“What, you so surprised to see your old friend Jin?” he said, sounding somewhat disappointed, yet joyful. But now was not the time for joyfulness. His illustrious Irish accent echoed in my ears.

 

“Actually, yes,” I returned, “I am quite surprised.” He merely grinned as I creased my eyebrows. “What are you doing here, much less in the human world?”

 

After rising from his seat, he flew around a moment before answering. Initially I was surprised at his actions. However, I then noticed no humans were in viewing distance. “I'm guessin' it's the same reason as you, at the moment.” Stopping in mid-air, he raised an eyebrow, looking at me. “That is, if you're here `cause of miss `Kina, too.” I logically assumed he meant Yukina.

 

Kina. What a nice nickname for her...But how did Jin know about her and what happened? I chose to ask.

 

“That other blue friend a' yours - Botan, I think she is - was floating through a couple days back. She was really sad, so I asked her what's up, an' she told me all `bout `Kina.” Right then I decided frowning did not suit Jin's personality well. “Anyways, I went an' contacted that little friend of yours in spirit an' she graciously accepted mine help.”

 

“I'm afraid I don't understand...” I admitted guilty. “If you are helping her, what am I needed for? And what power do we have over this issue, anyway?”

 

“Don't know `bout your questions, but...” Shrugging, he reached behind the bench he had been sitting on. I stepped closer to see what he was up to. I didn't know why I was so nervous, but I succumb to biting my thumbnail. However, I did have reason to be nervous, for what Jin pulled out paralyzed my entire body in shock. He smiled somewhat slyly when he saw my widened eyes. “Knew you'd be surprised.”

 

The Forlorn Hope, otherwise known as the Mirror of Darkness. (A/N: In the Manga, maybe in the Japanese version, too.) Completely in tact, as well. Koenma must have gotten it fixed since its run-in with Yusuke's Spirit Gun. But how did Jin get his hands on it? Did he...?

 

“Don't tell me you stole that,” I scolded, indicating the mirror. He responded simply with a goofy grin, then turned around and began to hover away. I inferred that he wished for me to follow, so I did. Meanwhile, he continued his explanation.

 

I learned that he knew of the mirror's power to grant a person's greatest desire, and how that person's life was required to do so. Somehow, he also knew of when Yusuke had assisted me in healing my mother, yet he only was aware of the fact that Yusuke had donated some of his life energy instead of mine. This was precisely Jin's idea. He planned to use the mirror, sharing our two energies, to bring Yukina back. This was truly my greatest desire, just as saving my mother had been.

 

I wondered why I had never thought of this idea. Perhaps I thought neither Koenma nor King Enma would be willing to let the Forlorn Hope be used. Or maybe, all along, I knew there was a chance this might not work.

 

I wondered why I hadn't thought of another thing: I was clueless as to where Jin was leading me. By this time, however, we apparently had reached wherever we were headed, for he halted in his tracks. Glancing around, I realized a small, black building stood before us. It gave off the eerie aura of relating to spirits and ghosts. Jin turned around and gestured to the building.

 

“She's in there, all ready to go,” he informed me, while laying the Forlorn Hope on the ground beneath our feet. I kneeled down as well as he, wiping a tear from my cheek.

 

“You seem so confident,” I commented.

 

He peered at me, slightly confused. “And you're worried `bout somethin'?” Of course I was, but I didn't tell him this. I shook my head. “Then let's get going. You know how to work it, don't you?” This time I nodded, then reached down towards the mirror.

 

“ `Mirror of Darkness, awaken in the -' Wait...” I stopped in mid-reach. Jin looked at me again, half-confused, half-scowling. “I just remembered, the mirror only works on a full moon.” Damnit... Just like I had thought, this wasn't possible. Of course there would be a full moon sooner or later, but there was little hope of keeping the mirror that long, and I just couldn't bear the strain of trying again after failing at this. It was just too much for me...

 

“What was that thing you were sayin', again?”

 

“The spell?” He nodded. “You are supposed to say, `Mirror of Darkness, awaken in the moonlight. Let your face show my desire, that I may invoke your power.' ” (A/N: Taken from the Manga, which I obviously do not own either.)

 

Suddenly, Jin turned to the mirror in a serious manner. “Mirror of Darkness, awaken in the daylight. Let your face show my desire, that I may invoke your power.” Clever, but quite unlikely to work. Yet suddenly...

 

“This is bending the rules, you know,” the mirror spoke in a resounding voice. This surprised me and Jin, to say the least. “The full moon was last night.” My question was answered before I could even ask it.

 

“Please, could you grant our greatest desire, anyway?” I begged of the mirror. A whole month was much too long a wait.

 

“Oh, I remember you. You're the one who wished for his mother's `health and happiness.' Now it is this girl's health, am I not correct?” A picture of Yukina flashed upon the glass surface, like she was in my dream: Joyful. Lively. Perfect... “And I suppose you have another friend to donate some life, too?”

 

“Aye,” Jin agreed, still a little serious. “Let's do it.”

 

“Very well, since you're doing a good deed. However, since this is bending the rules, I will need more energy than usual...” Jin and I simply stared at each other for a few minutes before either of us dared to speak. In the end, he talked first, offering to give up more of his spirit energy. After all, he said, he didn't need it as much as I did. I suppose this might have been true. I wasn't sure how busy demons were anymore. I asked, and confirmed that he would merely be unconscious for a few days and not injured. As sparks and bright light engulfed us, I mouthed the words “thank you.” I closed my eyes and prayed that this would work...

 

The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes again was Jin lying beside me. Glancing around, my eyes fell upon the clear glass of the Forlorn Hope. Finally rising to my knees, I noticed what I had been hoping for the past week or so. The wind ruffling the folds of a sky blue kimono - resting against concrete steps, leading up to a balancing hand. The features of an innocent face - worried red eyes, a mouth curved halfway to a smile...

 

She nodded. She was there, but was she real? She nodded. Why? It was as if she was reading my mind. My feet lifted me off the ground and towards her. What I hoped was her. What needed to be her. Surprisingly, she was only slightly startled when my arms fell around her shoulders.

 

“Yukina...” I whispered, tears falling down my face, “I'm so glad this is real...”