Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Dark Hearts ❯ Christmas Fun ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter Two

(Hiei)

 

Christmas, who the hell thought of that? Why did it have to land on the one day I decide to tell Yukina that her brother is dead? Growling in annoyance I flared my energy out to heat myself up. It was damn cold.

Yukina and the rest were in the house decorating a dead tree with colorful balls and drinking some white concoction that Yusuke had spiked. They were all so happy and content that they didn't even notice my flare of energy. At this rate anyone could come barging in and kill them all easily. Stupid Ningens.

Yukina still seemed a little disappointed that her human friend couldn't come. Hikari was her name. She had had light brown hair that she had pulled up in a high ponytail. Her eyes had been a calming light green and restless, always looking around and taking in her surroundings. There had been something off about her, but I didn't have anything to worry about with her.

The strains of singing reached my ears from my cold perch and I listened, for lack of anything better to do. It was an upbeat song about some guy named “Frosty the Snowman,” and then the next was about “Rudolph the Reindeer,” who must have had a bad cold because his nose was red. They were quite stupid and pointless, but whatever they wanted to do was fine with me, just as long as I wasn't dragged into it.

When they started trying to decide who would put some gaudy star on the top of the dead tree I realized it wasn't going to get much more interesting. Stretching my legs out I leaned against the trunk of the tree, and made ready to sleep. Reclining there I let my thoughts wander.

As usual Yukina was first in my thoughts. I was glad that she was having fun tonight. She deserved to have some happiness. All I could do was watch over her and make sure that the dunces she was with didn't let her get hurt. But why did she have to choose the middle of winter to have this thing? Obviously I can't join in, so I get stuck out here freezing. I am really growing tired of her love of frigid places.

I can almost hear that damn fox telling me that I'm jealous because I can't be with them right now. What does he know? Maybe if I was a hundred years younger, but I now know that I am not meant to be happy. I was destined to forever be the outcast. Be on the outside looking in; my life in a sentence.

Sighing I wrapped my cloak about me a little closer. There was no need for me to be thinking about these things. I needed sleep, and time to plan out my strategy for breaking it to Yukina that her brother is dead.

Abruptly something hard, cold, and wet slammed into my head and sent me tumbling out of my tree. I landed in a particularly deep snow bank, and began planning out how I was going to kill whoever had done that.

“See Yukina, I told you that voyeur was skulking about in the trees,” Yusuke's cocky voice floated over the cold air to my frozen ears. Snarling, I set his boots on fire.

“HEY!” he bellowed. One of the flaming shoes came flying out at me, but I neatly stood up and moved. I was in no mood for him right now. Thanks to his immaturity I was now soaking wet, cold and pissed as hell.

“Hiei!” Yukina cried, and I felt like throttling the idiot teenager who was trying to convince Kuwabara to go fetch him his still smoldering footwear. Feeling only a little bit spiteful I picked it up and incinerated it, letting the ashes be swept away by the lightly blowing breeze.

“Ah! That was my shoe you bastard!” Yusuke was most definitely unhappy. His problem, not mine.

“Would you like to come in?” Yukina asked, a hopeful light in her eyes, and I knew that I couldn't say no, that would be like kicking a puppy. Silently, I made my way to the house and entered it, nodding my greetings to Yukina.

Inside Kurama was playing a game of chess with Genkai, and Keiko had just entered with a plate of cookies.

“Well, fancy meeting you here,” Kurama smirked and I knew right then and there that he had been the one to tell that moron I was outside.

“Would you like to put the star on top of the tree?” Yukina asked, walking in behind me and holding it out the glittering thing.

“Me?” I demanded my voice hoarse, and laced with disbelief. Damn that cold must be getting to me.

“Yeah, someone has to put it on top,” she said smiling eyes sparkling. Glancing over at Kurama her gave me a look that clearly said: Don't blow it Hiei, just say yes and put the star on top of the tree. Slowly I reached out and took the star in my hands, cradling it gently. This was something important to Yukina and I couldn't break it or mess it up. Turning to the tree, I eyed it; how the hell am I going to get this damn star up there? It easily dwarfed my height, and I highly doubted I could jump on it and put the star on top.

Then inspiration hit. Facing Yukina I handed her the star back, watching as her expression fell. Quickly I boosted her up onto my shoulders so she was standing on my them, my hands on her waist to steady her. Giggling she placed the star on top of the tree and I set her back down before heading for the door.

“No! Wait, stay, we-we- haven't opened presents!” Yukina exclaimed grabbing my arm and pushing me onto the couch beside Kurama.

“By the way, you look like something the cat dragged in, what happened?” Kurama asked pleasantly as he picked up a cookie.

“Nothing I can't handle,” I snarled.

“Ok, right,” he replied and started eating the cookie as Yukina walked over to us a package the size of her two fists put together in her hands.

“Here this is for you!” she said cheerfully holding it out to me.

“Me?” I asked, giving her a chance to change her mind and say no.

“Yes you silly, I'm offering you a gift,” she shook it slightly.

“But I have nothing for you,” I muttered.

“It doesn't matter, it's the thought that counts! I know that if you'd known you'd be here you would have brought me a gift, so take it.” Yukina grinned as I gently reached out and received what was my first ever Christmas gift.

“You're sure,” I asked one last time.

“Yes,” she answered

“Th-thank you Yukina,” I murmured. It was hefty, meaning that if I chucked it at someone's head it was heavy enough to take them out. I had no idea what it could be, but I was loath to open it and see.

“Well aren't you going to open it?” the ugly one demanded

“Yes you idiot, I'm just…” I trailed off looking down at the brightly wrapped present in my hands. Foolish I know, but I wanted it to last forever. I didn't want to open it because I just knew that this was the only present I was ever going to receive.

“Waiting for everyone else to receive their presents,” Kurama finished for me. But even after everyone else had gotten and opened their presents I still sat there holding my gift. Watching the way the light reflected off the paper, and how Yukina's handwriting had shaped my name.

“Hiei, you can open it now,” Yukina informed me as she placed a steaming cup in front of me.

Slowly, even reluctantly I turned over my gift, peeled the tape off and slid out what seemed to be a big red spiky crystal with a green and black thing coming out of the middle. Instantly I recognized it and my heart constricted.

“I was given this because when I was younger I was afraid of the dark and being alone. All you say is: `bring me light' and it will glow, until you say: `day is dawning.' It's also written on the bottom,” Yukina explained turning it over to show me, then righted it. “And when you pull this,” she pulled one of the spikes toward herself. “Music plays,” the music was soft and the light female voice was singing in a different language.

“I-I cannot accept this,” I whispered. “It's a very special gift.”

“I'm no longer afraid of the dark, and I have so many friends that I'm never alone,” Yukina replied. “You need it more than me. I want you to have something to let you know that I'm thinking about you, and I don't think the person who gave it to me would mind me giving it to you.”

“Who gave it to you?” Keiko questioned, as I slowly ran my fingers up and down the smooth red spikes. I didn't know how to feel about her giving me this. Should I be happy and flattered, or hurt and insulted?

“I don't know. I found it one day after I had woken up after crying myself to sleep, the message that came with it said: `No more tears, no more fears, I will protect you as long as I breathe.' I like to believe my brother was the one who gave it to me,” Yukina said her eyes distant as she remembered. “There is something carved on the two spikes in the middle, but I could never figure out what they said.”

Carefully I touched the double spike in the center that was two spikes intertwined one green one black. The nightlight was a very expensive, handcrafted one. There was no other like it. I knew this for a fact, because I had given it to her. I had wanted to give her something that gave her hope. Now she was giving it back to me. Not knowing that I was her brother, but giving it to me because she was worried about me and wanted me to not feel alone.

“It's in-” I cleared my throat. “It's in a Makai thieves cant. This one says `sister,'” I pointed at the green spike; “This one says `brother,'” I pointed at the black spike.

“I was right! My brother gave it to me!” Yukina exclaimed. “I can't believe it!” She beamed at me, her crimson eyes lighting up, happily. Guilt poured through me, and it took all I had not to break eye contact. “Have you heard anything about my brother, Hiei?”

“I'm still looking Yukina, there's a very good chance he's dead, but I'll keep looking.” I lied giving her a tight smile. I just couldn't bring myself to break her heart tonight.

“Ok.” Yukina nodded, her eyes only slightly shadowed by sadness.

“Would you like a cookie?” Keiko asked handing me the plate.

“What are they?” I demanded poking at them with a finger. They looked like miniature brown men with grotesque smiles twisting their faces. I think that they were supposed to be cute.

“They're cookies, you eat them,” Kuwabara told me snatching one and biting its head off. Gingerly I lifted one up, ripped off a leg and popped it in my mouth. Surprise flitted through me, it actually tasted good. I couldn't quite describe what it tasted like, but it was much better than anything I had eaten in two weeks. I ate the rest of it and picked up another with my left hand, while I picked up my hot drink with my right. After an experimental sip I deemed it worthy and downed the whole cup.

“When was the last time you ate?” Genkai asked from her chair. I shrugged and went to snag another gingerbread man, but the plate was taken away by Shizuru. Growling at her, I was disappointed when she merely gave me a stern look, and kept the plate.

“Nope, real food first,” Keiko said.

“You missed supper but we have left-overs,” Yukina informed me. “And you look like you could use some food.” Yukina, Keiko, Shizuru, and Botan then dragged me off into the kitchen.

“While we're warming up the food you can go and change into these clothes,” Keiko said holding out the clothes Shizuru had brought her. There was a pair of black pants and a men's extra large t-shirt.

“Why?” I demanded.

“Because your clothes are absolutely disgusting and soaked through; we're going to wash them,” Keiko replied cheerfully.

“Please Hiei,” Yukina put in. Making a noise of frustration I roughly grabbed the clothes form her and stalked into the bathroom. I didn't know why I was dealing with this. I should be outside watching, not being ordered around by fussy females. Stripping in the tiny bathroom I kicked my wet clothing into a small pile and used a nearby towel to dry off. Then I hauled on the pants, buttoned them and pulled up the zipper, but even though I had done that, they still fell off.

Dragging the pants back up, I held them on, while I moved to pick up my belt, but was stopped when the door was flung open and Shizuru grabbed them. The door then closed and I was left beltless. I was not going to leave this room without a belt of some kind. Carefully I searched the room over a few times before my eyes landed on exactly what I needed.

“Yukina, where are the eggs? Yusuke wanted to make another batch of eggnog,” Keiko called sifting through the fridge, as I entered the room.

“Aren't they on the third shelf?” Yukina questioned coming up next to her.

“Nope, oh, here they are,” Keiko grabbed the carton of eggs and turned around and started when she saw me standing there. I had procured a belt from the stupid device they had hanging in the window. I believe it was to block out the sun.

“Where's the shirt?” Keiko asked and I shrugged. It had been too big, and made me look like a child. The pants pooled around my feet as it was.

“Hold still Hiei,” Yukina ordered kneeling down and pinning up the bottoms of the pants so I wouldn't trip.

“Thanks,” I mumbled sitting down at the table.

“What happened to your belts?” Yukina innocently asked.

“The idiot's sister took them,” I sneered as Keiko set a plate of food in front of me, but I inclined my head in thanks before devouring it.

I made sure to leave a little bit later, my gift with me. Yukina tried to convince me to stay the night, but I couldn't. I told them I'd be back for my clothes and left.